Newsletter - 2024 Term 1 Week 9

Calendar

From the Leaders

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is ‘the feast of feasts’. It is the most important time in the Catholic faith, through understanding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  In John's Gospel, Mary is the ‘apostle to the apostles’: she finds Peter and the 'disciple whom Jesus loved’ to inform them about the empty tomb. Soon she will be the first one to meet the Risen Christ and to testify to his appearance. 

Easter can be a very busy time in our lives with visiting friends, making special meals and travelling to different places for a break, not to mention the ‘chocolate’. We hope your Easter Celebrations this weekend will provide an opportunity for your family to relax and enjoy one another’s company as we remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. May this Easter bring you every blessing of hope and joy.

Holy Week - Easter Walk

Yesterday and today, classes had the opportunity to reflect on the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday).

As our families entered the school gates from Monday this week, they have been reminded of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which was celebrated in the church last weekend. Classes participated in an Easter Walk and Reflection around our school grounds reminding them of The Last Supper, Jesus’ arrest in the garden whilst praying and His death on the cross on Good Friday. Families were invited to join their children on the Easter Walk and Reflection on both of those afternoons.

We will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Tuesday with our Easter Hat Parade at 9:00am and Easter Raffle draw in the afternoon. Tickets can still be purchased for 50 cents each up to Lunch One on Tuesday.

Whole School Goal

There is so much happening in our classrooms as we collectively work on our whole school goal of improving our sentences. Take a look of some of the explicit teaching that is happening in our rooms.

TAP-ITAS

Congratulations to everyone on their Tap-itas support in the spirit of Almsgiving throughout Lent. As a result of our donations, we have been able to raise enough funds to provide two Samoan households with a handwashing sink and also hand sanitiser for a village in Samoa. This has been a wonderful example of support for our Catholic Social teaching focus of recognising the Dignity of all human beings.

We congratulate 2 Love on being the grade to raise the most money for Tap-itas so far.

Emu Egg Workshop

Yesterday, our Indigenous students in Years 5 and 6 were fortunate to participate in an Emu Egg painting workshop hosted by Tristram from Strong Spirit Aboriginal Services.

The students not only learnt how the Emu eggs were collected and cleaned but they also learnt how their Ancestors and Elders collected the Emu eggs for food. The students gained valuable cultural knowledge of traditional hunting and gathering techniques and the use of the Emu Caller to distract the father Emu that cares for the eggs.

Tristram also provided a delicious lunch of fresh sandwiches and juice after the students created their beautiful artwork.

Thank you Tristram and Strong Spirit Aboriginal Service for continuing to share your knowledge and skills with the Indigenous students of St Agnes'.

Absences Add Up

5 days absent per term means that your child misses 10% of their learning.

The impact of school absences, even seemingly small ones, can accumulate and affect a child's learning significantly. The cumulative effect of absences over time can lead to gaps in knowledge and understanding. Consistent attendance is vital for academic success, as each day in school provides valuable learning opportunities.

If your child is expressing reluctance to go to school regularly, it's essential to address the issue promptly. 

Class representatives met with the SRC on Wednesday to share ideas for our fun afternoon to celebrate St Agnes’ Feast Day during Catholic Schools Week on Wednesday 10 April. We hope families can join us for a sausage sizzle from 1:40pm and an afternoon of celebrations following.

Social Futures

We are excited to have Anabelle Johnson from Social Futures working with us on a Monday. She has been making contact with families and following up on referrals. 

Come Pray With Me

Families are welcome to join their children in celebrating Masses and Liturgies at Christ the King Chapel each Thursday at 10:15am. The children always appreciate this special time with their grade and we encourage any family members to join us.

Stage 3 Are Very Talented Artists!

In Visual Art, Stage 3 have been learning about celebrations and events and how this subject matter can be represented in artworks. In particular, they have been learning about the work of Wayne Thiebaud and how he creates artworks about festive cakes. The students created these artworks using the oil pastels.

• We acknowledge the wonderful leadership shown by Jack Armitage in Year 6. Jack supported Oscar Downie in Year 1, encouraging him to be positive and make good choices. Thanks Jack. You are amazing!
• Thank God for the Schuch family who provided fruit and veg hampers from Kenny Littles for us to donate to families in our community.
• Watching  5 Love leading our school in Holy Week prayer this morning.
• Clayton Underwood and Ben Bannister showing amazing writing skills.
• Our Year 6 leaders were incredibly helpful in packing up after Cross Country Carnival making life easier for Mr Wilson and Peter G.

This Week At Aggies

Lunchtime Detective Club

Sports News

School Cross Country Carnival

On Tuesday, our students competed in the St Agnes' Cross Country Carnival. We were blessed with perfect weather for the event, with blue skies, light breezes and a fast track. The carnival consisted of competitive and non-competitive events. The competitive 11 yrs and 12 yrs runners completed six laps of the oval for a distance of 3kms, and our 8/9 yrs and 10 yrs completed four laps totalling 2kms. All non-competitive runners completed one lap of the course with their friends.

For our infant runners, it was a chance to come down to the field, sit with their House members, and be part of the carnival. All infant classes participated in running one lap of the field.

The competitive event aims to select a team of runners to compete at the Zone Cross Country Carnival in Kempsey on Wednesday 8 May. The first six places in each event qualified for the next level. Notes for the Zone Carnival will be sent out via the Compass app in the coming week.

Thank you to Peter Gerisch for having the bottom field mowed and ready to go. Thank you to all the staff for making the carnival an enjoyable day for our students, and finally, thank you to all the families and friends who attended for support.

Congratulations to the following Age Champions and Age Champion Runners-Up.

8 Yrs Girls
Age Champion - Evie Evans
Age Champion Runner-up - Chelsea Orme

8 Yrs Boys
Age Champion - Arlo Fuller
Age Champion Runner-up - Charlie Raatz

9 Yrs Girls
Age Champion - Asha Gailbraith-Robertson
Age Champion Runner-up - Pippa Taylor

9 Yrs Boys
Age Champion - Ardan Byrne
Age Champion Runner-up - Rocky Walker

10 Yrs Girls
Age Champion - Makayla Dickson
Age Champion Runner-up - Mia Brazel

10 Yrs Boys
Age Champion - Hunter Favaloro
Age Champion Runner-up - Nicholas Doyle

11 Yrs Girls
Age Champion - Ava Schneider
Age Champion Runner-up - Emilia Adams

11 Yrs Boys
Age Champion - Kasper Sjolund
Age Champion Runner-up - Josh Abraham

12 Yrs Girls
Age Champion - Layla Walsh
Age Champion Runner-up - Sienna Harrison

12 Yrs Boys
Age Champion - Ezra van Lint
Age Champion Runner-up - Ethan Favaloro

KM Club

This week, we clicked over 480kms as we edge closer to our first destination, the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Year 2 has extended their lead for most kilometres by a grade with 135kms, and Year 4 retained second place with 110kms. Funk Beats and Fast Feets Friday are becoming popular, with many students coming down to the KM Club to enjoy some music as they get their morning laps in.

Congratulations to the following students who reached 10kms and 20kms this week.

10km
Mike Rieg - 2 Love
Charlotte McNally - 2 Hope
Ethan Wei - 2 Faith
Aisha Morris - 3 Hope 
Sienna Taylor - 5 Faith

20km
Julian Kuhn - 2 Faith
Archie Sherd-Booby - 4 Faith

Future Dates

Term One

• Tuesday 9 April - Polding AFL Trials, Newcastle
  
• Thursday 11 and Friday 12 April - NSW PSSA Swimming, Homebush Aquatic Centre

Term Two

• Friday 3 May - Polding Winter Sports Trials, Tamworth
• Wednesday 8 May - Zone Cross Country, Kempsey
• Friday 17 May - Diocesan Rugby Union Trials, Grafton
• Tuesday 21 May - Diocesan Cross Country, Grafton
• Friday 7 June - Diocesan Rugby Union Gala Day, Coffs Harbour
• Tuesday 18 June - NSW Netball School’s Cup Years 5 and 6 Gala Day
• Friday 21 June - School Athletics Carnival

Student Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 100 Dojos:

Abhyukth S, Alexander B, Alira S, Anastasia K, Annabelle S, Archer M, Ariana F, Audrey F, Aurora P, Ava R, Ava S, Avery C, Beau L, Benjamin M, Billie B, Bracen S, Brayden W, Brayden W, Bryce L, Carolina H, Cedar B, Charlee C, Charlie R, Charlotte B, Charlotte B, Charlotte F, Charlotte H, Charlotte M, Cody N, Damien B, Elise G, Elle H, Emilia A, Emilia T, Emmett Y, Eva D, Georgia W, Grace M, Hadlen S, Hadley M, Harper C, Harper W, Harrison B, Harrison S, Hartley O, Hayden N, Imogen H, Indiana F, Isabelle P, Isobel W, Ivy C, Jack D, Jack D, Jannah S, Jay N, Jenson T, Jorgie P, Kai N, Kaiden D, Kasper S, Keira M, Kohen W, Korbin C, Lacey W, Lucky S, Layla M, Levi W, Lexi C, Liam J, Lilyana P, Louis R, Louis S, Lucas M, Lucy C, Mahli N, Mahli-Lee W, Maia C, Maja M, Mason W, McKenzie H, Mia C, Nikita S, Nina T, Reagan C, Roman S, Ruben D, Sadie S, Sam B, Sharleigh F, Sienna R, Sophie W, Stella G, Sunday A, Thomas B, Thomas B, Thomas E, Tiger Lily R, Vivienne L, William G, Zali T and  Zayne D.

Positive Behaviour Support

This week our focus is on learning about being responsible and how we can control our actions. The purpose of this lesson is to align with our catholic social teaching to ‘Human Dignity’. Our goal is to teach students that every person is made in the image of God. We can be responsible when making decisions through self awareness of what we can and can’t control. Next week we will find out which house has received the most Dojo points for following the 4R’s at our school.

PBS Focus:  I am responsible. I can control my actions. 

PBS Video:

Catholic Social Teaching: Human Dignity. Every person is made in the image of God. We are all valuable and worthy of respect and fairness because we are all human. 

Story Books:

Family Resources:

Video:

St Agnes' Primary School Community Forum

This Week's Notes and App Alerts

Canteen News

Parish News

Key Enrolment Dates For 2025

Kindergarten Information Sessions

• St Peter’s Primary School – Saturday 18 May 2024 – 9:30am
• St Agnes’ Primary School – Saturday 18 May 2024 – 9:30am
• St Joseph’s Primary School – Saturday 18 May 2024 – 9:30am

Primary School Tour for Kindergarten

• St Peter’s Primary School – Saturday 1 June 2024 – 2:00pm
• St Agnes’ Primary School – Saturday 1 June 2024 – 2:00pm
• St Joseph’s Primary School – Saturday 1 June 2024 – 2:00pm

Year 7 Enrolment Information Session

• St Joseph’s Regional College – Tuesday 7 May 2024 – 5:00pm to 7:30pm
• MacKillop College – Monday 6 May 2024 – 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Year 11 Enrolment Information Session

• St Joseph’s Regional College – Monday 29 July 2024 – 6:00pm
• Newman Technical College – Tuesday 30 July 2024 – 6:00pm
• MacKillop College – Wednesday 31 July 2024 – 6:00pm

Community News