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Junior School News: Week 2 Term 1, 2022

It was great to see Junior School students settle well in our first week of 2022. Unfortunately, Covid didn’t take long to impact my own family and I am in the middle of an isolation period as I write this newsletter. The best-case scenario would mean I can return to school for the beginning of Week 3, which I am very much hoping is the case. I wish to thank all of the Junior School staff for their efforts in ensuring our students enjoy the smoothest start to the year possible and to Ms Cusack for stepping into homework club supervision in my absence.

Please ensure your son has items of clothing, a drink bottle and a lunchbox labelled with his name. This helps us to return items quickly and saves time for teachers when trying to locate the owner of lost property.

As homework will be starting in earnest this week, parents/carers are reminded to ensure your son has a neat and tidy place to complete his weekly homework. If there are any issues with homework please contact your son’s class teacher.

 Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 February – Summer Sports photos. You should receive information regarding this via your son’s chosen sports coordinator. All students should bring their weekend playing uniform on their scheduled day.

Wednesday 9 February – This week during our Formation program, our Year 4 students will be working on developing an understanding of our Sleeping St Joseph prayer and reflection area at the entrance to Junior School. Year 5 and Year 6 students have a guest presenter from Menslink who will discuss the importance of caring for each other and looking out for our friends.

Monday 14 February 3.40pm – 6.30pm – Parent/Teacher Meetings
Next week we would normally have an opportunity for Year 4 parents/carers to hear from Year 4 teachers and an opportunity for Year 5 and Year 6 parents/carers to meet with their son’s teacher. Usually we conduct this on-site in one evening. However, current health guidelines mean we have had to make some changes.

Year 4
Year 4 parents are invited to an Information session via the school’s online conferencing platform, Big Blue Button, via Canvas, on Monday 14 February. The session will begin at 5.30pm and should be completed by 6.00pm. You will be emailed a link to the virtual session, along with instructions on how to join.

Year 5 and Year 6
If any Year 5 and Year 6 parents/carers would like a parent/teacher interview, please email your son’s teacher with a few windows of availability throughout Week 3. Your son’s teacher will forward you a Zoom link at a suitable time, provided their availability matches up. Please note that Monday 14 February 3.30pm-6.30pm was set aside for PT Interviews and may suit teachers’ availability best. Due to the amount of interviews that need to take place, each interview will typically go for a maximum of 7 minutes. If you would prefer your son’s teacher to give you a call, please inform them of this in your email.

Teacher emails for contact:

5 BlueBridget Cusackbcusack@stedmunds.act.edu.au
5 WhiteJohn Belljbell@stedmunds.act.edu.au
6 BlueMarty O’Rourkemorourke@stedmunds.act.edu.au
6 WhiteJulia Rochejroche@stedmunds.act.edu.au
6 GoldNeil Robertsnroberts@stedmunds.act.edu.au

Tuesday 1 March – Moderation Day (Pupil Free Day)

Friday 11 March – Junior School Swimming Carnival @ Queanbeyan. Please note that this carnival has been cancelled. For parents/carers wondering about selection processes for regional and ACT swimming, please note that regional carnivals will not occur this year and that entry to the ACT carnival will be via official swim meet times only.
On this day we will now hold an Activity Day at school which will include ball games and lots of fun and excitement. More information will be made available about this day in coming weeks.

Year 4-6 after school Homework Club
Tuesday & Wednesday after school – beginning Week 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.
All students are welcome to attend, but this is not a drop-in session and parents must email Mr Kelly in advance requesting attendance for the week (one or both days) and what their son will be working on.  dkelly@stedmunds.act.edu.au

Year 6 Camp – Please note that Year 6 camp has been postponed until November 7-9 due to restrictions around interstate excursions/camps for ACT schools in Term 1. Camp was due to occur this term.

PE Uniform – Just a reminder that your son is to wear his PE uniform to school each day his class is scheduled to have PE. He is also to wear PE uniform on Day 10 of the timetable as classes usually have Year group sport on this day.

Co-Curricular Activities – Thank you to students and parents/carers for completing co-curricular forms. Please note that this action does not mean students are registered officially for sports such as rugby and football. Signing up at this stage will ensure you receive information about activities and sports as it becomes available. You should hear from your son’s activity coordinators late next week (sports may take longer). Generally speaking, Junior School activities such as debating, chess, steam, chess/cardistry, etc. begin in Week 3 and Winter Sports around Week 6. 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)

Afternoon Activities from 3.30pm
Tuesday – Cultural Club, Debating, Homework Club
Wednesday – Sports trainings (although these can sometimes occur on other afternoons), Homework Club
Thursday – Steam Club
Friday – Chess/Cardistry Club

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. This program begins Term 1, Week 2, beginning with 6 Blue.

David Kelly
Assistant Principal – Junior School