Newsletter Edition 3 2013 - St Edwards Primary School

Edition 3: 11 th February 2013
Prayer for Ash Wednesday
Merciful God,
You created us from the dust of the earth, and
breathed your own life into our very being. You
recreated us in Christ through the waters of
Baptism, that we might share in the fullness of
life. As we enter these forty days, may our
fasting strengthen us to seek your justice.
May our prayer lead us to become makers of
peace. Amen
New Students
We extend a warm welcome to St Edward’s School
to Hayley (4O) and Jayde (1R) Elliott and family
from Tamworth West Public. We hope your time
with us will be happy and rewarding.
Ash Wednesday Mass
Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday 13 th February and marks
the commencement of Lent and we are also combining this with
our Opening School Mass. There will be Mass this
Wednesday for Years 1 - 6 at 9.30am in Mary Help of
Christians Church and parents and friends are most
welcome to attend. Years 1 and 2 students will be bussed to
and from the Church. The bus will leave promptly from the
Infants at 9.00am, so please have your children to school on
time.
School Leaders Induction Ceremony – next Mon
18 th Feb
Congratulations to our new School Leaders for
2013. We are certain these students will be
very confident leaders and role models of St
Edwards’s School. An Induction Ceremony for our new
Leaders will be held next Monday 18 th February at 10.30am in
the Primary School Hall. Parents, grandparents and friends
are most welcome to attend.
School Captains: Tahlia Tiberi & Samuel Driscoll
Vice Captains: Josie Chick & Hamish Fauchon
Sports Captains for 2013:
MacKillop Gold Cooper Kelly
Sienna Kennedy
Chisholm Red Jacob Shanley
Keely Jameson
Therry Blue Thomas Sharman
Ashleigh Horniman
Kennedy Green Izaac Mitchell
Carly Redfern
SRC for 2013:
Year 3 – Amelia Fauchon and Tyler Swift
Year 4 - Taylor Gambrill and Josh Cruickshank
Year 5 – Holly Littlejohns and Kyle Short
Uniform Change for all PRIMARY Students – this
Wednesday 13 th February
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the swimming carnival trials being
held this Thursday 14 th February, uniform requirements as
follows for all Primary children:
Wednesday 13 th Feb: Normal Summer Uniform
Thurs 14 th Feb: Sports Uniform
Kinder and Year 1 wear sports uniform as normal this
Wednesday. Any Year 2 children attending the swimming
trials on Thursday are requested to wear their sports uniform.
St Ed’s Before/After School Care/Vacation Care -
UPDATE
We wish to advise parents that our proposed application for
before/after school care and vacation care at St Edward’s is
progressing well and is currently with the NSW Early
Childhood Education and Care Directorate awaiting
assessment and approval. If things go to plan, we are hopeful
of commencing Vacation Care for the Autumn School Holidays
(15 th to 26 th April). We will keep parents informed as we hear
further news.
Eddie's Endeavours
Thank you to the parents who attended our Primary Parent
Information Evening last Wednesday night. We had a positive
response about our upcoming Eddie's Endeavour Program that
will start from K - 6 this year. Eddie's Endeavours promotes a
positive learning environment at home that will enhance family life
and interaction between you and your child. You will see them
take ownership over their learning more and their time
management and organisation skills will benefit from this program
too. In the words from one of our dad's, "Why didn't we do this
years ago - it's great!”. We are looking forward to this positive
step in your child's education.
Infants Grade Night – tomorrow Tues 12 th February
Don’t forget our Infants Grade Night will be held
tomorrow night for parents. This year our new
Homework Policy will be presented to parents,
as well as important information about your
child’s education. We strongly encourage all
parents to attend.
5.45pm – 6.30pm – Year 1 parents – Room 1 (Miss
McCarter’s Room)
6.30pm – 7.15pm – Kindergarten parents – Room 5 (Mrs
Clarke’s Room)
7.15pm – 8.00pm – Year 2 parents – Room 11 (Miss Elliott’s
Room)
VALUE FOR THE WEEK:
“ACCEPTANCE”

Parents Teacher Interviews
Please remember that in the coming weeks all
parents will have the opportunity for an
individual interview with your child’s class teacher. Please note
due to time constraints, these interviews are strictly limited to 15
minutes only and we encourage all parents to attend. A note will
go home to parents regarding interview timeslots and you will be
required to indicate your preferred preferences.
PRIMARY (Week 5): Monday 25 th February – Friday 1 st March
INFANTS (Week 7): Monday 11 th March – Friday 15 th March
P & F Annual General Meeting & St Edward’s School
Board Annual General Meeting – Wed 27 th February
The combined AGM of the St Edward’s School Board and
P & F Committee will be held on Wednesday 27 th February
commencing at 7.30pm in the Primary Library. Several
positions will become vacant on the School Board and the
P & F. If you would like to nominate for a position, or you
know of someone who would like to be nominated on the
School Board, please collect a Nomination Form from either
school office. The closing date for School Board nominations
is Tuesday 26 th February at 9.00am. P & F nominations will
be accepted on the night. All teaching staff will be in
attendance and we look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
St Edward’s Drug Education Policy
Teachers at St Edward’s School have generously
agreed to administer oral prescriptions to children
because of their strong belief in the duty of care to
students. The administration of medications by teachers
does not normally occur in most schools. Our teachers, however,
are prepared to do this but they will require the full support of
parents. This involves following all procedures and completing
the correct forms. I would like to encourage all new Kindergarten
parents and other new parents to St Edward’s to read the “St
Edward’s Drug Policy” sent home with today’s newsletter and
return the slip to acknowledge that you have read the Policy.
Long Term Medication Forms must be renewed each year
and signed by your child’s doctor.
Library Borrowing commences this week
Primary and Infants’ Library borrowing will
commence this week. Please ensure your child has
a library bag for borrowing on the following days:
PRIMARY:
Tuesday – 6L, 5O, 4G & 3R
Wednesday – 6T, 5L, 4O & 3P
Thursday – 6M, 5U, 4S & 3K
INFANTS:
Tuesday – 2E, 1R & KG
Wednesday – 2CR, 1B & KC
Thursday – 2O, 1M & KP
School Fee Information
Term 1 school fee accounts were sent home today and are due
for payment by Friday 15 th March. We are aware of financial
difficulties facing people in these hard times and are more than
happy to talk with families experiencing problems. Please make
contact with Mr Gary McSweeney, by phone or by appointment,
to discuss your financial responsibilities. It is vital that you do
make contact. Please note: Fees may be paid by cash, cheque,
internet banking or direct debit through the Armidale Diocesan
Investment Group, at no cost to you. Please note EFTPOS or
Credit Card facilities are not available. If you would like to pay
by Direct Debit which is by weekly, fortnightly or monthly
payments, please contact either office for the relevant
information.
Student School Banking
For many years the Armidale Diocesan Investment Group (ADIG)
has operated Rainbow Club passbook accounts for children in
primary schools in our Diocese. Bank books are collected each
Friday morning, then processed by Mrs Sauer at the Infants
Campus and returned the following week. Our school benefits
financially from every transaction....these continue to be a free
account and generates 30 cents commission each time a child
deposits to their Rainbow Club Account at school. If you wish to
open an ADIG student account for your child, an application form
can be obtained from either school office.
School Newsletter Advertising – 1 Spot available
We currently have 1 spot available for business advertising on the
back of our school newsletter. For a 12 month advertising period it
costs $143 (incl. GST), effective 1 st March 2013 – end Feb 2014.
Please contact Leanne Richards at the Primary Campus on 67
657847 if you are interested….first in best dressed!
Does your child wish to learn guitar??
Mr Alywyn Aurisch will again be conducting weekly half
hour guitar tuition classes at the Primary and Infants
Campus for both existing students and anyone who
wishes to begin learning. Classes will commence tomorrow,
Tuesday 12 th February, for Primary students after lunch in the Hall,
and each Tuesday thereafter. Lessons will be held at the Infants
Campus each Monday after lunch in the Hall if there is enough
demand. Please contact Mr Aurisch on 0408 025602 if you would
like to enrol your child or require any further information.
Music Lessons on hold
At the end of 2012 our school was approached by Mr Paul McNeill,
Music Teacher, to gauge demand for the introduction of piano and
singing lessons at St Ed’s and a letter from Mr McNeill was also
sent home to parents. We have now been informed that Mr McNeill
has obtained permanent teaching work and therefore cannot offer
his services. We are hoping to secure another music teacher and
parents will be kept updated as to the outcome.
Pastoral Care
Thank you so much to the parent’s of St Edward’s School for your
generosity. What an overwhelming response we have had to our
request for Pastoral Care Volunteers after last week’s newsletter.
To date, we sit at 31 volunteers already! Our target of 50 is looking
completely achievable. We ask that if you are able to assist and
have not returned the Pastoral Care Sheet, you do so as soon as
possible, or ring either school and leave a message for Sally or
Andy. If you know someone in our school community who is sick or
in hospital or who has had a recent loss in the family, or if you find
yourself in need of a little extra help, please let us know – we can
only help when we know of people who need assistance. Thank
you again for helping us help others. If you have any queries,
please feel free to ring either Campus, and Ange & Leanne, or Sally
& Andy, can answer questions you might have.
Sally Clarke & Andy Lockwood
Tamworth Regional Show Art Exhibition
This year we are exhibiting Art Works done by the Students of St
Edward’s School at the Tamworth Show on 8 th – 9 th March. All
exhibits must be artworks that have been done at school, so we
encourage the students to go through their Portfolios and choose
pieces that they have done and enter these if they wish.
If your child wishes to enter, the Entry Fee is 20 cents per child, per
item and must be accompanied by the Pavilion Entry Form, signed
by a parent or guardian. Artworks must NOT be framed, and the
maximum size is A3. All entries must be at School by
THURSDAY 28 TH FEBRUARY. Entry forms are available at either
Infants or Primary Office on request. It will be very exciting to be
able to showcase the talents of the very clever Picasso’s and
Monet’s of St Edward’s School. If you have any queries, please
feel free to ring Primary Campus and I can answer questions you
have.
Andy Lockwood
Canteen Roster
Date Primary Infants
Tues 12 th Feb
Wed 13 th Feb
Thurs 14 th Feb
Fri 15 th Feb
Kerrie Daly
Julie Fitzgerald
Erin Wood
Jacqui Hochstadt
Leonie Fox
Melissa Pengilley
Sarah Barrett
Janet Lay
Lana Maguire
Kate Martin
Raylene Mihell
Melissa Salvestrin
Marcella Blundell
Mon 18 th Feb Maryann Parsons Sue Morley

Canteen News
This Wednesday 13 th February we celebrate Ash
Wednesday. Our School Canteen WILL NOT be selling
pies, chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, or any items
containing meat.
Please note as a school we will also be observing the Fridays
of Lent as special days of prayer and penance. Therefore, no
meat or meat products will be on sale in the School
Canteen each Friday during Lent. Any children placing
lunch orders requesting meat products will be given a
vegemite sandwich. Thank you for your assistance in
regards to this request.
Thank you to the wonderful parents/carers who have returned
their notes offering to help in the Canteen at the Primary or
Infants (or both). I am still in need of helpers, so if you would
like to assist and haven’t returned your note, could you please
do so by this Wednesday 13 th February as the new roster has
to be finalised and sent home shortly. If you have misplaced
your note, a hand written note will suffice.
Please note that this year there will be NO pre-ordering of
school jackets. We have stocks of jackets in all
sizes.....6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and Adult sizes - Small, Medium &
Large. Jackets cost $70 each and are available from the
Primary Canteen or Infants’ Office.
Clare Dubois
Student of the Week (first name shown) &
Curriculum Award (second name shown)
Curriculum Focus: Religion
1B Tyson Tobin 4G Anika Earsman
Hallie Scott
Tully Munro
1M Addison Black 4O Hayley Reabow
Kahni Craig
Jessica Chapman
1R Grace Shanley 4S Maya Bannister
Gabrielle Miller
Rebecca Cameron
2CR Innes Munro 5L Izack Fox
Caleb Viertel
Emily Donald
2E Charlotte Collins 5O Erin Walker
Alyssa Davis
Lara Dewhurst
2O Katelin Abra 5U Noah Pitt
Lilly Bruyn
Grace Fazldad
3K Marley Pitt 6L Millah Green
Lucy Barrett
Madeleine Bennett
3P Phoebe Chatfield 6M Sam Ellicott
Paige Colby
Ellie Dunn
3R Grace Sweeney 6T Ashleigh Horniman
Millie Fauchon
Sam Driscoll
Values Award “RESPECT”
Year 1 – Sophia-Rose Markham, Mikayla Hardy, Cohen Smith
Year 2 – Sophie Walker, Ben Chick, Lexie Murphy
Year 3 – Will Ashton, Jack Skewes, Michael Lewington
Year 4 – Caitlin Boonstra, Bonnie Rankmore, Sarah O’Toole
Year 5 – Jennifer Grogan, Thomas Sheppard, Bailey Young
Year 6 – Bailey Northey-Calder, Tanisha Cooper, Thomas
Sharman
House Award
Infants: Therry Blue
Pride & Presentation Award
Primary: 4S
Infants: 1M
P & F News
2013 STATE OF ORIGIN TRIP
Tickets are available for our St Ed’s Bus Trip to the 3 rd State
of Origin on Wednesday 17 th July at $240.00 per person. Full
payment upfront required. Please call John Croake on 0428
977589 or Bede Maher 0428 469761.
COMING UP
Thursday 21 Feb – BBQ at the School Swimming Carnival.
Parents needed to lend a hand!
Wed 27 Feb – P & F and School Board AGM. Everybody
welcome.
Thurs 28 Feb – running a BBQ etc at the Diocesan
Swimming Carnival at Scully Park. Parent helpers required.
Thurs 28 Feb - Noms close for Catholic Education Awards.
Mon 4 March – first P & F general meeting for 2013. All
welcome.
During the Winter – Rugby League season – helpers will be
needed in the Canteen and on the gate at West Lions home
games.
Bede Maher, President
RE News
ASH WEDNESDAY/OPENING SCHOOL MASS
ASH WEDNESDAY falls this Wednesday
13 th February. Years 1 -6 will be attending
Mass at 9.30am in Mary Help of Christians
Church. This is a Parish Mass and everyone
is most welcome to attend.
LENT is a time for preparation for the
great feast of EASTER. Lent is a Church
season of prayer, self-denial, almsgiving and helping others.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and
abstinence. The law of fasting binds those who have completed
their 18 th year until the beginning of their 60 th year. The law
of abstinence binds those who have completed their 14 th year.
Lent is our opportunity to share what we have with those who
have less. Our mission focus for this term is Project
Compassion. Hopefully, the children will be receiving their
Project Compassion boxes this week, as we are waiting for the
delivery of more boxes.
PROJECT COMPASSION helps fight poverty and injustice
around the world. The theme for Project Compassion this year
is ‘OPEN DOORS INTO THE FUTURE’. With your support,
Caritas Australia, can open doors into a better future for the
world's poorest communities.
FAMILY MASS
Our first Family Mass for this year will be on Sunday 24 th
February. Years 3 and 6 will be participating in this
celebration. We hope that many families from all grades will
be attending this Mass at 9.00am in Mary Help of Christians
Church.
Sally Clarke & Robyn O’Rourke
Notes Home Today
Drug Education Policy (new families)
School Auxiliary Committee Note (all families)
Student Support 2013 Note (all families)
School Fee Accounts (all families)
Student Contact Verification Report (every child)