Newsletter Edition 2 2013 - St Edwards Primary School

Edition 2: 4 th February 2013A TEACHERS’ PRAYERI want to teach my students how -To live this life on earth, to face itsstruggles and its strife and to improvetheir worth.Not just the lesson in a book, or howthe rivers flow, but to choose theproper path, wherever they may go.To understand eternal truth and knowright from wrong and gather all thebeauty of a flower and a song.For if I help the world to grow in wisdom and grace, andthen I feel that I have won and I have filled my place.And so I ask your guidance, God that I may do my part, forcharacter and confidence and happiness of heart.….James J. MetcalfNew StudentWe extend a warm welcome to St Edward’s Schoolto Clare Betts (4G) and family from Tamworth WestPublic. We hope your time with us will be happyand rewarding.Year 2 Gymnastics – commences next Mon 11 th FebParents of Year 2 children are reminded that gymnastics willcommence for all Year 2 students next Monday 11 th Februaryand each Monday thereafter for a period of 5 weeks. All Year2 students are therefore requested to wear their sportsuniform on the 5 designated Mondays and normal schooluniform each Wednesday as the gym program incorporatesour weekly sport. Permission notes went home lastWednesday.Twilight Swimming CarnivalOur 2013 School Swimming Carnival willbe a Twilight Carnival held at Tamworth City Pool (KableAvenue) on Thursday 21 st February commencing atapproximately 3.30pm and finishing at 8.00pm. PLEASENOTE the Swimming Carnival is part of our school sportsprogram and ALL Primary aged children, along with Infantsstudents who are 8 years old, or turning 8 in 2013 and able toswim 50m, are expected to be there.Having a Twilight Carnival is a positive move in a number ofways, these being:* The majority of parents will have an opportunity to attendand become involved in our wonderful School SwimmingCarnival.* It avoids having the children swimming in the hottest part ofthe day.* The evening will allow for a fabulous family atmosphere.A Permission Note and information regarding the timetrials and our swimming carnival, together with a ParentalAssessment Swimming Ability Note were sent home lastWednesday.VALUE FOR THE WEEK:PUPIL FREE DAY – Friday 22 nd FebruaryDue to the Twilight Swimming Carnival onThursday 21 st February, please note thatALL children from Kinder – Year 6 DO NOTATTEND school on Friday 22 nd February 2013.IMPORTANT Information for Parents –Grade NightsDon’t forget our school will beholding Grade Information Nights forparents. This year our newHomework Policy will be presentedto parents, as well as important information aboutyour child’s education. We strongly encourage allparents to attend.PRIMARY Grade Night – this Wednesday 6 th February6.00pm – Year 3 parents – Room 4 (Miss Kokegei’s Room)6.30pm – Year 4 parents – Room 6 (Mrs Goodwin’s Room)7.00pm – Year 5 parents – Room 11 (Mr O’Toole’s Room)7.30pm – Year 6 parents – Room 3 (Mrs Mitchell’s Room)INFANTS Grade Night – Tuesday 12 th February5.45pm – 6.30pm – Year 1 parents – Room 1 (MissMcCarter’s Room – please note room change)6.30pm – 7.15pm – Kindergarten parents – Room 5 (MrsClarke’s Room)7.15pm – 8.00pm – Year 2 parents – Room 11 (Miss Elliott’sRoom)Parent/Teacher InterviewsAlso in the coming weeks all parents willhave the opportunity for an individualinterview with your child’s class teacher. Anote will go home to parents regardinginterview timeslots and you will be requiredto indicate your preferred preferences. We have scheduledthese interviews early in the school year so parents have theopportunity to share valuable information about their childrenwith class teachers. Please note due to time constraints,these interviews are strictly limited to 15 minutes only. Weencourage all parents to attend.PRIMARY (Week 5): Monday 25 th February – Friday 1 stMarchINFANTS (Week 7): Monday 11 th March – Friday 15 thMarch“RESPECT”

First Aid PolicyIn response to the needs of our students wehave adopted a policy of harm minimisation inregard to food allergies.This specifically relates to peanuts and nut products. Anallergy to these foods is life threatening and can be triggeredby touch along. The policy outlined below, is the mostresponsible course of action. NO peanut butter, nutella, or products containing nuts willbe sold through our Canteen. No child can bring these products to school in any of theirforms. These items are totally banned! We recognise parental choice in determining their children’sdiets, however we stress that this allergy is LIFETHREATENING and therefore requires a strong anddedicated strategy to minimise the risk.We urge all parents who have identified their child as havingan allergy of any type to clarify with their child’s teacher theexact nature and severity of their allergy. We also ask that youprovide clear information regarding any or all treatmentprotocols, particularly if an antihistamine or other medicationmay need to be administered at school. We continue to evolvein our understanding of the changing needs of the children inour care and policies such as these are vital. We thank you foryour support in assisting us to keep all of the children in ourschool safe and happy.Pastoral CareSt Edward’s Catholic School is blessed to be part of acommunity well renowned for its readiness to help others intimes of need. The school community is a generous andsupportive one. To this end, a Pastoral Care Co-ordinator isnominated to take responsibility for assisting families in timesof special need. This year, Sally Clarke is Infant’s Coordinator,and Andy Lockwood, Primary Co-ordinator.Pastoral Care at St Edward’s School can provide assistancethrough prayers, emergency childcare, helping provide schoolrequirements for those in need, or providing meals for familieswhen someone is ill or hospitalised. The role of Pastoral Careis an important one within the St Edward’s school communityand is there to distribute invaluable help and support tofamilies where required. Discretion is assured at all times andfamilies should feel comfortable contacting the Coordinator ifthey need help.We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to be a partof this wonderful initiative. We ask that if you are able toassist, you fill out the accompanying Pastoral Care Sheet andreturn as soon as possible to Sally Clarke at the InfantsCampus, and Andy Lockwood at the Primary Campus.Heartfelt thanks to those parents who participated in 2012 andsent in meals or indicated that they are able to assist in avariety of ways. The recipients of meals and your kindnesswere extremely grateful for your generosity and assistance. In2012, we assisted many families, during times of need due toillness, circumstances in the family whereby people needed alittle extra help and to know that people cared, and sadlybereavements in the family.During 2012, we were able to do this with very few volunteers.In order to make the load easier this year, we are aim to haveat least 50 volunteers. In this way, you may be only called ononce throughout the year to assist. Many thanks inanticipation of more helpers!!If you know someone in our school community who is sickor in hospital or who has had a recent loss in the family, orif you find yourself in need of a little extra help, please letus know – we can only help when we know of people whoneed assistance.Just a general reminder to all those wonderful, generouspeople who help to keep our fridge stocked with meals forpeople in need – please use the foil containers provided foryour convenience. These can be collected from thePrimary Campus. They can also be sent down to theInfants Campus, when requested. It is also important touse the labels provided on the lids as to ingredients, dateprepared etc as many of these meals go to ill people andthis information is very important to them.Thank you again for helping us help others. If you haveany queries, please feel free to ring either Campus, andAnge & Leanne, or Sally & Andy can answer questions youhave.PVC SubsidyPrivate Vehicle Conveyance (PVC) subsidy is available foreligible school students, who are residents of NSW, wherethere is no public transport for all or part of the journeybetween home and school. PVC is paid on a daily basis forthe single distance journey between home and theschool/transport pick up point. To claim the PVC subsidy, aspecial return journey must be made each morning andafternoon between the student’s residence and theschool/transport pick up point. Pink Application Forms forInfants children are available from the Infants Officeonly and Primary children from the Primary Office only.When completed the forms are to be returned directlyto the address shown on the form not school.IMPORTANT - Pick-Up Proceduresat the Infants CampusIn the afternoons at the Infants’ Campus, we requestthat ALL parents wait for their child/children at thePick-Up Area outside the Library and NOT to waitunder the Undercover Area (unless of course it israining). We are implementing this procedure so ourstudents recognise school routine, ie. bus lines or pick-uplines. We ask parents to please abide by this rule as it isoften very distracting to students and teachers whenparents are waiting in the undercover area and outsideclassrooms.Parents also note, please do not obstruct anyneighbouring driveways when picking your childrenup from school.Infants’ Carpark – OUT OF BOUNDSInfants’ parents are reminded to not walk through the StaffCar Park when dropping off or leaving the school with yourchild/children. The pedestrian gate and yellow path isto be used at ALL times.Congratulations to....... Lesley and Jordan Ashton on thesafe arrival of a precious baby girl,Ellie Grace Ashton, born Thursday20 th December 2012, weighing 8lb9oz, little sister for Will (3K) andDemi (1B). Yasmin and Shaun Jackson on the safe arrival of aprecious daughter, Sunny Lou Jackson, born Tuesday8 th January 2013, weighing 7lb 14oz, little sister forSebastian (4G) and Kye (2E).

Headspace Centre in TamworthThe Most Reverend Bishop Michael Kennedy and Mr FergusFitzsimons, CEO of Centacare New England North West, arepleased to welcome a new youth-focussed mental healthservice to the Diocese of Armidale. Centacare NENW is thelead agency for the new Headspace Centre in Tamworth,opening on Monday 4th February 2013. The Centre will provideyoung people experiencing mental health issues such asdepression and anxiety someone else to talk to for help andadvice. Headspace Tamworth will offer youth-friendly servicesfor people aged between 12 and 25, including mental healthsupport and counselling; general health, education, employmentand other social and vocational services; and alcohol and otherdrug services. You can find Headspace Tamworth online atwww.headspace.org.au/tamworth, or drop into the Centre in thePCYC Building on the corner of Darling and Peel Streets or call67 629290.Congratulations to our Year 2 Leaders for Term 12CR – Innes Munro2E – Jake Salvestrin2CR – Sophie Walker2O – Wyatt Allen2E – Georgia Sheppard 2O – Lilly BruynCongratulations to our Recycling Team for Term 12CR – Sebastian Lawler 2E – Mia Darcy2CR – Tamika Stevens 2O – Oliver Fauchon2E – James McNay2O – Katelin AbraCongratulations to our Sports Monitors for Term 12CR – Wade Lye2E – Alyssa Davis2CR – Josie Hickson-Philp 2O – Slade McMeeken2E – Ben Chick2O – Imogen StoddartCanteen RosterDate Primary InfantsTues 5 th FebKirsten ScottKathryn ChapmanCaterina WalkerWed 6 th Feb Leonie Fox Jo MunroThurs 7 th FebJenny MaloneyJenny MaloneyCarissa MorrisFri 8 th Feb Melissa Murphy Melissa MurphyMon 11 th FebJodie FauchonCassie GardinerJodie FauchonSchool Auxiliary NewsSchool Auxiliary Annual General MeetingOur first meeting for the year will be held on Tuesday19 th February at 9.00am in the Infants’ Hall. This will beour Annual General Meeting for 2013. At this meeting allpositions will be declared vacant, ie. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.The School Auxiliary generally organises one fundraiserfor each term and we also organise social events just forfun. We meet once a month on a Tuesday morning whichis usually just an excuse for a cup of tea and a chat. Allpre-school children are most welcome too. I would like toinvite all parents to come along and be a part of theSchool Auxiliary. If anyone needs to contact me inregards to anything, please do not hesitate to do so on0417 463479.Jacquie Littlejohns, 2012 PresidentRE NewsASH WEDNESDAY/OPENING SCHOOL MASSASH WEDNESDAY falls onWednesday 13 th February andYears 1 - 6 will be attending Massat 9.30am. This year we arecombining the Opening SchoolMass and the Ash WednesdayMass, due to the early start tothe Lenten Season. Years 1 and 2will be leaving the Infants Campus at 9.00am on abus. Please ensure you return the bus permissionnote, going home with today’s newsletter, by thisFriday 8 th February. This is a Parish Mass and allparents and friends are welcome to attend.LENTLENT is a time for preparation for the great feastof EASTER. During Lent, we give special attention toPRAYER, FASTING and GOOD DEEDS. AlthoughLent has a penitential character, it is a joyful seasonas we anticipate the resurrection of the Lord.FRIDAY PENANCE DURING LENTAt their November 2012 meeting, The AustralianCatholic Bishops’ Conference decided to invite thefaithful to join with them to observe the Fridays ofLent as special days of prayer and penance.Therefore, no meat or meat products will be on salein the school canteen during Lent.FAMILY MASSOur first Family Mass will be held on Sunday 24 thFebruary at 9.00am in Mary Help of ChristiansChurch, Hillvue Road. Years 3 and 6 will beparticipating in this celebration. We hope that manyfamilies from all grades will be attending this Mass.ST MARY OF THE CROSS, MACKILLOPA formal decree approvingSt Mary of the CrossMacKillop as second patronof Australia has beenreceived by the presidentof the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference,Archbishop Denis Hart.Sally Clarke & Robyn O’RourkeNotes Home Today Summer Canteen Menu (all families) Canteen Helpers Note (all families Friday Penance in Lent 2013 (all families) Pastoral Care Note (all families) 2013 Mass/Buddy Days Permission Note(K – 2 children only)