Welcome to the Week 5 Newsletter. We are not quite yet at the midpoint given its an 11 Week term, but we are certainly moving through the term at a quickening pace. Having said that, the children are now very well settled into the classroom routines and more importantly, settled into their learning across all KLAs. Later in my report I will begin to discuss a very important transition phase for sharing that learning in partnership with parents. However, first I want to share an experience I was part of early today.

For all Future Generations

As we start the very important Season of Lent this week, our REC Michelle will unpack the liturgical importance of Lent and its connection to the upcoming Easter Season and our Faith. To deepen that understanding, I want to unpack the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal that parallels the Lenten season.

This morning the student leaders and I attended a Diocesan celebration of student leaders from all schools and community leaders across our diocese as the appeal was launched at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. It was a very moving liturgy as each student and member of the community wrestled with the challenges in front of us when considering those less fortunate than ourselves. But in that challenge, we have action. We were sent forth to raise awareness of and to consider ways we can support the work that Caritas does. 

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. I couldn’t help but feel proud to be sitting in the cathedral with over 200 young people from across our diocese; our leaders of tomorrow's generation. 

The theme invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We encourage members of our community to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Throughout the season of Lent, we hope to create some initiative when the students can raise awareness and support for Caritas here at school. Families may like to donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Congratulations to our school leaders who had their first opportunity to represent our student body at a diocesan event. I look forward to working with the student 

parliament on some projects at SBE that we can do to make a difference this Lent; "For all future generations" 

Partners in Learning 

Parent feedback we received last year via the Report Survey and the Tell Them from Me survey, indicated that we needed to reflect on and reconsider the timeline in which we meet with parents and report on student learning at SBE. Parents quite rightly indicated that the reports and the opportunity to talk about them were too late in the year to discuss the challenges our students are facing (or were facing throughout the semester just gone). Late Term 2 and Late Term 4 are effective at reporting on what has been learnt and achieved - given that it first needs to be taught, understood, and assessed. However, that timeline is not effective in discussing the current challenges and setting goals to overcome these as part of their learning journey. Comments such as “too late to find out” were well heard in the survey data. To that end, the staff developed the following goal to work towards in 2023.

School Office

Phone: 4958 1858

Email: admin@edgeworth.catholic.edu.au

School Fee Update

School fees are now showing on your compass app. The first statement for the year will be going our the first week in March and this will itemise all of the allocated charges for fees this year.

School fees can be paid weekly, fortnightly, monthly or in a lump sum. Full payment to be finalised by the 30th November 2023.

The prefered methods of payment available are B/Pay, cash or EFTOPS at our school office or Direct Debit.

Please be aware that if your direct debit is dishonoured more than three times the school will cancel the deduction.  For any dishonoured direct debit, the school is charged a fee of $2.50 by your financial institution. This fee will be passed on to the fee payer and will appear on the next statement. No receipts are issued – please check your bank account for proof of payment.

The Catholic Schools Office provides a special fee concession for parents/carers with a Health Care Card or Pension Card. A discount is available on the Diocesan Tuition Fee component of your school fee account. To access this discount please complete the attached for and provide a copy of you current card to our School  Office. 

If you require more assistance than just the Tuition Fee discount available for Health Care and Pension Card holders, you will need to complete a Fee concession application which will be reviewed by our Principal. If you are eligible our Principal will contact you to complete the process. 

Note that in any case, any discount on fees lasts for the current year only. If you require a concession for the following year you must re-apply.

Lost and Found

We have a large number of students that are loosing hats & drink bottles at school.

Please make sure your child's hats, drink bottles, lunch bags, jumpers and any other items they bring to school are clearly marks with their name.

Our lost property box is located outside our library under the cola.

Also ask your child to check their classroom and bag hooks.

School Photos

School photos were taken last week for all students. If you missed ordering on the day or prior it's not to late you can contact Newcastle school portraits to still place an order in the next few weeks.

Our school code for ordering is 311314.

Ash Wednesday - The Lenten Season

This Wednesday 22nd Febraury is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. A time for reflection and prayer in the lead up to the Easter Season.

Traditionally, there are 3 themes of Lenten observance: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Through prayer we encounter God in our lives. We pray not only for our needs, but the needs of others. At school we encourage the children to pray and thank God for the many gifts in creation. We ask God for help to be more like Jesus in the way we speak and act towards others. At home we encourage the children to pray together with mum and dad at meal times and before going to sleep.

Fasting helps us to turn away from selfishness toward the light of Christ. We give up something so that others will have more. We fast in order to remind ourselves to change our lives in positive ways. At school we encourage the children to eat fewer sweets and contribute the money saved to the Project Compassion Box to help others who are hungry. We encourage the children to exchange complaining comments for words of praise to each other. At home we encourage the children to watch maybe one less television show per week and use this time to help mum or dad around the home.

Almsgiving. The gospels list many examples of Jesus’ helping others. As Christians,
we too are to give of our time, talents and resources so that others can live better.
At school we encourage the children to show compassion to someone who is sad or
hurting. Encouraging children to do extra jobs around the home and donating some oftheir earned money to the Missions or maybe giving away outgrown clothes or toys to Charity. Encouraging forgiveness rather than keeping a grudge.
Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving the children can put into practice the spirit of
the Lenten season.

We will be having an Ash Wednesday Liturgy here at school at 10:00 am tomorrow. Please come along and join us.

Yours in Faith
Miss Michelle Collins
(Religious Education Co-Ordinator)

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is coming up for our Year 3 and Year 5 students in March. These assessments are normally conducted in May, but have been moved forward to Term 1 this year. The assessment window opens on Wednesday 15 March. Please find attached information for parents and carers about NAPLAN 2023.

New K-2 Curriculum

This year our K-2 staff have started teaching the new Maths and English curriculum. 'The new curriculum will give students more time to focus on key learning areas so that they can acquire a deeper understanding of central concepts.’ (NESA). The integration of concepts and skills is essential in developing the strong foundations that the students need for success in the next steps of their learning, life and work in this fast-changing and complex world. 

The new K-2 syllabus outcomes will be reported on for our Semester reports. The 3-6 Maths and English Syllabus is due for implemetation is 2024.

P&F UPDATE

GENERAL MEETING

Thank you to everyone that attended our first P&F meeting for the year. It was a very successful meeting and we would like to thank all that attended. It was lovely to see some new faces. We have filled the vacant executive positions. Our 2023 Executive Committee is:

President – Sarah Toohey

Vice President – Ricky Roberts

Secretary – Skye Watson

Treasurer – Cristie Gloury

Vice Secretary – Emma Esler

Our next meeting will be held on Monday the 13^th of March via Zoom. To receive the zoom link for the meeting please email the P&F Executive at: parentsandfriends.sbcps@gmail.com

EASTER RAFFLE

Donation of Easter eggs for our upcoming Easter Raffle can be delivered to the office from Monday 27^th February 2023.  Raffle tickets will go on sale via QKR in the coming weeks. 

CANTEEN UPDATE

Canteen is open on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. If you have any spare time from 9am – 12pm on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays and are interested in volunteering in the Canteen please let the office know.  It can also be a one off occasion or a couple of times a year.  This will ensure the Canteen can remain open.

Orders can be taken on QKR.

HOW TO CANCEL LUNCH ORDER ON QKR

In the event of your child’s illness and a lunch order has been created.

• CLICK ON THE LUNCH BREAK TAB and then on the date of the ORDER
• CLICK ON THE RED CIRCLE WITH LINE

QKR then gives the following options:

• Cancel All
• Cancel individual items

QKR then credits you the items you have cancelled and you can order again at another time.

CHECK OUT QKR for some new and updated menu items and new flavours of the kids’ favourites.

Congratulations to the following students who received awards yesterday in recognition of their learning, effort and progress in Week 4