It was great to see all the smiling faces of our Year 4 students upon their triumphant return from camp at Warrambui. The students had an amazing time hiking, singing, learning archery and completing lots of different initiatives. Thank you to the teachers who took our Year 4 students on camp; Mr Roberts, Mr Sidorko, Mrs Millar and Mrs Darmody. Taking time away from your own families to be with our students was most appreciated.
This time of year, we tend to see some students lose an edge of focus and tire towards the end of a long year. In what can be referred to in schools as the silly season, we look for ways to continue a structured approach so that students can strive to finish the year well and with good decision making. We would ask for your support over the next three weeks by reminding your son/s about school expectations, hairstyle guidelines and pushing all the way to the finish line. We will have our fun Activity Day on Tuesday 3 December. This day is for students that have continually worked hard and displayed a good attitude over the year. If your son is not able to meet behavioural expectations over the next fortnight, he may be asked to sit out part or all of Activity Day.
Tuesday 3 December – Junior School Activity Day at Canberra Aqua Park.
Please note a hard copy letter will come home. Permission notes/indemnity forms will need to be completed/signed and returned by Monday 25 November.
As a part of our end of year activities, and to celebrate Year 6 finishing Junior School, an excursion to Canberra Aqua Park has been organised for Junior School students. This is designed to be a relaxed way to spend time as a community and to celebrate the year. Please see below for details:
When: Tuesday 3 December
Where: Canberra Aqua Park, Black Mountain Peninsula, Acton
How: Junior School students and staff will travel by bus to and from the venue (departing 10.00am and returning from Canberra Aqua Park at 1.30pm)
Dress: Casual clothes (Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, rash shirt (recommended) plus swimming attire/towel. Please have a discussion with your son/s about sun safety, reapplication of sunscreen and the importance of covering up from the sun. Staff will do their best to remind students about sun safety on the day but it is helpful if parents/carers reinforce this messaging at home.
Food: Please provide ample recess and lunch with a water bottle. There is no canteen on site.
Cost: Payment of $28 per child is required by Friday 29 November and can be made online by visiting https://www.bpoint.com.au/pay/CHRISTIANBROTHERSCOLLEGESTEDMUNDS and selecting Excursions / Camps / Events from the drop-down menu.
This event is a reward for effort over the year. St Edmund’s Junior School has high standards of expected behaviour for all of our students. A great majority of boys are able to continue their excellent behaviour right up until the end of the year. If your son’s behaviour slips below expectation, then he may not be able to attend part or all of this excursion.
PLEASE encourage your son not to bring valuables such as mobile phones. If a student does he will be the sole person responsible if lost or damaged.
The College can be contacted on (02) 6295 3598 should the need arise.
If for any reason you would prefer your child does not attend this excursion, alternate supervision can be organised at school for this day.
Monday 9 December – Junior School Presentation Ceremony. This important ceremony will begin at 9.15am and go for approximately 80 minutes in the RJ Wallace Hall at school. The ceremony will have a particular focus on our Year 6 students who are completing their Junior School studies. All Year 6 students will receive a certificate, and all parents/carers of Year 6 students are invited to join us for this wonderful occasion. Year 4-6 Academic and whole school awards will also be presented at this ceremony and parents/carers of students receiving awards will be notified this week via email. On this day, if parents/carers wish to take their son out to lunch/home afterwards they are most welcome. Please just check in with his teacher or notify them prior to the day via email.
Year 4-6 After School Homework Club – Homework Club will run Tuesdays and Wednesdays Week 2 – Week 7 Term 4 after school 3.30pm – 4.30pm with Mrs Ellem. This occurs in the Junior School library. Parents/carers are asked to sign up to Homework Club through Clipboard.
Team HEAT Holiday Program – St Edmund’s College Junior School will be hosting a fun and exciting Team H.E.A.T holiday program in the upcoming school holidays. This will take place on Friday December 13 to Thursday December 19 and is open to boys and girls.
For more information, please contact team_heat@outlook.com
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).
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 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.
- Hair should be evenly graded and/or blended, of natural colour, worn 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’.
- Length of sideburns should be no lower than middle of the ear and students should be clean shaven daily.
- If a haircut, hairstyle or hair colouring does not meet school expectations then the student will be asked to adjust it accordingly.
- In extreme cases the student may be asked to go home until the hair/style/colour has been changed to meet College requirements.
- No visible body adornment or art such as body piercings, jewellery, keepers or tattoos are permitted. Earrings and studs of any kind are not acceptable. Covering a piercing with a keeper of band-aid is unacceptable.
The College has final say on what is deemed acceptable in regard to these guidelines.
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