NR Cross Country

The Northern Region Cross Country Carnival, held last Friday, May 12th, was a resounding triumph, thanks to the dedicated efforts of everyone involved, including our outstanding coordinator, Mrs Rachael Croker, the talented competing students, and the hardworking parent tuckshop volunteers.

First and foremost, we extend our gratitude to our Representative Sports Coordinator, Mrs Rachael Croker, for her meticulous planning and coordination that ensured a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants. 

We also extend our sincerest appreciation to all the students who participated in the Cross Country Carnival. Your enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship were commendable. 

A special mention goes to Ollie Croker (1st 11-Year Boys). William Waldron (2nd 11-Year Boys), Flynn Storrier (3rd 9-Year Boys), Bodi Cooper (5th 10-Year Boys) and William Croker (12-Year Boys) on their selection in the Northern Region team to compete at the Archdiocesan Cross County Carnival held tomorrow in Canberra. 

A particular acknowledgement goes to our amazing P&F event coordinators, Reané donated their time and energy to ensure everyone was well-nourished throughout the day. We are extremely grateful for your hard work and dedication. A special shout-out to Rechell Naughton, who has coordinated each NR Carnival we have hosted since 2002. Thanks, Rechell! 

Additionally, I would like to express our gratitude to all the teachers, staff members, the CHS Pass Class and parents who came out to assist and support our athletes during the Cross Country Carnival. Your presence created an encouraging atmosphere, motivating our students to push their limits and achieve their personal best. 

Police Talk

We were privileged to have Senior Constable Barbara Beard, our Police Liaison Officer, visit our school last week to address our students on various important topics regarding their safety and well-being. The session covered essential subjects such as stranger danger, cyber safety and bullying (both face-to-face and online). It was an enlightening and engaging experience for our students.

Senior Constable Beard captivated the students' attention right from the start as she skillfully navigated through sensitive topics, ensuring the students felt comfortable discussing these crucial issues. Her real-life examples and scenarios made the session both informative and relatable.

During the presentation, Senior Constable Beard emphasised the importance of staying safe in various situations, whether in public spaces or using the internet. She highlighted the potential dangers of online platforms, including the risks associated with sharing personal information, engaging with strangers, and encountering cyberbullying. She encouraged the students not to interact with people they do not know personally online, not to use their devices in their bedrooms at night unsupervised and to report any concerning activities to a trusted adult.

The Year Six session concluded with a discussion on the dangers of sending inappropriate images, a critical issue that can have severe consequences for young individuals. Senior Constable Beard pointed out to the students that anything shared digitally can be retrieved, even after it has been deleted. She encouraged them to think before sharing or forwarding any content and to report any concerning images they may come across.

Senior Constable Beard provided the students with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate potentially challenging situations, empowering them to make informed choices and prioritise their safety. 

We thank Senior Constable Barbara Beard for her invaluable visit and commitment to educating our students on essential safety matters. Through such collaborations with community professionals, we can reinforce the importance of personal well-being and empower our students to make responsible life choices.

Stay safe and remember, knowledge is power!

Thank you!

I would like to thank Jayme O'Brien and Isabelle Davis for filling in this week during staff absence. Both Jayme and Isabelle seamlessly stepped into their classroom teaching roles, ensuring the smooth continuation of our students' education. They enthusiastically embraced their responsibilities and fostered a positive and nurturing learning environment for our students.

Tell Them From Me - Student Surveys

As part of our focus on school effectiveness, students in Years 4 - 6 will participate in an online survey – Tell Them From Me​^® (TTFM^®). The survey will provide valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, their engagement with school, and how teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and worldwide have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve.

During the next few weeks, all students will be given the opportunity and time to participate in this survey during regular school hours. Students who agree to complete the survey will be given a random username and password to access and complete the survey online. Students’ names cannot be linked to their responses, allowing it to be completely anonymous. Results will show all student scores combined – it is not possible to single out individual students in the results.

The survey measures include emotional and social well-being, physical health, and behaviours and attitudes linked to student success. The survey also allows students to give their thoughts and feedback in open-ended question responses.

Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child will not participate if you or your child do not wish to. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable answering any question, he/she should leave it blank and move on to the next one. Your child can stop the survey at any time.

If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, please contact us by 23 May 2023.

Parents also that the opportunity to participate in an online survey – Tell Them From Me​^® (TTFM^®) survey. The link to this and further information will be provided next week.

School Fees for Term 2

As mentioned, we transitioned on May 1 to our new finance system, TechOne. 

As part of this transformation, existing direct debits and using Qkr for most payments will cease. All families have been allocated new BPAY numbers, the preferred method for paying your school fees. You can set up periodical payments via your bank. You may also use Compass Pay. Cash at the school office is still an acceptable form if necessary.

Catholic Education will take over the provision of school fee term statements. These have been sent out yesterday via email and show your BPAY details in the top right corner. Please keep an eye out for these.

Belinda can provide you with your BPAY details before receiving the statements if required.