St Denis School Newsletter
Term 4 Week 7
- Remembrance Day Prayer Service
- Icy Pole Fundraiser
- Pilgrims of Hope
- Annual Community Meeting
- St Denis Facebook Buy and Sell
- St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal
Loving God,
As we enter this busy time of the term, we give thanks for the many blessings in our school community. Thank you for the learning, friendships, and growth we have experienced this year.
Guide us through the final weeks of term with patience and strength. Help us to support one another, showing kindness and respect in all that we do. May we continue to grow in faith, hope, and love as we prepare for the holidays ahead.
Bless our students, staff, and families and keep us safe and united in your love.
Amen
IMPORTANT DATES
· FRIDAY 22 NOV – PRE-KINDY 2025 ORIENTATION (AM)
· MONDAY 25 to WEDNESDAY 27 NOV – YEAR 5 SURF CAMP
· MONDAY 2 DEC – CHRISTMAS CONCERT (FOOTSTEPS) – 5:45PM OVAL
· WEDNESDAY 4 DEC – OUTBACK SPLASH – YEAR 6 END OF YEAR EXCURSION
· THURSDAY 5 DEC – MEET THE TEACHER (9:40AM – 10:30AM)
· FRIDAY 6 DEC – GRADUATION MASS (9:00AM – ST DENIS CHURCH)
Dear Parents and Members of our School Community,
As we move into Week 7 of Term 4, the excitement is building for the upcoming events that mark the end of our school year. It’s hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by, and it has been a privilege to see so much growth in our students – academically, socially, and spiritually.
This is a busy and important time for our students as they complete assessments, wrap up projects and prepare to move forward. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our teachers and support staff, who continue to inspire and nurture each child, helping them reach their learning goals.
We have some wonderful events ahead, including our Year 6 Graduation Mass and end of year Christmas Concert. These occasions allow us to come together as a community, celebrating our achievements and reflecting on the year. I encourage everyone to participate and share in these special moments with us.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Together, we continue to make our school a place where children are loved, supported and inspired to grow. Let’s make these final weeks memorable for our students as they look forward to the holidays and new adventures in the coming year.
REMEMBRANCE DAY PRAYER SERVICE
Last week, our Year 1 students led a beautiful and moving prayer service for Remembrance Day. It was a truly special occasion as they gathered to honour and remember those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. The students did a wonderful job, demonstrating respect and reverence throughout the service. They shared heartfelt prayers, reflections and a song, reminding us all of the importance of peace and gratitude. The care and thoughtfulness they put into the service made it a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone who attended. A big thank you to our Year 1 teachers for guiding the students in preparing this important service and to the families for joining us.
ICY-POLE FUNDRAISER
A big thank you to all our students, families and staff for their wonderful support of our recent icy-pole fundraiser in aid of the Sisters of Mercy - MercyWorks. Your enthusiasm and generosity have made a significant difference and it’s inspiring to see our community come together to support such a meaningful cause. A special thank you goes to Lisa Tham for her kind donation which helped make this fundraiser a success. Your contributions and support allow us to continue helping those in need and honouring the work of the Sisters of Mercy.
PILGRIMS OF HOPE FILM CLIP
We're thrilled to share that two of our talented Year 6 students, Millie and Xavier, had the opportunity to participate in the recording and filming of Andrew Chin’s song, "Pilgrims of Hope," as part of the preparations for the 2025 Jubilee Year, also known as the Holy Year of Hope. This inspiring song captures the spirit of optimism and unity, and our students shone brightly with their performances.
A special thank you to Cathy Cotton and Kat McKenzie for their dedication in preparing and recording our students' contributions. Their hard work and guidance were instrumental in this remarkable experience.
You can watch the beautiful film clip and see our stars in action on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfkkpakJGLA . It’s a proud moment for our school community, and we encourage everyone to view this message of hope as we prepare for 2025.
ANNUAL COMMUNITY MEETING
Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Community Meeting on Tuesday, 19th November. It was wonderful to see so many members of our school community come together to reflect on the achievements of the past year and discuss our plans for the future. During the meeting, we announced the staffing arrangements for 2025. We are excited to share the team who will be supporting and guiding our students next year with you and this will be shared via Seesaw later today. Your ongoing support and involvement are invaluable and we look forward to another fantastic year ahead. Thank you once again for your commitment to our school community.
ST DENIS FACEBOOK BUY/SELL
The St Denis Freebies Facebook page has recently undergone some "renovations".
With the introduction of the new contemporary school uniform, it was thought that the ability to connect families who wish to buy or sell (rather than gift) the new style uniforms would be useful.
The name of the group has been updated, and the rules of engagement have been updated.
Please note - no money can be exchanged on school grounds or given to children. Please PM your adult buyer/seller to make arrangements.
Old style uniforms can still be gifted via the page (for use by year 5s and 6s in 2025)
Please keep it simple and easy and embrace the community aspect of the group.
To access the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/247625552889115/
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2024
St Denis is proud to participate in the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal again. We are coming together to prepare festive hampers for over 45 local families who have sought help from the St Vincent de Paul Society. Our parishioners will also contribute to filling these hampers with nourishing food.
Join us in this endeavour to support our community and spread some holiday cheer to those in need!
Donation Details: Please drop off your donations in the designated baskets located in all classrooms from Monday, 11 November to Wednesday, 6 December 2024.
Suggested Non-Perishable Food Donations:
- Pasta and Pasta Sauce
- Tinned Ham and Tuna
- Canned Vegetables
- Rice, Flour, and Oil
- Long Life Milk, Juice, and Custard
- Tea, Coffee, Sugar, and Milo
- Instant Noodles and Rice
- Cereals
- Tomato Sauce
- Jam, Honey, Vegemite, and Nutella
- Canned or Packaged Fruits
- Nuts and Dried Fruits
- Christmas Cakes and Puddings
- Soft Drinks and Cordials
- Snacks like Potato Chips
- Sweet and Savoury Biscuits
- Chocolates
Let’s come together to make this holiday season memorable for all! Thank you for your generosity and enthusiasm.
ADVANCED NOTICE
· End of year Christmas Concert – MONDAY 2 DECEMBER, commencing at 5:45PM SHARP. More information communicated via SEESAW.
Many Thanks
Eugene Potito
Principal
REFLECTING ON WORLD DIABETES DAY
Last Thursday, our Year 6 students and staff came together to observe World Diabetes Day, a key event aimed at raising awareness about diabetes and its impacts. In a show of support and solidarity, particularly for their classmate, Nicolas, the year 6 class was encouraged to wear blue. The class also enjoyed a treat with cupcakes. It was a meaningful opportunity for us all to learn more and show our support for those affected by diabetes.
“Grab your entertainment membership today!
St Denis receives 20% of every membership sold and goes directly to our fundraiser”
