Christ the King North Rocks Newsletter

2019, Term 4 Week 8: Friday 6th December 2019.

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents,

During the season of Advent we are reminded to say ‘yes’. Scripture Scholar Richard Leonard reminds us as we all wait together in line this Advent let's say yes to all that salvation holds for us: yes to God's personal love; yes to Jesus' kingdom of justice and peace; yes to every opportunity to serve the Gospel and yes to knowing that our God is a companion to us every step of our journey, even in the most unexpected ways. Greg Sunter another scripture scholar challenges us to live the Gospel throughout the season of Advent – Make way!  Advent is a season of preparation, making way for the love of God in our lives. The call to make a way for the Lord is a call to clear and remove the obstacles in our lives that are directing the love of God around us and allow it instead to flow directly through us.

 

Our Christmas whole school liturgy will be held next Wednesday evening [11th December] commencing at 6:30pm. The liturgy will be facilitated by the well known Australian Liturgist and song writer John Burland. John has been writing and performing for the last two decades in many of our schools across the country. At CTK we use his music in many of our liturgies and masses. This year’s celebration will be take the form of a “liturgy” that tells the story of Advent and Christmas through scripture and music and will be held in the church. John Burland will work with each grade throughout the day putting the finishing touches to the songs and movements the children are currently working on to reflect on our advent journey as we prepare for Christmas. As the liturgy will be held in the church there will be no need to bring any food or drink, blankets or chairs as has been the case in previous years. This year’s event is a “different” approach to our previous Christmas celebrations providing the children with a more traditional scriptural approach to celebrating the Christmas story. Details regarding what the children need to wear have been distributed in the last week. If you have any inquiries or questions regarding the liturgy, please contact the school office.

 

Reports for each student will be distributed next Wednesday 11th December. It is imperative you take the time to sit down with your child and discuss their report before the end of the term. This discussion would revolve around highlighting and acknowledging their achievements for the semester as well as planning how they are going to achieve success with the areas for development for next year put forward by their teachers. Celebrating achievement and planning on how to improve your child’s learning for the next scholastic year are the two major focuses as we conclude school for 2019. Congratulations to all our students on the achievements they have made with their learning throughout the year.

 

The annual swimming carnival will be held on Tuesday 17th December [Week 10] at Blacktown pool. All children from years 3-5 will attend. Children in year two who turn 8 years of age in 2019 who are able to swim 50 metres may choose to attend the carnival also. The carnival has emerged in recent years as a selection trial for the Hills Zone swimming carnival that will be held in February in 2020. Children in Kindergarten, Year 1 and those children in year two who do not attend the carnival will remain at school and participate in tabloid sports and activity day. Year 6 school leaders will attend the swimming carnival to assist as officials etc. The remainder of our year six students will remain at school to assist our younger children participate in the tabloid day. We only have access to one pool at Blacktown hence the reasons for the changes to which students actually attend the carnival. There is no opportunity for novelty events to be held at the carnival because of our limited access to the Olympic pool only. 

 

On Friday 13th December the children will meet their teachers for 2020 as part of our changeover session commencing at 2pm. New Yr1-Yr6 students enrolled for CTK next year have been invited to attend to meet their classmates and teachers for the new year. Students in each grade will receive a pre-requisite list for 2020 during the afternoon session.

 

At this time of year, we have parents making inquiries regarding enrolment for next year. To assist in finalising classes and enrolment numbers for next year we need to know of any children who are not returning to CTK in 2020. Please advise the school via email or written letter by Wednesday 11th December if your child / children will not be returning to CTK in 2020.

 

Please note that of an afternoon on the Car Wash side of Statham Ave, Parents are parking their vehicles in a NO PARKING ZONE during school pick up times. People parking in this NO PARKING ZONE are obstructing vehicles travelling north up Statham Avenue who are trying to get around the queue line up to turn right into the school to pick up their children. Please be responsible and obey these signs as council parking inspectors randomly turn up of an afternoon and are booking people parked in these NO PARKING ZONES and NO STOPPING ZONES. Thank you.

Our final newsletter for the year will be published on Friday 13th December.

Have a great week!

Tony Hughes

Principal CTK


Upcoming Events

Term 4 (Week 9)

Monday 9th December

  • Sports Program - All students in Sport Uniform
  • Cool Kids Music 3.00-4.30pm

Tuesday 10th December

  • Uniform Shop 8.00am-12.30pm
  • FINAL Literacy Club 8am
  • PE: Year 3,Year 2, Year 4 (Group1) 
  • Year 6 Graduation Ceremony + Supper

Wednesday 11th December

  • Choir 8am
  • PE: Year 6, Kindergarten
  • Semester 2 Reports go home
  • LAST Chess (3 - 4pm) 
  • Christmas Concert - 'The Christmas Star'

Thursday 12th December

  • PE: Year 5, Year 1, Year 4 (Group 2)

Friday 13th December

  • Band (7:45 am) and groups throughout the day
  • Mount St Benedict Year 7, 2020 Orientation Day
  • CTK Playgroup 10:30-11:30am
  • Meet your new teacher day

Term 4, (Week 10)

Monday 16th December 

  • Sport Program - All students in Sport Uniform
  • Year 6 MOTIV8 Day
  • Cool Kids Music Club 3.00-4.30pm

Tuesday 17th December

  • Uniform Shop 8.00am-11.30pm - Please note change in time
  • 2020 Swimming Carnival
  • Junior Activity day at school

Wednesday 18th December

  • Thanksgiving Mass followed by Awards Ceremony and Year 6 Farewell
  • LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS
  • Year 6 Parent/Student Dinner - The Epping Club

Thursday 19th December 

  • STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY

Friday 20th December 

  • STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY

Advanced Notice: Mark in your diary for 2020

Friday 14th February

  • School Census Day

Friday 21st February 

  • Kindergarten Welcoming BBQ 6.00pm-7.30pm


Term dates for 2020

Term 1         

Tuesday 28th January – Wednesday 29th January   

Years1-6 Assessment days

Thursday 30th January

Years 1-6 begin school

Tuesday 28th  January – Thursday 30th January  

Kindergarten assessments days

Friday, 31st January 

Kindergarten begin full school days

 

Good Friday,                        Friday, 10th April       }

Easter Sunday,                     Sunday, 12th April   }  Public Holidays

Easter Monday,                   Monday, 13th April  } 

 

Last Day Term 1 : Thursday 9th April

Term 2      Monday,      27th April           to      Friday, 3rd July

Term 3      Monday,      20th July             to      Friday, 25th September

Term 4      Monday,      12th October     to      Wednesday 16th December

Other School News

CUPPA CREW THANK YOU

Many thanks to Mrs. Yue Lin Trofa who has led our cuppa crew and to all who have assisted her throughout the year.

The crew have provided you with a welcoming cuppa at many events throughout the year. Our appreciation for the generous efforts of service to others.  

BOOKCLUB CO-ORDINATOR THANK YOU

Our appreciation and thanks to Mrs Koic and Mrs Trofa  who co-ordinated, collated, processed orders and ensured children received their books. This is an immense task that is purely voluntary and very much behind the scenes. Thank you on behalf of all the children.

Please see below the results from this hard work.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB REPORT 2019

Total orders processed

Term 1 - LOOP orders $1026.00 Rewards earned - $205

Term 2 - LOOP orders $1132.50 Rewards earned - $227

Term 3 - LOOP orders $1608.50 Rewards earned - $322

Term 4 - LOOP orders $815.50 Rewards earned - $166

Total student orders 2019 - $4582.50

Total value of reward dollars donated to school/library for 2019 - $920 

ICE BLOCK CO-ORDINATOR THANK YOU

Many thanks to Mrs Sassen and all the Year 6 students for making it possible for the children to buy Ice Blocks every week. Without your assistance this wouldn’t happen. On those hot days I know the students look forward to seeing you.

 

 

Parish News

Parish Office Information, Parish Mass Times, Reconciliation and Rosary

Parish office hours are Mondays - Fridays 9am - 4pm.

Our current contact details are phone: 9871 8710 and email: northrocks@parracatholic.org

Weekend Masses

Saturday         6.00pm

Sunday            8.00am and 10.00am

Weekday Masses

Tuesday          7.30pm

Wednesday    9.00am

Thursday        9.00am

Friday              9.15am

Reconciliation

Saturday        9.30am and 4.30pm

Rosary

Saturday        8.30am

Christmas 2019 Mass Times at Christ the King Parish North Rocks


Tuesday 24th December: 6pm - Children's Liturgy & 9pm - Family Mass

Wednesday 25th December: 8am & 10am Mass

RECONCILIATION TIMES:

                                                                                                 Saturday 21st December: 9:30am & 4:30pm

                                                                                                 Tuesday 24th December: 9am

 

CHANGE IN SATURDAY EVENING MASS TIMES FOR 2020

After consultation with the major stakeholders’ Fr Ian has decided to change the Saturday Evening Vigil Mass start time to 5:30pm, beginning in the New Year on Saturday, 4 January 2020. Saturday afternoon Reconciliation will also begin half an hour earlier at 4pm from that date. Thanks to all who offered feedback. Apologies to those whom it may inconvenience. Hopefully this will increase Mass attendance on Saturday evening. Saturday afternoon Reconciliation time will also be changed to 4pm instead of 4:30pm

Community News

NSW Police Legacy Digital Child Safety Handbook

A new edition of the safety resource is now available.  

The current edition has been updated with digital/online safety, light rail safety, metro train safety, dental health, diabetes, etc. 

The Child Safety Handbook App has also been produced by NSW Police Legacy and includes everything we need as a community to protect our children.  From preventative measures at home to safety outdoors, from cybersafety to dealing with peer pressures, this App is a resource for every family and school community. The app can be downloaded via the Apple store, Google Play or Amazon Kindle.

Visit nsw.childsafetyhub.com.au/downloads/ for more information.

Your Guide to choosing tech gifts for young people

Please click on the link below for tech Christmas ideas for young people

www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Next Level Sports Summer Clinic Dates Confirmed

Christmas Clinic- 2019:

Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th of December (Christmas Eve pending numbers)

January Clinic - 2020: Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th of January.

                                                                                                 Location: St Patrick’s PS, Parramatta.To book or for further enquiries:                                                                                                                                                                                    nextlevelsports@live.com.au

School Notes

Parent Volunteers at CTK should visit the Parent Involvement page and complete the ‘Volunteer Form’ to be able to assist in any capacity as a volunteer within the school.
Parent Volunteers at CTK should visit the Parent Involvement page and complete the ‘Child Protection Training Module’ to be able to assist in any capacity as a volunteer within the school.
Click on title, go to Administration, print and complete the ‘Application for Extended Leave’ form to apply for student leave for