Welcome to our first newsletter for Term 3. 

I have stepped into the role of Principal for three weeks while David Austin is on leave. We wish him a wonderful and relaxing break - so much so that he is not reading this newsletter!

It has been delightful to hear joyful recounts of holiday adventures, with stories ranging from visiting farms and reading books at home to escaping to warmer climates. My own break was blessed to be filled by a pilgrimage to Siena, Florence and Rome  accompanied by a group of 26 Catholic Education staff and Archbishop Christopher Prowse. Our days were filled with christian meditation, daily mass, and visits to significant sites of our Catholic heritage which included many spectacular Basilicas and intimate chapels. Of course, we also ate plenty of delicious Italian food, explored the streets of Rome, and had many wonderful conversations and much laughter.  

A highlight was praying for our community as I walked through the Holy Doors of St Peters (open for the Jubilee year) and celebrating mass in one of the tiny chapels below the main floor of St Peter’s Basilica. It was my first pilgrimage of this kind and I gained far more from the experience than I could have hoped. I am humbled by the faith of those who have gone before us, feeling a sense of healing and direction from prioritising God in my life, along with the joy of sharing this experience with a fabulous group of like-minded pilgrims. 

Our archdiocese is offering opportunities for pilgrimage, both near and far, during this Jubilee year. I encourage you to read the parish bulletin or Catholic Voice to see if an event is open for you and even the family.

On the last day of term, our staff celebrated a spirituality day centred on the Jubilee theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. After a morning of prayer and reflection led by Laura Stumbles (REC) and Fr Emil, we then made a pilgrimage to the ‘near’ St Christopher’s Cathedral in Manuka. Fr Richard gave us a tour, and we spent time in reflection in the crypt beneath the cathedral, where many of our Archbishops are buried. It was a heart-warming day enjoyed by all and a beautiful way to finish a very busy term together. 

Grandparents’ Day

We look forward to hosting our annual Grandparents’ day next Friday. It is a wonderful opportunity for extended family to visit our school, celebrate a mass together and visit classrooms. The children are always very excited to show their special visitors around. 

Yours in working together

Kerry Wode

Compass Notifications

Please refer to Compass for the following notifications:

• Sports days Term 3
• NAPLAN reports Year 3 & 5
• EVENT-Year 3-6 OzTag Gala day

School Hours

Teachers are on duty between 8.30am and 3.30pm each day.

Mornings: 

Children should not be on the playground unsupervised before 8.30am. If you need care before 8.30am, please utilise our before-hours-care offered by YMCA.

https://ymcacanberra.org.au/school-aged-care-programs/find-before-or-after-school-care/

1. From 8.30am, children can be dropped off on Murphy St or at the front drive-through or lower car park. Parents and Carers are welcome on the playground staying for the morning assemblies on Monday and Friday, or until children line up on the other days of the week.
2. All children should be at school by 8.55am to start the day with their class.
3. On the odd occasion your child arrives late, they must be signed in at the front office by their parent or carer.

Afternoons:

Teachers dismiss children from the classrooms.

YMCA will usually pick up children in Kinder and Year 1 from the classrooms. Older children walk directly to meet YMCA educators in the school hall.

Children make their way out of the building to our four supervised pick-up points and to the hall for After School Care. 

1. Murphy St Park and Pick Up. Please park facing uphill on Murphy St or in the adjacent streets. Parents and carers wait near the gate for the duty teacher to send your child to you. Children let the teacher know that they can see you. Children walking home, who need to cross Murphy St, must wait for the duty teacher to assist them. Please respect our neighbours by avoiding parking in their driveways, and walking through and littering their gardens.
2. Drive-Through off Hodgson Cres. Please drive down Hodgson Cres, turning left into the school to join the queue for drive-through. Students will exit the building and make their way to the shady area near the hall doors. The teachers on duty will assist your child to the car. A nametag in your windscreen is very helpful! Your child must be able to seat themselves without the driver leaving the car. Leave the carpark, making a left hand turn only onto Hodgson Cres.
3. Main car park off Hodgson Cres. Park in the carpark. Children are to wait at drive-through until you arrive. Come up to gather your child. Please be very careful of moving vehicles. Leave the car park making a left hand turn only onto Hodgson Cres.
4. Walking/riding across Hodgson Cres or Beasley St. Children meet the duty teacher at the bike cage or near the canteen. The group walks down to the main school crossing, with the teacher supervising crossing these busy roads.

Any child not collected by 3.30pm will be brought to the office. A phone call will be made to check what is holding you up.

Wet Weather Arrangements

Morning -

• If it is quite wet or actually raining in the morning, please drop your child to the hall from 8.30am.
• Children will put their bags in their class line, then join in quiet games or conversations with their friends. 

If your child is anxious with this change, please bring them up to the teacher on duty. We make alternative arrangements if the noisy hall overwhelms a child.

Afternoon -

Please discuss your family plans with your child, so that they are aware of wet weather arrangements. We ask families to take extra care in the rain. Don’t rush, we will keep your child dry and safe with us until you arrive.

• If the ground is wet, normal arrangements apply. 
• If it is actually raining the following safety arrangements will be in place:-

1. Drive-through or parking off Hodgson - students line up in the hall or at the main door with the duty teacher. We will assist your child your car as you drive around.
2. Murphy St Pick Up - students will meet the teacher in the shelter of the kinder courtyard. An extra teacher wearing an orange vest, will be outside the courtyard gate (further up the hill than the normal black gates). Parents can pull up to the kerb and we will help your child to come to your car.
3. Walkers/bus/bikes will operate as normal, with the teacher carrying an umbrella.
4. Parking - parents are invited to park and come to the kinder courtyard or awnings around the front of the school as normal. Please do not park and leave your car alongside the kindergarten kerb on Murphy St, as this is the wet-weather pickup area.

Welcome back to Term 3 in the Library. This week your child will bring home a Book Club order catalogue. The orders will close on Wednesday, 6 August.

In week 5 this term (August 18 to August 22), we will celebrate BOOK WEEK. The theme this year is ‘Book an Adventure’ and there will be many adventures happening in the library. One day during the week, the children will be invited to dress up as their favourite book character. More details regarding book week will be provided in the coming weeks.

Next week, I will send home a friendly reminder about returning overdue library books. If your child receives a reminder, could you please encourage and assist them to look for the book at home and return it to school. Thank you for your assistance.

Playgroup started back this week with the children excited to return. Painting and imaginary play is what the children engaged with this week.

On Wednesday 30th July, students from Years 3-6 will participate in interactive Maths Workshops run by World of Maths. This travelling workshop will be set up in our hall. The cost per student will be covered by the activity levy.

World of Maths offers an ideal opportunity for students to see how maths is applied to everyday life situations and to explore maths in a hands-on environment. Students are encouraged to communicate their maths ideas and answers with other students in small teams, working together.   

Students will gain insight into problem solving, working in teams, and explore various mathematic strains which are part of their curriculum this term. The highly engaging sessions will show that maths is everywhere and is important and of course that maths is fun! 

Rising Star Tennis Academy are offering lunch time tennis lessons for 6 weeks.

If your child is interested, there is a first week FREE trial. If your child would like to go ahead with the lessons, then they will be $140 for the next 5 weeks. There will need to be a minimum of 6 students for tennis to go ahead. If you are interested, please email Laura Stumbles .