2024, Term 3, Week 6

Assistant Principal Message

Dear Families,

It has been a fantastic two weeks here at St Ambrose, filled with a variety of events and activities that have brought our school community together in wonderful ways.

We are excited to welcome Southern Cross University teaching students to our school. These future educators are already making valuable contributions, bringing new ideas and enthusiasm to our classrooms. 

Congratulations to all our talented students who represented St Ambrose at the Diocesan Primary Athletics Carnival. Your hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship truly shined, and we are incredibly proud of each one of you!

Our Year 2 Super Saint Celebration was a heartwarming event, and it was wonderful to see so many families in attendance. The effort that families put in to support their children was very evident, and it made the celebration even more special. 

We are pleased to recognize our two STEM MAD teams for their outstanding efforts in this year's DLCS STEM MAD Awards! The Year 6 team with their innovative "Toadbag," will now proudly represent our diocese virtually at the CNA National STEM MAD Showcase in November. 

The past two weeks have been filled with exciting learning experiences outside the classroom, including excursions to Jarjum at Byron Bay (Yr 2), Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (Yr 5), and Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Yr 3), as well as a captivating incursion with The Wildlife Twins (Yr 1). These activities provided our students with new opportunities for learning and exploration. We were also honoured to welcome Justine Elliot as a guest speaker for Year 6.

On Tuesday, we had a fantastic turnout for the Netball NSW Cup, with 14 teams representing St Ambrose from Years 3-6. A big thank you to all the students, staff, families, and volunteers who made this event possible.

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of Fr. Paul’s priestly Ordination. We congratulate him on this milestone and thank him for his unwavering dedication to our parish and school community. We also keep in our thoughts and prayers the 22 students who will be making their Sacrament of Confirmation next week.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Father’s Day Stall yesterday and our Father’s Day breakfast this morning such memorable events. We hope all who attended felt celebrated and appreciated. 

Wishing everyone a very special Father’s Day this Sunday!

Warm regards,

Chelsea Carter

(Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching)

Special Award Recipients

Term 3 Friday Assembly and Peer Support Calendar

Year 2 Assembly

Sacrament of Confirmation

A Confirmation retreat and preparation day for 22 of our St Ambrose students will take place next Wednesday 4th Sept. at St Anthony’s School and Church in Kingscliff. We will depart school at 9:00am and return back at approx. 2:30pm.
This day will assist the students in preparing for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation that evening. Bishop Gregory Homeming will celebrate this special occasion with our students and their families at 6:00pm, Wednesday 4th Sept. at St Anthony’s Church, Kingscliff. 

Confirmation gifts
The Piety Stall has a large range of rosary beads, plaques, confirmation cards and religious gifts, perfect for the sacrament of Confirmation. Browsers welcome

School/Parish Mass

This SUNDAY 8th September from 7:30am

STS MARY & AMBROSE CHURCH, POTTSVILLE SCHOOL FAMILY/ PARISH MASS CELEBRATION 

Students who made their Sacrament of Confirmation will be presented with their Confirmation certificate and small gift from the Paris at this Mass celebration.

There will also be a parish morning tea if you would like to bring a plate to contribute.

We hope to see many St Ambrose families at this Mass celebration.

At this Mass celebration staff from St Ambrose will be attending to the ministry duties and there will be children’s liturgy.

Fathers Day Prayer

Parish Newsletter

Diocesan Athletics Carnival - Coffs Harbour

Congratulation to all our students who travelled to Coffs Harbour to compete in the Diocesan Athletics Carnival on Friday 16th August representing Tweed Catholic Schools.

We wish the following student good luck, who have made it through to Polding Athletics Championship at Hunter Sports Centre in Newcastle on Friday 13th September representing the Lismore Diocese.

Thomas - 100m sprint - 2nd Place
Eva - High Jump - Third Place
Eden -  200m sprint - 2nd Place & 800m - 1st Place
Archie - Long Jump - 1st Place

Further congratulations to Eden for coming away with the runner up age champion award in Coffs Harbour.

Netball NSW Cup - Yr 3 to 6

Year 6 Fundraiser - Burger Day

Year 5 Excursion - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its conservation and educational efforts, provided a perfect setting for our Year 5 students' excursion on Wednesday, August 21, to study animal adaptations up close.

As the students explored the sanctuary, they encountered a variety of native animals, each demonstrating unique adaptations for survival. Interactive exhibits and informative displays helped students understand how these animals have evolved to thrive in their environments, making the learning experience both engaging and impactful.

A standout moment of the day was the bird show, which featured an impressive array of species. The students were particularly captivated by the free-flight performance of ‘Gorilla,’ the Masked owl. As Gorilla glided silently through the air, the students were amazed by the owl’s stealthy flight.

Throughout the excursion, students had opportunities to engage with the wildlife and participate in discussions led by knowledgeable staff. They learned valuable information about various animal adaptations, which deepened their understanding of the natural world.

As the day concluded, the students returned home with a greater appreciation for Australia’s unique biodiversity. The visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was filled with fun, discovery, and valuable lessons, enriching our students’ knowledge of animal adaptations and conservation.

Year 1 Incursion - The Wildlife Twins

Year 1 was thrilled to welcome some incredible Australian animals to our school on Wednesday. The Wildlife Twins brought along snakes, lizards, and dingoes, and we learned about their physical characteristics. We were especially amazed at how flexible dingoes are and how this helps them survive in the wild. If you see a Year 1 student, ask them to tell you the difference between snakes and lizards!

Year 3 Excursion - Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Wellbeing

Online Safety Education for Primary Schools

Children are growing up in two worlds, the real world and an online world. Just like we protect children from dangers in the real world, it’s important to keep them safe in their online world so they can thrive and make positive contributions to society. In each newsletter, we will include messages and resources that cover a range of topics. These resources have been compiled to educate the parent community on healthy and safe online behaviour.

Chelsea Carter

Assistant Principal- Learning & Teaching

Jess Wilson

Acting Leader of Pedagogy

Digital Devices Acceptable Use Policy

Our Digital Devices Acceptable Use Policy has been amended to ensure that the following information is clearer for readers. This policy can be found on our school website. 

iPad Set-Up and Management Guidelines for Parents/Carers

1. Apple Family Sharing and Parental Controls:

• Parents/carers must set up iPads using Apple Family Sharing and activate parental controls.

• Do not use the parent Apple IDs for student iPads, nor allow students to manage their own Apple account.

• Only parent/carer-approved applications should be installed.

• Parents/carers must keep Apple ID passwords confidential to prevent unauthorized app installations.

• Sim cards are to be removed prior to entry into the school.

• Ensure that the iPad software is regularly updated to maintain compatibility with current educational apps.

• Regularly check the iPad’s storage capacity to ensure there is enough space for educational purposes.

• Parents/carers should not contact students directly via their iPads during school hours.

• All communication during school hours must go through the school’s front office.

• Students are required to keep their iPads on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode to avoid receiving notifications during the school day.

For more information refer to Apple Family Sharing and parental control. Parents/carers are encouraged to contact the school if they need any support or have questions regarding iPad management.

Cracking the Code: Parenting Teenagers in the Digital World Workshop

Keeping our Kids Safe on Social Media Workshop

The "Keeping our Kids Safe on Social Media" parent workshop that was to be held last Monday night, 26th August at St Anthony's Kingscliff has been postponed.  This workshop will be rescheduled to Monday, November 25th.  Please save the date, and keep an eye out for  the workshop flyer to be included in our newsletter early term 4 with further details. Refreshments commence 5:15pm with presentation from 5:30pm - 6:30pm.

Organisers apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. 

Tell Them From Me Survey

Last term this survey was completed by students from Years 4 to 6, school staff and 26% of families who chose to complete the survey.

Survey data about relationships and the environment

Commendations:

The majority of students feel the relationships between students and teachers are positive. Students treat each other with kindness and respect. A high percentage of students agree that the school encourages them to look after the environment. 

Areas for Development:

• Encourage students to be a participant in the Green Team to foster environmental awareness.
• Through the wellbeing topics each fortnight, support students to gain necessary skills for positive interactions within their friendship groups. 

Healthy sleep, exercise and diet can make a difference.

Healthy sleep, exercise, and diet play critical roles in a student's overall wellbeing, impacting not only their physical health but also their cognitive function, emotional regulation and ability to focus. 

Encouraging healthy habits early on sets the foundation for a lifetime of wellbeing. Children who learn the importance of sleep, exercise and a balanced diet are more likely to carry these habits into adolescence and adulthood, impacting their overall attendance and success in school.

Cudgen Nippers

Fathers Day Celebrations

Thank you to the Generous Local Businesses Supporting our Fathers Day events

Lets all shop local and get behind the businesses who support our school community.