Guardian Angels' Newsletter Term 1 Week 7 2025

Coming Up at Guardian Angels

WEEK 8

Monday 17th March
Uniform Shop Open, 7.30am - 10.30am
NAPLAN Begins, years 3 & 5
Ngutana Lui Excursion, Year 4

Tuesday 18th March
NAPLAN, years 3 & 5
Mini-pros Soccer (after school program), 3.15pm - 4.15pm

Wednesday 19th March
Sports Aerobics, 7.30am - 8.15am (GA Hall)
Senior Choir Rehearsal, 7.45am, (MC Music Room)
NAPLAN, years 3 & 5
PTO (Parent Teacher Interview) bookings close

Thursday 20th March
Creative Kidz Instrumental Lessons 
Uniform Shop Open, 1.00pm - 4.00pm
NAPLAN, years 3 & 5

Friday 21st March
NAPLAN, years 3 & 5
Harmony Day Celebrations + Cultural Free Dress Day
Harmony Day Liturgy, 2pm (MC Shed - All welcome to attend)

WEEK 9

Monday 24th March
Uniform Shop Open, 7.30am - 10.30am
NAPLAN, years 3 & 5
Prep Vision Screening
Parent Teacher Interviews

Tuesday 25th March
Principal Tour, 9am
Sacramental Program - Penance 1st Rite, 9am (Guardian Angels Church - All welcome to attend) 
Prep Vision Screening
Parent Teacher Interviews
Mini-pros Soccer (after school program), 3.15pm - 4.15pm

Wednesday 26th March
Sports Aerobics, 7.30am - 8.15am (GA Hall)
Junior Choir Rehearsal, 7.45am (MC Music Room)
Parent Teacher Interviews
Cross Country
Prep Vision Screening

Thursday 27th March
Creative Kidz Instrumental Lessons 
Uniform Shop Open, 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Parent Teacher Interviews
Class Mass, 1.45pm (led by Prep Blue & 5/6 Blue)

Friday 28th March
Assembly, 8.50am (MC Shed) *Term 1 P&F LIVE Awards
Parent Teacher Interviews

From the Principal

It is great to be back at school, and wonderful to see the students, families and staff settling so quickly back into routines, after the significant weather event disrupted our daily routines and posed challenges for our community. 

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the resilience and understanding by our entire school community during this time.

To our parents and friends, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all for your understanding and support over the past week. Your support in responding to the changes in our school routines and in prioritising the safety and well-being of all in our school community has been truly commendable.   It is during such times that the strength of our community shines brightest. 

To our dedicated staff, thank you for your commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for our students.  At times, this was under challenging and changing circumstances; it is deeply appreciated.

To our students, we are incredibly proud of how they have handled the disruptions with such resilience. Their ability to adapt and continue to shine in their love of learning, despite the challenges, is an inspiration to us all.

A beautiful reality of being a part of Guardian Angels’ School, and the wider community of Brisbane Catholic Education, is that we are able to journey together, with our students and each other, through the experiences that we share, whatever those may look like.

For all of us at Guardian Angels, our day to day is guided by our way of living, as we strive to LIVE the GA Way. Over the past week, our ways of living have shone brightest, guiding us and giving us direction, and supporting us in all we do, as we’ve listened, helped and encouraged.     

Earlier in the week, I was reminded of the story of Jesus calming the storm, importantly that He is ‘always in the boat with us’.   A timely reminder, that His presence is always with us, and with those around us.  A reminder that with faith and trust, we can overcome challenges with resilience and hope.

As a community, we are called to accompany one another, and to encourage each other as a faith community.  Just as the disciples were not alone in the storm, they had each other and Jesus, similarly, we are part of a supportive community that can offer strength and encouragement.  By working together, sharing our worries, challenges and supporting one another, we can weather what comes our way.

The story is ultimately one of peace and calm, reminding us that regardless of how daunting a situation may seem, there is always hope for a brighter day.   Encouraging and supporting our children to remain hopeful and positive through different experiences, can help them develop resilience and a growth mindset.

As we continue our journey through this school year, let us draw inspiration from this story, and our shared experience of the past week.  Let us face our challenges with faith, supporting one another, and holding onto hope.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Kind regards 
Veronica Tomerini-Smith

From the Assistant Principal Administration

Good afternoon lovely families … I hope you are all travelling well. With only just over three weeks left until the end of this term, and given the conditions over the past week or so, I am sure you, and your little ones, are all feeling tired. I’m sure they will be more than ready for a little break in a few weeks’ time. Until then, there is still so much going on here at school so we will wrap our arms around them and make sure they feel supported and loved here at school.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

Lovely families, I’d like to spend a moment talking with you about something very important … student attendance at school.
Attendance can have significant impacts on student progress, achievement, wellbeing, and their future success in work and in life. To improve educational outcomes for every student, regular school attendance requires prioritisation by students, parents and schools, and we do prioritise this at Guardian Angels.
Research confirms that regular student attendance matters, and that poor attendance, from as early as Prep, has long lasting impacts on a student’s learning and life.
It is so important that all of our beautiful students attend school regularly (at least 90% of the time) and this includes arriving to school on time and remaining here at school for duration of the school day. Punctuality is important and partial absences, both at the beginning and/or the end of the day, does equate to missed learning opportunities.
We ask for your kind support in this, and please know, that if you are finding it difficult for any reason to get your little ones to school, we are always here to offer support.

UNIFORMS

Wearing our uniform correctly in fundamental in instilling both a sense of pride and belonging in our school community. It is so important that our students are wearing their uniforms correctly and again I ask for your kind support in helping this to consistently happen.
Some uniform issues that I have noticed recently include:

• Students coming to school without their school hat
  This is of particular concern and my message to our little ones has been quite clear … they MUST have their school hat as a matter of safety. We will stringently apply the policy of NO HAT NO PLAY and this is something we really don’t like for our little ones as we understand how important the physical breaks are for our students throughout the day.

• Students wearing the incorrect uniform on a given day (Year 1-6)
  The days when your child/ren are required to wear their sports uniforms would have been communicated by the classroom teachers. Thank you so much for enabling your child/ren to wear the correct uniform (either sports or formal day) on the relevant days.

• Students wearing incorrect shoes with the formal day uniform (Years 1-6)
  When wearing the formal day uniform, the students are expected to wear black leather school shoes. Unfortunately I am seeing more and more students wearing sports shoes with the formal day uniform.

• Students wearing low ankle socks
  The socks worn by our students (with both formal day and sports uniforms) should be plain white socks that can fold over. Socks that are branded and/or low ankle and/or disappear under the line of their shoes are not acceptable.

It is lovely to have pride in our beautiful school. Wearing uniforms correctly is the first and easiest way to help create this pride. Thank you so much for your support in this important area.
Of course, we completely understand those times when mishaps happen. We know that shoes can break, be left in the wrong car and so on. We are always so grateful when you can let us know (via classroom teacher) when those things occur.

SUN SAFETY

As a result of the recent weather, our shade sails have been temporarily taken down. This was done in preparation for the impending cyclone and of course now we are waiting for our lovely contractors to be able to reposition them for us. We know we need to be patient at this time as there are many places and people in need of assistance.

This makes the school hat even more essential of course, however it may already be a part of your morning routine to apply sunscreen to your child/ren before they arrive at school. They are welcome to carry their own provision of sunscreen in their school bags. We are able to remind them to reapply so that they are able to do this during the school day.

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

In the second last week of this term (Week 9), we will be offering formal Parent Teacher Interview opportunities.

These interviews are wonderful opportunities for parents to catch up with their child/ren’s teacher/s and celebrate the students’ successes and achievements. They also allow for important discussion regarding ways that we, as a team, can support our students in areas of strength, challenge and with relationships with others. The Parent Teacher Interviews will be held in Week 9 (Monday 24 – Friday 28 March). Whilst each interview last for only ten minutes, it is really valuable time and we strongly encourage every family to take the opportunity to meet with your child/ren’s class teacher.

It is really important that we adhere to our interview time; particularly as there will probably be other families waiting.

Parent Teacher Interviews are easily booked through the PTO (Parent Teacher Online) link in the Parent Portal. Parents are now able to book a Parent Teacher Interview through the PTO app.  You will have until Wednesday 19 March to book an interview time.

A reminder that our formal reporting process consists of the following:

• Term One: Parent Teacher Interviews (scheduled)
• Term Two: Summary of Achievement: Semester One (report)
• Term Three: Parent Teacher Interviews (scheduled)
• Term Four: Summary of Achievement: Semester Two (report)

Our teachers are wonderful professionals who are always working to support our students, so if you ever need to meet with them outside of the formal Parent Teacher Interview window, please contact them to arrange a time.

Blessings of peace to you all for the coming week

Nicole Waller

From the Assistant Principal Religious Education

Peace and Welcome to Week 7 of Term 1.

It has been an eventful fortnight at Guardian Angels’ for the Religious Life of the School with the beginning of Lent and the start of our Project Compassion Appeal 2025. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity.

Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

This Lent, we are called to Unite Against Poverty through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. By supporting Project Compassion, you’ll be answering the Gospels’ call to care for our global family and walk alongside the most vulnerable.
Your generous support this Lenten Season will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, and water shortages, while building resilience against future challenges. Together, through faith and action, we can bring hope and opportunity to those most in need.

Watch the Introduction to Project Compassion film HERE - be inspired by 3 powerful stories of resilience and strength, and learn the impact that your support can have on vulnerable communities around the world.

Please donate today.

You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes at school, the parish or by scanning the QR code above.

Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent

Harmony Week

Next Friday, 21^st March our Guardian Angels’ School Community will celebrate and recognise Harmony Week. 

What is Harmony Week?
Harmony Week is an annual celebration in Australia that promotes cultural diversity and inclusivity. It takes place from March 17 to March 23 each year and aims to foster a sense of inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Key Aspects of Harmony Week:

• Celebrating Diversity: Harmony Week highlights the rich cultural diversity within Australian communities. It encourages people to appreciate and respect different cultures and traditions. 
• Promoting Inclusivity: The week is about inclusivity and ensuring that everyone feels valued and included, no matter their background. 
• Community Engagement: Schools, workplaces and community groups often organise events and activities to celebrate Harmony Week.  

Why it matters:

Harmony Week is important because it:

• Build Understanding: It helps our community to learn about and appreciate the diverse cultures that make up their community. 
• Fosters Respect: It promotes mutual respect and understanding among people from different backgrounds.
• Strengthens Community Bonds: By celebrating together, communities can build stronger, more cohesive relationships. 

How will we celebrate and recognise Harmony Week at Guardian Angels?

On Friday, 21^st March, students will be able to wear clothing which displays their cultural heritage or a countries culture of their choice to show their support. Our school community will also come together in prayer at 2:00pm for a school liturgy in the Shed on the MC Campus. All members of our school community are welcome to attend.

Upcoming School Prayer Gatherings

Sacramental Program: Penance 1^st Rite - Tuesday 25^th March at 9:00am

Students from Guardian Angels’ School who are participating in the Sacramental Programme this year and in particular The first rite of penance, will come together in prayer and liturgy on Tuesday 25^th March at 9:00am in the Church. All members of our school and parish community are welcome to attend.

School Parish Mass – Sunday 30^th March at 5:00pm

Our first School Parish Mass for this year will be held on Sunday 30^th March at 5:00pm in the Church, with students from our school leading the mass. All members of our school and parish community are welcome to attend.

God Bless

Nicholas Cotter

From the Primary Learning Leader

NAPLAN

Next week (Week 8) sees the beginning of NAPLAN at Guardian Angels. Please find below the Guardian Angels' NAPLAN testing schedule, with testing (Writing) beginning on Monday, 17 March, for all students in Years 3 and 5.

Monday, 17 March

· 8:45 am: Year 3 Writing (Paper)
· 11:30 am: Year 5 Writing (Online)

Tuesday, 18 March

· 8:45 am: Year 3 Reading (Online)
· 11:30 am: Year 5 Reading (Online)

Wednesday, 19 March

· 8:45 am: Year 3 Conventions of Language (Online)
· 11:30 am: Year 5 Conventions of Language (Online)

Thursday, 20 March

· 8:45 am: Year 3 Numeracy (Online)
· 11:30 am: Year 5 Numeracy (Online)

As you can see, the NAPLAN schedule is quite tight, so it is important that every student is at school on time on the testing days. Of course, if your child is ill, we would never expect them to come to school but rather stay home and get well.

We can schedule catch-up tests between the scheduled tests and again on Friday, 21 March, and Monday, 24 March. However, the less pressure we put on our students regarding catch-ups (with this shorter NAPLAN testing window), the better it will be for them.

To ensure our students can still enjoy their specialist lessons, the specialist timetable has been amended to accommodate both the NAPLAN schedule and specialist lessons. Students in Year 5/6 will enjoy their LOTE lessons (Italian) on Friday, 21 March.

Importantly, we have been working through practice sessions at school with all students in Years 3 and 5 over the past few weeks. It is crucial that every student has working headphones (these cannot be AirPods or anything with connectivity).

The Year 3 students still have their iPads at school. Please note that the Year 5 students will not be taking their iPads home until NAPLAN has finished. All devices and headphones will remain at school throughout the NAPLAN testing window to ensure they are charged and ready for use during NAPLAN.

We will be in communication with our friends from Creative Kidz as this revised NAPLAN schedule will impact our Instrumental Music Program.

Please refer to the email sent on Tuesday 11th March for any further information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards,

Mel Paljakka

From the Finance Office

School Fees - Reminder

Term 1 school fees were issued Friday 12 Feb and were due for payment by 21 February 2025. Thank you to those families who have already made payments or who have arrangements in place.

If you have not paid your school fees, we ask that you do so as soon as possible or contact the Finance Office to make payment arrangements.

If you haven’t received a copy of your statement, please check your junk or spam email folder.  Statements are sent exclusively to the account holder. If you need another copy, kindly email your request to pwynfinance@bne.catholic.edu.au.

Our preferred method of payment is by Direct Debit. Direct debit forms are available on the School website or please email me at pwynfinance@bne.catholic.edu.au to request a copy.

Payment Options:

We offer several methods to pay your fees:

1. DIRECT DEBIT – Direct Debit Form (preferred method)
2. CREDIT CARD – Credit Card Direct Debit Form (for regular debited payments)
3. BPAY – Refer to your fee statement for the BPAY reference
4. BPOINT – Online credit card payments (MasterCard and Visa) – BPoint Payment Link  or visit the school website under “Quick Links”
5. EFTPOS – Available at the Mount Carmel campus

Please always feel free to contact the Finance Office should you ever have any questions.

Kind Regards
Amy Hardisty – Finance Officer

Guardian Angels' Choir

This year we are lucky enough to have 2 choirs at Guardian Angels.  Our Junior Choir will be made up of Year 2 & 3, and our Senior Choir will be Years 4, 5 & 6.
This enables us to enter two categories in the Catholic Music Festival to be held in August this year.

Choir rehearsals will be held on Wednesday mornings (7.45am - 8.15am) in the Mount Carmel Music Room.
Our Choirs will rehearse on alternate weeks, beginning with our Senior Choir in week 8 this term.

A commitment form will be sent home this week, please discuss with your student and return to the MC office by Tuesday 18th March.

Rehearsal Schedule:
(Term 1)
Week 8 (19/3) -  Senior Choir
Week 9 (26/3) -  Junior Choir
Week 10 (2/4) -  Senior Choir

(Term 2)
Week 1 (23/4) -  Junior Choir
Week 2 (30/4) -  Senior Choir
Week 3 (7/5)   -  Junior Choir
Week 4 (14/5) -  Senior Choir
Week 5 (21/5) -  Junior Choir
Week 6 (28/5) -  Senior Choir
Week 7 (4/6)   -  Junior Choir
Week 8 (11/6) -  Senior Choir
Week 9 (18/6) -  Junior Choir
Week 10 (26/6) - Senior Choir

From the Parish

Sacramental Preparation for Children- Penance Workshop

Reminding all enrolled families: Penance Workshop will be held this weekend.  Kindly bring your completed workbooks to class and proceed to the church. Each candidate should have at least 1 parent with them during the workshop.

Workshop A -Saturday 15th March 4pm to 5:30pm
Workshop B -Sunday 16th March 10:30am to 12noon

From the Tuckshop

A reminder that our tuckshop is currently CLOSED for maintenance.

We will advise of the reopening date as soon as possible.

MiniPros Soccer

Mini-Pros after school soccer program will be held Tuesday afternoons from 3.15pm - 4.15pm in weeks 4-9 (18th Feb - 25th March inclusive) 

Community Notices

BCE Connect App

Did you know…..

Student academic reports, absences, appointments, media permissions and much more can all be found on the BCE Connect App.

How to log an absence, late arrival, or appointment

If you're having trouble accessing the BCE Connect App or Parent Portal:

• Contact the office: If you're unable to log in or have any access issues, don't hesitate to reach out to the school office for support.   It is essential the parents can always access this resource and save their own copy of the student academic reports securely.
• Check your email: The email address linked to your account held at school is what grants you access.    If you've recently changed your email address, make sure the school has the updated one on file. You can contact the office to update it if necessary.

Volunteering at Guardian Angels

Volunteers are very welcome at Guardian Angels’ and play an important role in enriching students’ experiences.   
When parents and community members can get involved in activities like reading, excursions, P&F and events, it fosters a sense of connection and support.

Before commencing as a volunteer, you are required to complete online volunteer training at the start of each calendar year.  This takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.  This training ensures that all our adults who come into contact with our students will be fully informed of their roles and responsibilities when working with students.    

Please follow the steps below:

1. Click this link to complete online Student Protection Training Start training here
2. Complete the ‘Volunteer Registration and Declaration Form’ (this can be accessed at the end of the online training) 
3. Print and complete the ‘Volunteer Registration and Declaration Form’ and email to pwynnum@bne.catholic.edu.au
4. You will receive acknowledgement of your completed training and volunteer number for 2025.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop is open Mondays 7.30am-10.30am and Thursdays 1.00pm-4.00pm.

Online orders are also available anytime – password to access this page is guardianangels2023

Disclaimer

Copyright in some materials appearing in this newsletter are owned by third parties and should not be used or reproduced without the authority of the third party.  The links to websites or webpages are for information purposes only.  To the extent that such third party materials are not owned by BCE, we accept no responsibility for such content.