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UNIFORMS
There have been some questions as the year begins around uniforms, with families purchasing new items and wanting to have these correct. Thank you for checking the list and ensuring your children are ready for school.
The list of uniform requirements is available on our website and in our parent handbook. We have included the link here for families to have a look and ensure they are ready for the year ahead. While the uniforms are fairly straightforward and items purchased almost entirely through St Agnes’ Uniform Store in Boronia Street, there are some questions in particular around jewellery, hair and shoes.
Students are required to wear black shoes for regular school uniform and white joggers for sports uniform. Black shoes do not have to be formal “school shoes” but are to be polishable for a tidy appearance. It may be difficult to find completely white joggers, but they should be predominantly white with only small areas of colour.
Hair accessories are to be only school colours (refer to the list) and hair styles being appropriate to school as the list describes.
During Term 1 we will remind children to wear the appropriate items for school. In Term 2 we will be asking for incorrect items to be replaced if they are continuing. Correct uniform items demonstrate pride and respect for our school and should be worn appropriately. If you require second hand items, there are a variety of available items that can be bought through the school - please see our office aunties. This can assist in the cost for parents.
There is currently a uniform review in place accross our Parish. We will inform you of any changes as they come.
GATE CHANGES
Due to our ongoing commitment to keeping your children safe, we have decided to close the gate next to the canteen in the mornings before school. We always have a staff member on duty at the gate in front of the school where buses drop off, so we can be sure children enter and stay once they are dropped off. If you are doing kiss and drop, there are no changes (please remember to move off as soon as you are able for others to drop off). If you are parking and bringing your child in, please enter through the supervised gate. The afternoon routine remains unchanged; Kindergarten - Year 2 are to be collected from the Hall and Year 3-6 are to be collected from the courtyard outside their classroom. Buses are loaded from the supervised gate and walkers / bike riders also leave from this gate.
WELCOME KINDERGARTEN!!
We were excited on Wednesday this week to welcome our new Kindergarten children and their families to St Joseph’s. It was an exciting and slightly daunting morning with a few tears from children and parents, but very brave goodbyes to settle into the day. There were lots of smiles at the end of the day and stories of very sleepy children that night! Please enjoy the photos of our brand new Joey’s getting accustomed quickly to “Big School”. Thank you to our Kinder team: Mrs Stapleton, Mrs McKinnon, Briony and Josie who cared for our little ones and will continue to work with parents through the year. Thank you also to our P&F members who provided “Cheers and Tears” morning tea afterwards. Finally, thank you to all Kinder parents for entrusting the care of your beautiful children to us. We will take good care of them.
NEW INITIATIVE - ST AGNES PARISH PLAY GROUP
A new initiative of St Agnes Parish is a Play Group, being hosted in our Parish Primary Schools. Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9:30-11:30am, parents are invited to bring their children from all ages before Kindergarten to the groups for a play and networking opportunity with other parents. St Joseph’s will host this on Wednesdays, starting on 12th February but parents are welcome to attend at any of the schools. Please see the below flyer for details.
JAPANESE EXCHANGE TOUR - HOST FAMILIES OPPORTUNITY
We are excited to be part of an educational tour through hosting students at our school from Japan during the day of Monday 9th March. What a great opportunity for our students to engage with another culture and share what is great about our part of the world.
There is also the opportunity to be a host family to students during their stay through the week, opening your home to them and sharing what’s great about our beautiful area. We understand this is quite a commitment, but if you would like to have this amazing experience, we ask that you let us know by the start of next week so that we can put you in contact with Vanessa Gray who is coordinating St Joseph’s school involvement in the program. The draft schedule is below so that you are able to see what this will involve and there is further information available should you be interested. Please email to the school.
Higashi Educational Tour
Date |
Time |
Activity |
Friday 6th March |
13:15pm |
Arrive at Port Macquarie Airport |
Saturday 7th March |
All Day |
Stay with Host Families in Port Macquarie Explore Port Macquarie / Hastings Region |
Sunday 8th March |
All Day |
Stay with Host Families in Port Macquarie Explore Port Macquarie / Hastings Region Proposed group picnic lunch 12-2 @ Observatory Park Area |
Monday 9th March |
Stay with Host Families in Port Macquarie Visit St Joseph’s Primary School |
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Tuesday 10th March |
With Host Families in Port Macquarie Visit St Joseph’s Regional High School and Charles Sturt University Thank you dinner at ‘The Food Project’ Newman College |
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Wednesday 11th March |
10:10am |
Leave Port Macquarie Airport |
OZHARVEST VISIT
Last year we were contacted by OzHarvest to see if we would like a free presentation on food waste. They will be visiting school on Monday 17th February at 11:40am in the MPA. They will cover the following:
- The problem of food waste and food insecurity – globally and in Australia
- The environmental consequences of food waste
- The impact of food insecurity on people
- The OzHarvest Story
- Our tips to fight food waste at home and school
- Q&A session
SLEEP IS YOUR SUPERPOWER
We have all heard about how important sleep is to our health (combined with nutrition and exercise). As parents, we know what it feels like when we are not getting enough and how our children can be affected in various ways when they don’t sleep well.
As we start the school year, we are conscious of giving our children the best chance to learn and grow. The video link below is from a TED Talk that gives the science behind why sleep is such an important part of learning and memory as well as a range of future health issues if we don’t develop a good pattern. It is worth a look to remind us of this vital piece of the puzzle for health, wellbeing and learning. Don’t be put off by the opening remarks of the presenter….it is worth continuing to listen.
Tess Koning
Principal
MASS FOR BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
All are welcome to attend our whole school Mass to celebrate the beginning of the year with us.
WHEN: Friday 21st February at 9:45 am
WHERE: St Agnes’ Church
MASS FOR VISITING RELICS
Selected children from St Joseph’s will attend the Mass celebrating the visit of relics from Saint Therese of Lisieux and her parents.
All members of the community are welcome to join at St Agnes’ Church on Wednesday 19th February for a 1:00pm Mass.
WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
It was great to welcome our new Kinder children and their parents to our school at the Welcome Assembly on Wednesday. We value having parents helping the staff and children make St Joseph’s school a place of peace and worship as witnessed in the children’s singing and praying together.
Nathan Porter
Assistant Principal Mission
SAFER INTERNET DAY
On Safer Internet Day, millions of people around the world unite to raise awareness about online safety issues and inspire positive change. This year Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, 11 February 2020. The theme is ‘Together for a better internet’ and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is encouraging parents to mark the day by starting family conversations about online safety. As a school, our students in Year 4, 5 and 6 will be participating in a live virtual classroom focusing on empowering them to keep safe when online. In particular students will explore skills for creating safer gaming environments, including; balancing time online, dealing with abuse and cyberbullying, managing in-app purchases and accessing help and support.
For further information we encourage you to explore Australia’s online safety hub. Check out eSafety’s great range of advice and resources. Get started by visiting the parents and carers pages and reading the practical tips for kicking off an online safety conversation. You can also download the ‘Parents guide to online safety’ booklet and look through eSafety Kids with your family. To find out more information go to https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
MEDICATIONS
Please be mindful of informing the school of any diagnosis or change in medical conidtion for your child so that school plans and records are current and accurate. This is especially important for those students with Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, and other medical illness.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please also let the school know if any contact details including phone numbers, address and emergency contacts have changed for your child. Parish Administration will also need to know a change of address.
Did you know that by law you must slow down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing?
As our students start the 2020 school year, the NSW Government and your local school bus
operator Busways are reminding parents, teachers and other motorists about this law which is designed to keep our kids safe.
Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for 20 seconds after the doors close. Children are most at risk in the minutes after they get off the bus as the can be unpredictable in their movements.
Drivers should look out for children who are crossing the road or waiting to cross.
Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children. By law, a driver must not overtake or pass a bus with flashing lights at more than 40km/h.
As young children are still developing skills around road safety, drivers should take care around bus stops where children might want to walk across the road.
Fines of up to $275 and three demerit points can apply if a motorist is caught going more than 40km/hr when passing a bus with its flashing lights on.
Motorists can help reduce the risk of a crash and keep children safe by:
• 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, and
• Giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.
For more information visit http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/be-busaware/bus-flashing-lights.html.
5H | Tia McGrath | Laiken Richardson | Mia Cameron |
6MH | Kyuss Batterson | Kiara Tattersall | James Hiam |
3BH | Dakota Simpson | Lucy Bennett-Tonkin | Xavier Mat |
As you know, we've launched our new Flexischools app just in time for the start of the school year! Parents have started to download the app and explore Our Place, a new space designed to simplify their school life. We sent a guide to all registered parents on how to navigate our new app, and how to access their school services to place orders. We want to send these quick tips and an instructional video to you, so you can share with your parent community if asked. |
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Quick Tips and Navigation Video
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As always, please contact our Customer Support Team if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way. |
Don't forget you can order online by 8:30am- it's so easy!!
- 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
Our Volunteers for Week 2 Term 1
Monday | Skye McGeoch |
Tuesday | You are welcome to join us |
Wednesday | Sally Marsh |
Thursday | You are welcome to join us |
Friday | Sue Quinn |
Kim Goldie
Canteen Coordinator
Level 4 'Severe' Water Restrictions have been effective since Tuesday 28 January for residential users, and will be in force from Tuesday 25 February for commercial users, until further notice. These water restrictions mean there’s no outdoor use of water from Council’s town water supply unless an exemption has been granted by Council.
GARDEN CLUB
LEAGUE STARS INTRO CLINICS
Next week Years 1-6 will have the opportunity to be involved in a free ‘NRL Blitz’ day hosted by National Rugby League. Students will have a 40 minute session of skills and a game to get a taste of NRL.
GYMNASTICS
Gymnastics has started K-6!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 1
Week 3 Monday 10th February - Zone Swimming Trials. (Nominations closed)
Week 3 Tuesday 11th February - NRL Blitz Day (Sports Uniform Year 1-6)
Week 4 Tuesday 18th February - Zone Swimming Macksville
Week 5 Monday 24th February - Zone Winter Sports Trials (Year 5 and 6)
Week 5 Thursday 27th February - Bulldogs NRL Visit (Year 6 )
Week 5 Friday 28th February - Diocesan Swimming Kempsey
Week 6 Thursday 5th March - AFL Paul Kelly Cup (Year 5 and 6)
Week 9 Friday 27th March - School Cross Country B/up: Week 10 Friday 3rd April
ACTIVE KIDS VOUCHERS LIST OF PROVIDERS
AFTER SCHOOL CRICKET SESSIONS
Cricket NSW will be holding an after school cricket clinic in Term 1.
Check out the Flyer below!
Yours in Sport
Laura Hatherly
Week 3 - Term 1 2020 |
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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 12th February |
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Thursday 13th February |
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Week 4 - Term 1 2020 |
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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 19th February |
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Thursday 20th February |
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Friday 21st February |
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Week 5 - Term 1 2020 |
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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 26th February |
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Thursday 27th February |
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Friday 28th February |
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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 school term dates are located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.