General News
Dhulu - Message Stick
Yaama!
Significant Dates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People - Term 3
4th August -National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
3rd September - Indigenous Literacy Day
13th September - Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
29th September - 1st October - NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout
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 & Songlines and Men's & Women's business
Gamilaraay Word of the Week
Term 3 - Dhii (Animals)
Week 1 - Dhinawan (Emu)
Week 2 - Bandaarr (Kangaroo)
Week 3 - Bigibila (Echidna)
Week 4 - Yurrandaali (Goanna)
Week 5 - Guya (Fish)
Week 6 - Waraba (Turtle)
What are we learning next term?
Gunagala (The Sky) & Dhawun (Country)
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 3 Week 8 Word of the Week "DEMOLISH"
Father's Day
Last Friday we welcomed all our wonderful dads, grandads and families into school for our annual Father's Day Breakfast. A special thank you to Mrs McCaffrey, and our fabulous staff, who cooked and served over 450 bacon and egg sandwiches for our visitors. The beautiful spring weather ensured that we had a huge crowd gather in our primary playground to share breakfast and a coffee, along with basketball and handball games after.
An enormous thank you to all our helpers who made the morning such a success and to everyone who attended. It was a wonderful whole school community event! A big thank you to Mrs Ashford for creating the video of the students talking about their dads and her great photography work...please see our Facebook page for all of the photos.
Lastly, thank you to all of our families who supported the Father's Day Stall last Thursday and to our amazing P & F team and their band of helpers who coordinated the gifts and assisted on stall day. The students loved choosing a special gift for their dads and grandads!
Transition for Kindergarten 2026
We look forward to welcoming our Kindergarten 2026 students for their third transition morning tomorrow, Friday 12th September, from 9.30am until 10.45am.
Term 3 Student Learning Progress Meetings - Week 9 & 10
Over the last two weeks of term, teachers are available for student learning progress meetings. These three way conversations are an opportunity for learning to be discussed between students, parents/carers and teachers. The aim of these meetings is to celebrate success, highlight student strengths and current achievement and then determine future learning goals. If you have not made a booking via Compass, please make contact with your child's class teacher to arrange a time.
School Uniform Change
Due to the current warm weather, students are allowed to come to school in either their full summer or full winter uniform for the remainder of this term, but NOT a mixture of both. Thank you for your support in ensuring that our students are wearing their uniforms correctly. All students will need to be in their full summer uniform by the beginning of Term 4.
Compass
If your child has an appointment and will be arriving at school late, please do not enter this on Compass. Children will need to be signed in at school on the kiosk located in the school reception area. Only enter absent notes if your child will be absent for the whole day or longer.
Found at the Primary Campus
We are looking to return this size 10 black jacket to it's rightful owner. Please see the ladies in the Primary Office to claim, thank you.
P & F Upcoming Events - Save the dates!
We thank our amazing St Ed's P & F who have been busily organising the following fundraiser events for the remainder of the school year. Please mark these important dates in your calendar.
2025 Pupil Free/Staff Development Days
The following are the Pupil Free Days for the remainder of 2025.
Please note these on your calendar.
Monday 13th October
Thursday 18th December
Supervision of Students
A reminder that school commences at 8.45am and ends at 3.00pm.
Please note that supervision of students commences at 8.15am and families are kindly asked not to drop off children before this time. It is not appropriate for children to be at school before this time with no supervision. If your child/ren require care before 8.15am you may like to consider before-school care here at school with Esteem.
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
Please remember to explain all student absences on Compass within 7 days of the absence. Once the 7 days passes, you will not be able to make any changes and this will be reflected in your child's semester school report. If your child is absent, please jump on to Compass on the day. There are 2 messages sent out: 1 on the day at 10.00am and then a reminder email every Friday for unexplained absences that week.
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.
Esteem Kids .....now hiring
School Crossing Supervisor positions
Interested in becoming a School Crossing Supervisor? Any parents or grandparents can access the following link for advertised positions:
School crossing supervisor jobs
School Crossing Supervisors play an important part in child road safety. The role would suit people who enjoy working with children and want part-time work. The School Crossing Program regularly recruits school crossing supervisors throughout the state. School crossing supervisors need to be:
- punctual and reliable
- vigilant, calm and confident with working near traffic
- able to provide clear instructions
- able to communicate with adults and children
- available on school days to work at crossings located within 40km/h school zones.
Alternatively, if you would like to become a Casual employee, please email a copy of your resume and contact details to: scsnorth@transport.nsw.gov.au
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
