This week we celebrate two significant feast days, St Patrick’s Day and St Joseph’s Day. We also congratulate Fr Sean, who celebrated his birthday this week.

In December last year the Vatican announced that this year (December 8, 2020 - December 8, 2021) would be a year dedicated to St. Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus.  St Joseph is the patron saint of families and the Catholic Church, an exemplary example of how we should live our lives. His life certainly wasn’t rosy, it was filled with many challenges. The most important skills we can learn from him are: Listening, Obedience/Action, Selflessness, Courage and Humility.

"Year of St Joseph" March Reflection

As we prepare to celebrate St Joseph's Day today, Friday 19 March, during this special "Year of St Joseph", we are all invited to reflect on how St Joseph may have responded to his astonishing call to be the foster-father of Jesus and spouse of Mary and what it means for fathers and husbands in today’s world.

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
To you God entrusted his only Son; 
in you Mary placed her trust; 
with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father 
and guide us in the path of life. 
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, 
and defend us from every evil. 

Amen.

Cross-Country Carnival

Unfortunately, due to the weather, the carnival has been postponed until next Friday 26 March.  It will be quite exciting to get out and about and the first time we are able to welcome parents to such an event in a long time. We do ask that parents stay in the spectator area and not wander amongst the students.

Staff will have tickets for the Parish raffle available for sale on the day. They are $10 each, with the prize being a brand new Hyundai venue valued at over $24,000.

Enrolling now for 2022 

The enrolment period for 2022 has opened.  If you have a child who is to start Kindergarten in 2022, or know someone who has, please collect an enrolment form from the School Office or download form our website.  The enrolment period closes on Thursday 1st April and interviews will be conducted mid Term 2.  Enrolment Application

Child Safety Handbook

Please click here to view letter from Michael Fuller, APM, NSW Commissioner of Police.

The “NSW Police Legacy Child Safety Handbook” is a comprehensive resource to assist parents, carers as well as teachers on a range of topics essential to child safety.  Over the past 8 years most NSW primary schools have received hard copies of this most important child safety handbook and have distributed them to the parents and carers of their pupils.

The handbook has been updated to include key messages about COVID-19 safety and bush fire safety given the unprecedented fires we experienced earlier this year.  

The updated digital edition (link below) also includes important content updates from: NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, Rural Fire NSW, Transport for NSW, Sydney Trains, NSW Department of Family & Community Services, eSafety Commissioner and NSW Office of the Children's Guardian.

Please click below to view the updated digital handbook:

PARISH NEWS

Please see below the Holy Week timetable and, if you would like to attend, please register your interest by following the link Register for Mass

Raffle

The raffle will be drawn at the Trivia Night to be held on Friday 30 April, 2021.  The car is now a Hyundai Venue, valued at over $24,000 (supplied by Southern Highland Motor Group. 

Tickets on sale $10.00 per ticket.  Tickets can be purchased via https://www.raffletix.com.au/ccsh or at the Parish Office. 

Please return the books of raffle tickets (with $100) as soon as possible.  More tickets are available for you to take and sell!!!!

Trivia Night

Friday 30 April, 2021 Fr Glynn Centre from 6.00 p.m. Tickets $10.00 per head. 

Come as a single or organize a table of 10 BYO Food & Drink

Bookings are now being taken at the Parish office.

AND DON’T FORGET THIS IS THE NIGHT THE RAFFLE WILL BE DRAWN.

Tip …. Wise up about Pelicans!!!!

APRIL

30    Parish Trivia Night - Book a table or come on your own and join a table.  This is a great way to support the Parish

MAY

29    Confirmation

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has frequently encouraged Catholics to receive God's forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance.  

In his March 2021 prayer intention video, the pope said: “When I go to confession, it is in order to be healed, to heal my soul. To leave with greater spiritual health. To pass from misery to mercy.”

It’s the time of year when many students are preparing to soon receive their first Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a beautiful Sacrament, instituted by Christ as a way to offer us His Mercy and Grace. It is a very special time for our children and our parents, who have had the primary responsibility to help prepare them for this soul-redeeming Sacrament. Here are five simple ways you can help your child prepare for their first reconciliation.

Reconciliation can be a bit intimidating. Whether it's your first, second or three hundredth seventy-second time, bowing your head asking for mercy and forgiveness, is not always easy. But like most everything we experience, the more we do it the more comfortable we are.

Ease your children into understanding the importance of this beautiful sacrament and help them prepare for their first reconciliation with these helpful exercises.

1. Talk about the Sacrament of Reconciliation Together

Before your child receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it’s important they understand what it is and why we do it. Spend time talking with your child about this great healing Sacrament.

Revise together with your child the work you have covered over the past four weeks.

Explain to your children that going to Confession is not about getting into trouble; it’s about asking God for forgiveness and receiving God’s Grace to do better. Listen to your child’s questions and encourage them to learn more by asking more questions.

2. Examination of Conscience

Teach your child how to pray an Examination of Conscience each night before bed, or as often as time allows. Some families do this together as a family before bed, silently reflecting on their days while mum or dad read the Examination out loud.

There are many great examinations around. Try and find one that your child will understand.

3. Practice

Practice, practice, practice! Like with any sport, musical instrument, or other skill – continuous practice is essential. The same is true for preparation for all the Sacraments.

As your child’s first reconciliation approaches, take time to role play with them what they will do in their real confessions. Except, you can tell them they don’t have to really tell you their sins – unless of course they really want to. Maybe you’ll finally find out who really took that item you’ve been searching everywhere for.

4. Go to Confession as a Family

Aside from practicing how to go to confession with your child, practice actually going to confession as a family. As parents, you are the first educators for your children when it comes to our Faith. However, the best way to really teach our children about the Faith is to practice it by living it out in our every day life. Showing your child that you can take the time to go to confession makes a deeper and longer-lasting impression than all the hours you might spend talking or reading about it with them.

5. Pray Together

Aside from all the talking, reading, and practicing, the most essential step in preparing your child – and yourself – for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is prayer. Through prayer, we join in an intimate conversation with God. We ask Him to open our hearts to Him, show Him our weaknesses, and ask for His infinitely merciful forgiveness. Pray with and for your child, asking God to prepare him or her for this great Sacrament.

As Oscar Romero’s reflection says

This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.

Please donate to Project Compassion. Each classroom has a box available.

Thank you for you generosity.

You are warmly Invited to the Parish Trivia Night

Friday 30 April, 2021

Tickets $10.00 per head. 

Tables of 10 or come as an individual. 

Bookings available via the Parish office.

DON’T FORGET THIS IS THE NIGHT THE RAFFLE WILL BE DRAWN

First prize a Hyundai Venue valued at $24,000

Tickets on sale via

Parish Webpage https://www.ccsh.org.au

The Parish Office or on the night.

At St Thomas Aquinas we have three very important school rules:

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.  

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.

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.

Hands on, tackling and contact sport is NEVER allowed at STA.  This is the rule for EVERYONE, every single day.

Be considerate and don’t interfere or walk through other people’s games.  Stop the game and get help if someone is hurt.

Practise the Golden Rule when playing:

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

Remember to follow the STA rules during play:

Stay Safe and Act Respectfully every single day.

Yr 2-6 Cross Country Carnival  – Weather permitting, all students in Years 2-6 will be taking part in the STA Cross Country at Chevalier College next Friday 26 March.  Students will be transported to and from Chevalier by bus.  Students take part in a 2km race and fun activities.  The fastest 3 runners in each age category will represent the school at the Diocesan Cross Country in Nowra on 27 April.  Students must turn 8 years of age this year in order to progress to the next level. At the conclusion of the carnival, students will return to school.  Spectators are permitted at the event.  If you are taking your child home at the conclusion of the carnival, please sign them out with a staff member.

Yr K-2 Cross Country Carnival – CANCELLED.

Nominations for the Sport Gala Days have now closed.  Students will be informed in Term 2 which Gala Days they will be attending.

Congratulations to all those students who represented the school at the various sport trials.  Daniel M was successful and has been selected to attend the MacKillop Hockey trials in Canberra in April.

Lucas H has qualified to compete in the Little Athletics State Championships this weekend at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in the folowing events:

Boys U 9 60 Metre Hurdles (45 cm) | Boys U 9 100 Metre Sprint | Boys U 9 70 Metre Sprint | Boys U 9 200 Metre Sprint

Good luck Lucas, we look forward to hearing your results.

Change of traffic arrangements

Thank you to all parents and carers for your patience and understanding of the new drop-off and pick-up arrangements that the Council have introduced.  

School Fees

If you have any questions regarding your fees, please contact Shauna in the office.

Personal details

Could you please let the office know if you have changed addres so that our records can be current.  You should be able to change your email address and phone number in Compass.

School Attendance

If your child is absent from school, could you please enter the details in Compass, with an explanation for their leave eg Travel, Holiday, Medical Appointment etc.

If your child will be absent for 10 days or more, there is a form (available from the office) which needs to be completed and approved by the Principal.

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.

Thank you to all students and parents for your generosity with the Easter raffle. 

We were inundated with eggs and chocolates yesterday.  Please remember to send back your tickets and, if you would like extra tickets, just send the money in a plastic bag and your tickets will be placed in the draw.