We are able to hold student medications in the office for those children who require either short term or ongoing medication. Any medication must be supplied to us in its original packaging, with the pharmacy label attached for prescription medicine. Our system has been updated by head office so please read the following carefully if this applies to your child.

Short term medication (pain relief, antibiotics, antihistamine etc) -

• Parent/carer must visit the office to sign medication administration authorisation form so that our staff are able to administer the medication.

Ongoing medication (asthma inhaler, antihistamine, ADHD medication, etc) -

• Parent/carer must visit the office to sign medication administration authorisation form so that our staff are able to administer the medication. 
• Parent/carer to ensure medication remains in date, and that there is sufficient supply for one term, each term.
• Parents/carers of students with asthma action plans or other official diagnosis must provide current paperwork from the doctor
• Asthma Inhalers - if your child is in year 5 or 6 or capable of self-administering their ventolin, they are able to keep their inhaler with them in their bag; if this is the case there is no need to complete the authorisation form.

I hope people enjoyed our Easter celebrations. Special thanks to Year 4 students & their teachers Miss MacGregor & Mr Collinge for leading us so prayerfully through the Easter story of Jesus’ death & resurrection today. All the students in K-2 looked very special in their Easter Hats.

In the newsletter the times of the Easter Masses are printed.

Easter is very special celebration. We reflect on an essential part of our faith - Jesus death & resurrection. To me the Easter story is about hope. It is a reminder that even in darkness there is light. As we celebrate the Joy of Easter with extra days off & chocolate eggs let us give thanks for all the blessings we have in our country - of peace, clean air, good food & water and remember that there are many in this world who are not as fortunate as us, prayer for peace in our world.

Happy Easter - enjoy the long weekend.

REPORTING TO PARENTS

Interviews are next Tuesday 2^nd April & the following Monday 8^th April. Please make a time to speak to your child’s teacher. You can attend in person or by phone; face to face appointments can be made by the Compass App. Instructions on how to book an appointment are on the Compass app.

In 2024 this will be the schedule for reporting to parents.

2024 Schedule

Term 1 

• Parent/Teacher Conferences – 2^nd & 9^th APRIL

Term 2

• Parent/Teacher Check in during last 2 weeks of Term 2
• Semester Reports (A-E) with no general comments. Accessed via Compass on last Day of Term 2

Term 3

• Parent/Teacher check in meetings - Last 2 weeks of Term 3
• Availability of Parent/Teacher Conferences as requested

Term 4

• Semester Reports (A-E) with general comments. Accessed via Compass on 16^th December

PARENT TIPS FOR INTERVIEWS

Do your homework

Take a few minutes before the meeting to jot down any questions or comments you have. Common questions may include:

• How is my child fitting in with other children?
• What are the children working on now?
• Is there anything about my child’s needs that I should know?
• Does my child ask questions, participate in class discussions and other activities?
• Is my child’s progress satisfactory?
• What activities does my child seem to enjoy the most at school?
• Who are my child’s friends?
• Does my child join in with other children in the playground?
• What kinds of things will the class be doing over the next few weeks?
• How is my child progressing in comparison to others in the year?
• Is there anything I can be doing to help my child at home?
• Do you have any concerns about my child?
• What is the best time and way to contact you if I have a concern?

Also, list anything that might be happening at home that may be helpful for your child’s teacher to know. If your child has seen a specialist for example, there may be some information that is important for the teacher or the school counsellor to know.

Go with a positive attitude

Approach the interview with a positive and relaxed attitude. Remember you and the teacher are partners in your child’s learning. Be clear and confident in raising any concerns and allow the teacher to answer or clarify your questions and worries.

Teachers want to help students achieve their best – you’re on the same team.

Walk away with an agreed plan

If the teacher raises issues about your child’s learning, development or behaviour, your goal will be to understand the plan to manage that during the school day and how you can help at home.

For example, if your child is struggling to pay attention in class, a behaviour diary which travels between class and home every day may be a good suggestion. The idea is the teacher updates you with a short, written account of your child’s day, so you can discuss it with your child each evening.

Ask the teacher what sort of strategies they have in mind and how you can help.

SACRAMENTAL STUDENTS

Congratulations to our students who have taken part in the Sacramental program for 2024, and this week in particular to our Year 3 & 4 students. They enjoyed a wonderful retreat day in our school chapel with children from other schools in the area on Wednesday and made the sacrament of Reconciliation last Thursday evening at Ss Peter and Pauls Cathedral. 

PROJECT COMPASSION

Thank you to our school community for supporting Project Compassion during the 6 weeks of Lent this year. We raised money to donate through our Pancake Breakfast, Easter Raffle, House Colours casual clothes day, Easter Raffle and classroom collection boxes. The total raised will be shared in the next Newsletter when we have counted and banked it!

EASTER MASS TIMES

NORTHERN REGION SWIMMING - GIRLS JUNIOR AGE CHAMPION ASTRID SCHMIDT

NSWCPS SWIMMING

Next Wednesday, Kyson and Zoe will travel to Homebush to represent the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese at the NSWCPS Swimming Carnival. Both students are competing in the 50m Freestyle and we wish them a successful day!

INDIVIDUAL SPORT TRIALS

Individual sports trials are open through the CECG sports website. These trials are intended for Year 5 & 6 student's ONLY.

Over the past 2 weeks in Kindergarten, as part of the Initialit program, we have completed several Storybook lessons with a focus on the book Grandpa and Thomas by Pamela Allen. One component of the Storybook lessons is about moving beyond the book and making real world connections. To support this learning, we took everyone to the sandpit to make and decorate sandcastles, just like Grandpa and Thomas did in the book. We had students recalling vocabulary from the book as they recreated the part where Grandpa could feel Thomas's wriggly fingers as they dug a tunnel under their sandcastle. Everyone had a great time working together to create and share.

This year our school canteen will continue to operate Tuesday to Friday. Student's requiring lunch from the canteen need to submit a lunch order via the QKR app by 9am the day the order is to be received (remember you can order up to two weeks in advance). It will also be open during first break for over the counter snacks, ice creams and drinks. Miss Courtney Kozel will be our canteen manager while Mrs Bennett is on leave.

We currently have no Size 8 black sport shorts in stock, and the supplier is out of stock also.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

The uniform shop is run by parent volunteers and is open on a Wednesday morning 9-9.30am for fittings and sales. The best way to organise your child's uniform requirements is to order via Qkr. Orders need to be placed by 8.30am each Wednesday so that they are able to be sent home that day; orders placed after 8.30am will not be filled until the following week.

Birthdays 1-10 April!

Goulburn Regional Art Gallery

Young Artist Award

If you remember the following details school drop off and pick up should run smoothly. Please view the map below for parking restriction details:

Morning Drop off:

• Supervision at school starts at 8.30am. Students arriving earlier than this WILL NOT be under active adult supervision so please avoid dropping your children off before this time. Between 8.30am and 8.55am students are to take their bag to their classroom and then make their way to either the hall or basketball court where they are to wait in year groups until the morning play bell rings.
• Knox Street/Princes Avenue parking (front school entrance) - ideally families with students in Kindergarten only should be parking in this area. Please be aware of the bus zone, parking restrictions and keeping our neighbour's driveways clear. We also ask that you consider our staff when parking in the morning as there are limited all day parking zones where they are able to park.
• Hall gate (Knox Street) - Bus students are dropped off here. 
• Princes Avenue/Adam Street (back school entrance) - Parents are able to park on either side of Princes Avenue (outside car line) or in Adam Street if you need to walk your children into school (please note that this part of Princes Avenue is a one-way road). Be aware of parking restrictions and keeping our neighbour's driveways clear.
• Car Line (off Princes Avenue) -  Car line is a 'kiss & go' system where parents drop their children off without getting out of the car; please do not park and exit your car in car line as this creates major traffic issues. Car line is our preferred method of parent drop off as it ensures student safety.

Afternoon pick-up:

• Knox Street/Princes Avenue parking (front school entrance) - ideally families with students in Kindergarten only should be parking in this area. Please be aware of the bus zone, parking restrictions and keeping our neighbour's driveways clear. Kindergarten parents are welcome to park and wait for their child outside the classrom. Kinder students are also able catch the bus or get picked up from carline.
• Hall gate (Knox Street) - Bus students only are collected from here. A teacher is rostered on duty at this gate each afternoon and stays to supervise students until the last bus comes.
• Princes Avenue/Adam Street (back school entrance) - Parents are able to park on either side of Princes Avenue (outside car line) or in Adam Street if you need to walk into school to collect your children (please note that this part of Princes Avenue is a one-way road). Be aware of parking restrictions and keeping our neighbour's driveways clear.
• Car Line (off Princes Avenue) - Car line is available for parents to pick their children up without having to park and get out of the car; please do not park and exit your car in car line as this creates major traffic issues. Car line is our preferred method of parent pick up as it ensures student safety. Car line can be very congested in the afternoons. If the waiting line is outside of our driveway the advice from NSW police is that you should continue around the block via Adam Street until the line moves forward. Please consider arriving at 3.30pm or after to ease this congestion; your child will be safe and supervised until you arrive. Two teachers are rostered on and supervicion at car line is until 3.45pm. After this time your child will be taken to the office and a call will be made to parents to arrange pick up ASAP.

Before & After School Care

Our newsletter, The SPP Chronicle, is normally published fortnightly (odd weeks) on a Thursday afternoon at around 5.30pm.

Each fortnight we include anything and everything that has happened in the preceding two weeks such as excursions, assemblies, sporting results and photos, liturgies, etc. We also provide information about upcoming school activities and events, student birthdays and important information and correspondence for families. We love to give shoutouts to our students and school community like thankyou's, baby announcements, special achievements and EOI's for sporting & other school or community group involvement, so if you have news that you think we could include just email it through to office.sppg@cg.catholic.edu.au.