This week we celebrated our Easter Liturgy. This offered us time to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and to deepen our understanding of His love for us. May we be reminded of the power of forgiveness, the importance of humility, and the gift of salvation that is offered us through Jesus.
We pray for those who are suffering during this time, whether it be from illness, loss, or other challenges. May they find comfort and peace in your loving embrace and know that you are always with them.
I would like to thank Ms Bridget Cusack for her coordination of our Caritas fundraiser on Friday, after our cross country carnival is completed in the morning. It important for our students to gain an understanding of sacrifice for the betterment of others during this Easter period. We look forward to the cross country carnival this coming Friday morning. A huge thank you must go to Mr Denzil Fox for his efforts in setting up the course and organising our third sports carnival for the term.
Last Wednesday we had our Open Evening. Thank you to the 30 plus Junior School students who assisted in the library or as tour guides during the evening. We received amazing feedback about these students and they really are our best advertisement.
Junior School Cross Country Carnival – Friday 4 April 9.15am – 10.45am on Owens Oval. All students are to wear PE gear and/or house colours on this day. Distance as follows:
9 Years: 1500m
10 Years: 2000m
11 Years: 3000m
12 Years: 3000m
Junior School Caritas Fundraiser – Friday 4 April after lunch. Please see information below regarding this fundraiser, set to occur after the cross country carnival.
The St. Edmund’s Social Justice Model aims to raise awareness about the social justice issues affecting our community and the world. Poverty and inequality are significant social justice concerns, often resulting in limited access to healthcare and education due to financial constraints or political instability.
The service activities we engage in each term are designed to highlight these issues and remind us that social injustice exists everywhere. Through our acts of service, we strive to make the world a better place for all.
This term, we are supporting Caritas, an international Catholic charity organisation that has been operating in over 200 countries and territories for more than 50 years. Each year, Caritas runs the Project Compassion fundraising campaign during the six weeks of the Church season of Lent. We are invited to raise funds to help improve the lives of millions of people worldwide who benefit from Caritas’ work.
To support this cause, the Junior School Leaders have organised an event called “Let’s Go to the Movies at School”. On the last day of term, during periods 5 and 6, the Junior School classrooms will transform into a movie theatre. The entry fee of $5 will include a juice popper and popcorn. Kindly ensure that the $5 is brought to school by Wednesday, April 9th, in an envelope and given to your son’s teacher. If your son has any dietary requirements, please inform his classroom teacher.
We firmly believe that together, through our collective efforts and compassion, we can create a meaningful impact and bring about positive change in the lives of those facing social injustice.
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our mission to serve those in need. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at bcusack@sec.act.edu.au.
With gratitude,
Bridget Cusack
Junior School Coordinator
St. Edmund’s School
ANZAC Day Branch – Queanbeyan RSL sub-branch. Friday 25 April – Our St Edmund’s specific marching spots are limited to 25 students. Junior School students attending should meet outside the City Council Chambers at 10.00am, dressed in full school Winter uniform. We will also have approximately 10 students assisting with handing out pamphlets in the morning before the March. Parents will need to be present to help support their son/s. For more information, or to check if there are still marching spots, please contact Sam Marris: smarris@sec.act.edu.au
First Day of Term Two for students is Monday 28 April.
Junior school Parent/Teacher Evening – Tuesday 6 May. 3.30pm – 6.45pm. Information will be sent home to families via email closer to the date with details on how to book.
School Sport ACT Representative 12/U Opportunities – School Sport ACT has a set process for applying and participating in Sporting Trials.
Anyone interested in trialling for the various regional sports, need to log onto the ACT Sports Website and register for the sport that your child wishes to trial. It is the responsibility of parents/carers to monitor the website for any upcoming sporting events, if your child is interested in competing in the regional competitions.
Please also note if your child is successful in being selected for an ACT team to participate in a national or regional tournament, a formal written letter is required, addressed to the College Principal to seek permission for absence from school during this period. Once the College has received such a request it can then be formally approved for your son’s participation in this activity with School Sport ACT. Secondly, we will also be able to acknowledge his achievement here at school.
Team HEAT Holiday program – this holiday program will be running at school from Monday 14 April to Wednesday 16 April. Contact team_heat@outlook.com for more information.
Co-Curricular Contacts
Basketball – Joel Richardson jrichardson@sec.act.edu.au
Football – Ian Garrity igarrity@sec.act.edu.au
Rugby – Various.
- Registration/Uniforms Lee Boswell lboswell@sec.act.edu.au
- Under 10’s: David Kelly dkelly@sec.act.edu.au
- Under 11’s Joe Sidorko jsidorko@sec.act.edu.au
- Under 12’s: Sally Darmody sdarmody@sec.act.edu.au
- Under 13’s: Emma Gibson egibson@sec.act.edu.au
Tuesday – Cultural Club (Yuko Leffers yleffers@sec.act.edu.au), Debating (Julia Roche jroche@sec.act.edu.au) , Homework Club (Holly Ellem Hellem@sec.act.edu.au)
Wednesday – Sports trainings (training times/match days will be visible on clipboard), Homework Club (Holly Ellem Hellem@stedmunds.act.edu.au)
Thursday – Steam Club (Margie Maher Mmaher@sec.act.edu.au)
Friday – Chess Club (John Bell jbell@sec.act.edu.au)
Year 4-6 After School Homework Club
Tuesday & Wednesday after school (Weeks 2-8 only Term 2)
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@sec.act.edu.au or book through Clipboard 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.
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 uniform in length (or blended gradually) and no shorter than a number ‘two’. Longer hair (below the collar) needs to be tied back during the school day.
- 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