Newsletter - 2024 Term 2 Week 6

Calendar

From the Leaders

This Sunday’s Gospel from Mark begins with Jesus’ family calling him ‘crazy’! This was because many people don’t like change. The people who loved Jesus were concerned that Jesus was ‘rocking the boat’ and claimed he was acting as if he was ‘out of his mind.’ When Jesus asked, “Who are my mother and brothers?”, he was trying to tell those who were listening to him that they are as close and important as his own family. He taught that whoever does what God asks of them becomes part of the family of Jesus.

First Communion

On Sunday morning our final candidates received the Sacrament of First Communion for the first time. 

Proclaim Lismore

Last Friday, Catholic School staff in the Hastings Cluster had the opportunity to listen to incredibly inspiring guest speakers from within our Diocese including Bishop Greg Homeming, Gary Reen the Assistant Director,  Roby Curtis from Emmanual City Mission and Associate Professor Maeve Heaney from the Australian Catholic University.  

These speakers challenged some of our thinking and enriched and reinvigorated our commitment to Catholic Education through their sharing of personal experiences in their own lives and ways they have inspired others through their positivity and selflessness in reaching out to others in need.

The day provided insight into ways we can enact the Catholic Mission personally, in our parish and the broader community. 

Whole School Mass

Today we had a beautiful celebration of the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and prayed for reconciliation for all in Australia, with Father Roland Agrisola. Thank you to those family members who were able to join us. 

As next week is Fr Roland's final week in Port Macquarie, we were able to acknowledge the contribution he has made to our school and parish community. We wish him well in his new posting in the Maclean, Yamba and Iluka area.

A special Thank You and Farewell Mass for Fr Roland will be held on Sunday 16 June at the 9.00am Mass. This Mass will be followed by morning tea. All parishioners are invited to attend and stay after Mass for a cuppa and a chance to say farewell to Fr Roland. 

Welcome Father Alejo Despacio

We extend a very warm welcome to Fr Alejo Despacio who will take up the ministry of Assistant Priest here in St Agnes’ Parish.

In 2010-2011 Fr Alejo was ordained as Deacon and then Priest for the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines. Since then he has studied for a Juris Doctor degree and fulfilled many roles within the police in various provinces. In 2023, Fr Alejo resigned his commission from the Philippine National Police with the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel. He came to Australia in August last year and was appointed to the Lismore Diocese.

Student Voice

Our latest Student voice meeting was held this week encouraging Student Representatives from each class to share their class’s input into which lunchtime extra curricular activities they really enjoy and to offer suggestions for future ones. We look forward to working on these ideas to implement next term.

Biggest Morning Tea

We will be hosting a Biggest Morning Tea in conjunction with our Athletics Carnival on Friday 21 June. We encourage families to donate baked goodies for this wonderful cause. Students, staff and visitors can purchase items at Lunch One.

Year 2 Excursion

Year 2 students went to the Glasshouse to watch a live production of the 'The One Who Planted Trees'. 

2025 Kindergarten Enrolments

Please note Kindergarten enrolment applications are due Friday 14 June.

Staff Professional Learning Day - Tuesday 11 June

Supervision will be available at school on this day for any families that are not able to organise alternative arrangements. Children should be in their uniform and will need to bring Lunch One, Lunch Two, fruit, hat and a water bottle. Lunch orders will be available, the canteen will be operating as normal on this day. Please use the link below to register your child.

To book your child’s place please log on to www.schoolinterviews.com.au. The unique code to logon is 5974x

Wear your Winter Woolies

On Friday 14 June students and staff are invited to wear their Winter Woolies for a gold coin donation. All money raised will be donated to those in need within the St Agnes’ Parish through Sr Marjorie’s Soup Kitchen, Our place at the Youth Hub and St Vincent de Paul.

Similarly, please donate non-perishable food items, warm clothes and bedding which can be left at the front office between now and the end of June.

These will be distributed to those doing it tough in our parish.

Sports News

Diocesan Rugby Union

Next Wednesday, Mr Brazel and Mr Behan will accompany two teams to the Diocesan Rugby Union Gala Day in Coffs Harbour. The two teams consist of 30, Year 5 and 6 students who will play other Catholic schools within the Lismore Diocese. Although it is a gala day, it is competitive, with the winning team progressing to play teams from other NSW Dioceses later in the year. We wish the players the best of luck on the day and look forward to hearing about the games.

NSW Netball Schools Cup

On Tuesday 18 June, we will send nine teams to play at the NSW Netball Schools Cup. Our Year 5 and 6 students will play in mixed competitions during the day. This is the first time in many years that Aggies has participated in the event, and we are excited to send three competitive teams and six non-competitive teams to what should be an enjoyable day of netball. 

Registration for the event is via the PlayHQ portal. If your child has nominated for the event, you will soon receive a unique registration link via Compass. Please use the link to register your child in their allocated team. 

Thank you to Renee in the office, who has spent many hours setting up the registration process for our students to attend. We are asking for help on the day. If you think you would like to assist by managing a team, please email Drew Wilson at andrew.wilson@lism.catholic.edu.au

School Athletics Carnival

Our athletics carnival is quickly approaching, and grades have been busy running trial heats and preparing students. The carnival is a celebration of sport. It brings students from all grades together in their houses and aims to develop sportsmanship and inclusion within our community. On the day, students will take on challenges with their friends through competitive and non-competitive events. We welcome families to attend the carnival to support their children and participate in novelty and non-competitive events. 

Attached is a copy of the event schedule. Please note that we will do our best to keep to the allocated times, but events may sometimes be delayed. If you plan to attend, there will be a chance for a cup of tea or coffee and something yummy as part of Australia’s Biggest Morning Teas’ fundraising effort.

We also seek family help on the day for timekeeping in the 100m and 200m events. If think you would like to help, please email Drew Wilson at andrew.wilson@lism.catholic.edu.au

Coached Basketball

Our coached basketball sessions have continued this week, with Years 3, 4, and 6 attending. Students are learning the skills of dribbling and shooting with a qualified coach. Each lesson is 40 minutes long, and every class has multiple opportunities to attend over the five week period. Thank you to the coaches and staff at Port Macquarie Basketball Association for sharing their skills and knowledge with our students.

Check out the action from Year 6 and Year 4.

Future Dates

Term 2

• Wednesday 12 June - Diocesan Rugby Union Gala Day, Coffs Harbour
• Tuesday 18 June - NSW Netball School’s Cup Years 5 and 6 Gala Day
• Friday 21 June - School Athletics Carnival
• Wednesday 24 July - Zone Athletics at St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie

Positive Behaviour Support

This week we continue with our PBS focus on being Responsible.  I am responsible and follow school rules to be the best that I can be. The purpose of this week’s lesson is to grow students' awareness of the whole school environment by encouraging students to independently notice or see a need and do something about it. This lesson builds on the previous lesson to empower students to be responsible!

Catholic Social Teaching: The Common Good
The common good is reached when we work together to improve the wellbeing of people in our society and the wider world.

Family sites: 

Following Instructions - Kid Sense Child Development

How to Teach Kids to Solve Their Own Problems - Let Grow

Solve It With Stories: Teaching Problem & Solution with Picture Books

St Agnes' Primary School Community Forum

Canteen News

Parish News

Community News