Newsletter Week 4, Term 1 2022
Principal Message
Dear Families,
All classes have now completed their Parent Information evenings. I would like to sincerely thank those who attended and demonstrated support for the teacher and genuine interest in your child’s education.
On Wednesday night (23rd Feb) the school conducted its first Parent Forum meeting of the year and AGM in conjunction. Many thanks to all who attended and tuned in via Facebook Live. On the night we elected a new Parent Form Executive and the allocation of school activities to each class took place. A big thank you to the Class Parent Reps who have volunteered to coordinate various activities.
Our first school function is a Summer Soiree this Sunday, commencing at 4.00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new families or reacquaint with old ones. Importantly it is an opportunity for children to meet each other and make new friends in a different setting other than school. Thank you to our Parent Forum Social Committee for organising this event. Let's hope it is the first of many for 2022!
Wednesday the 6th March is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday signifies the season of lent. Lent is a time of prayer, moderation and self-denial. Please spend some time with your children reflecting as they prepare for the celebrations of Easter.
Best Wishes,
Brian Laybutt
PRINCIPAL
5 Gold Assembly
Important Update: School Changes to COVID Arrangements
CHANGE TO MORNING DROP OFF ARRANGEMENTS
● Morning Drop off arrangements for the Drop Off Zone, buses, students walking/riding to school will remain the same.
● Parents/Carers can come on site to drop your child off, however all parents/carers must leave the school on or before the first bell at 8.50am.
● If you wish to come into the school, teachers are on duty from 8.30am to 8.50am. You are welcome to drop off children between these times
● Parents / carers can walk their children to their classrooms but are not allowed in the classroom
● School gates will be locked at 8.50am.
● Parents/Carers who arrive at 8.50am or thereafter will not be allowed on site unless registering as a visitor. ● Parents/Carers coming on site do not have to wear masks
CHANGE TO AFTERNOON PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS
● Students who ride/walk home, catch a bus and who wait in the Pick Up Zone - effectively nothing has changed
● The oval area will NOT be opened, all students will leave via the front gate
● Parents/Carers can come on site from 2.50pm when the front gate is opened.
● Parents/Carers are asked to wait in three specific areas:
a. Outside the hall
b. Past the the Admin Area against the wall near the Counselor's Room as far down as the Canteen
c. On the grassed passive play area
d. There is plenty of seating, please avail yourself to this
● NOTE: Parents/Carers are NOT permitted to wait outside your child’s class
● Classes will be dismissed and students will walk to their parents/carers who are on site (please discuss your arrangements with your child).
● Parents/Carers who come on site please be mindful that there will be 360 students moving towards the front entrance at 3.05pm consequently please:
1. Do not block off walkways, be mindful of students leaving
2. Do not wait outside the Admin area
3. Do not wait just outside the front gates as this will create congestion
● If you arrive at 3.05pm intending on coming into the school, please understand that the majority of students will be leaving via the front gate at this time as well as students lining up for buses and making their way to the pick up zone - it will be heavily congested for 5 min - 3.05 - 3.10! Please be patient.
Religious News
A reminder to parents if your child is in Year 4, Baptised Catholic and you have not yet signed up for the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation for your child please do so ASAP by accepting or declining the event in COMPASS.
Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Tuesday 2022
Next Tuesday 1st March the children will receive a pancake to represent Shrove Tuesday which is the day before Ash Wednesday
During this time of Lent may we come to know Jesus more deeply and to live in His truth. We pray that we become the people Jesus calls us to be, a welcoming community alive to relationships of justice and peace.
Next week, Wednesday 2nd March we celebrated Ash Wednesday.The students in Year 2 to 6 will attended Mass at 9:15am. Kindergarten and Year 1 students will celebrate a prayer service in their classrooms and receive their ashes.
Ash Wednesday begins the forty-day season of Lent that leads to Easter.
For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. Fasting reminds us that food alone cannot make us happy. We must also be fed with prayer, with God’s Word and by meeting Jesus in the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist.
SUNDAY 6th March
STS MARY & AMBROSE CHURCH, POTTSVILLE SCHOOL/PARISH FAMILY MASS 7:30am
Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation Commitment Mass
(This involves children from Year 4 who are preparing to receive this Sacrament)
At this Mass celebration staff from St Ambrose will be attending to the ministry duties. We hope to see as many St. Ambrose Families at this mass
Project Compassion boxes will be placed on class prayer tables and sent home
School News
UNIFORM SHOP
Now delivering to classrooms Tuesday and Thurdays.
*Flexischools cut off 5pm the night before
Did you know we sell hair accessiories, these can be purchased on Flexischools.
Student Of The Week and Most Improved
Sports
Welcome to another week in sport! There has been lots happening this week, with plenty of trials happening across a range of sports.
Zone Soccer Trial
Congratulations to Ben Spotswood and Mason Diplock for being selected into the boys Tweed Zone soccer team to attend the Diocesan trials. Also another congratulations to Sophia Levings who was selected into the girls Tweed Zone soccer team. This trial will be held on Friday 11th March in Grafton. Good luck for the trial!
AFL News
Congratulations to Jacob Schutt and Jarah Star-Webb who attended the Diocesan AFL trials last Friday. Both boys were selected for the Lismore squad to attend the Polding AFL trials in Newcastle on Thursday 31st March, 2022. This is a fantastic effort and we wish them both the very best of luck.
Diocesan Swimming Carnival
Well done to all 6 swimmers from St Ambrose who represented the Tweed Zone at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival last week. A big congratulations to Rio Giridharan who has made it through to Polding swimming trials in Sydney! Good luck.
Swimming Age Champions
Under 8s: Lennox and Wren
Under 9s: Sara and Tilly
Under 10s: Oliver and May
Under 11s: Chase and Imogen
Senior: Jarrah (not present) and Harper
Wellbeing
Parent Forum
Community News
