Dear Parents, Carers and Friends, 

Like always there are many things happening in the school community. Last week we had three students, Hendrix Imrie, Reuben Guy and Archer Gillis, participating in state championships of Alpine Ski Racing and Skier Cross Country. Congratulations to these boys on their outstanding achievements on the snow. We also had eight students participate in the Northern Region Public Speaking competition representing our school beautifully. Congratulations to Matilda Davis who won the Year 6 competition and will move onto the Archdiocesan competition in the coming weeks. This week we also have a large number of students representing Northern Regions Schools at the Archdiocesan Athletics carnival and our St Gregory’s girls AFL team are travelling to Sydney to participate in the AFL finals. So many different talents! Thanks to the parents and teachers involved in supporting these students and giving them the opportunity to compete in all of these fabulous events.

 Last week saw us celebrating the ‘Reading is Magic’ Book Week. I thank the librarians, Mary and Sarah and Nat our Librarian assistant for all their work making this such a fabulous week for the children. I would also like to thank you, the parents for supporting book week by helping your child/ren with amazing costumes. The students had such an enjoyable time in this fun week which spotlights the fun of reading. We were also fortunate to welcome the Director of Catholic Education, Mr Ross Fox, to our Lowe Street Book Week parade. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing the joy in the students faces, their fabulous costumes and also visited them all in their classrooms to see them working. Next week will be another busy week for our librarians as they hold the Lowe Street Scholastic Bookfair on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th September).

Just a reminder that TeamKids offer our school a fabulous school holiday program and are also able to take students on the pupil free day at the end of Week 10 (Friday 27^th September) and the commencement of Week 1 (Monday 14^th October). The holiday program is very flexible, and you can book in for as few or as many days as you need. I visited the students at last terms holiday program, and they were all very happy, engaged and having a wonderful time which was so lovely to see.

The year is flying by and as we start the process of preparing for the 2025 school year, I ask that parents of students in Kinder to Year 5 who will not be returning to St Gregory’s please advise us as soon as possible. This notice is greatly appreciated as it helps us planning for the new year.

Please join us in celebrating Father’s Day at Macquoid Street on Friday morning. Don’t forget to preorder your family breakfast and come along to enjoy time together as a community celebrating our children’s fabulous fathers and fatherly figures. Last year it was so lovely seeing so many fathers wearing their special gift created by their child in Kindergarten. Thanks to TeamKids who have organised for a coffee van to be at our 2024 Father’s Day event.

This week we farewell Mr Sam Crane who has been teaching Sport at St Gregory’s this year. I wish Sam all the best in his future endeavours and thank him for his dedication to St Gregory’s during his time with us. We will also welcome a new Arts teacher, Bell Frolchenko, to St Gregory’s Macquoid Street campus on Monday Week 7. Belle will bring her visual arts talents to share with the students during their release from class. This will take the place of music lessons for the remainder of the 2024 year.

We are having trouble with students misusing, damaging and causing unnecessary mess in the bathrooms.  Could you please re-iterate to your child to report when they notice this happen, as everyone would like a clean and tidy bathroom to use.  

Next Tuesday we celebrate the feast day of our patron saint, St Gregory the Great. St Gregory is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers. He also worked to promote unity among the world’s Christian Churches and helped the poor. Some believe he is largely responsible for the Gregorian chant which is still in use today. We will commence the feast day with a whole school mass at St Raphael’s church after which we will walk to the park to take part in our annual school lap-a-thon.

As we continue to pray for all those in need, sick or aging, and our Year 6 Confirmation candidates. We pray especially for those recently deceased that they may rest in peace and their families be comforted in this difficult time by your unending love and the promise of eternal life.

Together let us also pray the prayer to St Gregory the Great.

Father, you guide your people with kindness and govern us with love.

By the prayers of St Gregory give the spirit of wisdom to those you have called to lead your church.

May the growth of your people in holiness be the eternal joy of your shepherds.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen, 

Have a blessed week.

Tiffany Reedy

2024 NSW PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE - IS NOW CLOSED! 

Well done to all of the students that successfully complete the 2024 Premier's Reading Challenge. The challenge is now CLOSED to parents. 

From the 184 students registered for this year's challenge, we had 162 of these students complete the challenge - what a great result! 

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL! 

All certificates will be issued towards the end of term 4. 

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

Kindergarten: Naomi C, Arabella M, Elijah C, Wren G, Ted H, Harvey N, Spencer W, Logan A, Daniel B, Chloe H, Zachary V

Year 1: Mele T, Grace F, Lily J, Ashleen K, Milana K, Olivia W, Savannah L, Ava B, Finn C, Daxton Z

Year 2: Eamon C, Louis F, Olivia S, Layken S, Harlyn O

Year 3: Ryan H, Scarlett N, Lilijana S, Jack S, Oliver V

Year 4: Layne D, Van G, Reuben G, Hendrix I, Isaac W, Xavier G

Year 5: Lucy D, Sophie S, Laila O, Hilary P

Year 6: James H, Stella L, Ethan G, Elizabeth W

Prizes will also be awarded to the students that finished first from each year level : 

Kindergarten: Evelyn M; Year 1: John M; Year 2: Dietrich M; Year 3: Lillian C; Year 4: Pia C; Year 5: Ridhima K; Year 6: Emma G 

(These prizes will be given out it term 4 along with the certificates)

As the school's organiser, I still have access to the PRC website for one more week. If your child has completed their reading but you missed the cut off, please email their details as well as a list of books that they have read. This needs to be received before Friday 30 August. 

BOOK WEEK

WOW, what a fun day that was! 

Thank you to all of the parents that were able to support their child/ren to come dressed as a book character for our Book Week Parades. 

It was a lot of fun and the students were very excited to see each other's costumes. 

Some photos have been posted on the school's facebook page. 

It was lovely to be able to welcome parents back to the parade as well.

Thank you to all of the staff that also came dressed as some amusing and funny costumes. 

Winners: 

Congratulations to the winners of the Macquoid St Book Week Competitions: 

(Winners of Lowe St will be announced on Tuesday and will be listed in the next newsletter) 

Colouring Competition: 

Y2-Y3: Charlotte C (2B) & Grace W (3B)

Y4-Y6: Ivy S (4R) & Mila G (6B)

Magical Creature Competition:

Y2-Y3: Lara W (2G) 

Y4-Y6: Logan F (4R) 

Recycle award: Sienna G (2R) & Archer G (3G) 

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS COMING TO LOWE ST LIBRARY

Its time to RRRRROAR for reading! 

The Dino-mite Scholastic Book Fair is coming to St Greg's Lowe St Library in week 7 (03-06 Sept)!

There will be Dino-riffic activities and prizes to win! 

The Book Fair will be open for sales (cash and EFTPOS welcome):

Tues 03Sept (St Gregory's Feast Day): 

8.15am - 10.00am AND 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Wed 04Sept: 

8.15am - 10.00am AND 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Thur 05Sept: 

8.15am - 8.55am AND 3.00pm - 4.00pm 

There is also a colouring-in competition for Lowe St students and there will be a guessing competition for all students that attend the book fair ... We look forward to seeing you all there. 

BOOK CLUB

The latest Scholastic book club has now CLOSED. Thank you to everyone that has ordered books, and we hope to have them within the next few weeks. 

We want to remind everyone of the importance of keeping your child home if they are unwell, especially with symptoms associated with cold, flu or gastro. This helps prevent the spread of illness and ensures a healthier environment for all in our school community. Your cooperation with this is greatly appreciated. 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to offer your child an opportunity to participate in a new social skills program designed to support their emotional and social development. Led by our school counsellor, this free program aims to help children develop important interpersonal skills in a supportive group setting.

Program Overview:

• Groups Offered:

1. Year 2 Group
2. Year 3-4 Group

• Session Details:

1. Maximum of 6 students, minimum of 4 students per group
2. 1 hour per session
3. 6 sessions in total
4. Sessions will be conducted during school hours on a weekly basis

Program Objectives:

Through participation in this program, students will work on the following skills:

• Recognising their own feelings through body signals
• Understanding others' feelings through facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice
• Building skills to initiate and participate in conversations
• Developing strategies for resolving conflicts
• Gaining insight into other people's perspectives

Consent and Participation:

In order to ensure the success of the program and effectively address the needs of each student, we require parental consent for participation. If you believe your child could benefit from additional support with social skills and peer interactions and are interested in enrolling them in one of these groups, please express your interest by emailing emma.yu@mccg.org.au with your child's name and class. I will contact you with further details. Once the group is full, your child's name will be added to the waiting list.

Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact the school counsellor, Emma Yu, at emma.yu@mccg.org.au.

Thank you, and I appreciate your support in fostering our children's growth and development.

Emma Yu

Student and Family counsellor