From the Principal
Inform and Empower Parent webinar Raising Kids in Digital age - IMPORTANT NIGHT!
Reminders:
School Photos Thursday 27th February
School Closure Day (Literacy professional Learning): Friday 28th February
Dear Parents and Carers,
It was terrific seeing many families join us last Friday for our Beginning of the Year Mass with Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL. Our student leaders and staff supported the liturgy beautifully and reverently. During the Mass, a strong theme of HOPE was explored through Fr Steve’s homily and the prayers, which links strongly with Jubillee celebration across the world for the Catholic Church.
Through the year, we will explore what it means to celebrate a Jubilee year and focus on the theme of being “Pilgrams of Hope. Please see our social channels for great images that captured this celebration.
Welcome to our Prep Students
On behalf of the parish and school we invite all our prep families to join us for Mass THIS Sunday 23rd February at 11:00am. There will be a welcome sausage sizzle after Mass hosted by the parish.
At this mass, all staff from St Simon’s will be attending as part of the school staff's annual commissioning for the year ahead.
All school families are invited and encouraged to attend.
NAPLAN 2025
Please click here to find out more about NAPLAN assessments for Years 3 and 5 students for Term 1.
Supervision: School Drop Off and Pick up
As we begin the school year, it's an excellent opportunity to share a reminder about the school supervision times. Child safety is the highest priority of any school and these arrangements are in place to support this.
Morning
The school gates and grounds are open for student arrival at 8:20am and this is when staff supervision commences. Any student arriving before 8:20am must be checked into the Before School Care program or be accompanied by a supervising adult.
The classroom doors open at 8:30am with the first bell ringing at 8:40am, followed by a second bell at 8:45am to commence learning time. The external gates to the school are closed between 8:45-8:50pm. From 8:50, any parents or carers remaining on the school site are required to exit through the school office doors.
If your child arrives at school after 8:50am, a responsible person must sign in the student at the school office with a late pass.
Afternoon
The pedestrian gates for school dismissal are unlocked at approximately 3:05pm which allows parents and carers to enter the school grounds to wait for the 3:15pm dismissal bell.
Supervision of the dismissal time commences from 3:15 pm until 3:30pm. Any students who have not been picked up by this time will be taken to the school office. Parents and carers will be contacted.
If you are collecting your child early from school you must sign out via the school office.
Car Park Safety and Protocols
Parking is only permitted in the designated spaces. Parents are welcome to park in the upper car park on the side closest to the school oval (East side of carpark). Parking spaces on the Taylors Lane side (West side if carpark) and all spaces in the lower car park (Gate 2) are for staff vehicles.
- Disabled\Wheelchair parking is available in the Gate 4 carpark at the of the carpark on the left-hand (East side) side.
- The speed limit within the car park is walking pace - 5 km/h
- Children, especially young children, often react without thinking and so accidents can occur in the safest environments. Everyone’s co-operation is essential.
- Due to the high level of vehicles at drop off and pick up times we encourage parents to park in surrounding streets and walk into the school property. Not only will this ease congestion but offers children an opportunity for some incidental exercise and a relaxed time to talk about their day
St Simon’s Staff and Contact details
A complete staff list for 2025 is available through the newsletter each week by going to Staff Contacts and General Information section
School Canteen returns Friday 7th March
Our Friday school canteen is something that students and family enjoy and value and we look forward to the service returning on Friday 7th March. Our canteen exists because of the generosity and commitment of parent and family volunteers, for which we are very grateful. To get involved, please click here.
Photo Consent
The St Simon’ School Social Media consent for students in Years 1 -6 will roll over for 2025 school year, however this done with understanding that it can changed at any time by contacting the school office.
Our Prep students and any new families to St Simon’s will received a image consent form via Operoo for families to review and action accordingly.
New Prep Playground - Complete
Work on the new prep playground is now complete. Our prep students have been enjoying playing on the new equipment, taking on all the physical challenges at their fingertips. We are working with the playground equipment provider to review the height of the monkey bars so that these can be accessible for prep students from the beginning of the year as opposed to the end of the year after they have had a growth spurt!
Thank you once again to the generous fundraising support from our amazing St Simon's Parents' Association that has funded this playground installation.
Whilst this playground is specifically for prep students, we will work out ways through the school year for our year one students to use the equipment from time to time.
St Simon’s Socials
Check-in with Facebook and Instagram channels to see some of the latest activities within our St Simon’s community.