Guardian Angels' Newsletter Term 3 Week 9 2024
Coming Up
Week 9 | Term 3
Friday 6 September
Tuckshop Open (order must be in by 7.30am)
Dance Concert Year 3-6 2.15pm MC Shed
Parent Teacher Interviews
Week 10 | Term 3
Monday 9 September
Uniform Shop Open, 7.30am - 10.30am
Tuesday 10 September
Run Club, 8.05am
Celebration of Learning 8.30am-9.15am
Wednesday 11 September
Tuckshop Open (order must be in by 7.30am)
Auskick Prep - Year 3, 7.30am
Thursday 12 September
Tuckshop Open (order must be in by 7.30am)
Uniform Shop Open, 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Friday 13 September
Tuckshop Open (order must be in by 7.30am)
Final day to order Senior Shirts for 2025
Last Day of Term 3
From the Principal
Welcoming Dr Sally Towns (Executive Director, BCE) to Guardian Angels
Thank you to our school community for sharing your love of learning with Dr Sally Towns (Executive Director, Brisbane Catholic Education). Dr Towns was able to visit a number of the learning areas from Prep to Year 6 during her visit last Wednesday. She enjoyed talking to our students about their learning as they were engaged in their morning literacy routines. Dr Towns was warmly welcomed into each of the learning spaces, with students proudly sharing how we ‘LIVE the GA Way’ at our school. Dr Towns had the opportunity to meet with a small group of students from Years 3 – 6, with the students sharing what makes GA great, and asking insightful questions around Dr Towns’ role, and her experiences as a teacher.
We look forward to welcoming Dr Towns back to our school in the future.
Queensland Child Protection Week (1 – 7 September 2024)
Yesterday, Bravehearts visited our school and presented the ‘Ditto’ Show to our students from Prep – Year 2. Bravehearts provide a program that supports children with basic principles of personal safety, by providing them with some strategies or ‘tools’ to stay safe.
This performance supports our school’s Child Protection Week activities and is a time when we revisit important safety messages with all our students.
During Child Protection Week, our students will engage with activities that provide important reminders that every student has the right to feel safe, all the time; at home and at school. Also, activities will provide opportunities for students to revisit the actions that they can take if they are feeling unsafe or need support. One of these is to identify who the trusted adults are in their lives that they can go to if they need some support. Classroom activities are inclusive of important reminders for our students around feeling safe and the trusted adults to speak with, including those in our school.
We all have a role to play in creating safe and nurturing environments for our children. Building stronger community awareness is a powerful way of working together to create safer environments for children, and to protect children from harm.
Student protection and wellbeing are paramount in our Catholic Schools. Our commitment to the protection of students is based in our belief that each person is made in the image of God, and our ethos is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all.
I refer you to our School website, where you can find further information in relation to Brisbane Catholic Education policy, processes and resources that are implemented by the school:
The Guardian Angels’ Student Protection Contact Officers are noted below and can be contacted via the school office:
- Mrs Veronica Tomerini-Smith. (Principal)
- Mrs Nicole Waller (APA)
- Mrs Renae Haggitt (Guidance Counsellor)
From the Assistant Principal Adminisration
YEARS 3-6 DANCE CONCERT
It's DANCE CONCERT time!! Who is excited? (that would be me)
This Friday 6 September (tomorrow), our older angels (students in Years 3-6) will showcase their groovy dance moves in the Superstars Dance Concert.
Our students in Years 3, 4 and 5/6 have been grooving and dancing with our friends from SUPERSTARS most Fridays throughout Term Three. They are ready to show you their amazing talents in one of the most joyous and fun-filled school events of the whole year. Our families and friends are invited to join with us on Friday afternoon to share in this great celebration of their learning. Please find the details below:
When: Friday 6 September 2024
Where: MC Shed
Time: 2:15pm
School Entry: Pine Street gate (closest to the tuckshop)
What to bring: Chairs/seating. The green tiered seating (running sideways down the shed) is also available for your convenience.
Please take a moment to read and be familiar with the following important information in preparation for our wonderful dance concert on Friday:
- Every family has its own story/ways of working. At times, part of this story is reflected in the choices our parents make as advocates for their beloved children. This is particularly relevant in the choices our parents make regarding privacy and consent. Please do not video or photograph the performances on Friday. While I understand this is very difficult; especially when not all family members are able to be present, it is of utmost importance that we all respect every parents' right to make choices they deem appropriate and important for their child/ren. I would be most grateful if you could inform all family members who attend the concert of this very important requirement.
- All students will return to their classrooms at the conclusion of the dance concert to finish their school day with end-of-day processes/procedures. I have tried to time the concert appropriately (start time 2:15pm) so that it should finish quite close to 3:00pm. This should allow time for our students to return to their classrooms, engage in the end-of-day procedures, collect their bags and make their way to their collection points eg Pick Up Zone, shade sails in GA playground. We respectfully ask that, without valid reason, parents do not seek to have their child/ren signed out through the office/s at the conclusion of the concert. This can cause undue chaos as appropriate safety protocols are always followed as per our responsibility to your child. I am hopeful that, by adjusting the start time slightly, the concert should finish close to 3:00pm, ensuring our dear parents will not have too long to wait for their child/ren to finish the school day. Ultimately this will also ensure that each one of our students is safely and soundly accounted for at all times.
I know we are going to have a most wonderful afternoon with our students and I look forward to sharing this with you if you are able to join us on Friday.
Use of Drop Off and Pick Up Zones
My sincere thanks to all of our parents and carers who use the Drop Off and Pick Up zones with care and consideration. It seems that every now and then however, that we need to issue a reminder to some about the respectful and safe use of the Drop Off/Pick Up zones.
Please take some time to be sure you are familiar with the expectations of using these zones. If any of these expectations are difficult eg children undoing/doing up their own seatbelts, school bags in the car (not in the boot), then please park the car and walk the students into school.
These are issues of both courtesy to others and safety:
- Drivers should never double park/block residents’ driveways … this is a matter of courtesy to our neighbours who have every right to be able to access their homes at all times.
- Drivers are to remain IN THE VEHICLE at all times … drivers who feel they need to exit the vehicle to help the students out of the car, need to park elsewhere and assist the student in that area.
- Students’ school bags need to be in the front or back seat of the vehicle. We cannot be accessing the boot whilst in a drop off zone. That constitutes a high risk for students and staff/helpers.
- Students should be able to buckle up/out themselves; staff/helpers will not unbuckle or buckle students into cars.
- Students must exit the vehicle on the kerbside, never from the road side of the car.
- It is imperative that drivers enter the zones from the correct areas (GA zone enter from CEDAR STREET along Akonna Street – NOT around the corner from Pine Street. MC zone enter Pine Street zone from Tingal Road. This is also a matter of courtesy to other drivers who have lined up patiently in the correct area to enter the zone. Please do NOT perform U-turns into the zones.
I would be most grateful if you could inform all drivers who drop off/collect your child/ren through the zones of these procedures. I understand that not all parents/carers are able to read the school newsletter, so please be sure to pass this information along to those who utilise the zones.
Many thanks for your kind understanding as we continue to work together to keep our beautiful students (and staff/helpers) safe and sound at all times, whilst also remaining respectfully considerate of our neighbours around the school.
LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM (Years 1 & 2 only)
Immediately following the upcoming holidays, parents of students in Years 1 & 2 will receive an email communication and a parent slip for the Learn to Swim Program that commences in Week Two (Term Four) (Friday 11 October). Please be sure to look out for this communication and return the permission slip by the required deadline.
YEAR 6 (2025) SENIOR SHIRTS
A couple of weeks ago, parents of students who are currently in Year 5 received communication and instructions regarding the ordering or Senior Shirts (Year 6 only) for their child/ren in 2025. The cut off for ordering Senior Shirts for Year 6 students 2025 is FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER (last day of Term Three). The uniform shop has a fit range available when deciding sizing, so be sure to get your orders in.
Years 3 –6 Swimming Carnival
We are very excited and looking forward to the Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival which is scheduled to be held on the first Friday of Term Four (Friday 4 October).
As always, we are blessed to have wonderful staff who have been working tirelessly in the background to prepare for this wonderful school event.
Please be sure to be familiar with all email correspondence and the most recent Parent Slip sent to you regarding the Swimming Carnival.
For your convenience I will repeat some of the more important information provided by our HPE teacher, Mrs Melanie Denmead.
WHEN: Friday 4th October 2024
WHERE: Manly Swimming Pool
ADDRESS: 1 Fairlead Cres, Manly QLD 4179
TIME: 9am to 2.15pm
Throughout the day, all students will participate in a variety of swimming events. The focus of this carnival is students having fun and achieving maximum participation.
TRAVEL:
Students are welcome to make their own way to and from Manly Swimming Pool using private transport. Students can arrive at the pool from 8:20am (no earlier) and be collected at the end of the carnival at approximately 2.15pm. Students will be required to sign in and out with their class teacher when they arrive and before they leave.
Alternatively, a school bus will be provided to transport the students to and from the Manly Swimming Pool. Those who require bus travel will need to arrive at school by 8.25am. Information regarding this was included in the Parent Slip that should have been completed by yesterday (Wednesday 4 September).
CLOTHING:
Students are required to wear their Guardian Angels’ Sports Uniform, with their sports shoes and school hat, to and from the venue. This is a Workplace Health and Safety requirement. Students may bring thongs to wear at the pool, throughout the day.
Swimming Gear required: Togs, sun shirt, hat, towel, swimming cap (essential) and goggles (optional).
Please note, it is compulsory for all swimmers to wear a swimming cap. Caps can be purchased from the Uniform Shop or alternatively from a store (ideally in house colours).
It is also compulsory for students to be wearing their sports uniform/house shirt and thongs/joggers when they are not swimming. If students are not swimming in a rashie, they must have sunscreen applied at least 20 minutes prior to a race.
WHAT ELSE TO BRING:
Lunch, snacks, water bottle, hat, extra sunscreen.
Please ensure sunscreen has been applied in the morning, at home. Students are required to reapply their own sunscreen throughout the day.
FOOD:
Students need to bring their usual lunch and snack. The pool has a tuck shop offering light refreshments that can be accessed throughout the day. This will be available mainly to parents. Students can purchase additional snacks from the tuckshop but should not rely on this in case they don’t have time, or the tuck shop sells out.
My sincere thanks to Mrs Denmead for providing the information above in preparation for the Swimming Carnival on 4 October.
May I extend to you all my blessings for the coming week, as well as a wonderfully safe and happy school holiday period with your blessed family.
Nicole Waller
From the Assistant Principal Religious Education
Father’s Day
God, our Father
Bless these men,
that they may find strength as fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honour them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
- Author Unknown
Last weekend we celebrated all the fathers and special men in our lives. Thank you also to the P and F for a wonderful Father’s Day Stall. We hope that all the fathers and father figures in our community had a wonderful and special Father’s Day.
Illustrating Integrity: Art competition for Year 5 and 6 students
Our Year 5 and 6 students were invited to show us what integrity means to them. To inspire students in their thinking, the student Integrity Video was shared with students, which has some wonderful insights from BCE students and makes connections to BCE value of Integrity.
All competition entries will be valued and showcased in some way. Up to three finalists will be selected based on creativity, design, and originality. The designs of finalists will feature on printed affirmation cards, as part of the BCE-wide staff recognition program and the winning entry will receive a party for their classmates.
We are very excited to share that Olivia Jones one our Year 6 students has been named a runner up of the Integrity Art Competition announced on 16 August at the Excellence Awards. The artwork was voted on by the BCE network of Student Voice representatives. Her artwork has been printed on affirmation cards that all BCE schools will receive to use as part of their staff recognition programs. Her class will also receive copies of the cards to celebrate Olivia’s artwork.
Congratulations to Olivia!
LIVE the GA WAY
This year we continue to strengthen our LIVE the GA Way. At Guardian Angels’ we foster a community that believes in developing the whole child - academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We understand we are a teaching and learning environment, and it is important we focus on a holistic approach for our children, so they have the opportunity to develop into happy, productive and successful members of society - 'To Achieve Life’
We embed through all we do and say, the GA Way:
Each fortnight at assembly we continued to share our recipients of LIVE the GA Way awards and we also celebrated with our P and F LIVE the GA Way Awards each term. Students have been working hard to earn tokens to go towards our whole school reward. This term we reached our target and all students will be given a LIVE the GA Way wristband and some time to enjoy the new playground.
Term 4 Mass and Liturgy Key Dates
Term 4 is always a very busy Term. Please see all key dates and events for remainder of year. You may like to save the dates in your calendar 😊
Week | Assembly | Prayer celebrations, liturgies & Masses |
1 | Assembly 4 Green | Thursday 3rd October – GA Day – Whole School Liturgy |
2 | Junior Check-In | |
3 | Assembly 3 Yellow | Class Mass |
4 | Junior Check-In | |
5 | Assembly 3 Blue | Friday 1st November – All Saints’ Day – Liturgy – 9am |
6 | Junior Check-In | Monday 11th November - Remembrance Day Prayer – 10am – Memorial Garden |
7 | Assembly 1 Green | Tuesday 19th November - Volunteers Breakfast – 7.30am |
8 | Junior Check-In | Thursday 21st November – Yr. 6 Graduation – 5.30pm |
9 | Assembly Year 6 Leaders | |
10 | Monday 2nd December - End of Year Mass – 9am |
At the end of this school term we give thanks to God:
Let us pray…..
For all the teaching and learning that have taken place in our school, both in and out of the classroom,
For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced
For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed
For the respect and care that have been given.
We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown.
For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles,
For the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days
And for the love that has kept us going.
We give thanks for the community that we are and we ask you Lord -
bless our students: may your Spirit inspire them with confidence and calmness
bless our families as we take our holidays, may our time together leave us with memories to cherish.
Pour out your love on us that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together .
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen
I wish you a safe and happy holiday and I look forward to seeing you for the last term of the year!
God bless and take care,
Rhiannon
From the Primary Learning Leader
On Tuesday 10th September from 8:30am – 9:15am we welcome parents and care givers into our classrooms to showcase the wonderful work that has been taking place this term. This is a great opportunity for our parents to come into our learning spaces and connect with the children’s learning.
BCE Connect App - Logging Absences
For your convenience, below is a short video demonstrating how to lodge both full and partial day absences.
Please lodge all absences using the BCE Connect App.
BCE Connect/Parent Portal New Version
Student Awards
Congratulations to the following students, who received a LIVE the GA Way Award at assembly.
These students demonstrate the LIVE the GA Way in all they do and say: Xander A, Brooke F, Oscar V, Amulya I.
Community
Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club Registration Open
Interested in signing up for cricket? Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club will be the club for your child!
Please note FairPlay vouchers are redeemable when signing up at any one of our programs via https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/fairplay/apply
Blasters Registrations Open for the 2024/25 Season - Ages 5-10
Fantastic way for young kids (5-10 years old) to learn the basics of the game in a fun and inclusive environment, each participant receives their program pack with their very own bat, ball and personalised shirt. The younger kids have a more skills based program whilst our slightly older kids play fun small sided games in our Super Sixers competition!
5-6:30pm on Fridays at the club’s main field with a sausage to follow every week, 175 Boundary Street, Tingalpa.
Term 4; 11th October - 29th November.
Term 1; 31st January - 21st March.
Registration link below (one fee of $210 that covers Term 4 & 1 as well as your participant pack):
https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/aa24af
For any enquiries please email wmdccblasterscoordinator@gmail.com or phone 0404692504
2024/25 Cricket Registrations for Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club are officially OPEN! 🌟
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, our programs are designed to develop skills, foster teamwork, and most importantly—have fun! 🏆
📅 Registrations : Open now, closing Sept 10th
📍 Location: Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club - Boundary St, Tingalpa
🔗 Sign Up Online, Male & Female ages 8+ are welcome;
Links to register:
EDJCA U9 - U12; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/22ee3f
BEARS Divisional Junior Cricket U13+; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/675f85
Women’s Senior Cricket; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/fa242d
Men’s Senior Cricket; https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/c1e732
For any junior grading, team placement requests, or general enquiries, please email Tony Green via wmdccjuniorpresident@gmail.com.