Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Week 5, it is hard to believe we are halfway through our first term. Last week we held an Ash Wednesday Liturgy to mark the beginning of Lent, such a beautiful and moving gathering in prayer for all of our school community. The ashes sprinkled on our head instead of foreheads in this COVID year. This Sunday the Gospel focuses on the Transfiguration, a word not really thrown about much in our everyday conversation. It explores Jesus revealing himself in his divinity to his friends, sharing visions of the prophets of the Old Testament showing the way. It is easy to go about our everyday lives dealing with practicalities and pragmatics. Lent is the time for us to reflect and ensure we are nurturing our spiritual dimension which maybe for some being out in nature, practising prayer or meditating, whatever it is for you and your family give time and space for reflection. 

This week I have been delighted to see so many parents in our school for Three Stars and A Wish meetings  with teachers.  The knowledge that we as a staff gain from speaking with you and your child is invaluable. 

The research is clear, children who have parents actively involved in their education achieve more academically throughout their school lives. We look forward to having meetings with students on Personalised Plans next week. 

Next Monday we will be holding our P and F Annual General Meeting at 5:30pm in the Staffroom. It was wonderful to see so many new faces at our February meeting,  I encourage you to come along on Monday to connect with our school community. There are plenty of opportunities to be involved in various ways, we are looking for people with a variety of skills and interests to keep our school community moving forward and setting a direction that we have collaboratively set for our school. You can also join us on Zoom if you can’t make it in person on this link     https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/92060567020

Next week we will begin to accept enrolment applications for 2022, Enrolment Packs will be available at our School Office, if you have a child that is starting school next year please let us know and we will send home an Enrolment Pack. Word of mouth in small communities is the greatest advertising for our school, if you are happy with our culture of care and learning environment, please share this good news with your friends. 

 I look forward to seeing you at Drop Off and Pick Up, and God willing with a vaccine starting to roll out we might see you more in our school grounds soon. 

Yours in partnership 

Laurinda Nelson 

Principal

PB4L Celebration Corner

Class Merit Awards,  presented at Assembly 

Kinder – Scarlett H, Oscar O

Year 1 – Benjamin WG, Mia L, Goldie D

Year 2 – Daisy D, Chace F

Year 4  - Kayden L, Jacob DG

Year 5 – Isabella L, Aska Pe

Year 6 – David K, Tess W

Super Star Awards for Week,

We care for Ourselves

Henry K, Luke W, Frankie N, Riley  B, Ben K, Ellyana S, Evie P, Max B, Alexander B, Jemima C, Henry K, Summer G, Millar N, Jackson L

We Care For Others 

Anika D, Max B, David K, Molly K, Tess W, Ellyana S, Evie P, Jemima C, Lachlan W, Riley B, Henry K    

We Care For Our Learning

Adele B, Arlo S, William N, ,Austin G, Isabelle S, Faith S, Lucy A

We Care For Our School

Henry K,Summer G, Millar N, Mana V

Principal Award

Isabelle S

Friday 26th February - School Mass Stage 3 

Monday 1st March - P and F, AGM 5.30pm  https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/92060567020

Wednesday 3rd March - St Mary's Playgroup at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am -11.00am

Friday 5th March - School Assembly 12.00 pm (Via Zoom Link sent on Compass)

Sunday 7th March - Family Mass Milton 5.00pm

Wednesday 10th March - St Mary's Playgroup at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am - 11.00am

Friday 12th March - School Mass 

                                AFL Gala Day (Year 3 & 4) Students will depart school 9.10am                                

                                Bus leaving 9.10am SHARP

Wednesday 17th March - St Mary's Playgroup at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am -11.00am

Thursday 18th March - Sacramental Meeting 6.00pm Ulladulla Church (for all Sacraments 2021)

Friday 19th March - School Assembly (Via Zoom Link sent on Compass)

Wednesday 24th March - St Mary's Playgroup at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am -11.00am

Thursday 25th March - AFL Skills Day (Year 2, 1 and Kinder) Milton Public School

Friday 26th March - School Mass Stage 1

Monday 29th March -Thursday 1st April - Holy Week

Wednesday 31st March - St Mary's Playgroup at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am -11.00am

Friday 2nd April - Good Friday

NOTE -Sadly we cannot have parents attend assemblies or Friday school masses at this time.

This year, Catholic Schools Week will be held from 28 February - 6 March. The theme for 2021 is ‘Faith in the Future’. This theme is shared with dioceses across the country as together we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.

As we pause this week to reflect on the precious gift of Catholic education, we remember the intergenerational contributions that preceded us and that we continue to build upon. Since the very first Catholic school was established, countless children and young people have benefitted from the dedication and commitment of parents and staff in our Catholic schools.

As Catholic Schools Week is celebrated during the second week of Lent, we will also focus on the ways that our school supports the more vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our wider community.

Sacramental Programs for 2021. 

Year 2 or 3: First Reconciliation, Year 3 or 4: First Holy Communion, Year 6: Confirmation

For those who wish to participate in this year's Parish Children's Sacramental Program, the program of dates for the year is attached.  These arrangements are all dependent on future developments with COVID19. 

The first important step is to attend the enrolment evening on 18 March and register your child for this year, EVEN IF THEY WERE ENROLLED LAST YEAR.  Please note, this will be at Ulladulla Church this year to allow for COVID restrictions.  

Some people have already expressed their intention of enrolling a child/children in one or two sacraments, and that has been recorded, but attendance on 18 March is necessary to complete enrolment.  If you know children attending public schools could you please pass this information on to other parents, as our communication is limited this year due to a reduced number of Scripture classes.

Parent Information and Enrolment Meeting

Thursday 18 March, 6.00pm Holy Family Church, Ulladulla Church

For all new enrolments and for those who enrolled in 2020

If you wish to enrol your child/children for reception of any of these sacraments (First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation) in 2021 you must attend this parent information/enrolment session.

At this session you will receive all information regarding preparation for the sacraments and complete an enrolment form for your child. 

If you are unable to attend this session but wish to enrol your child, please contact Anne Foster (fosterja@outlook.com; 4455 5542 / 0402 904 188) prior to 18 March to discuss enrolment options.

Late enrolments may be accepted.  

Children's Liturgy of the Word at 9.00am Mass

There will be a Children's Liturgy of the Word at 9.00am Mass, Ulladulla Church at every third Sunday Mass from now on. After the opening prayer at Mass children will go to a separate area where they will participate in the readings of the day, simplified for children, and a related activity or two.  They will return  to the church at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist (at the Offertory). 

Family Masses 

On every First Sunday of the month there will be a 5.00pm family Mass at Milton Church, combined with a family activity of some kind (eg a BBQ). We are keen to get a children/youth music group up and running and already a few families have expressed interest. At 4.00pm on Sunday 7 March we will have a practice prior to the family Mass with all children interested in singing/playing an instrument - please come along and join in the fun - all welcome! 

Finally - we invite you to support our Catechists and become a Scripture teacher or helper.  The commitment is a couple of hours a week and you will be provided with all the support, and training you need!  Please contact Anne if you are interested in finding out more about this special role.

Anne Foster, Parish Children's Sacramental Coordinator, 4455 5542 / 0402 904 188

LENT and Caritas Australia

Ash Wednesday – 17th February 2021 

Last week the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au 

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

You might like to reflect on Lent with your family. 

Discuss with your children about practical ways in which they can commit themselves to works of love during Lent. 

Q: What ‘works of love’ can we do?
Discuss the importance of prayer during Lent.
Q: What can we do to ensure we make time for prayer during Lent? 

Fortnightly Masses

This Friday we return to our fortnightly Masses which will look a little different under COVID restrictions this year. Unfortunately these Masses are restricted to staff and students only but we are lucky to celebrate Mass in our beautiful little church on the hill. This week Years 5 and 6 will attend, On Friday 12 March, Year 3 and 4 and 26 March our Year 1 and 2 students will attend. This Mass will be at 12pm.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via the school office.

Gabrielle Peters

Religious Education Coordinator

Project Compassion Caritas Immersion Session 

Year 4-6 participated in a Caritas Immersion session on Tuesday this week. They connected with a long time employee of Caritas Australia via Zoom and were able to listen to the details around Caritas supporting millions of people around the world. We talked specifically about Jamila, who we have been learning about this week. Here is her story:

Twenty-two-year-old Jamila, is a single mother, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. A Rohingya woman, she fled the armed conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to save herself, her elderly mother and eight-month-old baby daughter. Having been abandoned by her husband, she faced life in the camp on her own.  Thanks to the generosity of Caritas Australia’s supporters and through our partnership with Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila had access to emergency food and shelter. Then, as her stay in the camp stretched on, Jamila joined the Women Friendly Spaces project where she received counselling and emotional support. She learnt about health and hygiene, participated in a parenting program and learnt sewing skills, to help her to earn an income. You can watch her story here https://vimeo.com/491934163

Grades 2 - 6 recently participated in our annual swimming carnival at Milton Pool on Friday 5th February.  We all walked down to the pool for the exciting day in our house colours. 

I was so proud of all the students on the day supporting and cheering for their house mates but also all competitors in the pool.  I want to say thankyou to all the amazing parents, who were time keepers and the P & F Members who cooked the BBQ on the day and to the wonderful staff at St Mary’s thankyou. 

Our winning house on the day was Marion. 

Our champions for this event were: 

Junior Champion girls - Alexandra W

Junior Champion boys - Liam R and Louis R

Senior Champion girls - Zara C

Senior Champion boys - Hamish K and Matthew R. 

From this carnival students are selected to represent the school at the South Coast Diocese Swimming Carnival in Corrimal on the 2nd March. Our amazing swimming team:

DIO South Coast Swimming Team - 2021

Year 6 Zara C, Charlize D, Audrey S, David K, Zach D, Xavier B

Year 5 Hamish K, Matt R, Tex L, Abby L

Year 4 Alexandra W, Georgie D, Kayden L, Anika D

Year 3 Mila L, Louis R, Liam R, Henry K

Year 2 Evie P

We wish them the best of luck on the day! Mrs Delia

Due to covid restrictions.

Orders for uniforms can be made via email, phone or school office. (Please state size, student, class and uniform required clearly for orders)

Orders will be sent home once payment is received every Friday. (Orders can be paid for over the phone - EFTPOS)

School hats $15 and are available at school office. EFTPOS preferred no change available.

ANY PRE-LOVED UNIFORMS IN GOOD CONDITION ARE WELCOME  (no rips or stains)

Sports Uniform Tuesday, Friday      

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES: Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Ulladulla on Ash Wednesday at 10 am and at St Patrick’s Sussex Inlet at 5 pm. One hour prior to these masses, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation on offer. Regrettably, due to Covid-19 directives, the Milton Ash Wednesday service will be restricted to students and staff at the Catholic Primary School. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days for fasting and abstinence.

DURING LENT “we are invited to retreat and reflect, to mirror Jesus’ time in the wilderness before the celebrations of Easter. During this pandemic year when we have all confined to our homes, unable to meet and mingle, we have seen people come to Christ in new ways, through new mediums and messages. We have seen that god continues to work even when our normal systems are disrupted. We have learnt just how dependent we are on god’s grace and hope, rather than relying on our own cleverness.” + Justin Cantuar The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2021, Lambeth Palace, London.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION The season of Lent is the most appropriate time for celebrating the Sacrament of Penance, which is better celebrated before, rather than during the Easter Triduum. Fr Michael will be available this coming week at the following times for this sacrament of healing. Tuesday Ulladulla 9.00 – 9.45 am Wednesday Sussex Inlet 4.00 – 4.45 pm during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Thursday Ulladulla 9.00 – 9.45 am Friday Milton. 8.45 – 9.30 am during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. This beautiful sacrament is also available during the Lenten Twilight Retreats, beginning Wednesday 24 February.

LENTEN TWILIGHT RETREATS: Milton 4.00 – 7.30 pm (including BYO to share dinner on 24 February, and March 3/10/17/24. Mass at 4 pm (except 6 pm on 24 March) A parish HOLY WEEK RESIDENTIAL RETREAT is scheduled for 29 - 31 March 2021 at the Sisters of St Joseph Retreat Centre Batehaven (Batemans Bay). Day Retreatants are welcome. For further information about all these retreats, contact Anne Foster or Lynne Kelly. Please support these retreats which have been offered for 5 years the support your formation in the faith.

LENTEN SPIRITUAL PRACTICES: During Lent we are encouraged to fast, pray, and give alms. Please support project Compassion, plus explore other ways to share your time, talent, and treasure. There is an acute need for SRE/catechist teachers, volunteers at the storytelling and Healing Space Wason St, new, members for our two Vinnies Conferences. Think creatively about how to sharpen your spiritual practices. For example, Fr Michael will adopt a ‘tech sabbath fast. From sundown Sunday until Tuesday morning (a priest and deacon’s day off) Michael’s devices will be switched off - no phone, no computer, no television! Please share other creative ways you will approach your Lenten discipline this year, e.g., some parishioners are exploring spiritual direction.

LAUDATOSILENT! Thank you for joining. During this Lenten time of fasting and renewal, Catholics around the world are embarking upon a journey of ecological conversion through reflection, repentance, and renewal. Together, we have ruptured our relationship with creation, and we will express our sorrow for our actions. But by committing to concrete changes, we will reduce our ecological footprint and inspire our sisters and brothers around the world to join us in this conversion process! You will receive weekly reminders and ideas about how you can live this journey of ecological conversion, including opportunities to connect with others through retreats, webinars, and prayer services. Throughout LaudatoSiLent, you will also find suggested activities on the Lenten calendar. Each week will feature a “mini-fast” that will help all of us reduce our ecological footprint and reflect on our relationship with God and all creation. You are encouraged to walk this journey with friends. Join a Laudato Si’ Circle or start one today. A communal conversion is needed. We cannot do this alone! Thank you again for joining this journey of hope. Why not join Fr Michael and other parishioners in this Lenten Spiritual Practice.

SPIRITUAL READING BOOK CLUB: Thanks to a very generous parishioner donation, several contemporary books are being purchased on different themes including, Christology, prayer, Mary, justice, spirituality, liturgy, etc. Please suggest a book title or theme which you would like included in our parish Spiritual Reading Library. Thanks to Bernice Bannister who also manages a Spiritual Reading Bookshelf at Holy Family.

Prayerful best wishes

(Fr) Michael