I write this edition of the Junior School news from The Pines, a dedicated retreat complex for the school, at beautiful Tuross Head, on the South Coast of New South Wales. Our Year 5 camp has begun well, and we welcome our Year 4 students on Thursday and Friday. I will have the pleasure of staying on over the weekend for our Father/Son camp.
St Vincent de Paul Appeal – please note the school is conducting a drive to gather items for those in need. Junior School has a particular focus this year which is non-perishable food items or Christmas treats. These can be brought into school and given to your son’s class teacher. The appeal will finish on Friday, Week 8, before a presentation to St Vincent de Paul.
House Day – Friday 21 October. On this day, students may wear their PE uniform with optional house coloured t-shirt. They will be attending a House Liturgy and some activities in the afternoon session. BBQ lunch will be provided. Please send any dietary requirements to Monica Day mday@stedmunds.act.edu.au
Junior School Camps – please note that due to postponements of earlier camps, we will now have a busy Term 4 with camps at Tuross Head, NSW. I had advertised that costs would be included in Term 4 fee statements. Whilst this is true for families that pay termly, this is problematic for families that pay via direct debit or 12 months in advance. An email will be sent home this week with details on how to pay for camp should your family fall into one of the affected categories. Apologies for this. Dates for each year group are below and you will receive more information from class teachers closer to the date. Please also note that camp permission and information will be available online through the parent portal.
Year 4 Camp: Thursday 20 October – Friday 21 October (Term 4, Week 2). Students need to be behind the Grandstand by 7.30am for roll call. The bus will depart at 8am sharp. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to wait if you are running late. The bus will return on Friday at approximately 5pm.
Year 6 Camp: Monday 7 November – Wednesday 9 November (Term 4, Week 5) Students need to be behind the Grandstand by 7.45am for roll call. The bus will depart at 8am sharp. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to wait if you are running late. The bus will return on Wednesday at approximately 2.30pm.
Junior School Retreats – Wednesday 2 November. Please note on this day, Junior School students will be involved in ‘on campus’ retreats. Students are to wear PE uniform on this day and lunch will be provided. A note will come home next week with further details.
Year 6 2023 BYOD Reminder – all Year 5 students have had a reminder that our BYOD program begins in Year 6 at St Edmund’s. Students will need a laptop computer that has word processing, Wi-Fi access and basic capability. Laptops do not need to be expensive but must have a sturdy protective case. Please note Chromebooks are not recommended. More detailed information on our BYOD program is available on the College website: https://sec.act.edu.au/academic/device-program/
Staff Carpark (off Canberra Avenue) – Parents/Carers are asked not to use the staff carpark as a drop off or pick up location before or straight after school. This is due to safety considerations for our students. Please use the main semi-circular driveway or other exterior boundary options.
Homework Club – Mr Kelly will be running homework club from Weeks 1-9 this term on Tuesdays/Wednesdays. Please email him dkelly@stedmunds.act.edu.au with a day’s notice should you wish to book your son/s in.
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.
David Kelly
Assistant Principal – Junior School