NEWS & ADMINISTRATION

Dear Parents,

                          Welcome to 2023.  I trust that you all had a wonderful break and hopefully your children were excited to return to school this week. Over the holidays, we have had some classrooms refurbished and the shade sails over the adventure playground are also getting a much needed make over.  This is going to be an exciting year with a lot going on.

I would also like to warmly welcome our new Prep families and any other new family to Holy Name.  We hope that over your time at Holy Name, you make many wonderful memories.

Please take the time to read through the newsletter each fortnight as it contains valuable information.

Beginning of the School Year Mass

Next week, we will be celebrating the start of the new school year with a Mass. This is an opportunity for us to gather as a Catholic community and ask for God's blessing throughout 2023.  Further details are contained on the Religion page of this newsletter.

All families and extended families are welcome.

FROM CLASS DOJO TO SEESAW

We will no longer be using Class Dojo. Class Dojo will be replaced by a new app called Seesaw which will allow students to take a more active approach to sharing their learning with parents. A permission note will be sent via Operoo today and on Friday, students will take home individual codes for parents to connect to their child and classroom. This app is very similar to Class Dojo, however please be patient with the transition, as everyone will be learning how to navigate this new app.  If you need to get in touch with your child's teacher or any other staff, please use their email (listed below in the Staff section) as the first point of call or pop in to the classroom before or after school.

Come and See my Classroom

To start the year, all parents are invited to an open morning on Thursday 9th February, where you are free to come from 9:00 and visit your child's classroom and teacher. The children will be doing collaborative activities between 9-10, which you are welcome to take part in.

At 10:00 we invite all parents to our upstairs space for a coffee and a little bite to eat. Parents are invited to stay for as long or as little as their commitments will allow them.

Please note Parent/Teacher conversations will occur later in the term.

Closure Day

Just a reminder that we will be having the first of our closure days on Friday 24th February. Once again, I apologise that it is so early in the term, however as we are engaging an external provider, this is the only day available.

Canteen

This year, we are teaming up with a new provider for lunch orders. These negotiations are still in progress, so until further notification is received, there will not be any lunch orders.

Over the counter sales will begin to take place on Tuesday and Friday's starting next week.

Over the counter sales:

Staff

Enrolments for 2024

Shortly, we will begin to take enrolments and tours for 2024. If you are aware of friends and family that may be interested in a school tour, please call into the office for a flyer. There are a number of open sessions and small tour groups.

School Fee Statements & CSEF

2023 Fee Statements will be emailed to all debtors next week.  If you have any queries, please contact Leanne in the office or Mrs Vivien Costa, Bursar.

If you hold a current Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card, please come to the office to collect a CSEF (Camps, Sport & Excursions Fund) form.

All eligible families MUST apply each year for CSEF  ($125 primary school child per year)

You may also pick up forms to apply for the concessional fee policy. 

If preferred, any of the above forms can be emailed to you OR your child can collect them from the office.

School Sunglasses & Sunhats

The school office sells replacement school sunglasses ($15) & legionnaire style hats (cap with flap at the back - $13).

Your child can bring money straight to the office or you can come in and pay by card or cash.   You can also pay by credit card over the phone, if preferred. 

Second Hand Uniform Sale

On Monday 13th February, there will be a small sale at the office.

No second hand uniform will be available before then.  Good quality items are priced between $3 to $10.     Cash only, small notes or coins.

ST JOHN FIRST AID IN SCHOOL PROGRAM

Today all our students had the opportunity to learn and refresh their First Aid knowledge with St John First Aid in School Program. It was great to see that many students remembered the important aspects of First Aid. The presenters were very impressed by our students' behaviour and enthusiasm to participate in the activities and discussion.

Seeing Eye Dog Puppy, Orin

Last December, my family welcomed a Seeing Eye Dog puppy named Orin into our family.  Orin will be 5 months old next week and all going well, will remain with our family until he is around 12 months old.  Whilst with my family, Orin is learning to be around people and to adapt to different noises and experiences.

Orin wears a special Seeing Eye Dog puppy coat when he is in training (“working”).   Orin wears this special coat to go with my mum to all sorts of places like the shops, cafés and to our school.  The coat reminds Orin that it’s time to concentrate, block out distractions and to focus. If you see Orin and he is wearing his Seeing Eye Dog puppy coat, please try to ignore him and not ask for a pat.

I have enjoyed helping to care and train Orin and I am excited to be part of Orin’s learning journey.

Vienna M – Year 6