Dear parents and carers,

This week, we have settled into our new routines and have enjoyed a smooth start to the new year. It has been fantastic to see the children take on new roles and responsibilities in a positive fashion. Thank you children!

Thank you to those families who have already returned their Emergency Contact updates. Please be aware that we are required to collect this information on an annual basis – it helps us to ensure that we have your most up to date contact information.

Working with Children Checks - Please remember to forward a copy of your working with children check as soon as you have it available. All parents and community members who assist us at school are requested to obtain a WWCC. See below for additional information.

House Captains - Congratulations to the children who have been elected as house captains for 2020.

Augustine – Henry Clifton and Charlie Ryan

Dominic – Genevieve McLelland and Jacky Xia

Xavier – Hugh Knight and Banjo Metcalfe

Already, the captains have assisted with organising equipment for the swimming carnival, and have given input into how our lunchtime cricket games can flow smoothly.

I am certain that the house captains will do a terrific job in their new roles.

Swimming Carnival - Things to remember for today’s swimming carnival –

• be sun smart
• have fun and be a good sport

Do not bring or wear coloured zinc or coloured hair

We plan to begin the carnival as promptly as possible to ensure that we are able to complete all necessary events in good time.  Events will begin at 5:00pm. The pool’s regular canteen will be in operation tonight.

Please be at the pool at 4:50pm.

This year we are using the Meet Manager program and the Dolphin timing system, this is a continuation of the transition to electronic record keeping for carnivals. I would like to thank the Grenfell Swimming Club for their assistance and support which has enabled us to use this equipment tonight. Thank you in advance to everyone who has volunteered their time to ensure the smooth running of the events – your support and assistance is appreciated.

Please note the Western Region swimming carnival is set down for Monday Feb 17 in Harden.

Parent Information Evening — our Parent information evening is to be held on Wednesday February 19 beginning at 5:00pm. We are looking forward to meeting you and sharing with you, information about your child’s class in 2020.

School counsellor – our school counsellor will make her first visit for 2020 next week. Each year, the counselling service requires for parent referral forms to be updated. If your child accesses this service, please return an updated form by Monday. A copy of this form is attached. This year we have secured additional visits to enable this service to continue operating successfully. We will have our counsellor visiting 4 times per term. I encourage you to make use of the opportunity to access support for your children.

Hennessy BBQ – each year staff from Hennessy Catholic College in Young host a BBQ for our school community. This year’s BBQ will be held on Wednesday Feb 19 from 5:30pm.

Book Fair – this year, our book fair will be held from March 9-13. More information will be sent out closer to the event.

Swimming – the second block of our Swim Safe program will run next week. The information attached is for your reference. All children need to have their swimming gear at school on Monday.

Book Club – flyers were sent home yesterday, please finalise your orders by Friday February 14.

Japanese lessons – our Japanese program for Yr. 2/3/4 and Yr. 5/6 began on Tuesday. This year we will be using our electronic meeting system for lessons with Sensei Ken and Sensei Peta.

Emergency Contacts/Medical Updates- At the start of every year there are many things that we need to update here at school. An update form is attached to this newsletter. This is the general permission slip and the emergency contact information sheet. Please fill in this form and return it to school, so that we will be able to contact you easily if need be.

This also helps us to be aware of any allergies that your children may have. Please note that if your child is an asthma sufferer it is up to you to provide an asthma plan to us at school.

It is important to return this update sheet to school as soon as possible, as many children have allergies to different items, sometimes these are food-based allergies and sometimes children have other triggers that cause their allergic reactions.

Making this information available to school staff helps us to be aware of possible situations that may cause an allergic reaction. If your child needs to have medication at school, please send a note to the front office explaining times and dosages.

Asthma Plans – if your child suffers with Asthma, please ensure that you send an updated Asthma Plan to school. A copy of an asthma plan is attached and can be filled in in conjunction with your family doctor.

Uniform orders – an order form is attached for those in need of additional uniforms. Please return all orders to school by Friday February 7.

Volunteer Checks – we are endeavouring to ensure that our processes at school are in line with those across a range of areas.

As such, it is time to remind everyone to ensure that your volunteer checks are up to date. If you have not sent a copying of your most recent volunteer check to school, please update it through the following website:

http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check/apply/apply

There is no cost for volunteer checks.

If you already have a current volunteer WWCC as part of your involvement in children’s sports or other programs outside of school, we would appreciate if you would send a copy to school.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in completing these checks.

P & F News – Please note the Annual General Meeting is to be held on Tuesday February 18, 2020 at 7:00pm in our school library. All executive positions will be vacant.

Sincerely

The start of the new school year is exciting for everyone but especially for K/1. The new Kinders have so many new routines to learn, friends to make, games to play and new places to explore.
The Year One students have been helping the new Kinders in many different ways. They have been helping them with number work and letter sounds, classroom routines and jobs, using technology and encouraging them to share their ideas with the class during class discussions.

We have already had a visit to the church to see how a church is different from other buildings, and to begin to prepare the students for the Opening Mass, which will be celebrated next Wednesday. The most exciting thing was having the chance to ring the big bell!

The K/1 students have also had their first Library lesson and Ms Clancy is teaching them how to find (and put away) books using the first letter of the author’s last name. The Year One students are becoming more familiar with where to find books by their favourite authors.

We are using Jolly Phonics in K/1 again this year and we have already learned the sounds for s,a,t,p,i,and n. Homework folders will be sent home next week with readers and number formation worksheets for all students. Sight words will be sent home later in the term. Please join us for the Parent Information Night for more information about readers and sight words.
The K/1 students have also enjoyed some reading time with the ‘big kids’ from Year 5/6. We are going to continue this practice for the year as it gives the K/1 students an authentic opportunity to share their reading with support and encouragement.

Number work is a favourite in K/1 and the students are learning to count groups of objects in different ways. They are also learning (or revising) how to form numbers correctly.

Writing is a feature of our work each day in K/1 and next week the students will be publishing their first books for the year. Please support their efforts by sharing their books with them when they come home. I look forward to seeing you at the Parent Information Night and at next week’s Opening Mass.

Term One is a very busy time for sport. Our Swimming Carnival will be held today, commencing at 5.00 p.m. at the Grenfell Aquatic Centre.

St Joseph’s Cross Country will be held later in the term.

For those students who are eligible and interested, the following events will also be held throughout the Archdiocese in Term One.

Canberra/Goulburn Basketball-Nominations close 6^th February

Canberra/Goulburn Tennis- Nominations close 6^th February

Canberra/Goulburn Soccer- Nominations close 14^th February

Canberra Goulburn AFL Trials-18^th February (Wollongong)

Canberra Goulburn Cricket –Nominations close 13^th March

Canberra Goulburn Netball Team- Nominations close 20^th March

Canberra Goulburn Hockey (Individual)-Nominations close 20^th March

Canberra Goulburn Netball and Rugby League (Individual)-Nominations close 27^th March

Canberra Goulburn Touch Football- Nominations close 1^st April

Please indicate your expressions of interest to Mrs Best for any of these events by Tuesday 4^th February, 2020. (loyola.best@cg.catholic.edu.au)