27 February 2020

Catholic Education South Australia
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Week 5, Term 1 2020

 
 
 

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends,

In the blink of an eye Week 6 is just around the corner and we are almost at the half way mark of Term 1. I am pleased to be able to report that the year has started smoothly and much of the ‘beginning school’ nerves from some of our new Reception students have turned into ‘happy’ faces and school routines are now a part of everyday life. The recent cool weather conditions have helped to make sure the building program is making good progress and even though the completion date has been moved to the 28th April, I am confident that the new facilities will be worth the wait and appreciated by everyone.

READ MORE
 

From the Deputy

Hello Friends,

It’s hard to believe we are almost at the half way point of the first term, as they say, time flies when you’re having fun.

Read more about Shrove Tuesday, Before School Play Time, PPL's for students, staff and parents.

READ MORE
 
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Survey Results

We recently undertook some community surveys and have included links to the collated results below:

READ MORE
 

Canteen Announcement

Welcome to all of our new students and parents and welcome back to our existing families.

We have implemented some changes to the QKR app to simplify the selection process and next term even more food options will be available. If you would like to have some input into the evolving menu for the canteen you can contact myself or reception to put forward your suggestion etc. Dtaggert@star.catholic.edu.au 

As the canteen relies heavily on your support to operate, we are urgently recruiting assistants to help out on a more regular basis, if you are interested in assisting for a few hours a day ie. either weekly, fortnightly or monthly this would be greatly appreciated, we ask that all volunteers, volunteer for only one day per week. Many hands make light work. Please contact me on 0419112106 or the office to put your name down. For our existing helpers could you also contact myself to update your details and availability to assist me with rosters.

We are struggling for volunteers on Thursdays, so if you are able to help it would be very welcomed.

Click here for the current roster

We look forward to seeing yourself and the children in and around the canteen.

Thank you!

Dee Taggert
Canteen Manager

 
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Key Dates T1 (28 Jan to 9 April)

Monday 2 March
P&F Meeting 7pm All Welcome

Wednesday 4 March
Assembly 1.45pm Year 2 hosting
SAPSASA Airport District Swimming

Friday 6 March
Italian Show

Monday 9 March
Adelaide Cup

Tuesday 31 March
AGM

Friday 3 April
Pupil Free Day

 
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Sports News

Congratulations to Mackenzie Lewis who was selected in the U12 FFA State Soccer team, playing in Tasmania. Well done Mackenzie, that is a great effort.

Click below to read more about State Soccer and SA Athletics Academy....

READ MORE
 

SPORT DATES FOR Term 1 2020

Wednesday 4 March
Airport District SAPSASA Swimming

Monday 16 March
SACPSSA Swimming Carnival

Thursday 26 March
Metro SAPSASA Swimming Carnival

Thursday 2 April
Star of the Sea School Sports Day

These are the dates that have been set so far so mark them in your diaries!

Please note the Athletics carnivals will be held in Term 2.

 
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To view the Canteen roster and price list click on the link below.

READ MORE
 
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Tuesday 31 March, 2020

For some reason the Annual General Meeting date didn't make it on the Term 1 Calendar. An oversight I am sure went un-noticed as I know AGMs are not up there with Fringe events or an entertaining night out.

However, I would ask you to put Tuesday 31st March on the calendar. We hope to combine the 2019 AGM and committee reports with a tour of the nearly completed school buildings and some hands on STEM activities for parents.

If you would like to be nominated for a position on the School Board, election nomination forms will be included with the next newsletter.

 

From the APRIM

Today, Ash Wednesday, marked the beginning of Lent. Junior Primary classes received the ashes on their foreheads as part of a Liturgy, some for the first time and they couldn’t wait to tell me how special and proud they felt. It was obviously a special prayer celebration for them, as you can tell if you saw the photos on Facebook. Years 3 to 6 celebrated with Mass, along with family, friends and parishioners. The children entered the church very reverently and it was a special occasion for all of us, with excellent readers, musicians, servers and helpers. Afterwards we served a cuppa for those who wanted to stay a while. One older couple I met came specially to our Mass, even though they have no ties to Star of the Sea or belong to our Parish. They told me that when the children lead the mass they try to attend as they feel welcome and we offer that ‘country feel’ hospitality, which they miss as retired farmers.

You will have received a water bottle to fill with coins if you have a child in Reception, Year One or Two as ‘Small Change for Big Change,’ an initiative which will support our MSC Mission work to provide drinkable water to a village in India. We are also supporting ‘Project Compassion,’ with Years Three to Six bringing home a Project Compassion box today. Please look under the car seats and around the house for coins that you can donate. Our aim is to raise over $3000.00 to educate 7 children for a year.

May God colour your Lent with joy,

Stella Foley
APRIM

 
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Smart Watches

We have a number of children at school with 'smart' watches that have the capability of sending text messages.

I remind parents that children with mobile phone devices and “smart” watches are not to use these devices to contact parents or friends during the school day.

Should children need to call parents they are to ask the teacher who will direct them to the office where calls can be monitored.

Your cooperation and support is appreciated.

 
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Reporting an absence

As of Term One this year, all Catholic Primary Schools have implemented a program to record absentees called SEQTA.

As with any new implementation we experienced some issues which we are now confident we have sorted.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to send an SMS to notify the school that your child(ren) will be absent from school.

The new system provides parents with 2 options to notify the school of an absence:

The 2 options to notify an absence:

  1. Call 8115 7400 and press 1
  2. Email us at absent@star.catholic.edu.au with the subject being ABSENT and provide us with the name of your child, their class and the reason for the absence.

If you email the teacher your child’s absence, please also let the Front Office know by using the same email address absent@star.catholic.edu.au

If your child is late any time after 9am they must report to the Front Office to sign in so we can record their arrival on SEQTA. Also children leaving school before 3:05pm must be signed out from the Front Office so the early departure can be recorded.

We apologise for any confusion and thank you for your support as we adjust to the new program.

Any queries please contact Vivian DePalma

 
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In 2020, we will again participate in the Children’s University Program. Star of the Sea school has been involved in this great program since 2016 and offers value to opportunities that provide our families to engage in new activities and learning outside our school grounds.

If you are considering the Children’s University Program for your child in 2020, please visit http://bit.ly/CUni2020  to learn more about the program and to ensure you are aware of the responsibilities around recording activity hours to ensure the minimum accrued hours for graduation are met.

Whether you are renewing or joining the program for the first time, the process is the same. Please go to our school’s QKR! app and register your child for 2020. Complete the sign-up process which includes media release consent and pay the $33.00 fee by the Tuesday March 10th Due date.

If you have any questions, please contact me via email on kmartin@star.catholic.edu.au

Kind Regards,
Kim Martin
Children’s University Coordinator

 
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In 2020, we will again participate in the Children’s University Program. Star of the Sea school has been involved in this great program since 2016 and offers value to opportunities that provide our families to engage in new activities and learning outside our school grounds.

If you are considering the Children’s University Program for your child in 2020, please visit http://bit.ly/CUni2020  to learn more about the program and to ensure you are aware of the responsibilities around recording activity hours to ensure the minimum accrued hours for graduation are met.

Whether you are renewing or joining the program for the first time, the process is the same. Please go to our school’s QKR! app and register your child for 2020. Complete the sign-up process which includes media release consent and pay the $33.00 fee by the Tuesday March 10th Due date.

If you have any questions, please contact me via email on kmartin@star.catholic.edu.au

Kind Regards,
Kim Martin
Children’s University Coordinator

 
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Road Monitor Roster

To view the this term's Road Monitors Roster click on the link below.

READ MORE
 
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Shop Hours:
Tuesday 8.30-10am

Devon clothing uniform shop are pleased to announce that Star of the sea customers can now purchase uniform from:

84 daws Road, Edwardstown
Ph: 83731776
Email: dcus@devonclothing.com.au

What does this mean for you?

You can now purchase your uniform Mon – Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-12pm during the school holidays* and school term, as well as during the usual opening times a the School Shop.
Your Online Orders will now be processed as we receive them, at Edwardstown, and you can still opt to have your order put in your child’s classroom box or have it sent to your Business or Home address or you can collect it from the school uniform shop on Tuesdays or anytime during regular trading hours at Edwardstown.