Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

Just a reminder that this Friday is a pupil free day. The TeamKids program is available for those parents needing care on Friday or over the holidays. You can book in for a day or two here or there or the whole time. Contact details for TeamKids are on our website.

As the term draws to an end it is time to farewell Mr Matthew Maloney as he heads off to a new school. Mr Maloney has been teaching some of the students on Macquoid Sport this year however over the years has been a classroom teacher and health teacher as well. As a leader of the school Mr Maloney also works out of Lowe Street so pretty much all the children across the school will know him. We thank Matthew for his dedication to St Gregory’s over the past 10 ½ years and wish him continued success in his career as he moves on to an ACT school.

I would like to congratulate Mrs Anna van Aaken on her promotion to the position of Coordinator and welcome her to the leadership team as of next term. Anna will take over Matthew Maloney’s Coordinator’s role on the leadership team supporting Year 2 amongst many other things.

Over the past week we have had very successful sport achievement with students participating in AFL, the Sullivan Shield and Northern Regions Athletics. By all accounts the students did us very proud with their behaviour, being good sports and sporting talents. Congratulations to all involved and thanks very much to the parents and teachers who made the participation in these wonderful sporting events possible.

The GIFT Assembly was yet another way we celebrated learning and achievement on Friday. The Year 2 and 4 students showed off some of the highlights of the Term for them and we were also fortunate to have heard our two new singing groups perform. I also congratulate all the awards recipients on their achievement.

On Sunday afternoon we had a very successful school disco. Although the format was a little different to previous years it was still a big success. There were a number of parents from the Community Council and the fundraising committee who put many hours in to ensure it was a fabulous event. I thank them all for their time and dedication to both the children and the school. A shout out must also go to the parents who kindly spent the disco time in our school library covering our new novels which were purchased by the Community Council. This was a big help and really appreciated as well. Thank you all.

The reports were released on Compass on Friday afternoon however unfortunately no alter to parents occurred advising that they were available. I do apologise for this hiccup. Please let us know if you are having any difficulty finding your child’s report. Just a reminder we have parent teacher meetings

this week. We would love to see all parents. If you forgot to book an appointment they are now closed so please reach out to your child’s teacher via email.

It is the end of another busy term with students finishing on Thursday. Please have a nice restful few weeks and stay safe over the holidays. May we pray together as we look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday 23rd July for Term 3.

Dear Lord,

We take time to reflect and thank you, for all that was good over this term.

For the love of our family and friends.

For the sunshine that warms the cooler days.

For the help of our teachers and support staff.

For our growing talents and abilities and ever improving knowledge, wisdom and happiness. Give us the grace to become more like Jesus in the ways we think and behave.

We thank you Lord, for our challenges, our successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. Be with us as we spend our holiday time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith. Help us to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others and to be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe over the holidays and as we journey to exciting holiday destinations. Support us with Your strength and grace when we are weary and guide us to make our time together as a family meaningful and memorable.

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.

Amen

FIRST EUCHARIST

Congratulations to our Year 4 students who received the sacrament of First Eucharist in Week 8. It was a lovely celebration! Thank you for all your prayers.

CONFIRMATION

Registration has commenced for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Any Year 6 parents or carers who would like their child to receive the Sacrament needs to register on the St Gregory's PARISH Qkr App.

VINNIES CAN APPEAL

Just a reminder that this Thursday is the last day for students to bring in canned veggies to donate to Vinnies to help those who are hungry. On Thursday, students who have brought in a can are allowed to wear green, orange or yellow so we will look like a school of peas, carrots and corn! Thanks for your generosity!

OVERDUE BOOKS

Overdue notes have been sent out to the students at Macquoid St. Please help your child/ren to locate any overdue books and return to the Library before the holidays. If you know that a book has been lost or damaged, please email the details to: natalina.ireland@cg.catholic.edu.au

BOOK WEEK

CBCA Book Week is coming up in Week 5 of term 3 (17-23 August).

We will hold our annual Book Week Parade at each campus - dates for each campus are yet to be determined. 

So, time to start thinking about a character to dress up as. Look in your dress up box, wardrobe or the local Op-Shops for inspiration. 

Costumes don’t need to be elaborate or expensive and the most imaginative ones are often ‘put together’ or constructed at home. 

No prizes are awarded for costumes we just encourage everyone to dress up and join in the fun.

2024 NSW PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE

Congratulations to the following students who have completed this year's Challenge in the past 2 weeks: 

Kindergarten: Qara H, Blake L, Karolina M, Levi S, Yashraj S, Hugh W

Year 1: Aiden I, Trey L, Anshika S

Year 2: Charlotte C, Poppy-Mae S

Year 3: Hayden C, Iris C, Lucia F, Lachlan P

Year 4: Salman H, Ivy S

Year 5: Taran H

Year 6: Kylah S

Please remember that this is a voluntary extra-curricular activity that needs to be supported by parents/carers and requires you (the parent/carer) to record and update your child's record. We help and support this activity, however you must be involved to monitor, encourage, and record online. 

Its still not too late to register your child if they are interested in the challenge. Please download and read the Parent Letter and return the registration form to the Library. 

It can be downloaded from the school's website - "Communications/Notes/2024 PRC Parent Letter".  

Even if you child has participated in previous years, we still require the registration form to be completed. 

Reading from 01 September 2023 to 22 August 2024 is eligible to be counted. 

The closing date for entering books on the website is 23 August 2024. 

Any question should be directed to myself at natalina.ireland@cg.catholic.edu.au 

The latest Book Club has now closed - thank you to everyone that ordered some books. 

The order has been received at Macquoid St, and will be distributed to the students within the next few days.

The NFSA in Acton is screening a selection of sports classics and well-loved family movies during the July school holidays, including A League of Their Own, Cool Runnings, Bend It Like Beckham, Howl’s Moving Castle and Lilo & Stitch. The NFSA building is open daily to explore before or after the screening, including pop culture curiosities on display in The Library and locally roasted coffee available to enjoy in the onsite cafe or sunny courtyard.

A League of Their Own | 6 pm, Fri 5 Jul

Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and fight to prove that women have a place in sports in this critically acclaimed hit inspired by true events.

Cool Runnings | 1 pm, Thu 11 Jul

A feel-good family film about striving to achieve your goals – no matter the odds – loosely based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team to compete at the Olympics.

Bend It Like Beckham | 1 pm, Fri 12 Jul

Sporting talent, family expectations and friendship collide in this heartfelt coming-of-age comedy about two young women who bond over their shared love of football.

Howl’s Moving Castle | 1 pm, Thu 18 Jul

The Wizard of Oz meets anime magic in this heartwarming fantasy adventure from Studio Ghibli. Selling fast!

Lilo & Stitch | 1 pm, Fri 19 Jul

Extraterrestrial experiment Stitch and young Hawaiian orphan Lilo find unlikely connection (and much chaos) in this treasured Disney animation.