St Vincent's News
Week Three Term Two 2023
Our 2023 Mantra
Our School Vision...
St Vincent’s is a welcoming, Christ centred and child focused community where inclusivity and diversity are celebrated. Inspired by our patron St Vincent de Paul, we seek to empower all to embrace the spirit, peace and wisdom of Jesus and become respectful stewards of the earth.
Acknowledgement of Country
St Vincent’s School acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the lands on which we learn and play. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future and honour their unique cultural and spiritual relationship to the land, waters and seas and rich contribution to society.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
In John 14:15-21, Jesus promises his disciples that after he departs from them, he will send them the Holy Spirit as a comforter and advocate. This passage reminds us that we are not alone, and that we have a source of guidance and support even when we feel lost or unsure.
As students, we face many challenges in our academic and personal lives. We may feel overwhelmed by our workload, uncertain about our future, or struggling with relationships or personal issues. In these moments, it can be easy to feel isolated and alone.
However, the promise of the Holy Spirit in this passage reminds us that we are never truly alone. Even when we feel disconnected from others, we have a source of comfort and guidance that is always with us. This can give us the strength to face our challenges with courage and determination, knowing that we are supported by a higher power.
Moreover, this passage also encourages us to show love and obedience to Jesus in our daily lives. Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commands." This reminds us that our faith is not just a matter of belief, but also of action. We are called to live out our faith by following Jesus' example of love and compassion towards others.
As we reflect on this passage, we remember we are never truly alone, and that we can find comfort and guidance in our faith. May we strive to live out our faith through acts of love and kindness, and to be a source of support and comfort to those around us.
From the Leadership Team
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
We all understand the importance of assisting our children to learn to be Claimers not Blamers as being able to take responsibility for our choices is a vital part of growing up.
Recently when informing parents of a poor choice their child has made in the classroom or the playground, we have encountered parents wanting to focus on the behaviour of other children involved and seeking to blame 'the other' for choices their child has made.
As parents and educators, it's our job to help our children learn important lessons and develop the skills they need to make good choices and be able to take responsibility for their actions.
One way to do this is by encouraging children to think about the consequences of their choices. Rather than simply telling them what to do, we help them understand the reasons behind our guidance and the potential outcomes of different choices. This empowers children to make informed decisions and be able to choose the best way forward.
Another important aspect of teaching responsibility is setting clear boundaries and consequences. Children need to understand that their choices have consequences, both positive and negative. By setting clear expectations and consequences, we can help children understand the importance of making good choices and taking responsibility for their actions.
Teaching children to take responsibility is not always easy so it is important to model responsible behaviour ourselves. Children learn by example, so if we demonstrate responsible decision-making and take responsibility for our actions our children will see this is a natural part of life and ensure they become the amazing people God created them to be.
Happy Mother's Day! At this time of the year, it is important we all take a moment to reflect on the special role that mothers play in our lives. Mothers are often the ones who guide us, support us, and teach us some of the most important lessons in life. But beyond these practical roles, mothers also have a spiritual impact on our lives that cannot be underestimated.
Mothers are often seen as the embodiment of unconditional love, and this is a trait that is closely linked to spirituality. In many spiritual traditions, including our Catholic faith, love is seen as the most powerful force in the universe, and it's something that connects us all. Mothers have a unique ability to show us this love in action, often putting their own needs aside to care for us and help us grow.
This kind of selfless love is something that we can all learn from, regardless of our beliefs. It's a reminder that we are all connected, and that we can all make a positive impact on those around us by showing love and kindness.
This Mother's Day, we thank all the mothers and mother figures in our lives for the love and guidance they have given us and reflect on the spiritual impact that they have had on us, as we strive to embody the 'mother-like' qualities of love, kindness, and selflessness in our own lives.
May we all seek to live the coming weeks in a beautiful way.
Anne, Lorralie and Creed
Huge thanks to the amazing Ms Lena Turner and members of our beautiful staff for organising and catering for our Friday Liturgy and Mothers Morning Tea , to Mrs Clare Matheson and the Avanti Choir for their delightful singing and to our Pre-Kindy to Pre-Primary teams for the special afternoon teas held on Thursday and Friday. We had such lovely feedback - hope everyone who was able to attend was made to feel special!
Well done also to our very special Pre-Primaries for singing your special Song For Mum! Definitely brought a tear to the eye!
Exciting news from Mr Yorke!
We are so grateful and blessed to have such a healthy and happy family.
Office Hours 8.15am to 3.15pm
THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL PARENTS AND FRIENDS!
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with the school community! Thanks to the generosity of our Parents and Friends, we now have brand new cubbies and play spaces for our students to enjoy.
The addition of a train, a plane, and a pirate ship will allow our students to expand their imaginative play and explore new worlds. We believe that imaginative play is essential for the development of our students' social, emotional, and cognitive skills, and these new additions will provide them with endless opportunities to learn and grow.
We would like to express our gratitude to all our P&F and all our parents and friends who contributed towards this project. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated, and we are excited to see the positive impact that these new play spaces will have on our students.
We encourage our students to make the most of these new play spaces and hope that they will continue to develop their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through imaginative play. Thank you again to everyone involved, particularly the P&F President and member of our CSAC, Alannah Sullivan for making this project a success!
ARE YOU MISSING OUR P&F?
As announced at our Annual General Community Meeting last year, Alannah Sullivan (our P&F President) has been seconded onto the School Advisory Council. Allanah and Tiffany Nguyen (2022 Treasurer) did their very best to keep the P&F going in 2022, however, covid restrictions, poor meeting attendance and having a committee of two made this very difficult. We will be looking to restart the P&F again in 2024 and seeking nominations for the various positions before the end of 2023. In the meantime, please feel free to ask questions, provide feedback etc. via the form on our school website https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Iy-FxTM2KU-zhlHaU-NeI_8HM-q0FZtKq3GThHHP31lUQVY5WjBIVVFNSTNYN1FQTUhQNzNIM043TCQlQCN0PWcu or directly to anne.aquino@cewa.edu.au .
Our MJR focus is BE A CLAIMER NOT A BLAMER!
Encouraging children to be "claimers" rather than "blamers" instills a sense of personal accountability and empowers them to make positive decisions in various aspects of their lives.
Teaching children to be claimers means helping them understand that they have control over their own choices and actions. Instead of blaming external factors or others for their mistakes or challenges, they learn to take ownership and responsibility for their decisions.
Here are some ways we can guide our children in becoming claimers:
Cultivate self-awareness: Help children develop an awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Encourage reflection on their choices and the impact they have on themselves and others. By understanding their own behaviors and motivations, they can begin to make intentional and responsible choices.
Teach problem-solving skills: Empower children with problem-solving strategies to address challenges they encounter. Encourage them to seek solutions and take initiative rather than looking for someone else to fix things for them. This fosters a proactive mindset and a sense of personal responsibility.
Foster a non-judgmental environment: Create a safe space where children feel comfortable discussing their mistakes and learning from them. Emphasise that making mistakes is a part of growth, and that what matters is taking responsibility and learning how to improve and move forward positively.
Model claiming behaviour: Children learn by observing the actions of those around them, so it's essential to model claiming behaviour ourselves. Take responsibility for your own choices and demonstrate how to learn from mistakes. By being a positive role model, you can inspire children to become claimers in their own lives.
By teaching children to be claimers rather than blamers, we equip them with valuable skills for personal growth and ethical decision-making. It aligns with Jesus' teachings of personal responsibility, forgiveness, and love for others.
Together, we guide our children on this path of becoming claimers who make choices with integrity and contribute positively to their school, home, and community.
Keyed Up Lessons
What's happening in Term Two?
Week Four
May 15
16
17
18 Photomakers Class Photos
19
Week Five
May 22
23 Year Four Kolbe College Excursion
24 National Simultaneous Storytime - The Speedy Sloth 9am
25
26 Assembly - Cultural Team
26 SORRY DAY
26 Newsletter
Week Six
May 29 NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
30
31 Holy Communion Family Workshop
1 June
2 Assembly - Year One
Week Seven
June 5 - WA DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
6 PUPIL FREE DAY - STUDENTS DO NOT ATTEND
7 Life Link Day Launch
8 Holy Communion Retreat Day
9 House Cross Country
9 Newsletter
9 Sacrament of First Holy Communion Mass
10 Sacrament of First Holy Communion Mass
Week Eight
June 12
13
14
15
16 Assembly - Pre-Primary
17 Holy Communion - Gift Presentation
18 Holy Communion - Gift Presentation
Week Nine
June 19
20 World Refugee Day
21
22
23 Assembly - De Vialar House
23 Year Five/Six Winter Sports Carnival
23 Newsletter
Week Ten
June 26
27
28 Semester One Reports available on ENGAGE
29 PYJAMA DAY
30 NAIDOC Mass - Buddy/House Activities
30 LAST DAY OF TERM TWO
TERM THREE
JULY 17 - PUPIL FREE DAY - STUDENTS DO NOT ATTEND
JULY 18 - STUDENTS BEGIN TERM THREE