GENERAL NEWS

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

SAY CHEESE ....

School photographs - Tuesday 28th & Wednesday 29th June, 2022

Parents should have received notification and ordering details through the Compass Parent Portal.  

To place your order, make sure you have your Compass login details.  Please contact our office staff for assistance with your Compass login.

For photo day queries, please call the friendly staff at MSP Photography on 6772 3519.

STUDENT-LED LEARNING CONFERENCES

Next week we continue to hold our Student Led Learning Conferences. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to take responsibility for their learning and explain some of their learning to parents. We hope that those who have had their conferences are finding them a positive and worthwhile experience. 

If you wish to discuss other matters with the teacher without your child present, please email them to request another interview. 

CSO STAGE 3 DEBATING COMPETITION

Last Friday our second debating team consisting of Neeve Sheridan, Callum Anderson, Ruby Cook and Georgie O'Halloran (who stepped in for Lyla Davidson) competed against St Edward's Primary School, Tamworth. They were the negative team for the topic 'Technology makes people smarter.' 

Congratulations to this team for also coming away with a victory. We look forward to more debates later this term. 

NATIONALLY CONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA ON SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY (NCCD)

DOROTHEA MACKELLAR POETRY AWARDS

Submissions are now welcome for the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, Australia’s longest-running annual poetry competition for school children.

Some great prizes are available for all ages this year as well!

SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

All parents need to be aware, our supervision of students

does not begin until 8.15am each day.

If your child/ren require care before 8.15am you have access to before school care here at school with Esteem  Please organise alternative care for your child if your child requires supervision before 8.15am. 

With before school care available to parents and with a duty of care to staff and students, St Nicholas School gates will not be open until the arrival of the first school bus at approximately 8.10am. It is not appropriate for children to be at school before this time with no supervision.

CROSSERS AND WALKERS

Please ensure that when your child/ren are on crossers and walkers you are out of your vehicle and waiting on the opposite side of the road from the school (in Carthage Street between Roderick and Hill Streets). We have had a couple of very near misses with students crossing the side streets in between cars unaccompanied by an adult.  Please also be aware not to park in the designated bus zones. 

MOBILE PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Here at St Nicholas School, students are not permitted to use mobile phones whilst in our care. However we do appreciate that some students have phones to make communication with parents easier, especially after school hours. Our policy is that all students with phones, ipods or other electronic devices must hand these in at the office at the start of each day and collect them at the end of the day. Smart watches are not to be used as a means of communication during school hours. If phones or watches are used inappropriately by any student they will not be permitted to bring it to school.

VERITAS AWARDS

Congratulations to the following children who received Veritas Awards in the last two weeks:  

Lily McNair, Max Bensley, Isabella Harding-Brown, Charlie Nguyen, Klara Bunnemeyer, Bella King, Tim Tran, Sofia Michell, Iona Burns, Ariel Pannan, Chelsea Ryan, Liam Gallagher, Azarlee Ramirez, Ben van Aanholt, Patrick Johnson, Harry Wilson, Ebony Creighton, Pippa Smith, Cooper McAuley, Archie Barry, Scarlett Connor, Oliver Clydsdale, Ella Klasen, Deacon Ireland , Sara Belfield , Mason Hill and Miles Pearce. 

These children have been noticed by a variety of teachers leading by example and showing empathy and compassion towards others.

YEAR 5 LAKE BURRENDONG EXCURSION

WEDNESDAY 9 NOVEMBER TO FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2022

Our Year 5 students and staff will be travelling to Lake Burrendong Sport and Recreation Centre (in Central NSW) for their annual excursion.  

Please refer to the Compass Event Notification which includes full details, consent forms and payment options. 

If we have any parents willing and daring enough to accompany us, then please email lsedon@arm.catholic.edu.au indicating your interest. Please note, you will need a current Working With Children Check.  

YEAR 6 CANBERRA EXCURSION

MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER TO FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2022

Please refer to the Compass Event Notification which includes full details, consent forms and payment options. 

If we have any parents willing to accompany us, then please email eelliott@arm.catholic.edu.au indicating your interest.  Please note, you will need a current Working With Children Check.  

2022 Competitions & Assessments for Schools (ICAS) - Years 4, 5 and 6 students only

This year our Year 4, 5 and 6 students from St Nicholas School have the opportunity to sit for the ICAS Exams.  ICAS is the largest independent competition and assessment program for schools in Australia.  Each student receives an individual report as well as a certificate of acknowledgment for participation.  These certificates make valuable additions to student portfolios.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE NOT COMPULSORY AND YOU MAY WISH TO DO AS MANY AS YOU WISH OR NONE AT ALL.  EXAMS WILL BE ONLINE AND CONDUCTED IN EXAM CONDITIONS AT SCHOOL.  You will be informed of exact sitting dates once scheduled.

Parents/Carers must go online to the ICAS Parent Portal to register and make payment for the exams your child wishes to complete. 

Your ICAS Parent Portal Link is:  https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

Your ICAS Parent Portal Access Code is:  RLT738

• The ICAS Parent Portal will close on 1 August 2022. 
• No registration or payment will be accepted at school.
• Late entries will not be accepted. 

Any queries, please contact our office staff.

ATHLETE'S FOOT VOUCHERS

This year, St Nicholas Primary School registered for the Athlete's Foot School Rewards Program, where $5 from every pair of shoes purchased was donated to the school. 

Congratulations to the following  children who were the first in their grade to solve the riddle below, winning their families an Athlete's Foot voucher. 

Kindergarten: Connor O'Brien

Year One: Reese Moore

Year Two: Nellie Burgess

Year Three: Archie Pattison

Year Four: Noah Walmsley

Year Five: Eve Simpson

Year Six: Laura Malcolm

Runs over fields and woods all day. 

Under the bed at night, sits not alone. 

With long tongue hanging out, awaiting for a bone. 

What am I?

Answer: A pair of shoes. 

PUPIL FREE DAYS - Term 3

Please place the following dates in your diary. These dates are when staff will be undertaking professional development therefore will be pupil free days in Term 3.

Monday 18th July (First day of Term 3)

Friday 23rd September (Last day of Term 3)