General News
Welcome Back to School
It was a pleasure to see all our excited Year 1 - 6 students again today for the commencement of Term 1! We trust all our families had a fantastic holiday break and are feeling energised and ready for the new school year.
We also look forward to welcoming our new Kindergarten students next Thursday 8th February.
Just a reminder that all students wear their summer uniform Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Sports uniform is to be worn on a Wednesday and Friday. Please make sure all students come to school with their school hat, bring a water bottle, morning tea and lunch.
Word of the Week
Each time a student uses our "Word of the Week" in the classroom they will be awarded a point and the student with the most points at the end of the term will receive a book to further expand their vocabulary.
We will publish our Word of the Week on Facebook and in the newsletter. Please support your child to use this word at home.
Term 1 Week 2 Word of the Week "COLLABORATE"
Road Safety
Road Safety is a Back to School Essential
As children return to school, it is essential to keep safety in mind. Talk with your children about safely getting to and from school.
- Keep children safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.
- Keep children safe by walking distraction-free. Expect your child to take off their headphones while walking.
- Keep children safe getting on and off the bus. Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the road's edge. Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across. Wait until the bus has gone before crossing the road.
- Keep children safe while using wheeled transport. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it is the law. Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective equipment.
Be a positive role model when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver. Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.
Never sacrifice safety for convenience.Source: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/
2024 School Term Dates
Regular attendance at school is essential for students to achieve quality life outcomes. Parents or carers of children of compulsory school age are responsible for ensuring their child attends school every day. Here are the school term dates for 2024 for our students:
Term One: Thursday 1st February (Yrs 1 - 6); Kinder commence Thursday 8thFebruary - Friday 12th April
Term Two: Monday 29th April - Friday 5th July
Term Three: Monday 22nd July - Friday 27th September
Term Four: Monday 14th October - Thursday 19th December
School Hours & Supervision
The school grounds are supervised from 8.15am until the last bus leaves in the afternoon. No child is to be at school before 8.15am and all should leave the school grounds as soon as possible after 3.00pm.
School starts: 8.45am
Recess: 11.00am – 11.40am
Lunch: 1.20pm – 1.50pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
OFFICE HOURS
Primary & Infants Office: 8.00am - 4.00pm daily
Compass
Compass is our School Parent Portal. It will allow you to access up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child's progress. Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:
- Approve past absences for your child.
- Enter upcoming absences for your child.
- Canteen Orders
- Access your child's Academic Reports.
- Access information regarding upcoming events and newsletters.
- Book your Parent/Student/Teacher conferences.
- View up-to-date class and school attendance information.
- Download, print and approve upcoming excursions.
- Update your registered email and mobile number (used for SMS alerts).
Attendance
Children are required to attend school from 8.45am to 3.00pm. It is essential that children are always present at school, except in the case of sickness.
Whenever a child is absent, parents are required to explain this absence through the Compass App. An SMS message is sent to parents on the morning of the absence if no notification of absence has been received before 10.00am. It is a legal requirement that you log in to Compass to explain all absences within 7 days of your child being away from school, however it is so much easier if you attend to this on the day as soon as you receive the reminder.
You will NOT be able to complete this task after the 7 days has passed which means they will be recorded as Absent Unexplained.
If you are having trouble accessing all of the Compass features, there should be a drop down menu on your home page which looks like 3 horizontal lines. Open this menu and choose 'open in browser'. This will help you access the school portal features.
Contacting Class Teachers
We encourage parents to contact class teachers by email between 8.00am and 5.00pm; Monday to Friday only. Please be aware, teachers need time to reply to your email as during the school day they are either teaching, on duty or in meetings. We love to hear from you but just not late at night. If a matter is urgent, please ring the school and leave a message for the teacher to contact you. Thank you for your cooperation in this.
2024 Student Stationery Supplies
Please see below a list of essential stationery items that all students will need for the new school year.
St Edward’s School Tamworth - 2024 Schedule of Fees & Levies
School fees PER TERM (Terms 1, 2 & 3 only) for 2024 are:
· 1 child $501.00
· 2 children $901.80 (20% discount child 2)
· 3 or more children $1152.30 (50% discount child 3)
School fees ANNUAL for 2024 are:
· 1 child $1503.00
· 2 children $2705.40 (20% discount child 2)
· 3 or more children $3456.90 (50% discount child 3)
2024 Sport & School Activity Levy per child is:
Primary Students $70.00 per student
Infants Students $50.00 per student
St Edward’s Sport & School Activity Levy (SASA Levy) covers the cost of sport activities and extracurricular activities that students participate in and is in addition to School Fees.
2025 Kindergarten Enrolments - ENROL NOW
Applications for Kindergarten 2025 are NOW OPEN. Please contact the Infants Campus for an enrolment pack. 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 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 in 2025.
School Travel - Bus Passes & Concessions
Please note there is a new website where parents can access bus pass applications.
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel
2024 Travel Passes
St Ed's P & F AGM
Please come and join us for our St Ed's P & F AGM next Tuesday 6th February at 5.30pm in the Primary Staffroom. All welcome!
P & F St Ed's Golf Day
Don't forget our St Ed's Golf Day is fast approaching! Call the Tamworth Pro Shop now and book your team for a day of fun, challenges and laughter!
Real Talk Parents Free Membership
The Armidale Catholic School Office has arranged for our entire school community (parents, teachers and staff) to have free premium level access to our Real Talk Parents membership site. Click on the link below to take advantage of this great resource.
Athletes Foot
Don't forget when you purchase your school or sport shoes at the Athletes Foot Tamworth, to mention you are a member of the St Edward's Tamworth school community. $5 from every purchase is donated back to our school.
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 through Friday during term and breakfast is provided.
After school care is available in the Infants Hall for Infants students only from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. PLEASE NOTE this year that after school care is now operating from the Primary Art Room for primary students only from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Afternoon tea is 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.
Parent Workshop...
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
