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Junior School News: Term 1, Week 2, 2023

I write this edition of Junior School News from beautiful Tuross Head, South Coast, NSW. Year 6 students have enjoyed a brilliant day at the beach and staff understand why so many current and former students have such a strong connection to The Pines – a dedicated retreat centre with views of the ocean. Junior School News will appear every two weeks, along with major articles and news items from the whole College. It is important parents/carers take the time to read over information relating to upcoming events and activities here at school.

It was wonderful to see so many parents at our parent/teacher interviews in Week 2 and hopefully that first meeting is the beginning of a strong connection between the classroom and home. It was also lovely to see so many families attend the ‘new families’ function. There was a great atmosphere and plenty of smiling faces.

Please see below some important events/information that will impact on Junior School students or their families over the next few weeks.

Co-Curricular Activities – Data has been entered on the school end for co-curricular choices you should hear from your son’s activity coordinators soon if you haven’t already. Generally speaking, Junior School activities such as debating, chess, etc. begin in Week 4 or Week 5 (Junior Steam Club is starting Thursday, Week 5) and Winter Sports around Week 6. Basketball trials have already been completed but if your son is interested, please let Mr Joel Richardson know. If you decide you would like your son to join another activity, please do not hesitate to contact the activity coordinator. Your son’s classroom teacher can assist you with this as can Lee Boswell (lboswell@stedmunds.act.edu.au)

Tuesday – Cultural Club (Yuko Leffers yleffers@stedmunds.act.edu.au) , Debating (Julia Roche jroche@stedmunds.act.edu.au) , Homework Club (Holly Ellem Hellem@stedmunds.act.edu.au)

Wednesday – Sports trainings (although these can sometimes occur on other afternoons: contact Lee Boswell lboswell@stedmunds.act.edu.au), Homework Club (Holly Ellem Hellem@stedmunds.act.edu.au)

Thursday – Steam Club (Margie Maher Mmaher@stedmunds.act.edu.au)

Friday – Chess/cardistry Club (John Bell Jbell@stedmunds.act.edu.au)

Please be aware that some activities, such as sports, require official registration (usually via an online platform) in order to be accepted into that activity.

Year 4-6 After School Homework Club
Tuesday & Wednesday after school
3.30pm – 4.30pm
Junior School Library lab
Boys are to bring work with them that they may need assistance with. This could be homework, assignments, extension work or additional work set by their classroom teacher.
Email hellem@stedmunds.act.edu.au should you wish your son to attend.

Year 6 Runners Program – As a part of our Year 6 into High School transition program, we will be enlisting the assistance of Year 6 students to help as runners. As runners, the students will get to know the school layout very well ahead of Year 7. The students will work in pairs for a full day (learning remotely between jobs). The students will rotate through on a daily basis for semester 1 only.

Wednesday 22 February – Ash Wednesday. Please note that no meat will be served at the canteen on this day or on Year 6 camp at Tuross Head.

Friday 24 February – Opening College Mass 9.45am – 10.45am. On this day, all students Years 4-12 will gather for our opening Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral. Students will walk to and from Manuka with their class and teacher. Junior School and Senior School Leaders will also be officially inducted during this ceremony.

Tuesday 28 February – Moderation Day (Pupil Free Day). Please note that Junior School teachers will be involved in professional development during this day.

Friday 10 March – Junior School Swimming Carnival at Queanbeyan Pool. Information and permission notes will be available this week. Please me mindful this is a swimming carnival so accurate indications of swimming ability are vital.

Thursday 16 March – Monday 27 March. NAPLAN window. Please note students will be tested online across a variety of disciplines as part of NAPLAN testing. If you would like more information, to discuss adjustments required for your son, or to discuss exemption, please email Zach Holmes (zholmes@stedmunds.act.edu.au)

Hair Policy – Thank you to all parents/carers for keeping your son/s haircuts in line with the school’s uniform and hair policy. At times barbers may make mistakes. If they are informed of their mistake, many will fix the haircut (in line with our policy) at no extra charge. Could I please ask that all parents/carers familiarise themselves with the hair policy so that students can get about their daily work without teacher’s asking them about their haircuts. Thank you for your assistance with this.
Hair should be kept neat, tidy and clean at all times and not grown or styled into an extreme or exaggerated fashion.
Hair should be above the shoulder in length (above the bottom of the school shirt collar) and no shorter than a number ‘two’.
Students are not allowed to have lines or designs shaved into their hair nor grow long sections of hair that can be fashioned into ‘top buns’, plaits, undercuts, braids, ‘rats tails’, ‘mohawks’ or ‘mullets’ etc.

Student Drop Off and Pick Up – Please do not use the staff carpark (off Canberra Avenue) to drop or collect students before and after school. This is a dangerous place for our students to be moving through and we would like to keep this area for staff only. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.

David Kelly
Assistant Principal – Junior School