Newsletter Week 8, Term 4 2022
Assembly: Year 6
Principal Message
Dear Families,
This week heralds the first days of summer, although you would be forgiven if you thought it was the first days of winter!!!
This week is also the first week of Advent. A wonderful way to celebrate and prepare for Christmas is to have an advent wreath at home. Most churches will have an advent wreath, holding four candles on the outside, and a candle in the center. Each week leading up to Christmas a candle is lit, leading up to Christmas, and on Christmas or Christmas Eve, light the center candle. The first candle is a purple candle that represents "Hope".
On Monday 5th December, all families will receive an email which will inform you as to what class your child will be in next year and with what teacher. The process of allocating students to classes is an exercise that we take very seriously and many considerations are weighed up in making these placements. With this in mind, NO requests for changes will be considered.
Once you receive the class notification you will be asked to make an appointment for your child to do a Maths Assessment (MAI) on either 30 / 31st January next year. Details of how to do this will be attached to the notification on Monday.
Our school calendar for 2023 is taking shape and many events have now been added, including sporting carnivals, grandparents day etc. I would advise you to familiarise yourself with the school calendar so as to plan for 2023 events.
Next week after you receive the class notifications for 2023 the Parent Forum will be requesting nominations for 2023 Class Reps. Having class reps is an integral part of sustaining our fabulous school community and your support in ensuring this continues is greatly appreciated. As with previous years all grades will be asked to assist with the coordination of events throughout the year as well as assist in the organisation of grade social events. Having lots of people nominate as class reps ensures that the work load is shared across the school and is not left in the lap of a few!
The school is conducting our "Minnie Vinnies" Christmas appeal. If you are able to make a donation it would be gratefully received.
Finally a reminder that the school has some significant events coming up which include our End of Year Mass on Tuesday, St Ambrose Feast Day on Wednesday and our Christmas Carols and Nativity on Friday afternoon. As always you are very welcome to attend any or all events.
Many thanks,
Brian Laybutt
Principal
Dear Families,
Below are our School Leadership positions for 2023. I am pleased to report that 41 students presented themselves to be School Leaders. This is such a wonderful response and reflects the pride that students have in St Ambrose - Thank You!
Having conducted an extensive process of listening to students speeches, collating student votes and having an extended staff meeting, the school has determined the following leaders for 2023.
2023 ST AMBROSE SCHOOL LEADERS:
School Captains: Sage Matson & Chase Deegenaars
Vice Captains: Arabella Mactaggart & Lucas Singh
House Colour Captains:
Gold: Imogen Beacroft & Jarrah O'Brien
Purple: Bronte Brown & Sennen Wetherelt
Teal: Sophia Levings & Parker Herbert
White: Mia Collier & Hugo Glasson
On Tuesday 13th December the 2023 School Captain and Vice Captains will be presented with their badges as part of the Yearr 6 Graduation Mass and Presentation morning
Note: Staff members who have children in the Yr 5 cohort were excluded from all discussions and voting.
RETURN OF PAST STUDENTS - Year 6 class of 2016
As part of our St Ambrose Day celebrations (Wednesday 7th December) the school has invited our first ever Year 6 class back to school on St Ambrose Day to join the staff for morning tea.
These students left St Ambrose in 2016 and for many they have just completed the HSC. This is our first cohort to have sat for and completed the HSC.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to touch base with our "past" students, talk about their journey thus far and wish them all the best for the future.
It is hoped that inviting the Year 12 students (and those from this cohort) back to St Ambrose on our School Feast Day - 7th December - will become an ongoing tradition. As it is post "schoolies" we are hoping for a good showing!!
Weekly Awards
Religion
T H E A D V E N T W R E A T H
The Advent Wreath is made from evergreen leaves with four candles (three purple and one rose-coloured), and purple draping around it. The circular wreath shape represents the thousands of years in which God’s people waited for the coming of the Saviour. The green leaves remind us of the promise of new life – a life of hope which Jesus brought to the world, a life that would never end. The purple draping and purple candles remind us of the need to change and grow from selfishness to love during this season of Advent. The rose coloured candle, lit on the third Sunday, is a sign of joy to remind us that Christmas is near. As we reflect on the meaning of this wreath, let us remember that we are beginning a new season and a new liturgical year – a season when we take time to prepare for that great feast of Christ’s birth. By the fourth week of Advent all the candles will be burning. Each week of Advent a candle is lit.
Next Tuesday 6th Dec. 9:15am – We will celebrate our end of School Year Mass with all classes. Father John will be saying this Mass for us and we are focusing on the readings for St Ambrose Feast Day which is actually on Wed. 7th Dec.
2nd Sunday of Advent
In this Gospel reading, Luke 3:1-6 speaks of John the Baptist preparing the people for the coming of the Lord. He went out preaching to the people telling them to change their lives and be baptized.
Lord of All, come and fill this world with your peace. In this Advent season fill my heart with peace and prepare my heart for the coming of Jesus.
Amen
St Ambrose Feast Day
Wednesday 7th December.
The students will celebrate this special day being involved in lots of fun activities at school.
Saint Ambrose’s Story is one of openness to follow God’s call. He was a popular politician in the fourth-century Milan. In the midst of heated debates, the people of Milan recognised the gifts of Ambrose and elected him bishop. He was neither baptized nor ordained at the time. Humbled and shocked, he accepted the office and made the commitment to take his calling seriously. He became a great administrator and theologian, a model of both prayerfulness and practicality. Tradition honours him as one of the original Doctors of the Church.
School News
St Ambrose Feast Day & Yr 6 Jelly Cup Fundraiser 7th December
Next Wednesday is our annual St Ambrose Feast Day. This is a day of celebration when students take part in fun activities throughout the day including a water slide and sausage sizzle lunch. Our Feast Day provides us with the opportunity to reflect upon the life and characteristics of the Saint that our school is named after, St Ambrose.
If your child can not participate or eat the sausage sizzle (white bread, BBQ sausage & tomato/BBQ sauce) on that day please let your class teacher know.
On the day students will need to bring the following items:
- Swimmers
- Rashie / Sun Smart sleeved t-shirt
- Towel
- Thongs
Nativity & Carols Friday 9th December
Excitement is growing as we get closer to our Christmas Nativity & Carols afternoon which will be held in the school hall next Friday 9th December. The students and teachers are busily practicing and preparing for this event. The Christmas Nativity & Carols is one of our final opportunities for us to gather as a whole community and to celebrate. All the students are participating in the Carols and some of our Yr 5 students will act out the nativity story. All our families are welcome to join us and sing along.
2023 MAI Bookings
MAI bookings open next week. A notification will be sent when these are available for booking.
2022 School Fees
All fees should now be paid in full.
Reports
Student reports will be available in Compas App from the 7th of December. A notification will be issued when these are ready for viewing.
Library Books
All library books should now be returned to the school library.- Second Hand Book Sale 5th-8th December - Gold coin purchase
Last Day for Uniform Orders 2022
Uniforms delivered to classroom Thursday 8th Dec – Order by 5pm Wed 7th December
** Please note – All exchanges must be finalised by Thursday 15th December
1st Uniform Orders for 2023
Uniform orders ready for collection in Classroom when attending MAI Testing
Order by 5pm Wed 25/1/2023 – Place order through Flexischools for Thursday 26/1/23
Please make sure you have changed your child’s Year Level/Class in Flexischools to be their Class for 2023 so uniforms can be delivered to the correct classroom!
Congratulaions!
Congratulations to Ms Ayres on the safe arrival her boy Hunter.
Wellbeing
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