General News
Dhulu - Message Stick
Yaama!
We would like to welcome all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who are joining and returning to us this year at St Edwards Primary School. For our new families joining us, please see below to find the Aboriginal Education Assistants and Aboriginal Focus Teacher of St Edwards Infants and Primary campus. We look forward to making new connections throughout the new year and continuing to create cultural pathways and opportunities for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Amanda Gwalter Brittany Cloake Jarrod Peachey Sally-Anne Clarke
Infants AEA Primary AEA Primary AEA AEA Focus Teacher
Gamilaraay word of the week:
Yaluu - Bye/See you again
Word of the Week
Each time a student uses our "Word of the Week" in the classroom they will be awarded a point and the student with the most points at the end of the term will receive a book to further expand their vocabulary.
We will publish our Word of the Week on Facebook and in the newsletter. Please support your child to use this word at home.
Term 1 Week 3 Word of the Week "PUNCTUAL"
Change of Details
We ask parents to please use the Compass portal to change phone numbers or email addresses. For changes to residential address or student medical details, please contact either school office via phone or email, thank you.
NRMA Bus Safety Program – Kinder Students only
On Tuesday 27th February, all Kindergarten students will be participating in our annual NRMA Bus Safety Program from 9.00am-11.00am. There will be an information and discussion session conducted by representatives of the NRMA, Police and Tamworth Bus Lines, followed by a short bus ride. This event requires parental consent electronically via the Compass Parent Portal. Thank you to those Kinder families who have already given permission.
Medical Action Plans
Medical Action Plans were sent home late last year to all families who have children with Asthma, Seizures, Diabetes and Anaphylaxis. Parents are asked to update these forms annually, including a signature from your family doctor. Please return these signed Action Plans to school as soon as possible, thank you. Special thanks to the families who have already returned their child's plan.
Parents of students who have been diagnosed with any of the above medical conditions since enrolling are asked to advise either school office ASAP so a Medical Action Plan can be processed and sent home.
2024 NAPLAN - Years 3 & 5 Students
Please refer to some important NAPLAN information for parents of our Years 3 & 5 students.
Upcoming TRC Roadworks in Wongala Street near our Primary Campus Kiss & Drop
We ask our Primary parents to please refer to this letter regarding upcoming roadworks in the streets surrounding our Primary Kiss & Drop area.
INFANTS Canteen - Wed & Friday lunch time
This year at the Infants Campus we will again be offering snack items and frozen treats for Infants students to purchase on the set days of Wednesday and Friday only. Spending limits are $3 per child. The Infants Canteen is operated by Mrs Emma Noad at lunch time only from 1.30 - 1.50pm.
Road Safety
School Zones are active during this time. http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/flashinglights/index.html |
Safety Town
Safety Town is a road safety education resource for teachers, students and families. It provides a variety of interactive learning activities for students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Teachers are provided with comprehensive teaching notes to support the use of the interactive activities, and support learning as part of PDHPE, English, Science and Mathematics.
www.safetytown.com.au
School Drop Off & Pick Up Safety
A friendly reminder to adhere to safety measures when dropping off and picking up your children from school. Please especially make sure that you are mindful of not parking in driveways or allocated bus zones and only using the designated car drop off/pick up area if you are not parking your car.
For more safety tips see the attachment below.
SAVE THE DATE.....St Ed's School Photos
INFANTS - Tuesday 26th March
PRIMARY - Wednesday 27th March
2024 School Term Dates
Regular attendance at school is essential for students to achieve quality life outcomes. Parents or carers of children of compulsory school age are responsible for ensuring their child attends school every day. Here are the school term dates for 2024 for our students:
Term One: Thursday 1st February (Yrs 1 - 6); Kinder commence Thursday 8thFebruary - Friday 12th April
Term Two: Monday 29th April - Friday 5th July
Term Three: Monday 22nd July - Friday 27th September
Term Four: Monday 14th October - Thursday 19th December
2024 PUPIL FREE DAYS - please note these dates in your calendar....
Change in Afternoon Routine
Can you please advise the school office before 2:30pm if there is any change in your child's afternoon routine.
Compass
Compass is our School Parent Portal. It will allow you to access up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child's progress. Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:
- Approve past absences for your child.
- Enter upcoming absences for your child.
- Canteen Orders
- Access your child's Academic Reports.
- Access information regarding upcoming events and newsletters.
- Book your Parent/Student/Teacher conferences.
- View up-to-date class and school attendance information.
- Download, print and approve upcoming excursions.
- Update your registered email and mobile number (used for SMS alerts).
Compass Media Consent
We remind parents and carers to please ensure you log onto your COMPASS parent portal and approve or decline the Media Consent and also any other events on there for your child/children.
Attendance
Children are required to attend school from 8.45am to 3.00pm. It is essential that children are always present at school, except in the case of sickness.
Whenever a child is absent, parents are required to explain this absence through the Compass App. An SMS message is sent to parents on the morning of the absence if no notification of absence has been received before 10.00am. It is a legal requirement that you log in to Compass to explain all absences within 7 days of your child being away from school, however it is so much easier if you attend to this on the day as soon as you receive the reminder.
You will NOT be able to complete this task after the 7 days has passed which means they will be recorded as Absent Unexplained.
If you are having trouble accessing all of the Compass features, there should be a drop down menu on your home page which looks like 3 horizontal lines. Open this menu and choose 'open in browser'. This will help you access the school portal features.
Second Hand Clothing Pool
Our second hand clothing pool is open from 8.30am to 3.30pm each school weekday at both the Primary and Infants Campus. Most second hand items are $5.00 each. Please see the office staff for further details.
If your child/ren have outgrown any of their uniforms, we would welcome any donations from parents, thank you.
St Edward’s School Tamworth - 2024 Schedule of Fees & Levies
School fees PER TERM (Terms 1, 2 & 3 only) for 2024 are:
· 1 child $501.00
· 2 children $901.80 (20% discount child 2)
· 3 or more children $1152.30 (50% discount child 3)
School fees ANNUAL for 2024 are:
· 1 child $1503.00
· 2 children $2705.40 (20% discount child 2)
· 3 or more children $3456.90 (50% discount child 3)
2024 Sport & School Activity Levy per child is:
Primary Students $70.00 per student
Infants Students $50.00 per student
St Edward’s Sport & School Activity Levy (SASA Levy) covers the cost of sport activities and extracurricular activities that students participate in and is in addition to School Fees.
2025 Kindergarten Enrolments - ENROL NOW
Applications for Kindergarten 2025 are NOW OPEN. Please contact the Infants Campus for an enrolment pack. Enrolment Forms will not be processed until all supporting documents are received: Birth Certificate; Immunisation Certificate; Baptismal Certificate (only required if your child is baptised Catholic) and proof of student’s residential address. Please spread the word if you know of anyone with a child wishing to start at St Edward's School in Kindergarten in 2025. Please note enrolment applications close on Tuesday 9th April.
School Travel - Bus Passes & Concessions
Please note there is a new website where parents can access bus pass applications.
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel
2024 Travel Passes
COVID INFORMATION
At the end of 2022, National Cabinet announced that people who test positive to COVID-19 do not need to isolate. In line with this announcement, schools will continue to follow guidance issued by NSW Health to support the safety and wellbeing of our school communities.
Staff and Students with COVID-19 Symptoms
If a student or staff member is unwell and has any symptoms they should always test for COVID-19 and not attend school until they are symptom free.
Positive COVID-19 Cases
If a student or staff member receives a positive result with a RAT or PCR test they should:
- Record the positive result through the Services NSW website or App.
- Notify school of positive results as soon as possible.
2024 Calendar of Events - St Ed's P & F......
P & F St Ed's Golf Day - this Sunday 18th February
Are you ready for the first St Ed's P & F fundraiser of the year?? Our St Ed's Golf Day is just days away now! Call the Tamworth Pro Shop now and book your team for a day of fun, challenges and laughter!
Real Talk Parents Free Membership
The Armidale Catholic School Office has arranged for our entire school community (parents, teachers and staff) to have free premium level access to our Real Talk Parents membership site. Click on the link below to take advantage of this great resource.
Athletes Foot
Don't forget when you purchase your school or sport shoes at the Athletes Foot Tamworth, to mention you are a member of the St Edward's Tamworth school community. $5 from every purchase is donated back to our school.
Esteem Kids
Before school care is available in the Infants Hall for both Primary and Infants students. It operates from 7:00am to 8:30am, Monday through Friday during term and breakfast is provided.
After school care is available in the Infants Hall for Infants students only from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. PLEASE NOTE this year that after school care is now operating from the Primary Art Room for primary students only from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Afternoon tea is provided.
Families are encouraged to make enquiries or express interest by contacting William Wong on 0410 841 628 or email: info@esteemkidsgroup.com.au or visit the website at www.esteemkidsgroup.com.au
ABSENCES - Please remember to contact (telephone or text) Esteem Kids St Edward's directly if your child is going to be absent on 0481 373 883. Thank you.
Drama Lessons
Parent Workshop...
Don't forget to like us on Facebook and tell your family and friends about our page too!
St Edward's Primary School: Facebook
We are now on Instagram too! Feel free to follow our page to keep in touch with the fantastic things that happen at St Edward's Primary School.
St Edward's Primary School: Instagram
