GENERAL NEWS

KINDERGARTEN 2021

Welcome to our new Kindergarten students

SCHOOL HOURS AND BREAK TIMES

Infants

8.15am - Playground supervision of students begin

8.45 - 11.00am - First Session of Learning

11.00am - 11.40am - First break

11.40 -1.20pm - Middle Session of Learning

1.20 - 1.50pm - Second break

1.50 - 2.55pm - Afternoon Session of Learning

2.55 - School day concludes

 

Primary

8.15am - Playground supervision of students begin

8.45 - 10.45am - First Session of Learning

10.45am - 11.20am - First break

11.20 -12.50pm - Middle Session of Learning

12.50 - 1.20pm - Second break

1.20 - 2.55pm - Afternoon Session of Learning

2.55 - School day concludes

TRIAL OF A NEW ROUTINE

This week we are trialling a new routine with Primary students. At both first and second break the students are playing first and then sitting down to eat before going back into class. We are very keen to hear from the students as to how this trial period is working before we potentially look at this as a permanent practice.

SCHOOL UNIFORM - We wear it with pride!

At St Nicholas School we have high expectations with wearing our uniform with pride. We therefore seek parent and student support with wearing our uniform correctly each day. Each week for every student our sports uniform is to be worn Monday, Wednesday and Friday and our formal uniform is to be worn on Tuesday and Thursday.

 

We understand that at times students may need to wear an alternate piece of attire because of an unforeseen circumstance. If this is the case please email your child's class teacher to let them know.

 

STUDENT LEARNING

Minimum Interruptions to student learning

Could we please ask that we have minimum interruptions to the students learning. This includes trying to avoid making medical appointments etc between school hours. 

 

For afternoon arrangements in regards to your child getting home, we ask that you make these with your child before school. We have many students coming up during the day to find out their afternoon routine. This disrupts the flow of their learning as well as making the office an even busier place.

 

If you are collecting your child during the day, please send in a note to the teacher, and come to the office to sign your child out. There is no need for a phone call to the school.

We thank you for your understanding in these matters, and look forward to a fabulous year with your children.

PUPIL FREE DAYS 2021

Thank you for your support and understanding with having three Pupil Free Days at the beginning of this year. The following are the Pupil Free Days for the remainder of 2021.

Please mark in your diary....

 

Monday 12th July 2021

Thursday 16th December 2021

Friday 17th December 2021

STUDENT ABSENCE

Please notify the school if your child is absent.  Due to government legislation, notification of your child's absence must be received no later than 7 days after your child's last day of absence. 

 

This can be carried out by...

 Inputting absence details in Compass (Parent Portal)

COMMUNICATION WITH SCHOOL

Our office is open between 8.00am and 4.00pm each day.  For any queries, the most efficient way of contacting our staff during this time is via email.  

 

admin@stnicholastamworth.catholic.edu.au

jgrady@arm.catholic.edu.au

CHANGE OF DETAILS

We ask all parents to please use the Compass portal or contact the school office to advise us of an any changes to phone numbers, addresses or student medical details.

MANNERS MATTER ON THE ROAD

A gentle reminder that when picking up or dropping off your child/ren please be courteous and considerate to our neighbours (including upper Hill and Roderick Streets). Do not park over driveways.  Be aware, that they need to access entry to their home just as you do. Please also adhere to traffic signs especially with bus zones and no stopping areas.  

 

SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

All parents need to be aware, our supervision of students

does not begin until 8.15am each day.

 

If your child/ren require care before 8.15am you now have access to before school care here at school with Esteem  Currently, students are expected to come in and sit in the Holy Family Courtyard unsupervised and wait. We cannot be responsible for any accident or potentially harmful incidents occurring. Please organise alternative care for your child if your child requires supervision before 8.15am.

 

LIVING WELL, LEARNING WELL

 

This year we will be implementing a framework within our school that is being rolled out across the Armidale Diocese, called ‘Living Well, Learning Well’. One of the main ideas behind this framework is that there is a focus on positive statements and language about expected behaviours. Our school is filled with skilled, helpful adults who display a universal and unconditional positive regard for children and young people and who, as a team, aim to increase learning, wellbeing and life-opportunity outcomes for them. 

 

This year you will hear some new language around this framework. The children will be encouraged and reminded to make positive and productive choices, both on the playground and in the classroom. 

 

Along with Manners Matter, we have implemented 3 rules at St Nicholas that form part of the Living Well, Learning Well Framework. These 3 rules will be used by all schools in the diocese as this is a system approach to learning and behaviour. 

 

Our 3 school rules are:

  1. I am safe: This means that students will act in a manner that is safe for them and for others. This not only includes physical safety, but also encompasses using technology safely, following safety rules for different settings, taking safety drills seriously and seeking help for themselves or others when they have a concern.
  2. I am valued, respected and cared for: This means that “Manners Matter, not just sometimes, but all the time.” Children are reminded and encouraged to display a positive attitude, to be a good listener, to choose words and tone that are appropriate, and to care for our resources and each other. When children feel valued, respected and cared for, they will experience increased learning and well being.
  3. I am a learner: This means that when students arrive at school, they come with the attitude of being ready to learn. They are reminded to persist with difficult tasks, to get back on track if they are redirected and to ensure they are not disrupting the learning of others or the work of the adults who are helping us learn. 

These 3 rules will become embedded into our everyday language at school and we hope that your children share with you at home what they are learning. The following page comes directly from the ‘Living Well, Learning Well’ document and provides examples of how parents and caregivers can work collaboratively with the school to ensure that all children feel safe, valued, respected and cared for at St Nicholas Primary School.

 

 

 

COLLECTION OF DATA