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- Prayer Focus
- Leader's Message
- Student Awards
- Kindergarten 2023 School Tours
- Year 7 2023 Enrolments and Information Nights
- Parish News
- Short Survey - Recognising 'Special Days' at St Joseph's
- P&F Community Connect
- Sunshine Cafe
- What's On Next Week ...
- Advance Dates for Your Diary
- This Week's Notes
- Billboard
Term 2 Welcome
Welcome back to school this week for all of our students and families. We hope that your break over Easter and the ANZAC long weekend were special times for you all. We have a big term of great learning and fun ahead, and continue to encourage families to get involved in our school this term in many different ways.
We welcome to our school this term the following staff and students:
Matthew Gourlay will be teaching some of our classes during their teachers’ release time on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Matthew completed a practicum placement in 2019 and we are happy to see him back with us for the remainder of the 2022 school year.
Kindergarten: Cohen Watson
Year 1: Brayden Watson, Aria Takiari
Year 3: Maddy Watson
Year 4: Lincoln Mostran
ANZAC DAY
It was very special for our school to once again be invited to participate in the ANZAC Day March on Monday. For the past two years, we have not been able to show our support for our community in this way. It was truly wonderful to be able to join as a community again in order to remember and show our respect to the ANZACs and all who have fought for our country and beyond. A very big thank you to our staff and to our parents and carers who brought their children to march with us. Congratulations to our students who attended the Commemoration March and Service. A special mention to our Year 6 Leaders who led the march and represented our school in laying the wreath.
COVID Update
Through the past week you will have received via email a COVID update regarding the change in isolation for close contacts. To support the guidelines around testing for school attendance included in this communication, we have been sent some RAT kits for students through CSO. We will be sending these home in students’ bags next week to be used as you require. Should you have any questions regarding this, please contact the school.
P&F Focus for 2022
Our core P&F team met recently to work through the focus for our community in fundraising and events for 2022. You will see some information from them in this week’s newsletter, working towards some great experiences for us as a community across this year and an ambitious goal to add a significant resource to our children here at school. We encourage your involvement in our events and ask for your support where possible for our fundraising efforts. What a great year ahead!
Canteen Closure Friday 6th May
Our canteen will be closed on Friday 6th May and we ask that all children have their own packed lunches and snacks. We apologise for any inconvenience but this is unavoidable.
Celebrating Our Faith
The celebration of the Easter Vigil is the beginning of the season of Easter. The Vigil is the Christian feast of new birth, new beginnings, salvation renewed, and humanity restored to the Lord. The Vigil marks the end of the paschal fast, the end of the celebration of Holy Week, and the end of repentance and conversion for which Lent prepared the community. It is the beginning of a new season of grace and a time of joy and thanksgiving, for Easter is not one day or one solemnity - it is a fifty day celebration from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.
We would like to share the letter from our Bishop Greg Homeming, which brings us into the resurrection story during this Easter season.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Easter story is the common story of every person. Somewhere in the events and emotions culminating in the burial of Jesus we find ourselves. Suffering, rejection, betrayal, death, grief and loss are part of the human experience. In the last few months we have been through much of this. Each year this Easter story brings hope and life to many because Jesus’ burial is not the end of the story. On Easter Sunday Jesus rises from the dead. Life is transformed and we are changed. There is always something wonderful on the other side of suffering, all we have to do is hope. I think that the world is divided into resurrection and non-resurrection people, between those who are resilient and those who are pessimistic. We admire the resilient, hope filled positive people. We admire resurrection people. This Easter let us strive to be resurrection people who believe in God, ourselves and a grace filled future.
Most Revd Greg Homeming OCD Bishop of Lismore
Learning Together
Road Safety Focus - Be Bus Aware
‘We all have a part to play for bus travel to be safe’.
Safe Bus Travel - Families have an important part to play in keeping children safe around roads.
- Never drop off or meet your child on the opposite side of the road to the bus stop or call them across the road. Always drop them off or meet them on the same side of the road as the bus stop.
- Remind your children to always wait until the bus has gone before choosing a safe place to cross the road.
For more information about bus safety for families go to: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/bus-safety-school-students.pdf
Bus Flashing Lights - Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children.
- You must slow down to 40km/h when overtaking or passing a bus displaying flashing lights.
- You can help keep children safe by:
- Sticking to the speed limit and following the road rules in school zones.
- Slowing down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing.
- Looking out for children crossing the road near bus stops, in school zones or along bus routes.
- Giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.
KBB | Eliyah Fernando | Olivia Currall | Deakin Kennard |
KHB | Cohen Watson | Ebony Wittenberg | Louis Santero |
1CS | Alexander Searle | Spencer Single | Scarlett Slater |
1PS | Nakuya Gatonye | Conor Grieves | Savian Karickal |
2BT | Braxton Hoitink | James Hubbard | Lincoln Picton |
4MM | Ayla Moss | Aidan Shoby Alias | Annetta Yewdall |
4R | Toby Smurthwaite | Lilly Smith | Amica Tuddenham |
4R | Jade Hanks | Lily Francis | Layla Porter |
5BH | Dakota Simpson | Lillian Hyde | Aryan Vishanth |
5T | Sophie Hollis | Sebastian Bennett-Tonkin | Liam Jones |
Kindergarten 2023 School Tours
Kindergarten Enrolment Tours for 2023 students are fast approaching, so don't forget to register.
At the Kindergarten School tour, you will see that our primary schools offer a modern and specialised learning environment which supports and extends students' capabilities. Students receive a holistic education within communities that support them and their families as they grow, learn and develop.
Tour details:
Saturday, 30 April 2022 - St Peter's Primary School - 9:30 am
Saturday, 30 April 2022 - St Agnes' Primary School - 9:30 am
Saturday, 30 April 2022 - St Joseph's Primary School - 9:30 am
You can register and check zoning to ensure you attend the tour aligned to the school zoned for where you live on our website: www.stagnesparish.org.au/education/enrol-now-for-kindergarten/
For questions regarding school zoning, please get in touch with the Education Team at (02) 6588 7444.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Year 7 2023 Enrolments and Information Nights
Year 7 2023 Information and Open Evenings
It's not too late to register for the Year 7 Information Nights.
MacKillop College Information Night:
Date: Monday 2nd May 2022
Time: 6:00 pm start (tour straight after)
Address: MacKillop College (junior campus), Ocean Drive, Port Macquarie
After the Information session, you will have the opportunity to tour the school and talk to teachers and other parents.
St Joseph's Regional College Information Night:
Date: Tuesday 3rd May 2022
Time: Tour starts at 5:00 pm, with the Information session beginning at 6:00 pm
Address: St Joseph's Regional College, College Drive, Port Macquarie
Before the Information session, you will have the opportunity to tour the school and talk to teachers and other parents.
Please check your zoning before registering to ensure you attend the information session aligned to the school zoned for where you live.
Registration: www.enrolinexcellence.org.au or call the Parish Administration Centre on (02) 6588 7444
We look forward to seeing you on the night!
St Agnes’ Education introduces the Creative Arts Nest
Building upon the wonderful tradition of creative and performing arts, St Agnes’ Education is proud to announce the launch of the Creative Arts Nest.
The Creative Arts Nest is dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and a creative exchange of ideas across St Agnes’ Parish Schools.
Our purpose is to inspire, educate, connect and entertain through our engaging cultural and artistic offerings.
The Nest is committed to enriching our students' education experience by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with our schools, collaborating with local artists and forming connections within the greater community.
“This is a significant development in how our schools utilise our size and effectiveness and work together to provide for students something that no other individual school can offer,” said Stephen Pares, Regional Services Leader Hastings Region, Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools.
Taking centre stage, The Nest is proud to announce the first of its programs for 2022. Students in years 5-8 from all schools within St Agnes’ Education are invited to perform in a collective production of Disney's Aladdin Jr. With a cast of more than 100 students, a choir of 50 and the renowned St Agnes’ Education Drumline, it is set to be spectacular!
The second program kicking off May 2nd, is the A4Art Prize which is the first Parish wide schools art competition of its kind. With a prize pool of more than $3500, students and staff are invited to take one A4 size piece of paper and create an artwork by using the paper in any way they choose. Entries close May 20th, 2022. Shortlisted Artworks will be showcased in an online exhibition, along with a touring exhibition to each of the six St Agnes’ Education Schools.
More details regarding the St Agnes’ Education, Creative Arts Nest and its programs can be found at www.artsnest.com.au which will be live Monday 2nd May.
Short Survey - Recognising 'Special Days' at St Joseph's
We were fortunate enough to hold a few different events during Term 1. We would like to get your thoughts about what works for families and suggestions or ideas you would like to share. Thank you for taking the time to complete this form which will help us in future planning.
Mother's Day
We are looking forwrd to the Mother’s Day Breakfast for our special Mothers and female role models hosted by The Parent & Friends (P&F) Committee next Friday 6th May from 7:30am. Areas to sit down to enjoy your breakfast with your family will be available in several places in the school. We hope you will share this memorable experience with us whilst enjoying your pre-orderded breakfast.
Following the breakfast, there will be a Mother’s Day prayer service hosted by our Year 4 students and teachers in the MPA, beginning at 9:15am. We hope you can stay for as little or as long as you are able to.
The Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee
Supply issues and item availability
There are some ongoing issues with supplies and unfortunately this means some items will not always be available. I am updating Flexischools daily so you can see what is available when you go to place an order, however sometimes I don’t know that something isn’t available until I receive my delivery. In this case, I will offer an alternative item which is as close as possible to the item that has been ordered.
There are other items that I have had to remove from the menu for now as there is not enough time to make or prepare them when I am working by myself. Now that I can have volunteers back to help in the Canteen, hopefully I can reintroduce these items again. Please see the section below for information on how you can help in the Canteen if you have one free morning per month.
Term 4 Canteen Menu
Fruit for Crunch’n’Sip
Fruit can be ordered in a lunch order for Fruit Break (Crunch’n’Sip) but please remember to let your child know that it is part of their lunch order and that they will need to collect it from the Canteen. Fruit can be ordered with over the counter lunch orders or Flexischool online orders (preferred method).
Lunch Orders and Flexischools Cutoff Time
A friendly reminder that Flexischools cutoff for canteen lunch orders is 8.30am each day.
Orders can be placed via Flexischools or by dropping them in the basket on the counter each morning.
Flexischools is our preferred method for submitting lunch orders.
- Download the Flexischools app from the App Store or from Google Play.
Note: for iPhone and iPad please select ‘Allow’ notification - Click “Register Now” to create account
- Top-up your balance
- Start ordering immediately
- Alternatively Go to www.flexischools.com.au or you can find the link on the school website.
Don’t forget you can place your online orders days or even weeks in advance, making the morning rush even easier!
Volunteers
Our new COVID guidelines now allow volunteers into the school. As we prepare to start back with volunteers, you can register to volunteer via this link - Click here for Volunteers Form. You will also need to email or drop in a copy of your Volunteer Working With Children Check and a proof of double vaccination to sjpport@lism.catholic.edu.au. After registering your availability in the above online form and sending in your supporting documents Kim, our Canteen Co-ordinator will be in contact with you to arrange your first day.
Kim Goldie
Canteen Coodinator
Week 2 - Term 2 2022CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK |
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Saturday 30th April |
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Week 3 - Term 2 2022 |
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Week 4 - Term 2 2022 |
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Week 5 - Term 2 2022 |
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Please note these dates can change from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances and we will endeavour to advise you of any changes at the earliest possible opportunity. Our school Google calendar can be accessed via this link for additional advanced dates -
For your convenience 2022 school term dates are listed below. They are also located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.
TERM 2
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes for Term 2 - Tuesday
26th April 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Friday 24th June 2022
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 2 – Friday
1st July 2022
TERM 3
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes for Term 3 - Monday
18th July 2022
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 3 – Thursday
22nd September 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Friday 23rd September 2022
TERM 4
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes for Term 4 - Monday
10th October 2022
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes for Term 4 - Friday
16th December 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Monday 19th December 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Tuesday 20th December 2022
Other Holidays in 2022
Australia Day – 26th January (Public Holiday)
Good Friday – 15th April (Public Holiday)
Easter Monday – 18th April (Public Holiday)
ANZAC Day – 25th April (Public Holiday)
Queen’s Birthday – 13th June (Public Holiday)
Labour Day – 3rd October (Public Holiday)
Christmas Day - 25th December (Public Holiday)
Boxing Day - 26th December (Public Holiday)
2022 Year 5 Retreat warning note - information for parents and carers
COVID-19 update for the start of Term 2
Year 6 - Wildfire 'Ten_Ten Experience'
Additional 2022 Year 6 Sports Shirt - Expression of Interest Results
Letter for Parents and Carers regarding Mr Porter Leaving
Communication to Families - Protected Industrial Action