This Sunday is the beginning of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year. The first part of Advent focuses on the coming of Jesus at the end of time. It shows us why Jesus came into the world. In the liturgical calendar, the season of Advent means a joyful waiting, a waiting for someone with love.  Here we wait for Jesus and there is the eagerness within us to receive him as we look forward to this great event of God becoming man. We wait for Jesus as his coming contains promise, love, preparation, alertness, reflectiveness, prayer, new beginnings and fulfilment.

The name Advent comes from the Latin words, ad venire meaning to come to and adventus meaning an arrival of a person of importance, a king or a prince or a warrior leader, and in this context it refers to Christ’s coming into this world.

The theme of the first Week of Advent is hope.

Hope is a virtue that is critical for survival in life. We don't last long without it. We die physically, emotionally, and spiritually without it. Living involves hoping.

A great prayer during the Advent season would be a prayer of hope in Divine Mercy for the conversion of some person you know who is far away from God — even if that person may be yourself! Just utter these words, "Jesus, I trust in you," and he will not be far from you.

The theme of the second week of advent is peace.

As we pray for peace throughout our world in that week in Advent it is a useful time to reflect upon the peace in our own lives – do we find times of quiet and calm to be with God? And how do we work with others to be loving and forgiving?

The theme of the third week of advent is joy.

The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called "Gaudete Sunday" (from Latin, meaning "Rejoice!), because the "Entrance Antiphon" of this Sunday's Mass is taken from Paul's letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near." (Phil 4:4-5b)

The theme of the fourth week of advent is love.

Love is a huge theme but in Advent particularly we focus on the importance of giving to others and trying to ensure that the warmth of Jesus’ love at Christmas will reach far and wide. By supporting those who are most in need we are showing that a baby born in a stable made a huge difference to the world.

 God of surprises and unexpected comings,

Awaken in me a sensitivity to your presence.

As we prepare for your coming into our lives each day.

You who are God, Emmanuel,

God with us.

Amen

Reminders

We please ask that students leave off bringing Christmas cards etc. to school to hand out until Week 9 and that they do not bring candy canes to school so that we are able to keep the students settled and focused on the work that is still taking place in classrooms. Year 6 students are also able to bring autograph books/bears etc. for signing from Week 9. No signing of items of clothing please.

Just a reminder that we are considerate of our neighbours and keep their driveways clear during drop off and pickup times. Congratulations to everyone for a good report from the ranger who spent some time in our street over the last week. She was very pleased with the way everyone followed the rules. Well done!

Kinder Orientation

We had great pleasure in welcoming our new students for kindergarten 2021 last Tuesday. The children had a lovely time, some so much so that they didn’t want to go home. We look forward to welcoming these families and a number of other families across the school again next year.

Activate Fire

Today our Year 6 students participated in a full day spiritual experience. The day centred on the Sacraments of initiation based on their unit of work in Religious Education ‘Conformation: Celebrating the Gift of the Holy Spirit’.

This event is usually facilitated by the CEO Youth Ministry team with a few schools combining, but due to COVID it had to take a different format this year.  The team provided us with videos of the sessions and still provided a very reflective and fun day for our students.

Year 5 Leadership Day

On Friday Year 5 students will participate in a Leadership program, ‘Explore, Discover & Act’  in preparation for being a responsible team leader in Year 6.The focus of the program is to L.E.A.D. with Courage and is designed for Stage 3 leaders.

Throughout the day the students will:

• Explore (the possibilities) – Examine and process personal and shared leadership by building an individual and shared connection, understanding and vocabulary.

• Discover (potential) – Engage in challenges and reflection that build awareness and appreciation of our ability to L.E.A.D. within our daily thoughts, words and actions.
• Act (authentically) – Connect learning to leadership environments, to empower participants with meaningful action beyond the program and transferable skills, attitudes and behaviours.
• Develop an increased awareness of and deepening connection to self, others and the world around us.
• Develop an appreciation for the ability to L.E.A.D. in all daily thoughts, words and actions.

• Value the role of connection and interdependence while working towards authentic goals.

• Express an attitude and sense of empowerment while continuing the learning and leadership journey.

This program is the introduction to the program that Yr 6 will participate in on a regular basis next year.

Yr 6 Camp

On Wednesday next week our Year 6 students head off to Narrabeen for their overnight camp. It is fantastic that they have been able to go and celebrate the end of primary school as a group. We hope they have a wonderful time and that the weather is kind to them.

I hope you have a lovely fortnight, be kind to yourselves in this busy time, not long to go until some rest!

PARISH NEWS

Scripture Study

What better way to make a comeback to parish gatherings than to join a scripture study for the new liturgical year?

 First Sunday of Advent (29 November) begins the year B readings of the liturgical cycle, which deals mainly with the Gospel of St Mark.

Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday 1 December, 2020 in the Parish Hall from 7.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.

This discussion will be an introductory one, outlining the structure and theme of St Mark’s Gospel.  This also is a great way to prepare for understanding the Gospel we hear at Sunday Mass.

All welcome. Those wishing to attend need to register via the website www.ccsh.org.au   or  contact the Parish Office via phone or email.

Don't forget to register for Masses on the weekend. Very shortly, Mass times over Christmas will be released, please keep a lookout for the times, as you will need to register just as you do on weekends.

Some of the most precious moments in a child’s faith journey are those of their First Holy Communion. We were blessed to be witnesses to this on Sunday.

Congratulations to all the children who made their First Holy Communion last Sunday. One has to prepare carefully for such golden moments, or they glide away before one knows they have arrived. The children were a credit to their parents, in the way they were prepared and in how they participated in the ceremony. 

I would also like to thank the Liturgy Group and Miss Abotomey.  Miss Abotomey not only sang and played but used her great skills to record the students singing for the Mass, their voices added to the beauty of the ceremony. Great credit is due to all these children who serve throughout the year giving up lunch times to help in Sacramental liturgies.  

I would like to acknowledge and thank Mrs Leonie Dunlop for the incredible work she does for our Parish. The display of flowers on the sanctuary was magnificent and all her work in the church garden added to the beauty of the day.  

Our school and Parish communities appreciate all of the hard work that was carried out in the preparation for the Sacrament. The goodwill of all our staff is a massive asset to our school community.

Sincere thanks to all.

Vicki Johnson
Religious Education Co-ordinator

At STA we have three very important school rules:

The PB4L Rule Reminders for the rest of the term will be about Safe and
Respectful Play Everyday.
At St Thomas Aquinas school we all have the right to feel safe and respected when we are playing during break time. When we are playing safely and respectfully, we are making sure that our words and actions are keeping ourselves and others safe and respected at all times. 

Remember to:

1. Follow the STA Rules of the game you are playing.  

Use all the equipment correctly and make sure you are at the right place at the
right time. Check the posters around the school or check with a teacher if you
are not sure.

2. Safe and respectful play is not about winning or losing, or if you are in
or out.

Just be a good sport and have fun with your friends.  Be a good sport by speaking nicely, following the rules and taking turns.

3. Stay Safe and Act Respectfully when playing.

Use kind and respectful words and voice when sorting out a problem in a game. Always use your manners. Get help from a teacher if this does not work. 

4. Hands on, tackling and contact sport  are NEVER allowed at STA.

This is the rule for EVERYONE, every single day. Keep calm and respect yourself and others.

5. Be considerate and don’t interfere or walk through other people’s games. 

Stop the game and get help if someone is hurt. Always do the right thing in break time, even when you think no one is watching.

6. Practise the Golden Rule when playing.

Always treat others the way you want to be treated with your words and with
your actions.

Stay Safe and Act Respectfully every single day.

Remember to follow the STA rules during play.

Just Play, Have Fun and Enjoy the game.

Upcoming events:

Students presenting at sick bay

This is located adjacent to the school office and we sell hats, bags, beanies, gloves and scarves.  EFTPOS is available for new stock.

The P & F 2nd hand Uniform Shop is open for the sale of items @ $2 per item. The money raised from these sales will be donated to St Vincent de Paul at the end of the year. 

for 2nd hand items.  DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED.

Don't forget you can also catch us on our Facebook page.