As we approach the halfway point of Term 3, we have much to celebrate and look forward to as a school. We have had many Junior School students represent the ACT for their chosen sport of the last couple of months. I will be away with the ACT Touch football team in Darwin next week. We have three Junior School students in that team: Charlie Jamieson, Louis Thornton and Jonah Ong. We also welcome back Benji McNamara and Lachlan Murray from Townsville; they were representing the ACT in Rugby League. By all reports the boys had a great time and did the ACT proud. Best of luck to all the students involved in the South Weston Athletics Carnival, to be held at Woden on Thursday 17 August.
Year 5 Camp – a huge thank you to our parent helpers and teaching staff (Mr Bell, Ms Cusack, Mrs Ellem and Mrs Millar) for taking time out of their personal lives to ensure a fun and engaging Year 5 camp for our students. We look forward to hearing many stories from the three days.
Junior School Academic Assembly – Thursday 11.30am in the RJ Wallace Hall. Parents/carers of students receiving a certificate have been notified via email and are most welcome to attend.
SOCIAL JUSTICE Term 3
The St Edmund’s Social Justice model seeks to highlight the social justice issues that we see in our community. The service activities we participate in each term are to raise awareness that social injustice happens everywhere and by serving others we are seeking to try and make the world a better place.
This term we are serving the people of Karinya House and Home in Queanbeyan. St Edmund’s has a long relationship with both these community organisations. Karinya House provides emergency accommodation and outreach support for mothers and babies in crisis. We have been asked to assist Karinya House raise money to put a shade sail over their children’s playground or donating goods such as personal care products, clothes, toys, books, nappies new or quality second hand.
Home, in Queanbeyan, provides long term supported accommodation for adults suffering from mental health issues. Home has requested money to buy healthy food for their residents, to improve their mental health and donations of personal care products.
The Junior School boys are being asked to serve House and Home in three ways:
- Donating items they require – These can be left in Junior School Classrooms.
- Seeking sponsorship for participating in the Stay, Sort and Serve on Friday September 1st Week 7 – From 3:30 -7.00pm the goods that have been donated will be sorted into packs that can be used by the clients that House and Home support.
- Bring in a gold coin or note donation for mufti day.
Moderation Day 2, Thursday 17 August – Please note that as per the school calendar this is a pupil-free day. Teachers will be involved in professional learning on this day. The exception will be students who have qualified for the South Weston Athletics Carnival which is due to be held on this date.
BOOKWEEK (Week 6)
On Thursday 24 August all students in the Junior School will have the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character. They will then participate in a parade to celebrate books and reading. This is a fun event which everyone is encouraged to be involved in so start preparing your costume soon. The theme is ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’.
Homework Club – Mrs Ellem will be running homework club from Weeks 2-9 this term on Tuesdays/Wednesdays. Please email her hellem@stedmunds.act.edu.au with a day’s notice should you wish to book your son/s in.
Canteen Reminder – Please note students are not allowed to purchase hot food over the counter at lunchtime. If a student wishes to have hot food for lunch, a lunch order must be completed through the parent portal.
Year 6 into Year 7 Enrolment – All current Year 6 families are reminded that there is no need to re-enrol your son into Year 7 at St Edmund’s College. The enrolment for Year 7 is automatic as your son is already enrolled at the College.
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, dreadlocks, braids, ‘rats tails’, ‘mohawks’ or ‘mullets’ etc.
Hair should be evenly graded and/or blended, of natural colour, warn off the face and should not obstruct sight. Hair requiring to be tied back off the face may be necessary but only as a low bun.
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