Dear Families,
This year I have been working with a number of representative across the Diocese of Lismore in an attempt to reframe our united vision for learning (what students in each of our schools should expect to ‘receive’ from their experiences in our schools). A great deal of our attention this week focussed on the aligning our work with the Melbourne Declaration on Education Goals for Young Australians document (2008). In 2008, the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs issued the Melbourne Declaration, supporting all schools in the pursuit of the following goals:
Goal 1: Australian schooling promotes equity and excellence
Goal 2: All young Australians become: successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens
This work has made me reflect on the community we have here at St Ambrose and how we are preparing all of our learners for the future. When Brian first communicated his vision for St Ambrose, he was passionate about ensuring that every member of our school was recognised as a learner and that we were all on pathways of improvement. Clearly, this is very visible in our students as they progress through year levels, demonstrating more complex and challenging applications of their understanding as they go. What is also vital to the life of our school is that we provide ongoing opportunities for our staff, friends and family members to learn and grow through their time with us. We have endeavoured to build, reflect on and continually strengthen the partnerships between home and the classroom. When our partnerships are strong, learning and growth is at the centre of our conversations, giving everyone in our community support and encouragement to successfully, creatively, confidently and actively engage with the world.
So far this term, we have had our Year 6 and Year 5 students on camp. Chelsea Fisher and I were very proud to lead our Year 6 camp. Everywhere we went, our students were praised for their enthusiasm, knowledge and the way they engaged with each other. As I write, our Year 5 students will be finishing up at Lake Ainsworth. Year 5 camp challenges our students to work together to solve problems and push themselves physically and cooperatively. Caitlin Martin and Grace McMahon have already spoken very highly of how our Year 5 students are achieving success, ensuring that our school is in very capable hands with the next group of student leaders. On behalf of myself, Chelsea, Caitlin and Grace, I offer my deep gratitude to our Year 5 and Year 6 parents for the faith you placed in us to run these camps and the assistance you gave, preparing your children so that they get the very best out of these experiences.
We have got some busy days ahead as we celebrate Book Week next week. Please take note of all the activities we have planned and feel very welcome to contact your teacher/s if you need more information or if you would like to take part in these.
Today is World Teacher’s Day and I’m sure I don’t need to go into great detail about how much I admire all of the staff here at St Ambrose. Each of our staff members is immensely talented and passionate about ensuring that everyone in our community is provided with ongoing opportunities to flourish in life. To all of our staff, thank you for all that you are and all that you do. Each day, you work respectfully, responsibly and courageously and you make our school the very special place that it continues to be.
I hope to see you for Book Week! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Kind Regards,
Nic Constable
Acting Principal
For the latest Parish News click here
For upcoming dates click here
Thank you to the families
who attended the School/Parish Mass
last Sunday and especially to the Kinder families
who supplied morning tea.
Thank you also to the children who sang in the choir.
Our next Parish/School Mass will be on Sunday 17th Nov. 7:30am and Year 1 families will be asked to host morning tea.
Polding Athletics
Congratulations to Sebastian Trimboli and Mikkel Gronholt who participated at the Polding Athletics Carnival at Homebush on Friday 18th October. Both boys participated in the 1500m race. Miki placed 4th and Seb placed 12th. Congratulations boys, a great achievement! Its always great to see Miki and Seb take part of the St Ambrose running club on Tuesday mornings, your hard work paid off!!
Term 4 Sport Electives
Sport Electives commence next Monday Week 3. Year 3-6 students will be divided into their elective groups to commence in their selected sport! We will see students learning tricks and jumps in skateboarding, safe defence moves in Taekwondo, the art and skill of Lawn Bowls, safety at the beach and hanging 10 on waves in Surfing, corner work and stretching in dance and AFL skills in Mixed Games. Let’s hope for continued sunshine each Monday!
Please note:
Sports uniform to be worn,
Students participating in dance and surfing can bring a change of clothes.
Dance students do not require ‘specific dance clothes’, school uniform is suffice OR students can wear shorts / leggings.
Tennis / Skateboarding - If you have a tennis racquet, skateboard and helmet etc. please bring your equipment along on Mondays.
Summer Sports
Summer Sport Trials - Year 4 & 5 students only
Touch
Cricket
Basketball
Softball
Tennis
If you would like to nominate to represent the Tweed Zone at the Catholic Schools Summer Sports Trials, please visit the site below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMNqsQTwAnFId6MdFCBH3ENiHS65rqtgGwNBz8VN0_3SbtWQ/viewform
- ONLY THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THEIR SPORT CONSISTENTLY OVER SEVERAL YEARS, PLAYING AT A HIGH STANDARD, SHOULD NOMINATE.
- NOMINATIONS CLOSE Friday 25th October
Local trials will be advertised and information will be sent to students' families who have nominated next week. Please note trials will be out of school hours.
To assist with any enquiries you may receive regarding student travel applications, we have provided some information below.
Applications for student travel in 2020 opened on Friday, 11 October 2019.
Students progressing to year 3 and year 7 no longer need to re-apply if they:
· are continuing at the same school
· are residing at the same address
· have not been sent an expiry notification from Transport for NSW.
Where a student meets the new distance eligibility, the system will automatically update their entitlement. If they do not meet the new eligibility, they will receive an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
If students need to update their information or re-apply, they should go online to https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails
Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2019 to ensure student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card is not cancelled. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2019, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.
Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2020.
Students residing in Rural and Regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the commencement of the new school year from their nominated operator, this may be distributed via the school or sent direct to their address. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/Parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
