PANCAKE PANDEMONIUM

PANCAKE DAY 2021

Next Friday, 21 May 2021, the PT&F will be serving pancakes during first break. Normally we would have held this on Shrove Tuesday but due to COVID restrictions we were unable to do so this year. All proceeds will go to the St Vincent De Paul to help others in need. Pancakes are a gold coin donation and there will be fruit kebabs available for those with allergies.

HELP NEEDED .... BATTER MAKERS

It has been the tradition for parents (if possible), to help out by donating batter or helping out on the day. If this sounds like something you feel you are able to do please contact Patrice McMullen on 0427 399 495 or leave a message on the PT&F Facebook page.

If you would like to make batter, the recipe is below. You can also find it on the PT&F Facebook page. Any help is greatly appreciated - no experience necessary!

BATTER RECIPE

Here is the recipe we use. We do this to try and keep the batter consistent - better to be too thick than too runny. We can always add milk to thin it out.

Pancake Batter Recipe Ingredients (makes about 20 pancakes)

4 cups of self raising flour
4 cups of milk (add more milk if mixture is too thick)
4 eggs
4 tablespoons of sugar

Pour into empty 2L milk containers. Easy to store and pour.

It might seem over the top but if we use the same recipe it helps make the cooking easier. Batter can be delivered to the office from 8:30am Thursday, 20th June. It pours better if you make the batter 1 or 2 days before and refrigerate. Also easier for busy families.

Many thanks

Patrice McMullen (The Queen of Pancakes)

SCHOOL FEES

School Accounts have been distributed. Please check your child's bag for your family's account.

If you are making a direct bank transfer please do not narrate the payment as 'School Fees' but reference your surname and account number (as noted on your statement) to enable us to correctly record payments received against the appropriate account. For example, SMITH 1234.

Please contact our office staff on 6766 1500 or email slee1@arm.catholic.edu.au if you have any queries or wish to discuss your account.

WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY

TOMORROW

FRIDAY, 14 MAY 2020

National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is tomorrow, Friday, 14 May 2021. Now in its 22nd year, the annual campaign encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers to walk safely and regularly to school.

The event seeks to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.

Australian children are becoming less active. One substantial contributor is the decline in walking and/or taking public transport to school. Children who are regularly physically active are healthier, perform better academically and are less likely to be obese or overweight.

How to participate ....

- Walk all the way to school.

- If you can't walk all the way, combine a walk with public transport.

- If you must use the car, try leaving it a good distance from school and walk the rest of the way.

AUSTRALIAN EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENSUS (AEDC)

Between May and July this year, St Nicholas School will be taking part in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). This is a nationwide census/survey of early childhood development held once every three years. The AEDC is an Australian Government initiative run by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and includes all children in their first year of full-time school.

The AEDC provides vital information to communities about how children are developing in the crucial early years. AEDC data is relied upon by schools, early childhood organisations, researchers and government to inform planning and improve services and supports for children and families.

The AEDC Instrument is completed by teachers about children in their first year of full-time school. The AEDC is voluntary and is not a school test. The information collected gives a picture of how children are developing before they start school in five key areas or domains. It shows what is being done well, and what can be improved. This is why it is important for all children in their first year of full-time school to be included in the AEDC.

More information will be sent home to the families of Kindergarten students. Many thanks in advance for your support in this important initiative.

BOOK YOUR TIME NOW! STUDENT-LED LEARNING CONFERENCES

In 2021, St Nicholas School aims to improve the way we report on student achievement and learning with the introduction of Student-Led Learning Conferences. The Student-Led Learning Conference will replace the formal Parent Teacher interviews that we have conducted in the past. Research has shown that there are many benefits of a Student-Led Learning Conference. Not only do such conferences increase student engagement but they give students an opportunity to show pride in their learning, take accountability for their learning as well as articulating their reflections and "next steps in learning". Parents, students and teachers who have undertaken this process have overwhelmingly reported the value of such a positive and productive experience.

During the conferences the teachers will be present, yet students will lead the conversation as they present work samples and reflections about their learning. Parents will participate by asking questions and offering positive comments. At the conclusion of the conference parents should have a very clear understanding of:

How their child is progressing in their learning.
How do we know they are progressing?
What is the next step in their learning?

As the name suggests, the Student-Led Learning Conference will focus on learning. If parents wish to discuss matters other than learning, a follow up meeting can be booked or teachers may make contact at another time.

As the Student-Led Learning Conference replaces the formal Parent Teacher interviews, please remember, every day is an opportunity for a parent to make contact with a teacher. If a parent wishes to meet with their child’s teacher, they simply need to contact them to arrange an appointment at a mutually convenient time.

To book your Student Led Learning Conference please follow the directions below.

Go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au
Click on "Make a Booking"
Enter the code s x 9 z w

NAPLAN (YEAR 3 & YEAR 5)

Year 3 and 5 at St Nicholas are currently partaking in the NAPLAN Online Tests between Tuesday 11- Thursday 20th May.

Tuesday 11th May
Year 3 writing test- paper format, Year 5 writing test- online format
Wednesday 12th May
Year 3 and 5 online reading tests
Only catch up day for the writing tests
Friday 14th May
Year 3 and 5 online conventions of language tests
Monday 17th May
Year 3 and 5 online numeracy tests
Tuesday18th, Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th May:
Catch up tests

All students will require their own set of headphones or earbuds to access questions being read to them in the numeracy and language conventions components of the test.

The following link provides parent information

https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support

LIVING WELL, LEARNING WELL

As part of our implementation of the 'Living Well, Learning Well' Framework at St Nicholas Primary School, we will be taking some time to focus on each rule for a week or two. Our third rule that we will be focusing on for the next few weeks will be, "I am a learner".

This means that children should be coming to school ready to learn. They should be engaging in their classwork and participating in all learning opportunities presented to them. They should be ensuring they are making productive choices that enable them, as well as others, to learn. It also means that they need to be attending school regularly and arriving on time to school each day. If you could please take some time to talk with your child about what it looks like to be a learner, that would be greatly appreciated.

Please see the video below of some of our captains explaining what it means to be a learner.

KINDERGARTEN 2022 ENROLMENTS

Applications for Kindergarten 2022 have now closed. Any Applications received will be placed on our waiting list.

MCCARTHY COLLEGE ENROLMENTS

The enrolment applications have now closed. Please contact McCarthy College ASAP if you have not submitted an application and wish to do so.

COMMUNICATION WITH SCHOOL

Our office is open between 8.00am and 4.00pm each day. For any queries, the most efficient way of contacting our staff during this time is via email.

admin@stnicholastamworth.catholic.edu.au

jgrady@arm.catholic.edu.au

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 to Mrs Grady at the start of each day and collect them at the end of the day. If phones are used inappropriately by any student they will not be permitted to bring it to school.

CLOTHING POOL

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”Phyllis Diller

SECOND HAND CLOTHING POOL

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Phyllis Diller