Issue #10 25th June 2025
Principal's Update
Parent Teacher Meetings This week, our dedicated teachers will be meeting with most families in our school, to celebrate the learning achievements and efforts of your children. Thank you for showing genuine interest in your child's learning; we have a strong 86% of families booked in to meet with teachers this week. Thank you for making the time to hear our teachers share their expertise, and discuss your child's results, achievements and challenges with you - we appreciate your partnership.
Athletics Carnival Reminders Our Year 2-6 carnival will be held next Wednesday 2nd July at Mingara Athletics Centre. Thank you to the parents who were able to volunteer your time during the day.
A few key reminders: *Children wear their sports uniform, optional is a coloured shirt for their team colour. *Students are to stay for the entire carnival, not leave after their event. The carnival will conclude at 1.40pm, to allow buses to travel back to school before the dismissal bell. Parents must write a note to give permission for their child to be collected by another parent. *Mingara is an all-weather track; in the event of wet weather, our carnival will still go ahead if Mingara is open. We will, if required, run from a program than has children sitting undercover while each event is run, going out in the weather to compete. * Students should pack drinks, lunch and morning tea, a towel and their school jumper and school hat - it gets very cold at Mingara. Please ensure all items are labelled.
Our Kinder and Year 1 Carnival will be held here on our school oval this Friday (following Mass). At the conclusion of Mass (10.15am), children will have an early recess break, before beginning their activities at approximately 10.40am. The carnival will go for approximately 1.5hours. Children wear their sports uniform, optional is a coloured shirt for their team colour. The children will complete a rotation of activities including running races and fun relays during the morning. Although we do not require parent helpers, parents are very welcome to come along and cheer for your child from our parent viewing areas on the oval perimeter. No parents are allowed on the oval with the children.
Public Speaking Competition We are excited to announce our inaugural K-6 Public Speaking Competition! Last week, your child brought home a flyer. It gave details for your child's topics to choose from, the length of time the speech should go for, a suggested scaffold for writing the speech and the marking rubric which will be used; all of these will build success for our children. The flyer was also sent out on Compass.
All classes in our school will be asking students to choose a topic and deliver a speech to their class next term, this is due in Week 1. Some students will then progress to finals for their grade. Some students will continue to progress to our K-6 school finals, which will be held in August. Thank you for your support.
Open Classes Next Monday afternoon, we invite parents to come in and share the classroom for the afternoon with your child. On Monday 30th June, classes will open for an hour - you are welcome to join us for as much time as you would like between 2.15pm-3.15pm. Children can then be signed out early after you have been in their classroom.
Sporting Success Congratulations to Madi R, who recently made the 2025 Primary All Schools NSW AFL team, who will compete in Maroochydore in August. This is a huge achievement, well done Madi!
Congratulations to Flynn B, Isabella W, Ivy T and Madi R for recently competing in the Broken Bay Trials for Cross Country. They all put in a tremendous effort. Isabella (dnf), Flynn (18th) and Ivy (12th) represented our school with tremendous pride. Madi (2nd) made the Polding Team with a fantastic result. Well done to the four of you, we are proud of you all.
Lockdown and Fire Safety Drills Each term our school conducts evacuation and lockdown drills. This is to ensure that, in the unlikely event we would need to evacuate or lockdown on a school day, that we all know the procedure and can do so in a calm and safe way. The children are well rehearsed, and we always make it very clear that they are drills only. If we ever need call a lockdown or evacuation as a safety precaution, you will always be notified.
Enrolments for Kinder Last week, letters of offer were sent out for Kinder 2026. Please return any acceptances of offer by next Monday 30th June.
Leaving Staff Next week, we say farewell and good luck to Mrs Erin Andrew, as she begins maternity leave. We wish Erin, and her husband Michael, the very best as they prepare to welcome their new baby son. We can't wait to hear the happy news.
We also say goodbye to Mrs Verona Blue, one of our school counsellors, as she takes up a new role from next term. We wish her luck in the next phase of her career. Mrs Caitlin Mitchell, our other school counsellor, will continue to work to support our students.
NAIDOC Week During Week 1 of next term, our school will be celebrating NAIDOC Week, a time to recognise and honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Mr Gainsford has organised to talk with our students and teach them an indigenous dance on the Tuesday (22nd), and then Tim will be joining us on Wednesday morning (23rd) for a Smoking Ceremony. All families are invited to join us on the top playground at 9.00am for this special morning, and we encourage families to talk with their children about what they’ve learned.
Term 3 Calendar Our Term 3 calendar is attached lower in this newsletter, and will also be sent home as a hard copy. Please note a number of events including assemblies and Sacred Spaces, Book Parade, Grandparent's Day, '100 Days Brighter' for Kinder, Father's Day Stall and Breakfast, Year 5 camp, excursions, school disco, Masses and Gala Days. Details will be sent during Term 3.
'Photos in a Flash' have proudly partnered with Catholic Schools Broken Bay, and are expanding their involvement to capture those fantastic moments at primary school sporting events!
They have recently attended several CSBB primary sporting events, and will be attending many future events. They have a dedicated section on our site for the CSBB Primary events. If you are interested in accessing this pictures, go to photosinaflash.com.au, create an account and use the 2025 gallery password 'joy'. Purchases can be made at your convenience.
Change of Music Classes K-6 students have just concluded Music for Semester 1. In Semester 2, staff have made the collective decision that our students will, during their time with Mrs Williams or Mrs Duncan each week, complete other components of CAPA; students will attend Drama and Dance across Term 3 and Term 4, and this will be reflected in their Semester 2 report.
Canteen The canteen will be open for Kinder and Year 1 lunch orders on Wednesday July 2nd, while Years 2-6 attend our Athletics Carnival.
Save the Date - Grandparents Day 2025 Early next term we celebrate our grandparents, inviting them to share our school for the afternoon. More information will follow, but for now, please save the date for Friday 25th July from 12pm.
Staff Development Day Reminder As per our Term 2 calendar, Wednesday July 2nd is the last day of school for students for Term 2. Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th July are both Staff Development Days. Students return to school on Tuesday 22nd July.
From our REC
First Eucharist
Last weekend many of our students in Years 4 and 5 made their First Eucharist. It was a beautiful celebration! Thank you to Sr Jennifer and her team from the Parish who prepared our students so well. We were blessed to have some wonderful members of our choir come and sing and Willow and Eli serving on the altar. Thank you to their parents for bringing them along. We look forward to them receiving the Eucharist at Mass on Friday.
Sacred Space 6 Green
Last week 6 Green shared their learning in Religious Education. It was wonderful to see the talents shared with Willow singing and the rest of the class joining in for the chorus.
Sacred Heart Mass
On Friday, Kindergarten and our Mini Vinnies Team will lead our Sacred Heart Mass. Kinder are very excited and look forward to leading the ministries during this Mass. Mass will begin at 9.15am. We will be presenting Bob Steel from St Vincent DePaul our Winter Appeal Donation. If you have not donated and are able please do so by Wednesday of Week 10. Please join us if you are able too.
Confirmation Parent Session and Enrolment
Earlier this week Sr Jennifer and her Parish Sacramental Team began the enrolment period for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is the next sacrament to be received after Baptism. It is most commonly received in our Diocese in Year 3. If you would like your child to prepare for this Sacrament they must be Baptised and in Year 3 or older. If you have missed the Parent Information Sessions there will be another zoom held. Please keep an eye out on compass for the link. Prior to this, please complete the registration form in the flyer below.
Winter Appeal
Our Mini Vinnies team have launched the Winter Appeal for 2025. If you have any pre-loved blankets or warm clothes, please send them into school. Each grade has been allocated a non-perishable food item. Our team is hoping to put together staple bags of non-perishable food to help those less fortunate than us. Please support us in this initiative.
ICAS Assessments 2025
We will again be offering ICAS Assessments to students in Years 2-6. These are optional assessments to extend students. Please read the attached letter for further information.
From our Parent Engagement Coordinator, Victoria
Remember we have StoryTime every Thursday morning in our School Library. We look forward to seeing your 1-5 years olds join us for a story and activity straight after the bell each Thursday morning. See you there.
Below is a flyer with information that can be helpful for families. Please reach out if you would like any further information.
