Newsletter - 2024 Term 3 Week 7

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From the Leaders

Sunday’s Gospel is about Jesus healing the deaf man. There is a difference between hearing and listening. Listening can mean listening with our hearts. This man’s newfound ability to hear Jesus gave him so much joy that he proclaimed how wonderful Jesus was. Each time we gather to hear God’s Word it is a chance to listen with open hearts and act on it.

Confirmation Workshops

We were excited to work with some of the families who attended the Confirmation workshop on Tuesday night at school. Other candidates attended workshops at St Peter’s, St Joseph’s and at the Parish, for children and their family members to gain a greater understanding of the sacrament.

Farewell Dave

Today we acknowledged the wonderful contribution made to our school by Dave Gerke. Dave has retired after 35 years of service to the parish, including working at St Agnes’ Primary since 2011. Staff and students celebrated his achievements and wish him well for the next exciting chapter in his journey. This is a photo that Dave took one morning at school. We hope it reminds him of his time here and to look for his own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Baptism

Congratulations to Brock Baxter who was Baptised at St Agnes’ Church last weekend. We hope this was a special day for you and your family and we look forward to helping you make the rest of your Sacraments.

Kinder Faith Hosted Prayer

Thank you to Kinder Faith for sharing the beginning of the Season of Creation in the Church’s calendar on Wednesday morning. They reminded us of ways we can show we care for our common home at school.

Year 5 Poetry

In this world we live in,
We’ve all made a home.
And to this planet we have roamed,
For thousands of years
we aren't your puppeteers 
Sounds of chainsaws bleeding our ears
The opening sounds of the cashiers    
What are your fears
Is it bringing down the government tiers
Because your doing nothing
You could just ask a pamphleteer    
The truth is not what we hear
Because once we know you’ll disappear
you say that your going to do
Then they end up counting on you 
I believe they are humans too
We talk 
We speak
And we’re counting on you
We come with ideas and a different view
The climates changing why aren't you
When your rein ends the waters won’t be blue 
The sun won’t be bright 
And we won’t get to redo
people have had covid
And still won’t get over it
We have created pollution 
And we still haven't found a solution
We have been littering
And not even considering
What it's doing to our planet
Volunteers put in hours and hours 
Yet the government still overpowers
This is the government's problem but it's also ours
You need to change the world yourself
Participate! We could use your help 

By Chloe Leonard

Food & Water Wastage

Children are dying from starvation 
This is ruining our creation
If we can make a world of our own illustration no one will have to deal with the humiliation we can help our civilization maybe we just need a demonstration 
Everyone must come together as a nation 
Or else we might not have a constellation of thrivation for our future generations this is just part of our situation drip drop drip drop 
Rain is going down the drain this is something we can contain this chain of just eating plain grains tik tok our time is flying while we are all sighing from people dying 
If you look around you will see no food for you and me if just 2,000 people would agree i can guarantee we would be free dont even waste some fancy tea or a single pea pasta, water,doughnuts all your favourite dishes will extinguish we must not relinquish there is still hope you people cant cope so that is why your hiding from from the truth that is why you're all  laying loose no food no water no life.

Thank you for listening.
Alba Webb

R U OK?

In 2024, R U OK? is calling on everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day.

The reminder to ask R U OK? comes as the Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker shows that 72% of Australians reported experiencing elevated levels of distress in the latest June data.

R U OK? encourages Australians to check in with others all year around. Recent research commissioned by R U OK? found that people who are regularly asked if they are okay feel more supported, connected and cared about.

Students will be participating in activities to support this initiative.

Aggies Green Team

We are introducing a new initiative within our school community. Our Student Support worker, Simon Hersee is co-ordinating the Green Team which will consist of selected students from both Years 4 and 5. They will meet twice weekly to undertake projects around the school that create a greener, more environmentally friendly learning area, discuss global and local environmental issues and the effect of our own carbon footprint.

The first project that they will be undertaking is the construction of two 12m x 1.5m raised garden beds. Each student will have the opportunity to plant, raise and eventually harvest their own crops, with a view to distributing these to both our canteen and Sister Marjorie at the Community Soup Kitchen. 

Parents of the selected students will receive more information via Compass in the coming days.

Supporting Diverse Learning in Catholic Schools: A Guide by Parents for Parents

The Council of Catholic School Parents has developed this valuable resource to assist parents of children with diverse learning needs. 

National Child Protection Week

National Child Protection Week (first Sunday in September) is a great time to consider how we all play a part in creating a safe and supportive community for children and young people.

In 2024, the message that ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’ will be complemented with the theme ‘Every conversation matters’. 

Conversations are powerful tools to keep children and young people safe and well. 

A great, free resource for parents/caregivers and other family members is the Australian parenting website raising children.net.au. The site offers free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together. The articles, videos and interactive resources are tailored to different ages and stages, taking families from nurturing a newborn to raising a confident, resilient teen – and helping parents to look after themselves too.

If you’re looking for activities to do with your children the National Association for the Protection of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) has launched a great Children’s Activity Booklet. Working through the pack is a great way for you to start a conversation with your child about what makes them feel safe and supported where they live.

You might also like to view this special National Child Protection Week video from author and parenting specialist Maggie Dent, where she talks about the importance of ‘micro-connections’ with your children.

Year 1 Liturgy

Year 1 families are invited to attend Liturgy at Christ the King Chapel on Thursday 12 September at 10:15am.

There are only a few weeks left to buy tickets in our amazing raffle of the Nintendo Switch, Monopoly game and puzzle. This raffle will be drawn at Friday's assembly in Week 9.  

Breaking Point with Dr Justin Coulson

The Council of Catholic School Parents is hosting a FREE parenting webinar with parenting speaker and author, Justin Coulson. This webinar will unpack:

• The root causes behind the deteriorating state of mental health, and who (or what) is responsible.
• The tools you need to reverse this trend for your children.
• Realistic approaches for managing screen time in a way that protects your child's wellbeing.
• Creating margin in your home and family life to protect and promote mental wellness.

Sports News

NSW Touch Football Gala Day

On Thursday, more than 200 students from Years 3 to 6 participated in the NSW Touch Football Gala Day at Tuffins Lane. The weather was ideal for the event, and the students gave their best effort, enjoying the competition and bonding with friends. For many Year 3 students, it was their first experience at a gala day, and by the end, they were feeling the effects with some sore muscles. Each team played four 15-minute games, competing against teams from across the region, from Kempsey to Buladelah. It was a fantastic day of inclusive sports, allowing all children to participate and have fun. A special mention goes to the student captains, who did a great job ensuring their teams were ready and on the correct fields throughout the day. A big thank you to the Aggies families who came out to support the children and the staff who contributed to making the day such a success. We apologise for the wrong starting time in last weeks newsletter and for any inconvenience caused.

Here is what a few of the students had to say about the day:

“Today was the touch gala day, which was amazing. The referees knew the rules. It was a good opportunity to meet kids from different schools. You would get enough time to eat and walk around. You could cheer on your friends.”  
Addison Hucker, Year 6

“I went to the touch footy gala day at Tuffins Lane. Everyone was well-behaved, and it was a great day. Everyone was encouraging each other.”
 Ethan Burdoe, Year 6

“Today, Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 from St Agnes Participated in the touch footy gala day at Tuffins Lane. We had so much fun, and I loved how we played football in the sun. Thank you to the teachers for helping us get ready to play, and thank you to the parents who came to watch. I loved seeing all of the sportsmanship and having people who don’t like sports join in and have an awesome time. If we were to win or have a loss, everyone would keep their head up and smile. Next year, I hope more people will come and enjoy this experience.” 
Ruby Hagenbach, Year 5

“My experience on the touch gala day was really fun! When I was there, I played in a team with some people I would not usually play with though it was really fun and exciting. Playing against some amazingly good people, I tried my best and worked together with my team.” 
Elise Galbraith-Robertson, Year 5

“I don’t play touch footy, but I learned it when I went to the touch footy gala day. It was really fun. It was my first time, and I enjoyed playing with other teams.” 
Piya Varsani, Year 5

“On Thursday, we got on the bus to Tuffins Lane to play touch football. Our captains organised us into our teams, and we started warming up. The whole day was a try-fest with some exciting corner scoring. All the kids made sure EVERYONE got a fair turn on the field and with the ball. The whole bus was singing songs on the way back to school.”
Parker Brock and Ivy Gleeson, Year 4 

“My day was just about having fun. We won some games and lost some, but most of all, we needed to play. We ended up winning.” 
Kade Wilson, Year 3

"Today was the touch gala day. We all were sorted into teams, junior girls, senior girls, junior boys and senior boys. It was so fun but so exhausting. Some people went to the canteen and got lollies. We played four games. My team won three out of four games.” Sophie James, Year 3

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Jagga Smith - NSW PSSA Soccer Championships 

Last week, Jagga Smith from Year 6 travelled to Tamworth to compete in the NSW PSSA Soccer Championships. Representing the Polding team, Jagga played alongside some of the best up and coming girls from Catholic and non-Catholic schools across NSW. Over the course of the week, Jagga had the opportunity to bond with her teammates, and as the tournament went on, the team began to develop strong connections and develop combinations as a team. The Polding team played seven pool games, finishing with two wins, four losses, and one draw. Jagga played in various positions throughout the matches, primarily as a striker and wing. Congratulations to Jagga for reaching such a high level and competing with some of the state's best soccer players.

Year 3 and 4 Netball Gala Day

Good luck to all our Year 3 and 4 students competing in the NSW Netball Gala Day on Wednesday 11 September.

All students who registered through Compass have been placed in teams on the PlayHQ website. Parents should have received a QR code to complete their child's team registration. Please follow the registration instructions provided on PlayHQ. If you need help, feel free to contact Renee Shaw in the office.

On the day, students should wear their regular school uniform along with sports shoes. They should also bring a hat, sunscreen and water bottles. While a canteen will be available, we recommend packing a healthy lunch. Parents and families are welcome to attend and support the children. If anyone is available to help by umpiring some games, please email Drew Wilson at andrew.wilson@lism.catholic.edu.au. 

We ask that all participating students arrive at school by 8:15am, as we will be departing at 8:30am.

Year 6 Hastings Zone Gala Day

Next Thursday is the Year 6 Hastings Zone Gala Day, where all Year 6 students can participate in netball or soccer leagues. The day is designed to promote fun and inclusion, allowing students to meet others from nearby Catholic schools who may be attending the same high school in 2025. The event will feature the Paul Wilson Cup for soccer and the Lismore Diocese Netball Challenge, with the winning teams advancing to the Diocesan finals in Grafton on Wednesday 25 September. Details about the gala day and permission notes were sent out to Year 6 students via Compass last week. 

Travel to the venue is by bus, and a canteen will be available throughout the day. We hope our Year 6 students have a fantastic sports day with their peers and wish the best of luck to our netball and soccer teams! We ask all students to arrive at school by 8:15am to ensure the bus can leave on time at 8:30am.

Future Dates

Term 3

• Wednesday 11 September: Netball NSW Schools Cup (Years 3 & 4) - Port Macquarie
• Thursday 12 September: Paul Wilson Cup & Lismore Diocese Netball Challenge - Laurieton (All Year 6)
• Friday 13 September: Polding Athletics - Newcastle
• Wednesday 25 September: Paul Wilson Cup & Lismore Diocese Netball Challenge Finals - Grafton
• Monday 28 October: Summer Sports Trials (Years 4 & 5 Basketball and Tennis)
• Monday 4 November: Summer Sports Trials (Years 4 & 5 Cricket & Touch Football)

Student Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 400 Dojos:

Isabelle P and Thomas B

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 300 Dojos:

Alexander R, Archer M, Benjamin B, Brayden W, Cade S, Cedar B, Charlotte F, Chelsea O, Elle H, Emily H, Hartley O, Isaac R, Jack D, Jiya R, Oto V, Kohen W, Lucky S, Louis R, Lucy C, Maia C, Maliya L, McKenzie H, Patrick P and Ryan F

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 200 Dojos:

Anastasia K, Bonnie M, Brodie C, Charlotte W, Daniel L, Duke W, Eleanore M, Eli B, Elijah N, Frankie C, Gracie U, Isabella S, Isla W, Ivy C, Ivy G, Jacob B, Jonas C, Lawson M, Leila L, Liam J, Luke R, Mason W, Matilda W, Sophia S, Stella G and William G

Congratulations to the following students who have reached 100 Dojos:

Annabelle H

Alexis L, Angelina T, Ariah A, Ava R, Avery C, Beau L, Benjamin M, Charlee C, Charlotte W, Cooper W, Dhyana M, Dreigh T, Ethan B, Felix S, Georgina F, Harper C, Harrison S, Hudson M, Hunter S, Isabella S, Isobel W, Ivy C, Jade J, Jasper K, Kahter S, Layla R, Levi W, Lucas G, Macy C, Matilda W, Michael T, Nate M, Olive H, Parker B, Piya V, Raphael C, Scarlett G, Sienna V, Sophie J, Theodore R, Thomas E, Tiger Lily R, Willow H, Zach B, Zane B and Zoe O

Positive Behaviour Support

This week we start our new two week focus. I am respectful and responsible when I clean up my environment. The aim of this lesson is to prevent new rubbish and clean up what rubbish and belongings that are left around everyday in our school environment.

Family Resources:

Books to Share:

St Agnes' Primary School Community Forum

School Disco - Thursday 12 September (5:15pm-7:00pm). See flyer below. Don't forget to visit the Flexischools app to order your pizza dinner - orders close midday Tuesday 10 September.

If any parents are available to help on the night please email us at pandfstagnes@gmail.com

SPRING FLING VENUE UPDATE! Tacking Point Tavern Friday 20 September from 6:00pm

'Spring Fling' Parents Night - Friday 20 September - Get your babysitters ready for a fantastic night out! For just $15, enjoy a drink on us and an evening of fun and community.

Book Now via this LINK 

Canteen News

Parish News

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