General News
Dhulu - Message Stick
Yaama!
Cultural Immersion Groups
At St Edward's School, we provide weekly Cultural Immersion lessons for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The lessons are programmed and taught by our Aboriginal Education Assistants. Each grade will have one lesson a week focusing on a significant part of Aboriginal Education and Culture.
Kindergarten - The Dreamtime
Year 1 - Aboriginal Art & Gamilaraay Language
Year 2 - Cultural practices & Gamilaraay Language
Year 3 - Identity, Family/Kinship & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Role Models
Year 4 - Gamilaraay Language
Year 5 - Connections to Country
Year 6 - Indigenous History & Storytelling
Gamilaraay Word of the Week
Gunagala (Sky) & Dhawun (Country)
Week 1: Gunimaa / Mother Earth
Week 2: Dhawun / Land, Country
Week 3: Bagay / River
Week 4: Gunagala / Sky
Week 5: Gilay / Moon & Mirii / Star
Week 6: Yaraay / Sun & Gundaa / Cloud
Week 7: Yuluwirri / Rainbow
Our Gamilaraay Word of the Week has finished for the year. See you next year for some more Gamilaraay language learning!
Cultural Dance Group - Presentation Night
We kindly ask that if your child is a part of the cultural dance group, they wear black clothing for their dance. Skirts, ochre & lap laps will be provided. Please arrive early (5.40 pm) to have skirts fitted and ochre applied.
Girls - Black t-shirt and black full legging tights.
Boys - Black t-shirt and black shorts. (T-shirts will be optional for the boys, but they must come fully dressed prior to the dance).
AEA team
Brittany Cloake - bcloake2@arm.catholic.edu.au
Primary AEA
Jarrod Peachey - jpeachey@arm.catholic.edu.au
Primary AEA
Amanda Gwalter - agwalter@arm.catholic.edu.au
Infants AEA
Sally-Anne Clarke - sclarke@arm.catholic.edu.au
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Focus Teacher
Word of the Week
Students are encouraged to continually use the "Word of the Week" in context during class, expanding their oral language skills, one word at a time! Each time a student uses our 'Word of the Week' in the classroom, they will earn a point. The student with the most points at the end of the term will receive a book prize to further expand their vocabulary.
We will publish our Word of the Week on Facebook and in the newsletter. Please encourage and support your child to use this word at home.
Term 4 Week 8 Word of the Week "EERIE"
School Disco for St. Vincent De Paul Appeal
Dress up in Christmas colours/attire! All money raised will go to St. Vincent de Paul, to help people in our local community.
DISCO ENTRY: $2
Please note that students will also be able to purchase drinks and chips on the night.
Chips: $1 per packet
Water: $2
Chill J: $3
Bags of lollies: $1
DROP OFF OPTIONS:
Please note there will be no parking inside the school grounds, for the safety of our students. If you would like to walk your child in, please park on Hillvue Road and enter through the front gate. There is a drive-through drop-off/pick-up option as well, entering through the main driveway (Hillvue Rd) and exiting the same way. Note: the usual Primary Kiss & Drop (from Wongala Street) is not open for use during either disco.
St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal
It's not too late to donate, with just ONE MORE DAY TO GO. We ask all students and families to donate non-perishable food items that can be put into a Christmas Hamper to help those families who are struggling. Some suggestions are non-perishable basic items such as noodles, cereals, biscuits, muesli bars, tea, coffee, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and conditioner. In addition to these items, they are hoping for some items to help people in need celebrate Christmas, such as chocolates, soft drinks, Christmas cakes and puddings. Please help us share the Christmas spirit of giving to those in need. Every item counts. Donations can be made to the class teachers or at either school office. Thank you for your support!
The closing date for hamper donations is Friday, 5th December
Changes to Compass Lunch Orders - from Monday 8th December
Please be advised of the following changes to our Compass canteen orders, effective Monday, 8th December.
1. New Daily Cut Off Time: 9:00 am
All standard lunch orders must be placed through the Compass App by 9:00 am daily.
2. Late Order Options
If you miss the 9:00 am cutoff, you have two options:
Option 1: Use the Compass "Late Lunch Menu"
Option 2: Drop Off - Please bring lunch directly to the School Office for your child.
Important Reminder: Please use the Compass App for all orders. If you are experiencing issues with your Compass App, please contact the School Office for assistance.
Uniform Change for Week 9
Please be advised of the uniform changes for next week (Week 9).
Students are to wear their full SPORTS UNIFORM to school on Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th and Friday 12th December.
Students are to wear their full SCHOOL UNIFORM on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th December.
Tuesday 9th December - Presentation Night practice: Students are to wear their full sports uniform on this day, they will attend school as usual and will be transported during the day by bus to and from the TRECC for their Presentation Night rehearsal.
Grade teachers have been in contact with what each grade is required to wear for their evening performances. (Please reach out to your child's classroom teacher if still unsure.)
Wednesday 10th December - As class award photos will take place back at school Wednesday and Thursday, we ask K-6 students to wear their FULL SCHOOL UNIFORM on these days.
St Ed's Presentation Night - Tuesday, 9th December
Our Annual Presentation Night will be held this Tuesday, 9th December commencing at 6.00pm sharp at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre (TRECC). Students are asked to arrive at 5.30pm. There will be reserved seating for official guests and staff members. Please do not bring food to eat whilst in the Centre. Due to the size of TRECC there will be plenty of seating for everyone.
*** Please note that the TRECC has advised that prams will not be permitted in the seating area. There will be a pram station in the foyer.
• Drop off: All students will enter the Hall through the front foyer and go to their allocated area.
• Pick up: At the conclusion of the evening (approx 8.00 pm), students may be collected from their seats by parents.
Please note that all students in the school will be involved in a concert item for their grade and it is an expectation that ALL STUDENTS remain for the entire evening (ending at approximately 8.00 pm).
FINAL REHEARSAL for Presentation Night will be held this Tuesday, 9th December. Students will come to school as normal (students to wear SPORTS uniform) and will be transported to and from TRECC by bus for rehearsal at varying times throughout the day. Permission notes for bus travel have been sent as an Event via the Parent Compass Portal and require parent approval.
PLEASE NOTE: Award Winners - Photos will be taken by a staff member at school on Thursday, 11th December and will be emailed to parents by Friday, 12th December.
Year 6 Student School Report Advice for Parents and Carers - Important Information
Your Year 6 child's Compass Portal will close on the last day of this term, Thursday 18th December. If your child is NOT attending a Catholic High School in 2026, we recommend that you download ALL school reports to your own device for future reference. You will not be able to access their Portal Page after the 18th December 2025.
Semester Two reports will be open to parents on Thursday, 11th December after 3.00pm. However, you can download all current school reports at any time now.
Important Dates/Upcoming Events...
Thursday 4th December - INFANTS students Disco, 6.00-7.00pm Primary Hall
Saturday 6th December - P & F End of Year Parent Get Together - 6.00pm Longyard Hotel
Tuesday 9th December - Presentation Night at TRECC, students and families to arrive at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm START
Thursday 11th December - PRIMARY students Disco - 6.00-7.30pm Primary Hall
Friday 12th December - Whole School K-6 End of Year Mass, 10.00am MHOC Church
Saturday 13th December - P & F Gingerbread House Making Evening, 6.00pm St Ed's Primary Hall
Monday 15th December - Moving Up Day (Kinder - Yr 5 students) - 9.00-11.00am
Tuesday 16th December - Year 6 Graduation Mass, 10.00am
Tuesday 16th December - Year 6 Farewell Dinner at West Leagues Club, 6.00pm
Wednesday 17th December - Year 6 students at Kootingal Pool
Wednesday 17th December - Term 4 concludes (for all students)
Thursday 18th December - Pupil Free Day
2026 School Dates
Please note the following 2026 dates in your calendars:
Term 1
Tuesday 27th January - Staff Development Day
Wednesday 28th January - Staff Development Day
Thursday 29th January - Students in Years 1 - 6 return to school
Thursday 29th January - Tuesday 3rd February - Best Start Assessments for Kindergarten students
Thursday 5th February - Kindergarten students commence
Thursday 2nd April - Term 1 concludes
Term 2
Monday 20th April - Term 2 commences
Friday 3rd July - Term 2 concludes
Term 3
Monday 20th July - Staff Development Day
Tuesday 21st July - Students return
Friday 25th September - Term 3 concludes
Term 4
Monday 12th October - Staff Development Day
Tuesday 13th October - Students return
Wednesday 16th December - Last day for students
Thursday 17th December - Staff Development Day
Leaving or Relocating??
Planning for the 2026 school year is well underway. Over the coming weeks, we will be placing students in classes for 2026. If your child is currently in K – Year 5 and you will NOT be returning to St Edward’s in 2026, please let the school know in writing as soon as possible.
St Ed's Golf Day - Thank You!!
St Ed's P&F Golf Day Hits a Hole in One! Our St Ed’s Golf Day teed off in absolute style last Sunday, with 22 teams swinging their way through a sun-soaked day of fun, friendly competition, and plenty of laughs. From dodging bunkers to sinking impressive putts, the course was alive with camaraderie from the first tee to the final green. This fantastic day wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts of the Robertson and Burrows families, who seamlessly organised every detail.
A huge shout-out to our amazing P&F team, our dedicated staff - Al Hatton, Amanda Sheridan, Karl Short, Belinda Barry-Cupples and Jim for expertly cooking and serving the BBQ and keeping everyone fuelled. The delicious steaks were kindly donated by Teys, and the sausages were generously donated by LHB Insurance Services. The action didn’t stop at the 18th hole as the 19th hole was buzzing with the 100 Clubs and raffles, while Cindy captured every memorable and a big thank you to Sam for lending a hand all day...and an even bigger thank you to our major sponsors for their generous support: KRJ Constructions, Bell Partners, Connect Communication & Electronics, David Reid Homes, Forsyths, Matt McCulloch Air, Peterson Roofing, Robert Haskard Painting, Rome Mortgage Services and Teys Tamworth.
Congratulations to all our raffle winners, and thank you to everyone who contributed to another unforgettable day. Our St Ed’s community continues to shine, both on and off the course. Finally, a special thank you to Nigel and Cindy, who wrap up their final year hosting our P&F Golf Day. Their energy, organisation and good humour have shaped this event into the fantastic day our community looks forward to each year. We’re so grateful for all the time and care they’ve poured into making it such a success. We look forward to welcoming Andrew as he takes the reins when we do it all again next year!
P & F End of Year Get Together - this Saturday, 6th December
Our P & F would love to celebrate the wonderful support shown by our school community throughout the year. If you've lent a hand, offered your time or volunteered in any way, you're warmly invited to join their end-of-year gathering. We hope to see you there!!
WHEN: Saturday 6th December from 6:00pm
WHERE: Longyard Hotel Beer Garden
2027 Kindergarten Enrolments - ENROL NOW
Applications for Kindergarten 2027 are NOW OPEN. Please contact the Infants Campus for an enrolment form or download it from the school's website. 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 the 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 2027.
Application for Extended Leave - 10 days or more
Family holidays and travel are no longer considered under the Exemption from School Procedures. Travel outside of vacation periods is now counted as an absence for statistical purposes. Please contact the school office if your child/ren will be away from school for 10 days or more, as an application form will need to be completed and approved at the discretion of the Principal.
Student Absences
It is vital that all student absences are explained on the Compass platform. Please note the following important guidelines:
Time limit: You must explain all absences on Compass within 7 calendar days of the absence occurring.
Outcome: Once the 7-day period has passed, you will no longer be able to make any changes, and the unexplained absence will be reflected in your child’s end-of-semester school report.
Action: If your child is absent, please log on to Compass and explain the absence on the day it occurs, if possible.
Reminders: Please be aware of the automated reminder messages sent out via Compass:
A text message is sent on the day of absence at 10:00am.
A second reminder for any outstanding unexplained absences for the week is emailed every Friday at 11:00am.
Your prompt attention to this is greatly appreciated as it helps us maintain accurate attendance records.
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 to Friday during the term, and includes breakfast.
After-school care is available in the Infants Hall for Infants students only from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday. Our Primary after-school care operates from the Art Room for primary students only from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday. Afternoon tea is also 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.
Saver Plus
Saver Plus is funded by the Department of Social Services and delivered by The Smith Family.
Children's Book Orders
Discover 'Imagine That Max', the brilliant new children's book by Tamworth local author Lynette Grimes. This timeless story about the magic of imagination was recently shared by Lynette during a special visit to St Edward's Infants Campus.
A perfect Christmas gift and a timeless treasure for any bookshelf. Order your copy today via the link or QR code.
https://lmg-book-nook.square.site/
SWAP IT
SWAP IT is a free, evidence-based school lunchbox program. The program supports parents and carers to SWAP what is packed in their child’s lunchbox from sometimes foods to everyday foods. Visit their Website here.
Cancer Council Healthy Lunch Box
Visit 'Cancer Council Healthy Lunch Box' for a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about packing a healthy lunch box.
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
