Last week Junior School students were able to hear from Olympian, Seve De Campo, Cross Country Skiing (Winter Olympian, Beijing, 2022). Seve spoke about an opportunity that arose for him in Year 6. His decision set him on a path he never dreamt of. Seve spoke to the students about the importance of goal setting and the discipline required to reach those targets. Students were very engaged in the presentation and had some great questions for Seve at the end of the session. On Thursday we had our Book Week Costume Parade. There was a great atmosphere for the occasion and students (and parents/carers) are to be congratulated for their efforts in preparing for the day. Well done to our prize winners and to our Junior School staff members who got right into it.
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.
Father’s Day Mass – Friday 2 September. The Father’s Day Mass and Morning Tea will be held on Friday 2 September. Mass commences in the College chapel at 9:30am and is followed by morning tea in the Edmund Rice Centre. Registration for this event has now closed.
Story Quest 2022 Performance – Friday 2 September. On this day we have a performance for all of our Junior School students at school in the Hall, Story Quest 2022. Story Quest 2022 promises to be an enjoyable, fun and engaging celebration of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s shortlisted books of the year for 2022, one of which we have been reading during library classes.
Footy Food and Jersey Day for House and Home – Friday 2 September. This fundraising activity aligns with the Term 3 Social Justice model of the College to raise money and awareness for the community. The Junior School has provided support for Karinya House for 18 years and over this time has developed an authentic relationship with this organisation. Since 2018, through the Sleepout, the Junior School students have started to develop a connection with Home in Queanbeyan.
The activity encourages each student to participate in one of two ways.
First option: bringing in a gold coin or note donation and wearing their favourite sports team’s jersey for the day over their school uniform (can be AFL, NRL, NBA, Rugby, Soccer, etc.).
Second option: bringing in $10 for a recess Footy Food recess meal deal consisting of popcorn chicken or chicken nuggets, hot chips, a poppa, and a surprise sweet treat. Students can wear their favourite sports team’s jersey for the day over their school uniform (can be AFL, NRL, NBA, Rugby, Soccer, etc.).
The funds raised will allow both House and Home to do good works with those they walk beside and support every day. The boys wear their uniform and bring their team jersey to school; they can wear it during the day and take it off at the end before leaving school in the afternoon.
ACT Athletics Carnival at Woden Park on Thursday 8 September – Well done to the following boys for making the South Weston Athletics team. Hard copy permission forms are to be handed to Mr Dan Fulton (St Jude’s Primary School) upon arrival on the day of the competition.
- Dolvin, Stanley (Boys 11 Discus Throw)
- Fenikitau, Fatai (Boys 12 Shot Put)
- Gibson, Hugh (Boys 8-10 Shot Put, Boys 8-10 Long Jump, Boys 10 200 Metre Sprint, Boys 8-10 Discus Throw, Boys 10 100 Metre Sprint)
- Kent, Brayden (Boys 12 200 Metre Sprint, Boys 12 100 Metre Sprint)
- Kivalu, Jayden (Boys 8 10 Shot Put)
- MacNamara, Phillip (Boys 12 Shot Put)
- Ramali, Kado (Boys 11 800 Metre Run, Boys 11 200 Metre Sprint, Boys 11 100 Metre Sprint
Pupil Free Day – Friday 9 September – Please note that the school has decided to enact the scheduled pupil free days canvassed by Mr Garrity in communication at the beginning of the term. The reason for these extra two pupil free days is to manage teacher workload and offer the opportunity for a circuit-breaker as we manage the ongoing challenges associated with staff shortages due to Covid-19 isolations. Teachers will be involved in professional learning on Moderation Day and planning/programming on the scheduled pupil free days.
Eddies Sleepout – Friday 16 September. The annual Eddies Sleepout for House and Home is being held on Friday 16 September. Boys from Yr 4-12 are asked to sleep for a night in the College Gymnasium to gain a very small insight into what it is like to sleep rough.
On the night boys will participate in awareness raising activities around homelessness. The money we raise will go towards purchasing household furniture for the mothers and babies Karinya House supports, so the places of accommodation for these mums and babies can feel more like a home, rather than just somewhere to live.
Home in Queanbeyan has requested the money goes towards purchasing healthy food for the resident’s pantry. With the rising costs of fresh produce, it has become more difficult to ensure the residents are having healthy meals, which are vital for good mental health.
Students who would like to participate can collect a permission note and sponsor card from Ms Cusack.
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.
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 Monday September 26 to Thursday September 29 and is open to boys and girls.
Numbers are limited.
For more information, please contact team_heat@outlook.com
David Kelly
Assistant Principal – Junior School