GENERAL NEWS
KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS FOR 2024
Applications have now closed for Kindergarten 2024. All applications now received will be immediately placed on our waiting list. Please contact the school office for an Application of Enrolment or download from the St Nicholas School website homepage.
Please Note: Enrolment forms will not be processed until all supporting documents are received:
- Birth Certificate
- Immunisation Certificate
- Baptismal Certificate (only required if your child is a baptised Catholic)
- Proof of student’s residential address.
EDMUND RICE - FEAST DAY - MUFTI CLOTHES
Friday 5th May marks Blessed Edmund Rice's Feast Day. Students who are in Edmund Rice will be able to come to school on Thursday 5th May dressed in 'blue' mufti clothes. A gentle reminder no coloured hair spray however enclosed shoes and a hat are a must.
ANZAC DAY MARCH
Thank you to all those students who turned up to march on ANZAC Day. It was wonderful to see so many students who wanted to pay respect and so proudly marched.
SPORTS DRINKS - PRIME ETC
We have recently seen some children bringing sports drinks to school such as 'Prime'. Please only send water in a drink bottle for your child to drink during the school day. Poppers are allowed to be sent in for break times. We appreciate your support in not sending in 'Prime', 'Powerade' or other sports or energy drinks to school.
PUPIL FREE DAYS
The following are the Pupil Free Days for the remainder of 2023.
Please mark in your diary....
Monday 22nd May
Monday 18th December
Tuesday 19th December
PARENT READING NIGHT....SAVE THE DATE
ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN PARENTS (and any Year 1 and Year 2 Parents who have not yet attended a Parent Reading Night)
We invite you to attend our St Nicholas Parent Reading Night on Tuesday 2nd May at 6pm. This is a valuable, practical evening where you will discover exactly how we teach and support your child to become a balanced reader. In the mini-workshops we will also focus on the many ways you can assist your child with their reading development at home.
Please pencil this in your diary now. More information to follow next term.
SMART WATCHES
If your child is choosing to wear a smartwatch to school it is important to look at the watch settings so that a child’s learning is not affected if used at the wrong times. Smart watches will need to be "locked" during school hours. Please be assured that if you need to get a message to your child, the front office staff can get the message to them for you. Thank you for your support with this matter.
SCHOOL UNIFORM - SUMMER TO WINTER
With the change of weather and winter approaching, it is time to consider the conversion from summer to winter uniform. We expect that the days will still be warm enough for the students to wear summer uniform on the commencement of Term 2, however it is expected that all students will be wearing the full winter uniform by Monday 8th May. Lowes stock all the St Nicholas uniforms, or we have a selection available in our clothing pool.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR DRUM LESSONS
If your child is interested in learning the drums at school please contact Isaac Smith from the Conservatorium of Music on 0467 666 910.
VERITAS
Our Veritas Awards stem from our school motto - ‘Veritas’ - meaning truth. The Veritas Award is awarded to students who have been consistently displaying citizenship, leadership and/or Christian Living. Students receiving a Veritas Award are those students who have displayed our ‘Rules for Living’ in their everyday interactions. This term our focus is on ‘Valuing, respecting and caring for others’.
Congratulations to the following children who received Veritas Awards recently; Ethan Willday, Alexis Rowland, Casey Keech, Ted Kavanagh, Lilly Gibson, Clint Wellington, Zali Bass, Jonty Townsend, Ben Edgar, Tom Tyndall, Liam Roworth, Fletcher Stimson, Artie Walker, Eleanor Pryor, Winsome Urqhuart, Emilee Wratten, Alfred Sharp, Irvan Kaur, Jax O'Sullivan, Lyla Davidson, Anneka Tongue, Tyler O'Neile and Lotty Archer.
HELPING CHILDREN GROW INTO THEIR BEST SELVES
by Michael Grose - www.parentingideas.com
During a recent radio interview, the presenter asked “What’s the job of a parent?” I replied, “The main task for parents is to help their children grow into the best version of themselves.”
This response can be challenging for parents who want to raise their kids in their own image. Sure, parents want to share the best parts of themselves with their children but that doesn’t mean they should raise them in our own image.
If excellence is a strong value, then in all probability this is a value you may like your child to share. That makes sense. However, if sport is your strength and your child doesn’t share that interest it’s wise to assist your child to develop their own strengths and interests rather than push them down a path of your making.
The following ideas will guide you to help your child grow into the best version of themselves both socially and academically.
Encourage exploration
Young children are great explorers of territory, ideas and behaviour. Their curiosity shows no bounds and can lead them into trouble. The socialisation process that we undertake as parents is designed to keep kids social and safe. But that shouldn’t mean that we discourage the curious spirit that children possess.
As kids move through primary school into the identity formation years of adolescence, stimulate their curiosity and exploratory activities and interests, discuss a variety of ideas and topics and form relationships with different children and diverse generations.
Require self-control
Does your child react or respond to a difficult situation? Can your child wait a few minutes with food in front of them until others join them or do they eat immediately because they are hungry? Does your child spend all their pocket-money on themself or are they encouraged to save some of their allowance for later? Lack of emotional control and an inability to delay gratification until later will generally hold most kids back from reaching their full potential. Self-control is like a muscle that gets stronger with practice, so encourage your child or young person to take a breath when angry, be patient and wait, and look forward to receiving gifts at special times of the year rather than getting them on demand.
Model empathy
The ability for children to empathise with others in difficult circumstances is an underestimated skill. Sensitive children generally have empathy in spades, while bullies lack the ability or willingness to put themselves in the shoes of others. Parents, grandparents and carers are well placed to model empathy. When a child comes to you with a problem or worry, validate their concerns with a response such as, “Ah, I see you’re really worried by this.” Such a response teaches a child the empathetic language they can use when siblings and peers experience difficulty.
Convey compassion
Compassion and caring are encouraged in education and parenting circles as prime values to instil in children and young people. Perhaps this comes as a result of greater community awareness as a response to COVID-19. By developing compassion and caring in kids we lay the foundation for not only a strong sense of community but also for individual happiness that comes from contributing to something bigger than the individual.
Embed wellbeing
If there is a lasting legacy that schools are making to the current generation, it’s their recent focus on children’s wellbeing practices and principles. As a community we are just coming to grips with the fact that good mental health and wellbeing is central to a person’s long-term happiness, work and relationship success. You can assist by embedding wellbeing habits of healthy eating, exercise, sleep, relaxation techniques, regular time in nature, gratitude and mindfulness into family-life.
In closing
Helping kids grow into the best versions of themselves requires parents to focus on character development, capacity building and personal wellbeing. A broad focus with a solid understanding of what it takes to look after their mental health will help kids become productive and community-minded young people.
COVID INFORMATION
At the end of 2022, National Cabinet announced that people who test positive to COVID-19 do not need to isolate. In line with this announcement, schools will continue to follow guidance issued by NSW Health to support the safety and wellbeing of our school communities.
Staff and students with COVID-19 symptoms
If a student or staff member is unwell and has any symptoms they should always test for COVID-19 and not attend school until they are symptom free.
Positive COVID-19 cases
If a student or staff member receives a positive result with a RAT or PCR test they should:
1.Record the positive result through the Services NSW website or app
2. Notify the school of the positive results as soon as possible
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ADIG BONUS SAVER ACCOUNT
Please see a short video about the ADIG Bonus Saver Account.