Dear Parents,

Welcome to the new 2018 school year! I hope you enjoyed your well-earned break. It was great seeing so many rested and enthusiastic children.

Welcome to our new families…the Chitanda, Farias, Gorman, Habgood, Hanley, Hearn, Latimer, O’Brien, Quoyle, Skatulska and both of the Bell and Wang families. We hope that you have a very enjoyable and memorable stay at Prouille Catholic School.

I am sure you will join me in giving a very warm Prouille welcome to our new teachers: Mrs. Emily Honeysett (Year 1), Mrs. Robyn Clyant (Year 2) and Mrs. Carolyn Cavell (Year 3). We also welcome back Mrs. Rachael Lees who will be teaching in KR and will also be taking PE. We wish Emily, Robyn, Carolyn and Rachael every happiness as they settle into the Prouille Catholic School Community.

Welcome to our Kindergarten class for 2018. Welcome Angus, Aurelia, Zander, Darcey, Harriet, William, Sol, Jocelyn, Abigail, Lachlan, William, Jacob, Nicholas, Mia H, Georgia, Mia L, Jared, Alice, Ava, Mia M, Francesca, Hannah, Matthew, Atticus, Luke, Alex, Ethan, Olivia, Miles, James, Laura and Bridget ! You need to be congratulated for settling in extremely well.

TEARS & TISSUES Thank you to Carol White, Kelly Paul, Renee Thake and Lou Fraser who organised the “Tears and Tissues” morning to welcome our new Kinder parents! I am happy to report there were not too many tears but lots of smiles. NEW STUDENTS We are also happy to welcome some new students who have joined other classes at Prouille. Welcome to Wyatt Hearn (Yr. 1 H); Owen Wang (Yr. 3 C Black) and Faith Chitanda ( Yr. 4O)! SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT MASS Our School Commencement Mass to officially launch the 2018 Educational Year will be held on Friday 9th February at 11.00am in the Holy Name Church. Our new school leaders for 2018 will also be presented with their badges at this mass. Everybody is welcome to join us on this special occasion.

PROUILLE NEWSletter

Prouille Catholic School 5 Water Street Wahroonga NSW 2076

Phone: 02 9489 3233 prouille@dbb.catholic.edu.au www.prouilledbb.catholic.edu.au

7th

February 2018 Week 2 Term 1

Parents and carers here are a couple of thoughts followed by a question: “Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth.” Peter Ustinov. “Teenagers are people who act like babies, if they are not treated like adults. ”Mad Magazine. “Raising children is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.” Ed Asner.

Question: “Do any of these comments ring true to you at the end of the holiday period?”

Well, whatever your answer, put it all behind you and welcome to the Prouille Catholic School community for 2018, where coming together is a beginning and working together will bring success. We hope that we can all work together to create an open and caring environment, where parents and staff are of one mind to encourage all students to practise positive school habits. If parents are involved and become committed to school decisions, student achievement will improve and student behaviour will be cooperative; this will lead to the enjoyment of high quality education. Teachers are professionals with training and experience and their conduct is guided by professional codes of conduct. Parents know their children better than anyone and when shared, this knowledge can be an invaluable resource in the progress of children’s education.

It is important that parents and teachers have good communication opportunities. Productive communication is about speaking and listening actively and respectfully and about not making assumptions or having minds made up before conversation has commenced.

Conversation is not simply an exchange of words but about listening and hearing. If problems arise, they do not have to be stumbling blocks; they can be opportunities to work together to find positive and creative solutions – solutions that will benefit children.

We hope that throughout the year, our community will come together to participate in and volunteer at a variety of school functions, activities and events, including celebrations of our Christian faith. In this way relationships are formed and positive attitudes developed that give positive input to our children. It is said that a child’s life is like a piece of paper, on which every person leaves a mark. Hopefully, all marks left during the year at Prouille will be indicative of respect, care and encouragement.

Central to the very existence of our school is the integration of faith and culture transmitted in the various subjects that comprise the curriculum. In this way we hope that our students will learn how to follow Christ within Australian culture. We invite all parents to feel welcome, comfortable and free to contribute to the cultural context of our school community.

“Lord, as we come together to form our school community for this year, empower us to be generous, confirming and obliging. May the gifts of Your Spirit be alive and practised in every aspect of our school life, as we live it together. Amen.”

A Parent/Teacher Information Evening will be held on Monday 12th February. The presentation by the class teachers is designed to:

give parents some insights into the work being covered

hear the teacher’s expectations for that particular class

gain other useful information to assist you with practical details of school life.

Each session will last 30 minutes. They will be held in the classrooms. If you have sessions that clash, please go to the teacher of the elder child. It is important that at least one parent attend the Information Evening.

First session is from 6.00-6.30pm and the second session is from 6.40-7.10pm.

SWIMMING CARNIVALMonday 19th February is our Swimming Carnival which will be held at Hornsby Aquatic Centre. The Carnival is for students in Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6. The children will commence departing by bus at 9:10am. The Carnival commences at 9:30am. The children will return by bus at 2:00pm. Please join us for a day of good sportsmanship and team spirit.

Go Jennings, O’Brien, Rawlings and Crawford!!!!

Thank you to all those parents who offered to help out at the carnival. All parents who have been allocated a job will be informed.

Parents could you please return your forms indicating your “going home” arrangements for your child/children after the Carnival. Please be aware that once arrangements are made they cannot be changed as it affects our booking for the buses.

WELCOME AFTERNOON TEA On Friday 9th February there will be a Welcome Afternoon Tea for our new students and their families to Prouille. There will be a cake stall and fun activities. Everybody is invited to attend and it will occur from 2.00 – 2.40pm. This will conclude with assembly at 2.40pm.

ASSEMBLY Each Friday afternoon from 2.40pm school assembly will be held in the hall. Awards and birthdays will be celebrated.

NEWSLETTER Newsletter will be emailed fortnightly on a Wednesday. A Principal’s bulletin will be emailed every alternative week.

SPORTS UNIFORM Students will wear sports uniforms on the days listed below.

Kinder Wednesday, Friday

1H Wednesday, Friday

1E Wednesday, Friday

2C Tuesday, Thursday

3C White Monday, Tuesday

3C Black Monday, Friday

4O Tuesday, Thursday

5F Wednesday, Friday

6TN Wednesday, Friday

Yours sincerely Ms. Sue Bevan PRINCIPAL

UPCOMING DIARY DATES

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Welcome back……we are all very excited about the wonderful year we have planned for the Prouille community in 2018.

HE ASSISTANT Housekeeping Reminders KISS ‘N’ RIDE:

K-2 are dismissed at 3.00pm and put on kiss ‘n’ ride at this time. If you do not have a child in one of these year groups please come for pick up a little later.

Year 3-6 are dismissed at 3:05pm

Teachers, parents or students are not allowed on the road to put bags into the boot of cars. This rule is in place because we care about you! All bags are to go in through passenger windows or into back seat of cars.

LOST PROPERTY To help your child develop a sense of respect for property and responsibility we ask that you label all you child’s clothing, including hats, lunch boxes and drink bottles.

As of Week 4, we are removing the lost property basket. During this initial period all teachers will be supporting the children in taking responsibility for their belongings in an encouraging and positive manner.

We ask you support us by reminding your child that they are responsible for bringing all items home. It has been found that by getting your child to pack their lunchbox helps them to a) become responsible for what they are eating (healthy eating) b) responsible for their belongings. By asking them to pack their own bags they will become more responsible for all of their belongings.

God Bless

Karen Townsend4

Special Dates for your Diary

Friday 9th February

Opening School Mass at Holy Name Church @ 11.00am

Welcome Afternoon Tea 2.00pm Monday 12th February

Parent Information Night 6.00-6.30pm & 6.40-7.10pm Wednesday 14th February

Ash Wednesday - Mass in Holy Name Church @ 9.15am for Years 3-6 &

Liturgy for Years K-2 in Veritas Hall @ 9.15am Wednesday 21st February

P&F AGM

Saturday 24th February

Welcome Cocktail Party 7.00pm @ Magpies

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND PASTORAL CARE NEWS

) Opening School Mass – Friday 9th February @ 11am (Holy Name ChurchAll are invited to attend our Opening School Mass this Friday 9th February whereby our Kindergarten children will be acknowledged as our newest members of our Prouille family, we will also acknowledge our wonderful leaders in Year 6 for 2018. We are extremely grateful to be part of such a warm, inviting place.

Parents of Year 6, 2018 – you will be invited to pin the badges on your child’s uniform during this special occasion. If you can make it, we would love to see you there! We also have Ms Bevan and Fr David (along with our Year 6 teachers Mrs Townsend and Mrs Neilson) to assist with the badge-pinning, too!

Junior Altar Server Drive! – Weekend of the 10th- 11th February, 2018 We are so blessed to be part of our Holy Name Parish Community and we love to get involved! We are on the look-out for children from Years 3-6 who would be interested in becoming a Junior Altar Server for our School Masses (and Masses over the weekend).

On the weekend of 10/11 February there will be a promotion at the Parish Masses for new liturgical ministers, including Junior Servers.

) SRC Representatives – Assembly on Friday 23rd February @ 2:40pm (Veritas HallAt our Assembly in Week 4, we will be presenting the chosen Term 1 SRC Class Representatives with their badges. We are extending the opportunity to be an SRC Representative by voting in a different child each term. This will see us congratulate and involve 4 children per class, per year.

We will keep you informed as to what students have been chosen as exemplars of our school rule; ‘At Prouille, we are Respectful, Responsible Learners.’

Ash Wednesday – Next Wednesday 14th February Next Wednesday we will be initiating our Lent Season as well as our Project Compassion mission.

For Years 3-6, classes will be attending Holy Name Church to take part in the 9:15am Parish Mass.

For Years K-2, classes will attend a Liturgy (led by Year 2) in Veritas Hall at 9:15am.

As always, parents and friends are welcome to join us! If the weather is not conducive to our walk down to the Church, Years 3-6 will join our K-2 Liturgy in Veritas Hall. We will alert parents to this change if it occurs. Project compassion This year, our focus is ‘A Just Future’ – something that we strive to achieve for all citizens of our world. Caritas Australia is working together with vulnerable people, helping them to develop their strengths and create change in their own communities. Caritas Australia share stories on their website which demonstrate the impact that Project Compassion can have on various communities. These stories inspire and humble us and display how these people are able to build

better lives for themselves, families and communities. This year they look at stories in Nepal, Cambodia, Jordan, Australia, Mozambique and the Philippines. Your child will bring home a note next week with ideas on how the children might like to bring in their donations for this incredibly worthwhile cause. Reconciliation AND First Eucharist Parent Information Evening – Tuesday 20th February, 7-9pm Veritas Hall Our Holy Name Parish Sacramental Coordinator, Sally Oong, will be facilitating an information evening for parents of children who will be making their Reconciliation and First Eucharist from Year 3 (and up). There will be a delightful cuppa for you, too! Sally will be discussing the process and important dates that will be coming up in preparation for this sacrament. We hope to see you there! Walking the Way – Continuing to cultivate a culture of ‘Accompaniment’ Stay tuned for our next Parent Reflection Morning to be held in our school Chapel this Term. We are aiming to have one reflection morning per Term, due to the success of our first morning session in Term 4 of 2017!

Quote of the Week

"Cultivate with love the seeds of goodness, beauty and truth that God sows in every new generation."

Pope Francis

Wishing you blessings and joy,

Jessica Russell

Religious Education Coordinator

VOLUNTEER CATECHISTS NEEDED If you are able to spare an hour on Wednesdays or Thursdays the parish is looking for adults to teach scripture in local State Schools. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer catechist please contact the Holy Name Parish on 9489 3221.

P & F

2018 Prouille P&F Welcome Cocktail Party

We are very much looking forward to seeing all parents and carers at the annual

welcome cocktail party (adults only event)! All invitations were sent home with the

eldest child at Prouille this week!

Volunteers

We are looking for volunteers to assist on the night and prior to the event in

various capacities (raffle ticket pre-sales, set up etc). If you are able to assist please

contact Laura Munce on:

laura.munce@outlook.com

Raffle Prize Donations

Where possible, we like to garner the support of organisations and businesses from

our local community. We are looking for donated goods/experiences to be

raffled off at the Welcome Event. As one of the generous supporters of our

school, your company name will be advertised throughout the raffle, and in the

newsletter which will be issued to all of the families who currently utilise our

school services. We will also acknowledge and publish to the school community, all

contributors again at the end of the year.

If you are able to donate goods or vouchers to be used as raffle prizes, please

contact Colleen on:

Colleen.p.haigh@gmail.com

We thank you in advance!

Don’t forget to book your tickets via the QKR! App once you have received

your invite!

Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday 24th February!

SCHOOL NEWS

Alan Stopford Tennis Grading Days:

Thursday 8th Feb years 3 to 6 7.30am to 8.30am and Friday 9th Feb years K to 2 7.30am

to 8.30am.

Classes will commence the following week. Contact Alan Stopford for further information

on 0411426554.

With Kind Regards

Deborah Lawler (for)

Alan Stopford.

: ALAN STOPFORD TENNIS GRADING DAYS Thursday 8th February years 3 to 6 7.30am to 8.30am Friday 9th Feb years K to 2 7.30am to 8.30am. Classes will commence the following week. Contact Alan Stopford for further information on 0411426554.

COMMUNITY NEWS