Term 4 Week 5 - Friday 3rd November 2023
From our Principal
Image: Festival of Lights by John August Swanson.
Term 4 Week 5
Dear families,
This week the Catholic Church celebrated All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2). All Saints and All Souls Day hold a unique place within our Catholic identity, inviting us to contemplate the interconnectedness of life, death, and the transcendent.
All Saints Day serves as a reminder of the countless individuals who have lived virtuous lives, both known and unknown and the contributions of ordinary people who inspire others by their compassion and selflessness.
All Soul’s Day invites us to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have departed. It reminds us of the universal human experience of mortality and the eternal promise of God's love and mercy. In doing so, we acknowledge the enduring connection that we share with those who have gone before us.
Remembering and celebrating "those who walked with us"....
For those
who walked with us,
this is a prayer.
For those
who have gone ahead,
this is a blessing.
For those
who touched and tended us,
who lingered with us
while they lived,
this is a thanksgiving.
For those
who journey still with us
in the shadows of awareness,
in the crevices of memory,
in the landscape of our dreams,
this is a benediction.
Every blessing for the week ahead.
Roxanne
We are aware of instances of COVID-19 presenting again in our student body. Should your child test positive, it is recommended that they isolate for at least 5 days and until they are symptom free. It would be appreciated if you could contact the school and advise of a positive result.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Pat in Year 5 for his 4th place at the State Athletics Championships this week in the 100m final. A fantastic achievement!
Holy Spirit Parish - Sacrament Program
For Parents of Children Ready for First Eucharist and Confirmation in Ararat
Parents of children ready for First Eucharist and Confirmation are invited to a meeting at the parish office on Tuesday December 5.
The meeting will be at 3.30pm and repeated at 5.30pm.
This invitation is for parents of children nearing the end of Yr 2 and above.
Why so late in the year?
We had a meeting some months ago and nobody came. (Not advertised well enough?)
While children in Stawell celebrated their sacraments this year, Ararat missed out. We decided to wait a while and set the meeting again.
After the meeting your child's preparation can begin immediately and the sacraments celebrated early next year.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Our birthday celebrations this week:
Ari S
Expressions of Interest - Ararat Carols by Candelight
Dear Families
On Friday 1st December at 7pm, we hope to take a group of students from St Mary’s Primary School to perform at the Ararat Carols By Candlelight. This event will be held in the Alexandra Gardens. If you would like your child/children to be part of this performance, please let us know via the short survey on PAM by next Friday.
The event will include free face painting and free fairy floss. There will be a barbecue and electric candles available, and once the carols have concluded there will be fireworks.
If you have any questions please contact Elissa Gault on Thursdays or Fridays, or by email: egault@smararat.catholic.edu.
Save the Date!
St Mary's Christmas Performance - Thursday 7th December from 6pm
Performance Information for each class has now been emailed to all families. For any further questions, please feel free to email Elissa our performing arts teacher at egault@smararat.catholic.edu.au
Christmas Cards Available For Purchase
Series 1 & Series 2 Christmas Cards are now available to purchase from the office. 20 for $10. Congratulations to all our featured artists!
Holy Spirit Parish Bulletin
WHOLE SCHOOL PRAYER
Every Friday at 2.45pm in the Multi Purpose Room
TERM 4 DATES
WEEK 6
WSP - SLC2
Tuesday 7th November
Melbourne Cup Day - no school
Thursday 9th November
JLC Excursion - Ballarat Wildlife Park
Friday 10th November
No lunch orders available - VCE exams
WEEK 7
WSP - MLC1
WEEK 8
WSP - JLC1
Tuesday 21st November
Foundation 2024 Transition 2.15pm - 3.15pm
WEEK 9
WSP - SLC1
Tuesday 28th November
Foundation 2024 Transition 2.15pm - 3.15pm
2024 Junior Learning Community Info Sessions:
Session 1 @ 3.20 - 3.50pm OR
Session 2 @ 6.00 - 6.30pm
ALL CURRENT AND NEW FAMILIES WELCOME!
Friday 1st December
Carols by Candlelight @ Alexandra Gardens
WEEK 10
WSP - SLC2
Tuesday 5th December
Year 6 Transition Day @ Marian College
Foundation 2024 Transition 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Sacrament Program meetings @ Parish Office (Year 2 and above)
Session One: 3.30pm OR
Session Two: 5.30pm
Thursday 7th December
Christmas Performance @ 6pm
More details to follow!
Friday 8th December
Last Lunch Order day
WEEK 11
Tuesday 12th December
Whole School Transition Day for 2024
Thursday 14th December
End of Year Mass @ 9.15am
Grade 6 Graduation @ 6pm
Friday 15th December
Students Last Day for 2023
Grade 6 Big Day Out
NORMAL FINISH @ 3.15pm
WEEK 12
Monday 18th December
Staff Last Day for 2023
2024 TERM DATES
Term 1
Monday 29th January - Thursday 28th March
(students return Tuesday 30th January)
Term 2
Monday 15th April - Friday 28th June
Term 3
Monday 15th July - Friday 20th September
Term 4
Monday 7th October - Friday 20th December
In Our Community
Ararat West School Fete
