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 & Songlines and Men's & Women's business
Gamilaraay Word of the Week
Gunagala (The Sky) & Dhawun (Country)
Week 1: Gunimaa / Mother Earth
Week 2: Dhawun / Land, 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 4 Week 2 Word of the Week "RAGING"
Term 4 Infants Leaders
A huge congratulations to our Term 4 Infants Leaders! Each term, new Infants Leaders from Year 2 are selected to be positive role models for our K - 2 students. These students take on important daily tasks for teachers, while consistently demonstrating respect and responsibility in the classroom and on the playground. We are incredibly proud of their commitment and leadership!!
L - R: Madeline Burger, Grace Casson, Charlotte Paff, Liam Brummer & Aaron Whitehead
BOOK FAIR - Week 2
Our Primary Book Fair was a great success today! Thank you to all our St Edward's community for your generous support of our Fair. It was fantastic to see so many excited faces eager to start reading their new books! It's the Infants turn tomorrow...
Infants Sale Day - Friday 24th October, 8.00am - 3.30pm, Infants Library
Students browsed the available books with their class earlier in the week and should have their "Wish List" of books that they would like to purchase. This year, we will be open both before and after school to allow all parents the opportunity to come and browse the fantastic books available for purchase. Please see the 'School News' page of this newsletter for more information regarding payment options.
Kinder 2026 Orientation Mornings
We look forward to welcoming our new Kinder 2026 students for their upcoming Orientation mornings on:
Friday 24th October, 9.30-11.30am (Week 2)
Friday 7th November, 9.30-11.30am (Week 4)
Friday 21st November, 9.30-11.30am (Week 6)
Children are asked to bring a hat, a drink bottle and a snack for each orientation session. They can wear play clothes with closed-in shoes. At each Orientation visit, we ask that parents enter via the back gate on Thompson Crescent and staff will be there ready to support your child to happily enter the kindy space.
These orientation sessions are an extremely important way for your child to prepare socially for the transition to school.
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.
St Ed's Annual Golf Day
Mark your calendars for Sunday, 30th November! Our annual golf day is back and promises to be a fantastic day of fun, friendly competition, and community spirit. It's the perfect opportunity to hit the green, catch up with other parents, and support our school.
Sponsorship
We are also seeking sponsors to help make this year's event the biggest success yet. If you or your business is in a position to offer sponsorship, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. There are various sponsorship packages available to suit different budgets. Interested in sponsoring? Please fill out our online form by scanning the QR code in the flyer or clicking here
We can't wait to see you on the course!
2026 Travel Passes
School Student Travel Information for Parents and Students
School Travel Passes
Applications are now open for 2026 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2026. Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply for a new card or update their existing card as soon as possible. Students who receive a notification that their School Opal card is expiring need to resubmit their details. If a student has lost their School Opal card, they will need to apply for a replacement card.
Note: a new card will not be issued if an existing School Opal card is updated online – you must submit a replacement application if a School Opal card is lost. In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs. Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: Some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Terms of Use
Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use. This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times. All students are required to comply with the Student Code of Conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.
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 pass, 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 10.00 am 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.
McCarthy Catholic College - Yr 7 2026 Orientation Day
Centacare
Family Counselling sessions are available via Centacare. Please see the below flyer.
Armidale Diocesan Investment Group (ADIG) Client Feedback Survey
ADIG would love their customers/clients to complete a short 5 minute survey (link below or scan the QR code) about their service and how they can better meet the needs of our community. They would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
https://adig.com.au/adig-survey
Tamworth Art Academy - Term 4 classes
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
