Dear Parents,

Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.

Pope Francis

What a beautiful quote from Pope Francis as we all move into the busiest time of the year.

Advent begins next Sunday and marks the start of a season of preparation that looks forward to the celebration of Christmas and the second coming of Christ. It is a time of reflection in preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ—we remember how our Savior humbled Himself to be born as a baby and live among those He would save. We remember the perfect life He lived doing the will of His Father, His sacrificial death on the cross, and how He was raised from the dead three days later, having paid the penalty in order to save all who would believe. Christians remember Jesus' promise to return again one day and restore everything fully. This season invokes feelings of expectation and hope! This week the Advent wreath will be placed in our front foyer.

Why Do People Celebrate Advent with a Wreath & Candles?

The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.

Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible. Advent candles are often nestled in the evergreen wreath. Additional decorations, like holly and berries, are sometimes added. Their red color points ahead to Jesus’ sacrifice and death. Pinecones can symbolize the new life that Jesus brings through His resurrection. Families can begin lighting a candle on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and light another candle each subsequent Sunday.

• The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the “Prophet’s Candle.” The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival.

• The second candle represents faith and is called “Bethlehem’s Candle.” Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David.

• The third candle symbolizes joy and is called the “Shepherd’s Candle.” To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them, too. In liturgy, the color rose signifies joy.

• The fourth candle represents peace and is called the “Angel’s Candle.” The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace—He came to bring people closer to God and to each other again.

• The (optional) fifth candle represents light and purity and is called “Christ’s candle.” It is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day.

                    Excerpt from Advent Wreath & Candles by Laura Richie

 Swimming

With another intensive swimming program over for the year, I would like to thank parents and staff for making this such a fun and enjoyable week for the students. We have had some great feedback from the students who demonstrated resilience and perseverance over what was a very tiring and busy week. A special thanks to …. For ensuring the smooth running of the program, with expert instructors and a warm welcome each day. We look forward to the Swimming Carnival for Year 3-6 which will be held early in Term 1 2020.

Parent/Child Seminars

Last Wednesday two parent and child Seminars were held on Sex Education and were well attended by many families across the Federation. We have had very positive feedback from those families who attended.

School Parking 

A reminder to all parents:

We have a pick up and drop off zone in Riddle St that needs to be used according to the road rules. This is a 2 minute zone and is exactly the same as ‘Kiss and Go’ - the same rules apply.

                                             

The 'no parking' sign, means you can stop for 2 minutes in that area: 

• if you are picking up or dropping off passengers or goods 
• you stay within 3 metres of your vehicle.

If you stop in, or partly in, an area showing a no parking sign and you are not picking up or dropping off passengers or goods, or you stay for longer than 2 minutes you are considered to be parked and can be fined.

This works efficiently if everyone abides by the time restrictions and moves on. If your children aren’t ready when you arrive, you need to move on and let others use the facility. 

Other issues that we are having:

Double Parking – when cars pull up alongside legally parked cars and allow their children to jump out or in the car, holding up traffic behind them and risking the safety of their children.

Parking in or across driveways – parking over or in nearby driveways not only causes disharmony between the school and the neighbours, but is illegal.

Driveways are used by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles and must be kept clear.

Parking too close to intersections – parking too close or within an intersection makes it difficult for other vehicles to enter and exit the intersection. It also makes it difficult for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to see oncoming vehicles, making the area UNSAFE for all users.

(All this information was obtained from the Vic Roads Website)

I ask that all parents who use the pick up and drop off zone to read the above information carefully. Child safety is our number one priority.

The driveway beside the Church is not to be used by parents - we had a incident last week that was both dangerous and frustrating for parish staff. So please do not use this driveway to drop children off or the driveway in front of the Church.

School Closure Day

A reminder that this Friday is a school closure day as we set the day aside for curriculum  planning for 2020. I hope you all enjoy a long weekend. 

Celebration of the Sacraments

On Tuesday morning the students from Year 3 and 4 will be attending the Parish Mass at 10am to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist that they have received this year. A special pizza lunch will follow as we celebrate together.

Parents are most welcome to attend.

Carols

Due to the change of date for our school concert which was moved to Term 4, the Carols will be part of our end of year Mass on 17 December at 10am. I hope many of our parents and families can join us.

Excursions 

It is a busy week for excursions which are all linked to our inquiry units for this Term. 

Yr 1 & 2 will be exploring Cranbourne Gardens - 

Yr 5 & 6 will be participating in a Robotics workshop - 

Yr 3 & 4 will be going to IMAX - 

New Preps for 2020 will be coming to have ‘Story Time’ in the Library.

Another busy week ahead as class lists are being finalised, reports are being checked and staffing is being finalised for 2020.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Only three and a bit weeks to go!

Catherine