Newsletter - 2024 Term 1 Week 10

Calendar

From the Leaders

Second Sunday of Easter

On the Second Sunday of Easter, the Gospel  from John tells of Jesus’ first words after his resurrection being “Peace be with you.” Jesus’ greeting of peace is intended to assure the Apostles that his sacrifice has been to reverse their sins. We also hear about Thomas who doubted the Apostles when he was told Jesus had risen from the dead. He demanded proof, refusing to simply ‘go along with the crowd.’ We can’t get proof like Thomas did; we can’t touch or talk to the Risen Christ. The witness Jesus shared with us in the Gospel leads our unseeing eyes to believe.

Soup Kitchen

On Tuesday morning Joe, Emily and Ben came to the Soup Kitchen to meet Sr Marjorie, her nephew Wayne and some of the volunteers who cook and serve food to those in our local community in need. They were impressed by the cooked meal on offer, the mini supermarket with access to fresh fruit, veg and bread donated from local organisations, along with the free haircuts on offer. We also delivered some clothes racks to be used for donated clothing items. 

Catholic Schools Week

Next week we are celebrating the excellence and impact of Catholic schools. Each year, Catholic schools observe the celebration through a variety of activities, emphasising the importance of Catholic education. 

On Wednesday morning 4 Love will lead us in prayer. 

This year at St Agnes’ Primary School we are highlighting some of the new lunch time activities. Families are invited to join us for an afternoon of Feast Day Fun, as we celebrate St Agnes’, whose feast day was in the holidays on 21 January. This will start with a free sausage sizzle at 1:40pm, followed by joining your child in lunch time activities including yoga, gardening, soccer, board games, touch football etc. To conclude the afternoon, families will join their children in class groups in an activity voted on by students in classes.

Easter Raffle Winners

Many excited students and staff left school on Tuesday afternoon with wide smiles and Easter Raffle prizes. Thanks to all of our families who donated these and to the Office Aunties and SRC members for selling the tickets.

The raffle raised $732.00 for Project Compassion. This brings the total amount being donated for hygienic toilets in Somoan rural communities to $1334.00

Thank you to everyone who donated money towards our water drops and bought raffle tickets.

Come Read with Me - Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten team are preparing a Come Read with Me session to support all Kindergarten families to understand how to best help with reading at home. As you know, Kindergarten will begin to bring their home reading texts next term as they are busy building their foundational skills before starting this process at home. We look forward to sending invitations to you all soon.

New School Banners

We are excited to show off our new banners around the school. They feature aspects of this wonderful school and community we are a part of. 

Whole School Prayer

Kinder Love presented a wonderful prayer for our community on Wednesday morning. They recounted the Gospel message of Jesus’ Resurrection with the help of their Year 6 buddies. 

ANZAC Day

All students are invited to come along and march behind the St Agnes’ Primary banner on ANZAC day, Thursday 25 April. This is one way we can honour all Australian men and women who served in times of war. We are proud that our school is often really well represented at this fantastic community commemoration.

On Wednesday 1 May we will host an ANZAC Day Prayer Service at 9:00am in the school hall.

Kindergarten had their first visit to Christ the King Chapel this week with Father Prodencio. This was a special time for students and the many family members with one of the highlights being Father Prodencio joining in with the actions to their favourite hymn  ‘My Lighthouse”.

Staff Professional Learning Day - Friday 12 April

Supervision will be available at school on this day for any families that are not able to organise alternative arrangements. Children should be in their uniform and will need to bring Lunch One, Lunch Two, fruit, hat and a water bottle. Lunch orders will be available, the canteen will be operating as normal on this day. Please use the link below to register your child.

To book your child’s place please log on to www.schoolinterviews.com.au. The unique code to logon is u38gu

Autism Awareness Week

Did you know that this week included Autism Awareness Day? We have included a flyer that shares some information for families.

• Thank God for Jackson Ritchie and Hunter Sherd-Booby who showed great empathy for a friend who needed encouragement and friendship this week.
• Having so many families join us for our Easter Hat Parade on Tuesday.
• Jesse Kemp from Newman Senior Technical College who works with us on Tuesday and Wednesdays. He is a wonderful addition to our Office Aunties

This Week At Aggies

Easter Hat Parade

Sports News

Polding AFL Trials

Good luck to Henry Fryer and Flynn Wehlow, who will travel to Newcastle next Tuesday to compete in the Polding AFL trials. To reach such a high level in sport is an outstanding achievement. These two Year 6 students will be trialling for a position on the Polding Team to compete at the NSW PSSA Championships later in the year. Best of luck to Henry and Flynn.

Zone Cross Country

Congratulations to the students who qualified for Zone Cross Country in Kempsey on Tuesday 8 May. Travel to the venue is by bus, and notes will go out next week via Compass for attending students.

KM Club

This week, we made it to our first checkpoint. We have reached the 600km mark in our travels and are currently enjoying a brief stay at the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. We also had our first student reach 30km. Congratulations to Chelsea Orme in Year 2. 

As part of the Catholic Schools Week Celebrations next week, we invite our St Agnes' community to come and run with us during our Wednesday morning KM Club. The KM Club is on the bottom field between 8:25am and 8:50am.

Later in the day, the KM Club will also hold a special lunch two session for students and families in conjunction with other activities to celebrate the Feast of St Agnes'. We will have music on the bottom field, so pack your joggers and come run with us.

Congratulations to the following students:

10km
Arie Ford

20km
Hudson Mynott

30km
Chelsea Orme

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

Positive Behaviour Support

This week we continue with our focus 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. 

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.

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

PBS Video:

Congratulations to our winning house Flinders who have received the most dojos for following the 4R’s. They will all be invited to attend the House Treat day next Thursday 11 April. 

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

Shine

After-school drama classes known as 'Shine' continue in Term 2. Inside a kids' drama class, young participants engage in various theatrical activities designed to cultivate their creativity, confidence, and communication skills. Under the guidance of a drama instructor, they explore improvisation, character development, storytelling, and stagecraft through games, exercises, and short performances. Through this process, children not only develop a love for the arts but also build important life skills such as teamwork, empathy, and self-expression.

Classes begin in Week 2 on Thursday 9 May and conclude on the last day of Term, 4 June. Students from Years 1 - 6 are welcome. Enrolment forms, including details regarding cost, are available from the front office. Any interested students have been given a form from their class teacher.