PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

This week and next...

We are unbelievably in Week 7 and next week is 8. This week we see a number of sporting events taking place and it is nice to have a feeling of normalcy returning. We also had our Christian Living Days which are wonderful opportunities for our students to understand how our faith can be lived out. This year we are moving these into our Upper Primary as well. Our Personal Planning meetings are continuing this week for Secondary students and families. 

Next week we see a little quieter week.

Best wishes to...

..our Under 14's and 16's rugby league teams playing today at Kamilaroi Oval

...our Secondary Swim Team trialling at Gunnedah on Thursday

...our students from Year 5 and 6 attending the Diocesan Winter Trials on Friday in Inverell

Congratulations...

...to our Year 10 students who came second in the Science and Engineering Challenge on Friday. Well done!

...to 2S for their lovely prayer celebration last Friday

...to everyone (me included) for surviving school photos...our photographer will be coming back to catch up with some students/families who were away in the coming weeks

Latest COVID-10 Operational Guidelines

Lots of things are changing.  New guidelines will be posted on Compass tomorrow. 

From the classrooms...

One of our "Rules for Living" is "I am a learner".

On our learning walks and talks our leadership team have been impressed with the engagement of our students in their learning from Kinder to Year 10. Being ready to learn involves:

Having a good night's sleep

Having breakfast

Being on time for school

Having healthy food and plenty of water during the day.

Having a growth mindset

 The leadership team is also working on supporting students who are finding it difficult to focus on learning. Students who are interfering with others learning and the teacher's work may be removed from the classroom to work in another supported location. Families will be notified if this is happening so we can work together to rectify this situation.

Listening to students...

Yesterday I had the privilege of celebrating International Women's Day with our young women in Year 9 and 10. We celebrated with a cupcake and talked about women we admire (well done Mum's you got lots of mentions) and the challenges young women face. It was a pleasure

From the Front Office...

School Fees for Term 1 are due.  Please make prompt payment, making sure if you pay by bank transfer that you have placed your family name on the transaction.

Thank you for returning all our beginning of the year notes. We really appreciate it! We are still awaiting a number of Asthma Plans for students who require treatment at school. Please be aware that any medication given at school must have parental permission. Please drop in 

Can you get into COMPASS?  We are communicating more and more with our COMPASS online parent portal. It allows us to be more environmentally friendly and email notes directly to year groups etc. Please contact the Front Office if you need assistance with your username, password or other questions.

Around the school...

A reminder that the Kiss and Drop zone between 8:00am and 9:30am and 2:30 to 4:00 is a no parking zone.  A no parking zone means 

a driver of a vehicle must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a No Parking sign applies. Between the time mentioned, drivers cannot leave their vehicles in these zones and walk into the school to collect their children.  If you park in these zones between the times listed, you must remain in or near your vehicle (within 3 metres). Motorists detected breaching these road rule signs will be issued with a traffic infringement notice and two demerit points. 

Family involvement...

Last week our P and F had their AGM. Details can be found in the P and F section of the newsletter.  Unfortunately, the Easter Fair will not go ahead again this year. We can have however our very popular Easter Egg Raffle. Please send in an Easter Egg or two to be part of the prize pool. The P and F will be distributing ticket books next week ready to draw in the last week of school. A small or large egg donated from every family will make a multitude of prizes which will make a lot of families Easter fun! There will also be a colouring competition across the school.

Being Catholic...

It is Confirmation time - see the "Celebrating our Faith" section of our newsletter.

Bishop Kennedy has provided information around COVID-19 vaccinations:

Thoughts for the coming weeks...

I have been thinking lots and talking lots with people about keeping our students mentally healthy. The organisation Headspace and other experts in dealing with youth mental health have been supporting us. The most important thing we can all do for our young people is listen when they want to talk and encourage them to reach out and talk with someone they trust. At our school we have a team of helpful adults - a new counsellor, Mr Kyle Gill, our chaplain Mrs Hollis, pastoral care and classroom teachers, our purple room team of Educational Assistants and of course our Assistant Principals and myself.  If you feel your child needs support please email me:

jrainger@arm.catholic.edu.au