New dates

Term 4

• Thurs, 15 Dec - Sacramental Program Enrolments close (Wk 9)
• Thurs, 15 Dec - End of Year Assembly 1:30pm (Wk 9)
• Thurs, 15 Dec - Last Day of School 3:05pm Dismissal (Wk 9)
• Thurs, 15 Dec - Year 6 Party (Wk 9)
• Sat, 17 Dec - School Working Bee from 8am

TERM 1 2023

• Mon, 30 Jan - Pupil Free Day
• Tues, 31 Jan - First Day of School
• Wed, 8 Feb - Sacrament Program Meeting 7pm
• Mon, 13 Mar - Adelaide Cup
• Wed, 15-27 Mar - NAPLAN
• Mon, 20-22 Mar - Year 6 Camp
• Tues, 28 Mar - Sports Day
• Fri, 7 Apr - Good Friday
• Mon, 10 Apr - Easter Monday
• Fri, 14 Apr - Last Day of School 12:30pm dismissal

TERM 2

• Mon, 1 May - First Day of School
• Fri, 9 Jun - Pupil Free Day
• Mon, 12 Jun - Queen's Birthday
• Fri, 7 Jul - Last Day of School 12:30pm dismissal

TERM 3

• Mon, 24 Jul - First Day of School
• Fri, 8 Sep - Pupil Free Day
• Fri, 29 Sep - Last Day of School 12:30pm dismissal

TERM 4

• Mon, 16 Oct - First Day of School
• Thurs, 14 Dec - Last Day of School 3:05pm dismissal

As we end another school year at Whitefriars Catholic School, I would like to wish all our Year 6 children the very best as they transition to secondary school.  Tuesday’s Thanksgiving Mass and Year 6 Graduation Ceremony was a wonderful celebration for our school community.  I thank the Year 6 children for being such positive, caring role model for our younger children at our school.

I particularly congratulate these Year 6 children who received these annual awards:

1.  Mary MacKillop Community Spirit Award:  Tiah K and Pavly Y
2.  Arts Award:  Xavier R and Madeleine B
3.  Terry and Mary White Sport Award:  Andre L B

I would like to thank our eight House Captains for their leadership this year:

• Joseph House Team (Blue):      Tiah K and Pavly Y
• MacKillop House Team (Gold): Eve B and Mitchell T
• Patrick House Team (Green):   Lilly Z and Floyd F
• Tenison House Team (Red):     Edie H and Jake R

I also thank our Performing Arts Leaders:

Eva H, Sienna L, Madeleine B, Alyssa N, Ella M, Fletcher D, Elke W, Aimee F and Xavier R.

I would also like to thank the Social Justice Leaders:

Grace D, Hannah S, Hannah J, Dion C, Aston P, Maggie O, Nate N, Illyana C and Allyssa N.

Staff Farewells

We wish the staff who are leaving us at the end of this year the best and thank them for serving this school community:

We wish them well and thank you for sharing you gifts with our school community.

End of Year Message

I would like to thank the 2022 School Board Members for their guidance and generosity of time to this school community:

I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful work of our Parents & Friends with the leadership of Lina Sotiropoulos, who is our P&F Chairperson, as they have raised around $7,000 this year that will be allocated to subsidise the new nature play.

I thank you all for your truly outstanding support and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I hope you have time to be with family and friends over this festive season.  Thank you and farewell to all the families who are leaving us at the end of this year, I look forward to seeing all our returning families and the many new families commencing in 2023.

God bless you

Frank Congedi

St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal – Social Justice Fundraisers

Last Friday, three volunteers from the Croydon Park chapter collected our food and toy donations from our school community. The volunteers were blown away by the volume of donations - over 70 full bags of food items, and over 100 toys donations.  The volunteers had to make two separate trips as we filled both cars twice over.

Thank you once again for your support of these fundraisers, and donations which will add joy to the lives of those in need this Christmas.

 We Grew in 2022 – Tree display

For our End of Year Mass all students completed a reflection on the year.  What they learnt and what they improved on was represented in words and pictures on a leaf shaped piece of paper to create two magnificent trees on the wall of the Mary MacKillop hall.  These were symbols of the growth we shared in across the 2022 school year and provided a beautiful focal point behind the altar.  The display will remain in the hall until the end of term, and I have included some pictures below.

2023 Sacrament Program – Enrolment Forms

Enrolment forms for the 2023 Sacramental program need to be sent to the office by the end of the week and I am happy to accept emailed forms across the Christmas Holidays.

The program is open to any child who is baptised Catholic, and is 8 years or older (this generally includes students who will be in Year 3 and up from the 2023 school year).  If you would like to enrol in the program – hard copies are available at the front office, or please contact jpage@whitefriars.catholic.edu.au and I can send an electronic version (PDF).  The completed forms then need to be returned to the school office or Parish office (along with a copy of your child’s Baptism certificate).

The program will begin in 2023 – and covers the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion.  Our first parent and student meeting will be held on Wednesday the 8th of February, 2023 at 7pm in the Mary Mackillop Hall.  More details will be provided early next year, and we should have dates for the whole program at this meeting.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the program: jpage@whitefriars.catholic.edu.au

Christmas Masses in the Croydon Park Parish (In English unless specified)

December 24th

• 6.30pm Christmas Eve Family Mass St Margaret Mary’s Church (Carols from 6pm)
• 8.30pm Christmas Eve Vietnamese Mass Mater Dei Church (Carols from 6pm)
• 10.00pm Christmas Eve Night Mass Mater Dei Church (Carols from 9:30pm)

December 25th

• 8.30am Christmas Day Mass St Patrick’s Church
• 8.30am Christmas Day Mass (Polish) St Margaret Mary’s Church
• 10.30am Christmas Day Mass St Margaret Mary’s Church

December 31st

• 6:00pm New Year’s Eve Polish Mass (Solemnity of Mary Mother of God) Mater Dei Church

 January 1st – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

• 8.30am New Year’s Day Mass St Patrick’s Church
• 8:30am New Years Day Polish Mass St Margaret Mary’s Church
• 10.30am New Years Day Mass St Margaret Mary’s Church
• 5:00pm New Years Day Vietnamese Mass Mater Dei (followed by refreshments)

Christmas Message

I wish to thank the whole Whitefriars Catholic School community for a fantastic 2022 school year, and it has been a pleasure in my role as APRIM to work in partnership with you to support your child to flourish in their education. 

I hope that all our Whitefriars families have a wonderful and safe Christmas holiday break, and that you can take some opportunities to have some quality family time to recharge and have fun, ready to return to us in 2023 for another terrific year.

Josh Page

APRIM

Thank you from the Canteen.

2022 has been a very busy year in the canteen and we are extremely grateful to all of our volunteers who have given up their valuable spare time to help.  Your support has helped us to provide this valuable service to the Whitefriars community.

Thank you to all for your support of the Canteen and best wishes for the festive season.

Iris, Sandra and Rita.

Congratulations to the many, many students who achieved 6 or more outstanding efforts in their End of Year Reports this year:

6 Outstanding Efforts

Sarah A, Yshmael A, Owen B, Paree B, Lorenzo C, Ivana C, Nicolas C, Elena C, Grace D, Wudase D, Summer E, Aimee F, Phillip H, Eithen J, Hannah J, Sara J, Samaira K, Xavier K, Elise K, Grace L, Mia L, Ava M, Isabella P, Yolanda Pham, Archie P, Eve S, Japjot S, Mila T, Oliver T, Austin T, Archie V, Jessie V, Madeline V, Jason V and Stella V.

7 Outstanding Efforts

Madeleine A, Eve B, Leah B, Bianka B, Madeleine B, Leo C, Lewis C, Ethan D, Yazhini D, Tuong (Vy) D, Ethan D, Alexandra F, Opal G, Amelia H, Saaksh J, Dzifa L, Irene L, Anthony M, Valentina M, Mia M, Harry M, Rose O, Chiara P, Daisy P, Sophie Q, Tisshya R, Madeline R, Emily S, Alexia S, Luka S, Sage T, Eva T, Damian T and Zaria V.

8 Outstanding Efforts

Sydney A, Yestha A, Elefteria (Ellie) B, Harrison B, Jacob C, Summer D R, Daniela Ducaj, Anaya G, Drew H, Zoe H, Giovanni I, Oliver K, Elise K, Brock K, Tiah K, Ethan L, Florina L, Jackson M, Alexis N, Nhi N, Thea N, Sachi N, Amelia O, Daniel O, Karen O, Eleni P, Minh (Max) Q, Hannah S, Anna T, Esther T, Bailey T, Dhruva V, Oliver V, Ollie W, Lacie W, Isabelle W and Tom W.

9 Outstanding Efforts

Sandra G, Ivory G, Reiko G, Dylan H, Kara H, David J, Silvana J-T, Fleur K, Mabel M, Alyssa N, Jacqueline N, Megan N, Olivia N, Su N, Xavier R, Leroy T, Reshma U and Kim V.

10 Outstanding Efforts

Lina B, Anthony B, Dana B, Gabriella B, Tanay D, Ava DF, Edie H, Eva H, Olivia L, Sebastian M, Ella M, Ollie R, Poppy R, Sophia T, Scarlett T, MacKenzie W and Olivia W.

11 Outstanding Efforts

Makenzie B, Zara DF, Edel L, Lynh N, Madeleine O and Pavly Y.

We acknowledge and pay our respect to the Kaurna people as the traditional owners of the land of Mikawomma on which Whitefriars Catholic School is located.  We come with open hearts and minds to listen and learn from Elders - past, present and emerging.