Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Public Holiday

Please note that Monday Week 5, the 26h February is a gazetted public holiday - National Remembrance Day of late Sir Michael Somare.

Screen Time / Social Media

It has come to the school's attention that some students are members of various social media groups. While recognising the positive influence such groups can have, parents and carers are reminded to monitor closely children's use of social media. Reports of inappropriate posts and language in such groups can reflect negatively on the individuals involved.

Parents and Wantoks

The Parents and Wantoks first meeting was held on Tuesday. The Parents and Wantoks Committee add a great deal of value to our school, and this is a fantastic opportunity for families to become involved in contributing to school events throughout the year.  

The current P&W Executive is:

• Vivianne Soipang - President
• Emma Grubb - V/President
• Neomie Walsh - Treasurer
• Rebecca Matson - Secretary

Parent / Carer Contacts

We would like all parents to ensure that they have current and up to date contact details for the school. Please see Lorna in the office if you need to update your details - especially email addresses.  If parents hear of other parents not receiving school communication, please direct them to contact the principal.

School Council

The annual General Meeting of the School Council will be held on Thursday, the 29th of February 2024. At this meeting, voting for vacant positions for a Parent Representative will occur, in the Yr 9/10 room from 6.00pm– 6.20pm. Nomination forms are available from the school office and must be returned to the school office by Thursday the 8th February 2024. If you would like to know more about the functions of the School Council, please make an appointment to see the principal.

Regards,

Mr Greg Neville 

School Hours K - 6 (LIS)                                                               

Official school times are:

8.10                 Bell rings

8.10 – 8.15      Home room (Assembly on Monday and Friday mornings)

8.15 – 10.35    First session

10.35 – 11.05 Recess (15 minutes eating followed by 15 minutes play)

11.05 – 12.35 Second session

12.35 – 1.20    Lunch (15 minutes eating followed by 30 minutes play)

1:20 – 3.00      Third Session 

3.00                 End of school day  

School Hours 7 - 10                                                                                  

Official school times are:

8.10                 Bell rings

8.10 – 8.15      Home room (Assembly on Monday and Friday mornings)

8.15 – 10.05    Two periods

10.05 – 10.35 Recess (10 minutes eating followed by 20 minutes play)

10.35 – 1.20    Three periods

1.20 – 2.00      Lunch (10 minutes eating followed by 30 minutes play)

2.00 – 2.55      One period

2.55 – 3.00      Home room

3.00                 End of school day

Term 1 Monday 29 January to Thursday 28 March

Term 2 Monday 15 April to Thursday 20 June

Term 3 Monday 15 July to Thursday 12 September

Term 4 Monday 30 September to Thursday 5 December

A reminder that the LIS and STM libraries are open for borrowing and we encourage all students to regularly borrow. Primary students do need to have a library bag. This will be provided to new students. Students can also return and borrow books at lunchtime.

Library days are as follows:

Tuesday - Kindy and year 3/4

Wednesday - year 5/6; year 7

Thursday - year 1/2; year 8

Friday - Prep

Year 9/10 students do not have a set borrowing time; however, are encouraged to borrow at lunchtime.

Kind regards,

Ms Grace Savitas (Librarian).

Swimming lessons are well underway. It is great to see so many students participating in the class and after-school lessons. 

A reminder that while swimming lessons are on, the deep end of the pool and the baby pool are closed. Students are to sit and wait quietly for their lesson to begin. They are not permitted to be running around and playing games. This is for the safety of all students. I also ask that students be at the pool at least five minutes prior to the start of their lesson. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Monday afternoon sport continues again next week with Saturday morning games to be held on the 2nd and 9th March. Times will be communicated closer to those dates. 

If you have any questions about sport or swimming, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Ms Judith Meauri (Sport Coordinator)

Week 5: School Council AGM (Thursday 29th February - 6.00pm)

Week 7: NAPLAN testing for year 3, 5 and 7 students

Week 9: Parent / Teacher Interviews

Afternoon activities:

Monday Sport: 3.10-4.00pm Prep – year 2 Rotating games; year 3 – 6 boys Touch football; Year 3 – 6 girls Netball

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday: Swimming lessons at the pool with Ms Meauri (times as per lesson schedule)

Wednesday: Homework Class: year 4 with Ms Tukata and year 5/6 with Ms Langusch from 3.15-4.00pm; High School Supervised Study

Parent workshops - Soundwaves

On Thursday 22nd February (Week 4) at 3.15pm, I will present a short parent workshop on the Soundwaves spelling program which we use in our primary classes to teach spelling. This session will be in the year 5/6 room. 

Assemblies

Whole school assemblies are held each Friday morning at 8.10am in the basketball court and parents are most welcome to attend. Next week, it will be the year 1/2 assembly.

Kind regards,

Ms Cathy Langusch             

Our Work Ready Program continued this week and the trainees are continuing to make good progress.

Our continuing Year 9 / 10 FODE students are settling in well and have made a good start to the new year.

STMC staff are still working with the Local Provincial Education Office to finalise teachers for our next Trupla Tisa Workshops which will happen early March.

We are also working with DWU to finalise arrangements for our next semester of the DWU Bachelor of Primary Education, and Master of Education Leadership which will take place over the Easter break.  

Regards, 

Mr Kevin Collins