General School News
Clothing Pool
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to Kylie who has been operating our clothing pool for the last few years. With Kylie leaving, we are looking for a new volunteer who can spare an hour a week to run the clothing pool. Please contact the office if you are able to help.
The Clothing Pool is still open by appointment on Friday mornings. Please contact the school office on 6772 4441 or smaadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au to book a time..
Pizza Lunch Fundraiser
We will be holding a Pizza Fundraiser Lunch next Tuesday 28 June 2022. Any funds raised will be used to assist with the costs of our 2022 Year 6 Canberra Excursion. If your child/children would like to purchase a slice/slices of pizza on that day, please order via the QkR! app by by 2pm, Monday, 27 June 2022. The cost per slice is $3.00 and a Gluten Free option is available for $3.50. Order as many as they'd be able to eat, it's going to a great cause!! The Canteen will not be available for Lunch orders on this day. Morning tea will be available as normal.
School Beanies
With the cooler weather and frosty mornings upon us, students are able to wear the school beanie. Beanies are available for purchase from the font office for $11. Please note that hats will still need to be brought to school for outside play and sports.
Upcoming Event Term 3 - New England Sings 2022 Term 3 for Years 3-6
NEW ENGLAND SINGS! 2022 COMBINED PRIMARY CHOIRS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Armidale and surrounding schools – outreach schools will have rehearsals scheduled at their own school. However, outreach schools are welcome to attend the Armidale workshops if possible.
This exciting event is beginning to take shape, 16 schools (with approx. 500 choristers) in the combined Primary choirs and 14 schools (with approx. 450 choristers) in the Secondary choir.
The 2022 project will include:
The commissioning of two works from wonderful Australian composers – Justine Clarke for the Primary choir and Luke Byrne for the Secondary choir.
Paul Jarman will be attending workshops throughout the year and will conduct the Primary choirs at the final weekend of rehearsals and concerts.
FINAL REHEARSAL (all schools, including outreach schools to attend):
Date: Saturday 22nd October (directed by Paul Jarman)
Time: Primary Choir 1 9:30am – 11:00am (arrive by 9:15am)
Venue: Armidale Secondary College
CONCERTS: Date: Sunday 23rd October (directed by (with Paul Jarman)
Time: Primary Choir 11:00am – 1:00pm (arrive by 10:15am)
Venue: Armidale Secondary College (Butler St)
A short video on what New England Sings! is all about is included below:
Working with ChildrenCheck-WWCC https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check
WWCC - it is a requirement that ALL PEOPLE (including parents) who spend time working with children in classrooms or volunteering in the school have the following:
Working With Children Check - on line application - lasts five years.
We are asking that those parents who do not have a Working With Children Check please take steps to obtain one. If you already have one, please notify the school of your WWCC number and your date of birth for verification.
Real Talk Parent Information Session
Student Care Insurance
All children enrolled at a Catholic School in the Armidale Diocese are covered for accidents 24hrs day/365 days a year. It covers students if they are at school, sport, or on holidays.
There are exclusions and conditions that apply to what is covered, for example exclusions apply if the student has been consuming alcohol, drugs, riding motorcycles, on joy flights, suicide, or terrorism related accidents. CCI can not pay medical expenses where a medicare benefit is payable.
For information about Student Care Insurance please visit www.ccinsurance.org.au/studentcare
Canteen Menus
Due to unforeseen circumstances the canteen will be serving a limited menu on some days for the rest of this term and early next term. The winter menu is available all other days. Please note the canteen changes on the following days:
Tuesday, 28 June - Pizza Lunch Fundraiser, no canteen for lunch, morning tea available as usual
Friday, 1 July, the last day of the Term 3 - no canteen available, please bring a packed morning tea and lunch
Term 3
Friday, 22 July - morning tea and sausage sizzle lunch fundraiser - no canteen available
Tuesday, 16 August - Pizza Lunch Fundraiser, no canteen for lunch, morning tea available as usual
The canteen will be serving SPECIAL ONLY ITEMS during the winter months. MONDAYS are Hot Dog Days (please note that this was previously Tuesdays) and WEDNESDAYS are Cheese Burger Days. These two items will only be available on those days. All orders close at 9.30am each morning.
O'Connor Catholic College Enrolments
O'Connor enrolments are open for next year. Could Year 6 Families please drop their 2023 enrolment forms to O'Connor as soon as possible.
Attendance
Parents are asked to inform the school if their child is absent from school. Please contact the school by phone, email, compass attendance note. A SMS reminder will go out if a student absence is not recorded by 11am. stmadmin@arm.ctholic.edu.au
Being on time for school is really important. At the beginning of the day, teachers set the plan for the day and give reminders. We ask that families make every effort to be on time. Students who arrive after the bell must sign in at the Front Office.
Afternoon Process
Buses are loaded at 3:15pm.
Children being picked up are collected from Rusden Street from 3:15pm - 3:30pm (please make sure your children are collected by 3.30 pm. If you are unable to collect your child by 3.30 pm please consider using our After School Care service run by Esteem Kids.
Top Gate
Please be advised that the top gate (Dangar St) will be open each afternoon for children to be collected. Please note that only students with a parent waiting at the gate will be allowed to leave via this exit. Children who are riding their bike will also be allowed to leave via this exit. This gate is opened at 3:10 pm and closed at 3:25pm and students who have not been collected by this time will be sent down to the Rusden St exit to be collected. Children walking home MUST exit via the Rusden Street exit.
Lost Property
Please make sure that you check and label or re-label clothing items so we can return items to their owners and please remember to rename items purchased from the Clothing Pool - if the previous owner's name is still on it, we will send it home with them!
Apart from many items of unlabelled uniforms we also have large amounts of unlabelled lunchboxes, lunch containers and drink bottles in our lost property baskets. It is impossible to return these items to students and unnamed items are donated to the clothing pool.
Contacting the School & Your Child's Teacher
Teachers welcome contact from parents, if you need to talk with staff please either contact the class teacher by phoning the school – 6772 4441 or email the school on stmadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au.
Arriving Late or Leaving School Early
PLEASE NOTE that all students arriving late, or being collected early for an appointment, MUST REPORT to the Office to be signed in or out by a parent /guardian.
Parents please note that students are not to be collected early from school unless they have an urgent appointment. School finishes at 3:10pm.
Compass entry is not required for partial absences (eg late arrivals or early pick ups). When you bring your child into school or pick them up, entering the arrival or departure in the Foyer Kiosk explains their absence.
School Office Hours
The school office is open from 8.30 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday during term time.
Wonder Recycling Rewards
St Mary's is participating in this program again this year in Term 3 & 4. Our collection boxes have finally arrived so please bring in your empty bread bags!
Term 3
Students return to school on Monday, 18 July for Term 3. Wishing all our students and families wonderful school holidays.
