FROM THE PRINCIPAL

To the St Nicholas School Community

TERM 1 - WEEK 2

An enormous welcome to the 2021 school year. In particular a warm welcome to those families who are new to St Nicholas School. I trust your time with us will be both enjoyable and very rewarding.

St Nicholas School community has experienced an enjoyable and successful start to the 2021 school year!

Staff returned on Wednesday 27th January, rested, refreshed and with a positive attitude. COVID-19 restrictions may have limited travel opportunities to exotic destinations, though many of us have reaped the benefits of using the Christmas break to truly unwind and relax.

Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s staff development days provided a fantastic platform to launch the new school year. Quality professional learning was conducted on improving the identified areas within our 2021 Annual School Improvement Plan. Compliance requirements around Child Protection, Professional Code of Conduct, and Work, Health and Safety were completed. Time was also given to staff for team planning and preparation, ensuring a focus of learning and wellbeing for each student.

St Nicholas School Years 1-6 students arrived on Monday, 1st of February, for their first day. Polished shoes, pressed uniforms with room to grow and smart haircuts didn’t hide the broad smiles and sense of anticipation. We are truly blessed at St Nicholas School with remarkable children who make up our student population.

Kindergarten Best Start testing also commenced Monday, in preparation for our youngest members to start tomorrow. The innocence and trust of a kindergarten child is a great reminder to the privileged position we hold as educators.

2021 has also brought with it a number of staff changes at St Nicholas:

New roles:

• Katie Daley  (Assistant Principal)
• Hannah Matheson (Kindergarten Intervention)
• Libby Jamieson  (Inclusion Support Teacher)

New staff:

• Lily Single: Year 2 (Master in Teaching)
• Helen Rowsell: Year 3 (Master of Teaching) joins us from Oxley Vale Public School
• Mia Moloney: Year 5 (Bachelor of Education {K-12}) joins us from Woollahra Public School
• Jess Harris: Year 6 (Bachelor of Teaching) joins us from Ascham School, Edgecliff
• Jane Dever, Relief and Support Teacher (Bachelor of Education) with over 30 years experience at 7 different sites
• Laura Goodwin: Education Assistant
• Kaye Galvin: Library Assistant

I am extremely honoured to hold the position of principal of St Nicholas School. As a parent I am proud to send my two children to the School. One of the reasons I feel this way is, as a school community we are committed to continued improvement. As an educator of choice for the Tamworth district, we understand highly capable staff's devotion to lifelong learning is to the benefit of the spiritual, learning and wellbeing outcomes of our students.

Staff learning will continue to be our number one driver for school improvement in 2021.

High Expectations

The St Nicholas School Community is proud of the high standards we set ourselves. We rightly hold staff to our high expectations and expect the very best of our children. 

High expectations start with our presentation. For our students this means they wear the correct uniform and wear it with pride. This includes the way they wear their hair. Extreme haircuts can be enjoyed in the holiday period, though are not acceptable during the school term. I thank parents for their understanding and support.

Direct implications from COVID-19 for Term 1 2021

For the safety of the St Nicholas School community, I urge us all to keep up to date with the advice and directives of the NSW government. I particularly ask our community to be vigilant around travel and to keep your children at home if they are displaying any COVID-19 listed symptoms. As outlined in the advice to parents from the Armidale Catholic Schools Office, parents and carers are reminded students must not attend school if they are unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms. Students must return a negative COVID-19 test and be symptom free prior to returning to school.

Information Night

Current COVID-19 restrictions directly impact on hosting the traditional platform of our annual Parent Information Night. Please lock the evenings of the 23rd and 24th February in your diaries. More information will follow in coming days around the logistics, though as always St Nicholas School is committed to informing our parents so they can work with us in educating their child.

St Nicholas and Diocesan Swimming Carnivals

With a little luck COVID-19 will not stop our carnivals in 2021, restrictions however will mean changes to the traditional format. Arguably the greatest restriction is around the limit on numbers. The St Nicholas School Swimming Carnival on the 19th February will therefore be limited to 50 metre swimmers only. The parents of these students are welcome to attend under COVID safe practices of the Tamworth Regional Council.

In 2021 pathways are again open for students to participate at Diocesan, Polding, NSW PSSA and National carnivals. Unfortunately parents of the St Nicholas School Swimming team, who will compete at the Diocesan Carnival on Friday 26th February, will be unable to attend. While frustrating, I thank you for your support and understanding that these measures are out of our control.

PT&F Annual General Meeting: Monday 8th February at 6.00pm

As first and foremost educators, parents and carers are encouraged to play an active role in the education of their child. The PT&F is one platform, where parents have the opportunity to play an active role in the continued demand for improvement of our school.

I encourage all parents and carers to think seriously about joining us on the 8th February at 6.00pm in the School Library for the 2021 St Nicholas PT&F AGM.

Finally, I wish you all a wonderful week and thank you for trusting St Nicholas School with the honour of educating your children.

John Clery

PRINCIPAL