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- Saint David's Day 2025
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- Parents and Friends Committee
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Dear Parents/Caregivers, Students, Staff, and Friends of Saint David’s Parish School,
Welcome to the new 2025 school year!
It was wonderful to see our beautiful children return with several new faces joining our community. This year, our school has taken the theme of ‘Be a gift of love and compassion for one another’ taken from the writings of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Each year, our school adopts a theme, and these words and actions become embedded in class agreements, expectations and our school culture. These actions remind us all, that just as God gave us all the gift of love and compassion, we too are called to show the same kindness to others with whom we meet.
Our first three weeks of term have come and gone and so much has taken place during our return to school this year. Our ‘Welcome, Meet and Greet Night’ was well attended and the Creche for our students and their toddler siblings was also well received. Thank you to our parent/caregiver community who made this night a priority and attended.
The weather over the last couple of weeks has meant that on a few occasions students have had to play indoors during break times, and this was a welcome relief for some, and not so for others. How lucky are we to live in Adelaide and be the recipients of such weather.
Last week, we also celebrated our whole school ‘Welcome’ Mass, presided by Fr John McGinty OMI, where our newly formed band and choir led us in music and song. Part of the proceedings during Mass involved our staff being commissioned and our Year 6 students receiving their Senior Jumpers.
Let’s not forget our wonderful band of Parents and Friends Volunteers who sold ice blocks on Tuesday Treats Day! A relief for our students on two very hot days!
Our Parents and Friends met this week, and they have planned the year’s parent engagement, including; Mother’s/Special VIPs and Father’s /Special VIPs Day Stalls, Quiz Night, Ice block Tuesday Treats, Special Morning Teas for parents/caregivers on the first day back each term, and brainstormed how they can help our school community with parent engagement. They also run the Second-Hand Uniform stall. Again, how fortunate are we to have such a dedicated team of parents/caregivers who plan and organise special happenings to welcome and build our community.
2025 Staff
Below is a link for our 2025 staff and their email addresses, to allow for easier communication with school and home. Staff will endeavour to respond to queries within 24 hours.
Saint David’s Celebration Day
On Thursday 6 March, our school celebrates Saint David’s Day. This year, the whole school will begin the day with a whole school Mass followed by a picnic to the Golden Fields Reserve, Golden Grove. Parents and Caregivers are warmly invited to attend. More details will follow in due course.
Water Safety Program
Next week, our students in Years 1, 2 and 3 will participate in the Water Safety Program Week at Waterworld. This is a program that provides our students the opportunity to learn about water safety, whilst at the same time, help develop their water safety confidence. Parents/caregivers are welcome to meet us at Waterworld whilst your child/ren are having their session.
With every best wish,
Jubilee Year 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope
Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025. A Jubilee is a special year of grace and conversion, involving prayer, pilgrimage and sacramental repentance, held every 25 years, or during other years as called for by the Pope. Throughout this year, we are all encouraged to be people of hope, just as Jesus modelled to us in the Gospels.
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen.
2025 Sacramental Program
Please keep in your prayers students from our school who are currently enrolled in the Sacramental program: Eloise C, Riley C, Amelia C, Isabella C, Aislyn D, Francesco D, Pasquale D, Carter D, Sera F, Alba N, Celia O, Talia P, Aidan R, Valentina R, Hubert S, Cohen S, Kosta S, Lottie T, Delilah V.First Reconciliation – Tuesday, 25 March at 6:00pm
Confirmation and First Holy Communion – Saturday, 14 June at 2:00pm
Shrove Tuesday Community Event
All families are invited to gather in the courtyard before school on Tuesday, 4 March for a pancake. All students are welcome to wear their Sport team coloured shirt on this day. Gold coin donations for Project Compassion can be brought in on this day. Further details outlined in the flier sent home to families. We ask that all families please RSVP via QKR by Thursday, 2 February to assist with catering.
Class Masses and Liturgies
Throughout the year, classes and year level teams will be celebrating Masses in the Church and Liturgies in the Chapel. Parents and Caregivers are most welcome to gather and be part of these Liturgical celebrations. Classroom teachers will notify families of the dates of these celebrations throughout the year. If your child participates in Instrumental lessons or receives external agency support, please liaise directly with the tutor if your child’s lesson time is affected by liturgical celebrations.
Diary Dates
Saint David’s Feast Day Celebration Day – Thursday, 6 March
Holy Week Liturgies – Monday, 7 April – Thursday, 9 April at 9am
Whole School Easter Mass – Friday, 2 May at 9:15am
Year 6 Graduation Mass – Monday 8 December at 6pm at St David’s Church
Wishing everyone a wonderful year ahead.
Welcome to the 2025 school year. I am thrilled to embark on this exciting new chapter as the Leader of Learning, Diversity, and Wellbeing at Saint David’s Parish School, following eight wonderful years of teaching here. I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated staff, students, and families to foster a nurturing environment where every child can thrive, engage in meaningful learning experiences, and feel valued. Together, we will continue to build a community where diversity is celebrated, and wellbeing is at the heart of all that we do.As the Leader of Learning, I will be working closely with staff to ensure that we deliver the highest quality teaching and learning programs. Together, we will revisit and refine the essential Literacy components outlined in the Orton Gillingham and Explicit Direct Instruction frameworks, ensuring our approach is both comprehensive and effective in meeting the needs of all learners. Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), is an approach based on the premise that all children can learn, helps teachers deliver effective lessons that can significantly improve achievement for all learners, including English language learners and students with learning needs. Orton-Gillingham is a structured literacy approach used to teach reading and spelling, particularly for individuals with dyslexia, that emphasises a multisensory method, where learning incorporates visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic elements, by breaking down language into smaller, sequential skills and building upon them systematically.
We will continue to work collaboratively with our regional Catholic Schools in a joint moderation project to ensure the performance standards are being assessed accurately. This will continue throughout the year.
For the students, I’ve already been busy preparing for a variety of exciting initiatives this year, including Maths Lab, Nessy, Makers Empire, Lego Club, Times Tables Rockstars, Children’s University, the Mark Oliphant Science Awards, and Science Week, among many others. New initiatives for the year include a Chess Club and Tier 2 Literacy support through the MiniLit SAGE and MacqLit programs. These opportunities aim to enrich our students' learning experiences and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.
In my new role, as Leader of Diversity and Wellbeing, I will be working across the school to support students with diverse needs and their families. This includes collaborating with teachers to implement tailored adjustments that ensure all learners can fully access and engage in their education, fostering an inclusive environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed. At Saint David’s Parish School, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all students and working in close partnership with families. I look forward to embracing our shared responsibility for ensuring student learning, wellbeing, and inclusion are at the forefront of everything we do, and I am excited to work together in making this vision a reality.
During Week 2, the Year 6s embarked on a work project called, 'The Best Part of Me.' Some of the most popular options were legs and arms. We talked about the different body parts which we thought were our favourite. We also watched a video about what we were doing. We then had some brainstorm time where we were thinking about what these different body parts do. Lots of people like their legs because they can play sports, walk, and run. After we had finished that, we took a photo of our favourite body part and answered some questions around what they help us do and why we like them.
- Grace.W (Year 6)
The Year 6s have had an exciting start to the term. We have received our Year 6 tops and jumpers at the beginning of year Mass and are now the role models of the school which is a lot of responsibility. We have also been learning about gratitude and have been working hard on our grateful posters, that look very good on our classroom wall, this also shows all of the wonderful things we are grateful for.
- Jackson C (Year 6)
Uniforms
The school uniform 'try-on' service held in the uniform shop opposite the Office is open each week at the below times:
Monday & Thursday - 8:15-9:15am and 2:30-3:30pm
Tuesday Morning- Second hand uniform shop open (run by P&F).
Please see link below for the online ordering site.
Parking – Reminder
Please adhere to signage around the school in relation to parking and traffic flow. It is important that local residents have access to their property at all times. Cars are not to queue across Vizard Road and block the entrance to our surrounding neighbours and Church. Please be aware that the Church’s driveway and slip lane (Elizabeth Street and Vizard Road) are reserved for parishioners and the parking bays are designated for disabled parking only. Safety of our children is everyone’s responsibility.
School Board Nominations and AGM – We need you!
The School Board and Parents & Friends will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 18 March.
AGM’s give the opportunity for the Board and P&F to give an account of the tasks it has undertaken on behalf of its community. Questions with prior notice are requested to be submitted to the school’s Office by Wednesday 5 March, by completing the attached Notice to Community Form. Questions with prior notice will be answered at the meeting.
We are currently seeking nominations for the 2025 School Board. If you would like to nominate yourself, please complete and submit the following School Board Nomination Form by Friday 14 March. All nominees must be present at the AGM on Tuesday 18 March at 6:00pm for your nomination to be put forward. An election will take place and the successful candidate/s will be appointed to the 2025 Board for a 2-year tenure.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact Mia Harms for information.
| FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY | 9:00am 6SK Assembly |
| MOBNDAY 17 FEBRUARY |
2:45pm Community Prayer Years 1-3 Swimming |
| TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY |
9:00am-10:30am Playgroup Years 1-3 Swimming 6:00pm Board Meeting |
| WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY | Years 1-3 Swimming |
| THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY | Years 1-3 Swimming |
| TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY |
9:00am-10:30am Playgroup 6:00pm Sacramental Meeting |
| THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY |
9:30am School Tour 5:00pm School Tour |
| FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY | 9:00am 2C Assembly |
| SATURDAY 1 MARCH | Feast Day of Saint David of Wales |
| TUESDAY 4 MARCH |
9:00am-10:30am Playgroup Shrove Tuesday |
| WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH |
Ash Wednesday 9:15am Ash Wednesday Mass (Years 4-6) Ash Wednesday Liturgies (Reception-Year 3) |
| THURSDAY 6 MARCH | Saint David's Mass and Celebration Day |
| FRIDAY 7 MARCH | School Development Day |
| MONDAY 10 MARCH | Adelaide Cup Public Holiday |
| TUESDAY 11 MARCH | 7:00pm P&F Meeting |
| WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH | NAPLAN |
| THURSDAY 13 MARCH | NAPLAN |
| FRIDAY 14 MARCH |
NAPLAN 9:00am 4M Assembly |
| MONDAY 17 MARCH |
NAPLAN |
| TUESDAY 18 MARCH |
9:00am-10:30am Playgroup NAPLAN 6:00pm Board Meeting (AGM) |
| WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH | NAPLAN |
| THURSDAY 20 MARCH |
NAPLAN Real Schools in-class Day and Parent Info Session 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| FRIDAY 21 MARCH |
NAPLAN Harmony Day Celebration National Day of Action Againts Bullying and Violence |
| MONDAY 24 MARCH | NAPLAN |
| TUESDAY 25 MARCH |
9:00am-10:30am Playgroup 6:00pm Sacrament of Reconciliation |
| WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH | Year 6 Camp |
| THURSDAY 27 MARCH | Year 6 Camp |
| FRIDAY 28 MARCH |
9:00am 1B Assembly SAPSASA Athletics Carnival Year 6 Camp |
| MONDAY 31 MARCH |
Learning Conversations |
| TUESDAY 1 APRIL |
9:00am-10:30am Playgroup Learning Conversations |
| WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL |
Catholic Swimming Carnival Learning Conversations |
| TUESDAY 8 APRIL | 9:00am-10:30am Playgroup |
| FRIDAY 11 APRIL | 12:30pm Term 1 ends |
| SUNDAY 13 APRIL | Holy Week |
Should you have questions regarding how to best 
support your child/ren as they begin school for the first time, or as a new student at Saint David’s Parish School, this website has some very good practical advice:
Separation Anxiety is often a common theme at the start of a new school year. The picture book ‘The Invisible String’ (author Patrice Karst) addresses the concept of being connected with loved ones, even when they are away from us. There is also a companion book titled ‘The Invisible Backpack’ which addresses both starting school for the first time, or as a new student making the transition to a new school. These two books are also available on YouTube as Read-Alongs.
If you would like your child/ren to access school counselling during 2025, parent referral permission is required for students R – 3. Students in Years 4 – 6 are permitted to self-refer. Referral permission forms are available from the Front Office.
School Counselling services will be made available to students at Saint David’s Parish School on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in 2025.
Parents are welcome to contact me should they wish to discuss the possibility of accessing the service for their child/ren. Parents can also complete a referral form and they will be contacted in advance to acknowledge the receipt of the referral form.
I look forward to the opportunity of working with you and your families during 2025.
TERM 1 FINANCE NEW’S
Term 1 Statements
You should Have received Term 1 statements.
If you have not receive your statement, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Reminder, you will receive an upfront payment discount if fees are paid in full by 28 February 2025.
1 Child Discount $135.00
2 Children $250.00
3 Children + $344.50
Payment Options Agreement and Plan
If you have not set a payment plan, please return them to Debbie Graeber. Via the Front Office
School Card
If you are holders of a Health Care Card, you may be eligible for School Card. Application forms are available via the State Government’s School Card Scheme on Saint David’s Web site and attached. Any questions please contact Debbie.
Financial Hardship
Saint David’s continues its commitment to supporting every student and family through difficult times. Catholic Education acknowledges the unprecedented economic impact on many families.
If you are concerned about your ability to pay schools fees, we strongly encourage you to have a discussion with us. We believe a family’s financial circumstances should not be a barrier to a student accessing a Catholic education.
Thank you for your support
Saint David’s Parish School – Changing Bank Details.
Important note Catholic Education South Australia have changed banks to CBA
You will notice that the BSB and Account Details have changed shown on the bottom of your statement.
If you currently pay accounts by EFT you will need to update the bank details to
SAINT DAVID’S PARISH SCHOOL
BSB 066-782
ACCOUNT 100000171
Statements have been mailed out. Please contact Debbie Graeber if you have any queries.
Thank you for your support.
Welcome back to OSHC 2025 to all our families, with a special shout out to a number of new students and families that have enrolled recently. If you are thinking you may need us this year, whether occasionally or in an ongoing capacity, vacation care or term time please take a look at the school website or for more information contact our Director, Mim.
Entertainment Book
Link to purchase an Entertainment Membership Saint David's Parish School (entertainment.com.au)
Thank you to all our wonderful Volunteers and the time you give to support Saint David’s Parish School.
RRHAN-EC refresher module is now available for registered volunteers to complete. Please login to your plink account to complete.
Please take a moment when you can to update your training, as there will be a backlog of issuing new Volunteer badges at the start of the New Year.
Once you have completed the training, please email your updated certificate to me and I will issue you with a new badge.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Just a reminder that the cut off time to order school lunches in the morning on the Qkr! app, is 8:30am. If your child has a lunch order, please make sure it is ordered prior to this time.
The following phone number is a dedicated ‘parent support line’. The number is 7084 1801. The number is manned from 9:30am, but parents can leave a message before then & they will get a return call from 9:30am. This number can be used for parents who have missed the 8:30am cut off, refund queries or help with navigating Qkr!
Keep your Kids Smiling!
Dental care is FREE for ALL babies, preschool and most children under 18 years at School Dental Service clinics.
Our specially trained staff provide comprehensive dental care to help prevent pain and tooth decay.
We will always talk to you about what your child needs before we provide any treatment. We have been a trusted government dental service for children since 1969 and bulk bill under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
Call us now for an appointment!
Your local clinic is: Modbury GP Plus Super Clinic Phone: 7425 8700 or use this link to our website to ask us to contact you.
School Address: 40 Elizabeth Street, Tea Tree Gully SA 5091
Postal Address: PO Box 647 St Agnes SA 5097
Telephone: 8360 6300
Absentee Line: 8360 6373
OSHC: 8360 6330 Mobile 0406 007 838
Web Address: www.stdavids.catholic.edu.au
Email Address: info@stdavids.catholic.edu.au
Facebook: @saintdavidsparishschool