Welcome to the new term. We hope the break, even if it was only the break for the normality of school rotuines, was restful.

Upcoming events and Updates

We are looking forward to a very busy but productive term. I have previously shared the attached file for the first half of the Term but leave it here for your reference with te ususal reminder to maintain contact with COMPASS to ensure you are advised of updates and permsissions as each event approaches. 

Uniform Expectations - Transition to Winter. 

As we approach Winter (this week more so that the weather we had in the holidays), I wanted to alert parents on the current transition period for Winter. There is no doubt we will still have "some" warmer days over the next few weeks so the timeline for Winter Uniform is planned below. 

Weeks 1 - 4 Parent Discretion Preference for either Winter or Summer uniform is at the discretion of parents and with regard to the weather for that day. (Sports uniform remains as it has been - Primary on Monday and Infant classes on Tuesday) 

Week 5 27th May - Full Transition to Winter Uniform.

• Other than the girls now transitioning to the heaver skirt/ skort of pant, we are reasonably lucky at SBE in that is not hugely different or cumbersome.
• The Winter Uniform does not require a different shirt to the summer (there is one but it is not a must- children can wear their summer shirts).
• Nor do we have a tie.
• We have the two layers options for warmth. The Jacket remains the first preference and, if necessary, a sloppy joe.
• However,  it does require the covering of legs with either pants (grey for boys, Black for girls) or if wearing a skirt/ skort; grey stockings (please do not have student in tights or tracksuit pants they might otherwise wear for the “gym” – they must be stockings). 
• I will note that our older girls (Stage 3) who find the sizing of the grey stocking very restrictive can opt for adult sizing of black opaque stockings (as long as they are more than 80+ Denier, i.e. not see through.)  

I appreciate that this "covering legs" is not always the most popular expectation for students but I do believe in maintaining a consistent expectation of uniforms for all students and to wear it with pride for the community to which we belong. Our winters are not too bad, but a transition to Winter Uniform each year is still part of the expectations that are often mirrored in larger community, most specifically; the workplace (our Year 6 students are less than 4 years from their first possible part time job). Most importantly, it maintains comfort and warmth, even when there might be claims of "not being cold", the sense of a chill has a clear physical impact on a child's readiness to learn. 

 Below is a full outline of the winter uniform expectations. Once again, full transition will be May 27th. For now, the choice is with the Parents. All items apart from the Hat available at LOWES Glendale. We do have some second hand items available for coin donations. However, this "store" is full for now so please do not send any more items in- we can't store them. 

Attendance Priority and Procedures 

With 25% of the school year done, we now start to really examine attendance patterns for students at our school. There is a cross sector priority to promote high expectations for Student attendance at school. We are now a long way from the Covid impact on attendance and we want to establish a very clear message for students and families about the importance of being at school.

As a traveller myself, I both know and appreciate the financial and timing benefits of travelling within the school term. I also acknowledge the learning benefits that can be encompassed by significant travel time with family, especially if you embed daily literacy and numeracy activities as part of that travel.

However, as an educator I can also attest to the impact extended leave can have on a student’s school experience, and their learning journey. It is a very delicate balance to consider, and I respect a parents’ decision in this, especially as a one off extended leave. It is the regular weeks out here and there where I begin to become worried. 

Illness is another issue as it cannot be avoided. Nor do we encourage sending students to school when sick as it can create a bubble within the room. So, yes we encourage regular attendance at school UNLESS your child is not well enough to be learning anyway. Again, it is a balance because we all have the "I am tired and feel funny in the tummy" complaint that comes in the hope they might get the off (My son tried it yesterday with the first day of term "blues"). But I also imagine as parents, you know when they are truly sick and I have no doubt that as working parents, your child's absence from school has an impact on your work roster. (PS. My son had an amazing first day and came home "miraculously cured").

My point for this discussion is to alert parents that we are now looking at attendance patterns and we are obliged to alert parents when those attendance patterns drop below 90% with more specific and formal communication. These letters are simply a step towards working together to consider ways to support better attendance at school. Below 90% is 1 day a fortnight away from school. It may not seem much but that equates to more than 5 days a term, more than 20 a year (you can see how a 4-week family holiday immediately places a child below 90% for the year). On the larger scale, 90% attendance means a student could be away for 140 days (three quarters of a school year) by the end of the 7 year Primary school journey which would really beginning to add up in terms of impact on learning.

With 25% of the school year done, we now start to really examine attendance patterns for students at our school. There is a cross sector priority to promote high expectations for Student attendance at school. We are now a long way from the Covid impact on attendance and we want to establish a very clear message for students and families about the importance of being at school.

As a traveller myself, I both know and appreciate the financial and timing benefits of travelling within the school term. I also acknowledge the learning benefits that can be encompassed by significant travel time with family, especially if you embed daily literacy and numeracy activities as part of that travel.

However, as an educator I can also attest to the impact extended leave can have on a student’s school experience, and their learning journey. It is a very delicate balance to consider, and I respect a parents’ decision in this, especially as a one off extended leave. It is the regular weeks out here and there where I begin to become worried. 

My point for this discussion is to alert parents that we are now looking at attendance patterns and we are obliged to alert parents when those attendance patterns drop below 90% with more specific and formal communication. These letters are simply a step towards working together to consider ways to support better attendance at school. Below 90% is 1 day a fortnight away from school. It may not seem much but that equates to more than 5 days a term, more than 20 a year (you can see how a 4-week family holiday immediately places a child below 90% for the year). On the larger scale, 90% attendance means a student could be away for 140 days (three quarters of a school year) by the end of the 7 year Primary school journey which would really beginning to add up in terms of impact on learning.

Mother's and Special Women in our Lives Celebrations next week. 

And finally, this week I want to extend an invitation to all mothers and special women in our lives to join us for a breakfast and liturgy celebration next Friday Morning, 10th May with Brekky from 7.30am and a liturgy in the hall at 9am. We look forward to our celebration of the beautiful, powerful and loving women in our lives teaching us so much every day. We will send a link out via COMPASS for parents to RSVP their attendance so that the school can cater for the numbers to attend. We are hosting, so we are only asking for you rsvp, no payment needed.

However, we will have a gold coin donation bucket available in the morning where we can collect for the morning that will go to assist mothers and women (as well as their families) who might be doing it doing it tough during this special weekend. Donations will go to Mum's Cottage, a local community organisation providing a sanctuary where all are offered Hope as they move toward a richer, fuller life.

https://www.mumscottage.org.au/

Jules Mulhearn 

ANZAC DAY

Welcome back to Term 2. Last week as a nation we stopped to commemorate ANZAC DAY and as we reflect on the significance of this important day, we are reminded of the lessons it holds for us even today. ANZAC Day is not just a day to remember historical events, it is a day to honour the values of sacrifice, courage, and unity that resonate deeply in our modern world.

ANZAC soldiers demonstrated bravery and resilience in the face of real hardship. Their sacrifice reminds us of the immense courage required to confront challenges and uphold our principles, even in the most trying times.

Today, as we navigate through our own trials and tribulations, we draw inspiration from their example, understanding that strength often emerges from adversity. This being said it was interesting to listen to my son and his friend discuss at the dinner table how long they and their friends would last if they were to have fought in World War 1. And, for those interested the answer was not very long!

As members of a Catholic school community, we are called to embody the principles of compassion, justice, and service. ANZAC Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on how we can translate these values into action in our daily lives. Whether through acts of kindness, advocacy for social justice, or service to those in need, we honour the legacy of ANZAC by striving to create a more just and compassionate world.

So today we pray...

God of love and liberty, 

we bring our thanks this day  

for the peace and security we enjoy,  

which was won for us through the courage and devotion

of those who gave their lives in time of war. ...  

This we pray in the name of the one who gave His life for

the sake of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

SAVE THE DATE:

MOTHER’S and SPECIAL WOMEN’S BREAKFAST and LITURGY: Friday 10^th May 

FAMILY MASS: Pentecost Sunday – Sunday 19^th May

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: Sacramental Program recommences for our Year 3 students participating in the program. More information regarding this will come home to those families soon.

Yours in faith

Miss Michelle Collins

(REligious Education Co-Ordinator)

PLAY @ SBE (Combined Lunch Times Term 2)

Attached below is an outline of the new play zones we have opened up for Lunchtimes in our school as a result of combining our Lunchtimes to include the whole student and staff body. 

Sadly, the rain may affect the testing of all these zones this week. However, the students have been talking a lot about this in class and assembly so that we can support all children to find an area to play that suits their preferred style of play with like-minded peers. We will be supporting this transition to combined lunch times throughout the term. New Bell times are below. 

The recess times remain staggered to allow infants and primary classes their own space, however the reality of the split recess is that the zones available are halved due to the number of teachers on break being halved. We may yet come to a combined recess by the end of term but will take the student and staff lead ono this as to what might work best. 

Outdoor Toys Wish List 

We now have two sandpits, a shop front, and an outdoor play kitchen at the ready for student imaginative play. We are purchasing and building storage boxes for these areas so students can access different toys for this form of play. To that end, we are reaching out to families to ask if there are any unused sand toys or kitchen toys that are cluttering up the back of the garage? 

• Buckets, shovels, Castle moulds, the even love sifting sand. 
• Small pots and utensils for the play kitchen. 

If you would like to, please send them in for the children's use. We can build up our toy "bank" as we go and we will look to purchase some however, I can't help but think there may be some parents would like to send them to a new home!

The children have also asked for; 

• match box cars or similar
• Small figurines/ dolls to play with in the gardens.

Again, we are looking to buy these in the next week or so but if you have any that you are happy to send in, we will happily welcome them to our school's playground toybanks. Please keep in mind these are outdoor toys so plastic/ rubber (perhaps wooden) ones with no batteries would be optimal. There a lot of children playing so we want to keep the toys small and avoid the big bulky ones. We do have a beautiful fairy garden set, but they are fragile and more for strcutured class play and not the freestyle of lunch play.

Having said that, much of the learning behind the opening of these zones for children to play will come with responsibility of cleaning these areas up and to looking after the toys collections we will build together. So it is out intetnion that with clear exepcations, these toys wil have a very useful, adventurous but positive time at SBE :-). Fans of Toy Story 3?.... we do not anticpate the Caterpillar roonm. 

Admin/ Finance Officer Suzi Di-Nardo Monday to Friday

Admin - Tiare Collins-Grayson Monday, Thursday Friday

Welcome back to Term 2

Kinder 2025 Enrolments

We are excepting enrolments for Kinder 2025. If you wish to secure a position for your child please complete the online application and contact our office. 

The interview process has commenced and the timeline for enrolments is as below.

Mothers and Special Women in Our Lives Annual Celebration

Canteen update  

Friendly reminders:

• Canteen orders close at 8:45am on QKR.
• Please ensure your child’s reusable lunch bag is in the basket out the front of the canteen prior to 9am. Please ensure they have been cleaned out of any old rubbish / food.
• If your child does not have a reusable lunch bag please purchase a 0.10 cent bag with your order.

Canteen volunteers for the next fortnight:

• Monday 29th April - closed -pupil free day
• Tuesday 30th April - Haley Fenwick
• Wednesday 1st May-Vanessa Sutton
• Thursday 2nd May- Jamie Lee Boyle
• Friday 3rd May- Justin Fenwick  

• Monday 6th May- Lesley Peake
• Tuesday 7th May- Closed
• Wednesday 8th May- Fran McPherson
• Thursday 9th May- Matt Cambourn
• Friday 10th May- Nicole Price & Peter Price 

The school assists local organsiation to promtote their child related services, events and activities. The school is not directly linked to these events but we are happy to support the greater edgeworth and Cameron Park community.