Filter Content
WELCOME BACK
We are excited about getting things back to a what looks a little bit more like pre-COVID. Whilst we still need to be cautious and prepared, we would like to see parents back at school enjoying and participating in their children's education.
With some restrictions, parents may now bring their children to class, but should not linger and must be mindful of social distancing - don't forget to sanitise your hands at the gate.
We look forward to seeing parents attend the Monday Liturgies - at this stage only the class involved please and you must check in at the office with the QR Code and the office kiosk.
There will be some opportunities for bigger gatherings (socially distanced of course) to enjoy the time your children are having in school. These include the School Cross Country on March 25, Stations of the Cross on April 1. We look forward to seeing you there.
KINDER ENROLMENTS
Our enrolment period for Kindergarten n 2022 is now open and anyone who is interested in starting their child next year should submit an application as soon as possible.
As a taste of what our school is about, we have planned a morning tea and school tour for prospective (and current) families on Wednesday 24 March at 10am. If you are aware of friends or neighbours who are in the same boat, please let them know.
HIGH SCHOOL ENROLMENT
Those families seeking High School enrolment at San Clemente next year need to go online at the below link to download an enrolment package and return it directly to the High School.
PARKING
Thanks for being aware of the traffic conditions on Lovell Pde at Drop Off and Pick Up. Just be aware that there is no parking outside the office in the morning - it is a kiss and drop zone only. If you want to walk your children into the school, you need to park outside the drop off area - The church car park is an ideal spot.
Also be aware that you should not stop in or drop off from the handicapped parking space.
TEEN TALK
Year 6 will be taking part in their "Teen Talk" on Wednesday 31 March. It is part of their Personal Development program in the PD. H & PE Syllabus. Please make sure payment and permission notes are sent back to school ASAP.
NAPLAN 2021
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 11 and 21 May 2021.
In preparation for NAPLAN Online, our school will also be participating in practice tests between 22 March and 1 April. The practice test is a trial-run and key preparation activity for NAPLAN Online in May. It is not an assessment of student ability and the tests will not be marked.
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students can use the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN Online tests.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact your child’s teacher
Monday Morning Liturgies
This week we started our week with Kindergarten leading us in St Patrick’s Liturgy. We are so proud of Kindergarten for being able to stand up if front of the whole school and present such a prayerful liturgy. A big thank you to Mrs Bradley and the parents for preparing the children.
It was lovely seeing so many parents at our Monday Morning Liturgy this week. Don’t forget if you missed watching the Liturgy you can view it on our Facebook page.
Next week we will have Year 1 prepare our St Joseph’s Liturgy followed by Year 2 in Week 9 with Palm Sunday, Year 4 in Week 10 with Holy Thursday and Week 10 Thursday with Year 5/6 and Year 2 presenting the Stations of the Cross.
Fundraising For Project Compassion
This term our focus has been to fundraise of Project Compassion. So far we have raised $157.30 from Pancake Day and $137.50 from Wacky Wardrobe Day. This week we are running a Chocolate Guessing Competition which we are selling tickets for 50c each day. This will be drawn on Friday.
On Wednesday 17th March we will sell green jelly cups for $1 to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support in supporting our fundraising.
Mini Vinnies
We have a keen number of primary students who have joined our Mini Vinnies Group this year. These children have come up with a number of fundraising ideas. The following children are our 2021 Mini Vinnies Group.
Isabella C, Charlotte H, Lily W, Shammah N, Maddison H, Tahlia B, Isla W, Annalise F, Zoe W, Deegan C, Suma M, Summer P, Margriet K, Millie H, Gemma M, Leisha K, Ruby P and Virginia V.
Sacramental Program
Just a reminder that the children in the Parish Sacramental Program will receive their Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday 18th March at Our Lady of Victories church at 7pm.
Kindergarten
Learning Centers have replaced Play Provocations this week and the Kinders are exploring and experimenting with a variety of mediums to create letter shapes and numerals. They move freely between activities, both inside and outside the classroom. Writing instruction takes place daily in the classroom where the focus is on correct letter formation. Today we learnt to write the word 'can'.
Year 1
Year 2 have worked on writing events for their recounts. We scaffolded the information together then they individually wrote a paragraph and then colour coded the information to make sure they had covered everything we had planned for the paragraph.
Year 5/6
In Year 5 and 6 we have been focussing on editing our work using highlighters to identify the success criteria within our work. What you see is a piece of work, written in the structure of a recount, from the point of view of the main character in our novel. The children were asked to plan their recount using a hamburger model template (not seen here) and then turn this plan into a written reality. This is the second occasion that they have attempted this type of task and the growth between the two tasks is amazing.
SCHOOL FEES
Parents would have received their accounts last week and you are encouraged to pay them as quickly and as best as you can manage. Meeting these commitments is very important in the smooth running of resources and financial expenditure for the school.
COMPASS REMINDER
- Please continue to email the school or contact the office to explain partial absence.
- A Parent or guardian must explain a partial absence
- SMS's are sent to parents of students who are absent each weekday morning
- Please phone the office to explain your child's absence
- Please do not respond by text, the Compass system does not accept text messages.
- If you notify the office beforehand that your child will be late, you will still receive an SMS.
- All students must report to the office if they arrive late.
- On occasion you may be sent a text message even though your child is in attendance at school, this may be because they have arrived late and have not reported to the office. If this is the case please feel free to contact the office to verify.
It has been noted that some parents have updated their mobile phone number by taking out the gaps within the phone number. This is not required and may make receiving compass messages invalid until the matter is fixed from the office.
School Fees Payment Frequency Form
Thank you to all parents that have returned their Form. Parents are asked to complete the school fees payment frequency form and return to the office as soon as possible. All payments of accounts need to commence prior to the 31st March 2021. If you have received a message and have not returned your form please print out the attached form.
New Finance System
Our finance system will be replaced and centralised within the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese. This will require a new platform for Compass and a brand new Finance System.
Thank you to all families that have returned their verification report form. If you have received a message from Leanne this week, this means you have not yet returned your form, a new form was sent home again. Could you please check all details are current and up to date, sign the form and return to the office as soon as possible.
This is the first step in changing over systems and your prompt response in returning the forms would be very appreciated.
LOWES DISCOUNTS
Sale 11th & 12th March - Dont miss out!!
KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS
Kindergarten Enrolments are open. Please download the attched Enrolment Form or contact the office for an enrolment pack.
| Kinder | Maksim S, Eleanor T, Lucy C, Josie B, |
| Year 1 | Sophia T, Gibson F, Thea W, |
| Year 2 | Grace G, Daniel Z, Laura N, Jesse M |
| Year 3 | Maddison H, Ashton F, Shammah N, |
| Year 4 | Lochlain H, Thomas E, Deegan C, |
| Year 5/6 | Archie P, Tahlia B, Marley B, Elsie O |
| Principals | |
| Captains | Marley B, Max B |
| Lexia Awards | John H - Level 10, Luka S - Level 4, Gibson F - Level 4 |
GO GEMMA
We wish Gemma M all the best next week as she represents the Diocese in the Polding Championships next Monday. She will be competing in the 50m freestyle against all the other Diocese in the Polding region. Congratulations on your selection and good luck Gemma.
SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
We will be holding our school Cross Country on Wednesday 25 March from 10am. Interested children will able to try out for the school team to represent at the Diocesan Cross Country next term. The course for 8-10year olds will be 2kms and 11 & 12's will be 3kms. There are some very strict qualifying time that the children will have to meet to make it to the Diocesan carnival.
We will be able to invite parents to attend and watch their children run - so save the date if you can.
AGM AND NEXT GENERAL MEETING
The Association’s next meeting will be on Monday 22 March at 3.15pm.( A teacher will be able to watch any children of parents attending the meeting). The yearly reports from the different executives and the election of office bearers will take place at the AGM which will be followed by the General Meeting. If you would like to put yourself forward as an executive, the role descriptions are available below. Please come along and be part of the decision making processes of the school.
Book Club
Book Club catalogues are going home this week. All orders need to be finalized by this Tuesday 16th March, 2021.
Please ensure order forms are clearly marked with your child's name and items to be ordered, if you are not ordering on-line.
Place order and money in an envelope and put this into your classroom note bag. Please note: No late orders can be accepted.
Library Borrowing
Just a reminder, library borrowing is each Wednesday. Each student needs a library borrowing bag to be able to take their library books home. Please encourage your child to keep their library books in their library bag after they have finished reading each time. This will also help to avoid accidents such as: lost books, spills, sticky fingers, little ones colouring in and animals trying to turn pages and unfortunately destroying the book. Any books lost or damaged need to be paid for.
Happy reading
We would like to wish the following children a Happy Birthday
| Kindergarten | |
| Year 1 | Ariana C, Gibson F, Vincent D |
| Year 2 | |
| Year 3 | |
| Year 4 | Ava G, Lochlain H, Ojo T |
| Year 5/6 |
Congratulations and we hope you had a happy day
You will be able to access the school newsletter here and notifications will come through Schoolzine. Please DO NOT use the old SkoolBag App. It is no longer used for communications of notifications and messages..
Go to this link to download the Schoolzine App:
Check out this link for more info on St Nicholas OOSH.
How to enrol for our OOSH Services:
To everyone who has been a part of our journey so far, thank you, and to all the children and families who are commencing with us in 2021, we welcome you to St Nicholas OOSH, and we are here to support you. Tracey SweetmanGeneral Operations Manager, St Nicholas OOSH