St Nicholas School-Term 3

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Term 3 Week 8

 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

 

THE IMPORTANT OF ATTENDANCE

As we approach the end of Term 3, it is amazing (and scary) that the year is three quarters complete and very quickly we will be moving into the busyness of Term 4. 

 

I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about student attendance and sincerely thank all our families for the effort everyone is making with attendance. It matters to us that our wonderful students are here each and every day working to be the best versions of themselves. 

 

Harvard Professor of Business Leadership, Rosabeth Kanter says one of the most important things we can do at work and at school is simply to, "show up".  What she means is being present and ready to go, makes all the difference. She explains that when you show up, you can see what's happening, be part of the team, and even make things better just by being there. “Show Up” is the first of Rosabeth Kanter’s “6 Ups” of leadership. At St Nicholas School we value these 6 Up’s so much, they are the model for our Student Leadership Framework.  

 

That's a fantastic lesson for our children. Showing up for school every day is the first big step they can take to be leaders in their own lives.

 

Why is Showing Up So Important?

  • Learning Every Day: Every single school day is like a piece of a puzzle. If you miss a day, you miss a piece! Regular attendance helps children keep up with their learning and understand new ideas without feeling left behind.

  • Building Great Habits: Showing up on time and being ready to learn helps children build discipline and responsibility. These are super important habits that will help them throughout their whole lives, not just at school!

  • Making Friends and Being a Good Friend: School is where children learn to share, play, and work with others. When they're here every day, they build strong friendships and learn how to be a valuable part of our school community. 

 

We know that sometimes things happen, and a child can't make it to school. When your child is sick, it's important to keep them home to get better. However, for a child to get the most out of school, it's vital they attend as much as possible.

 

As a result of students “showing up” I would like to share some pleasing attendance improvement data with you. 

 

At a whole school level we often look at two data points in regards to attendance:

  • Attendance rate (total of students at school as a percentage)

  • Attendance level (how many students are present 90% of the time)  

 

At this point of the year our attendance level is 10% higher than at the same time in 2024. This means that there are 59 (more than two whole classes) more students with a 90% attendance rate than last year. 

 

ST NICHOLAS SCHOOL PT&F

Please come and support our next PT&F Meeting

Next Meeting - Monday 20 October 2025 - School Library

How important is our PT&F?

  • The St Nicholas School Tamworth Parents, Teachers & Friends (PT&F) Association plays a vital role in building a strong, supportive school community. 

  • Through its fundraising efforts, the PT&F helps provide valuable resources and opportunities that directly enhance the education and wellbeing of all our students. Every dollar raised goes back into the school to support programs, equipment, and initiatives that benefit your children’s learning journey. 

 

How can you help?

Come to the next meeting and be a part of building our PT&F back to what is was pre-COVID.  It's time!

 

Your involvement, whether through volunteering or supporting events, makes a real difference - together, we can continue to create the best possible environment for our students to thrive and provide a place to gather as a community.

 

KINDERGARTEN READINESS EVENING

Last Wednesday we welcomed our new Kindergarten families as well as current families into school for our 2026 Kindergarten Readiness Evening. This evening marked the beginning of our orientation process for 2026 and we were privileged to have such a great attendance.  

 

The night was a wonderful opportunity for our new families to meet the members of the school leadership team and the Kindergarten teachers for 2026. As well as learning more about our school, the main purpose of the night was for parents to hear from allied health professionals who work closely with the school, about how they can best support their child to be ready for school. 

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for organising the night and facilitating our information sessions: 

 

Jenna Hall (Head of Inclusion)

Emily Crockett (School Enrolments) for planning and facilitating the night.

Penny Clunas - Penny Clunas Speech Pathologist.

Lyndell Moffett - School Counsellor (Centacare) 

Caitlin Stark and Megan Maxwell - Espire Occupational Therapy

 

 

 

UPGRADES TO CARTHAGE STREET (out the front of St Nicholas School)  

Tamworth Regional Council will begin works at the front of St Nicholas School in stages to upgrade the footpath, zebra crossing and safety fencing along the school bus zones. 

 

During Week 10 and in the school holidays, significant parts of the path at the front of the school will be cordoned off. None of the access points to the school or the auditorium will be impacted until the school holidays, however as you can appreciate crossers/walkers and car pick duties may be a little slower than normal as we endeavor to get students out of school as quickly and safely as possible. Council have been very accommodating in working around our busy times of the school day, however please be patient and mindful. 

 

 

Peter Flynn

Principal