Newsletter - 2025 Term 3 Week 1
Prayer

Loving God
Grant us your mercy through living out your Word, as we reflect on our past experiences, Give us the ability to find the positives in each situation.
In Jesus' name we pray
Amen
School Calendar

To access the School Calendar on Compass:
- Using a mobile phone: Click on the Calendar tab at the bottom of your Compass home page. You will have the option to view the calendar as daily or weekly. To see future dates, click on the small calendar at the top right hand side.
- Using a computer: Click on the Calendar icon at the top left hand side next to the Compass logo. You will have the option to view the calendar as a day, week, month or term.
Principal Message
Welcome Back to Term 3
Dear Parents and Carers
It is with great joy and anticipation that I welcome back all our students, parents and staff to Term 3. I hope everyone has had a restful and rejuvenating winter break, spending quality time with family and friends, and is now ready to embark on another exciting term of learning and growth.
As we begin this new term, we carry with us the achievements and experiences of the first half of the year, while looking forward with renewed energy and purpose. Term 3 brings with it fresh opportunities for our students to explore new concepts, develop their skills, and continue building the strong foundations that will serve them throughout their educational journey. Please continue to support your child and focus on their goals that have been set after receiving your child’s report and attending your Parent/Teacher meeting.
To our wonderful students - welcome back! Your classrooms are ready, your teachers have been busy preparing engaging lessons, and there are so many exciting learning adventures waiting for you.
To our valued parents and families - thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. Your support at home makes an immeasurable difference to your child's learning journey. This term, we look forward to strengthening our collaboration as we work together to nurture your child's academic, social, and emotional development. Please know that our doors are always open, and we welcome your involvement in our school community.
To our exceptional teaching and support staff - welcome back to what promises to be an inspiring and rewarding term. Your dedication, creativity, and passion for education continue to be the driving force behind our students' success. Thank you for the time you've invested during the break in planning and preparing meaningful learning experiences. Your commitment to excellence in education truly embodies the St Agnes' way.
As we move forward together, our commitment remains steadfast: to provide a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment where every child can thrive. We will continue to uphold our high standards of teaching and learning while fostering the values of respect, responsibility, resilience and resolute that define our school community.
Welcome back to Term 3. Let's make this term memorable, meaningful, and filled with success for all.
Building and Maintenance
I want to share with you the significant improvement works that were undertaken at our school during the winter break to upgrade our facilities for the benefit of all staff and students. Our gratitude goes to David and Chris for their excellent work completed during the holidays.
- Staffroom area redefined/painted
- Whiteboards mounted within classrooms
- Sandpit shelter begun; finish date reviewed due to materials not ready
- Sandstone blocks at car park pick up/drop off – WHS directed
- New Toilet Roll Dispensers, Hand Sanitisers replaced in all toilets
- Grounds and maintenance prepared for Term 3
Warm regards
Mr Brendan Kiely
Principal
St Agnes’ Primary School
Assistant Principal - Mission
Term 3 Class Representatives
Congratulations to our Term 3 Class Representatives who received their badges at assembly today.


Social Circles
The Social Circles Program is a structured initiative where older students (Years 5-6) are trained to become peer leaders. These leaders then facilitate small group activities with younger students (from Kindergarten to Year 4). The program is designed to empower students to support each other in navigating social and emotional challenges, developing positive relationships and building essential life skills.
This term the focus will be on working together to show kindness, being inclusive of everyone and learning some skills for how to look after each other better at school, but also how to respond when people are not treating them respectfully. Social Circles will take place on Friday afternoons on alternate weeks to assembly. Students will be in different classrooms across the school for these sessions.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations
St Agnes' Primary School will be celebrating NAIDOC Week in Week 3 with whole school Prayer on Monday 4 August in the Hall followed by morning tea for the First Nations families. Our whole school NAIDOC Day of Celebration will be on Tuesday 5 August.
Our Year 6 First Nation students have been busy creating NAIDOC badges which they will be selling for $1.00 each from next Wednesday 30 July at Lunch 1 outside the library. The money raised from the sale of these badges will go to the Indigenous Literacy Fund to help provide resources for our most remote schools across Australia.


Free Parent Courses
Free online courses for parents of children with ADHD and ASD.
Please click on the following link to access.
Baby News
We are excited to announce that we welcomed a few new additions to the Aggies family over the holidays:
Hailey and Liam welcomed a baby brother Bodhi, Benny and Jack welcomed a baby brother Samuel and Mrs Eloise Wilson welcomed her son Sullivan (pictured below).
Congratulations to you all.

Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Number Fluency Program
Our students have settled back into their learning well. The children are enjoying challenging themselves to become more fluent in their Mathematics skills through our work with the Number Fluency Program. Every day, classes engage with a short session to develop their fluency with skills that they can already answer accurately. Research shows that students who display fluency in maths procedures and facts develop confidence, are engaged and motivated to learn, and enjoy the challenge and success they experience in maths.
All of our grades are engaging in this experience 5 days per week for 10 minutes. Take a look at these photos of the children in action!










Look At Our Amazing Authors!
This past term, our Year 1 and 2 students embarked on an exciting journey into the world of nature and literature! During Library lessons, they were introduced to the incredible works of Sami Bayly, a talented local author and illustrator known for her captivating books about diverse animals.
Throughout the term, each student became an expert on a specific animal, diligently researching and compiling fascinating facts. Their hard work culminated in the creation of wonderful booklets, filled with their newfound knowledge and creative illustrations. These amazing resources are now being shared and enjoyed by everyone during our popular Happy Half Hour lunch breaks!
We would also love to invite parents and family members to attend the library at morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up to celebrate the hard work and creativity of our young authors and illustrators!
Thank you so much to Mr Bagley for all of his work and for sharing this wonderful project with us all.


Sharing Student Learning!
This week, I was lucky enough to be visited by so many students who wanted to share their writing with us. I was so impressed with the work of these wonderful authors, that we couldn’t wait until the next newsletter to share them with you.
Congratulations to Imogen H in Year 6 on her amazing poem that she wrote in the holidays after a visit to Hyde Park Barracks. It is such a thought provoking piece of writing and it was wonderful to share in her excitement as she discussed it with us.
I was also lucky enough to have Year 1 students come and share their writing with me. Year 1 are learning to persuade their audience so that they agree with their thinking. Their wonderful writing was so persuasive that I had to talk to Mr Kiely about building some bee-friendly gardens!




Sports News

Hastings Zone Athletics Carnival
Next Wednesday, approximately 55 students will travel to St Joseph’s Regional College to compete in the Hastings Zone Athletics Carnival. These students qualified during last term’s Athletics Carnival and now have the opportunity to represent our school against other Catholic schools from Laurieton to Macksville.
Students will travel by bus, which will depart school at 8:30am. Please ensure your child arrives at school by 8:15am to allow time for the distribution of athletic singlets and boarding the bus.
If you're planning on transporting your child directly to and from the venue, please notify me in advance by emailing: andrew.wilson@lism.catholic.edu.au
What to bring
- A packed lunch and drink bottle (no canteen facilities will be available)
- Spikes are permitted for students competing in the 100m and 200m events
- All other events should be completed in regular joggers
This Zone Carnival serves as a qualifier for the Lismore Diocesan Carnival, which will be held in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday 26 August. We wish all of our students the very best of luck as they represent Aggies with pride!
NSW Touch Football Gala Day
St Agnes' will once again take part in the NSW Touch Football Gala Day, a non-competitive event aimed at promoting fun, inclusion and participation. Open to all students in Years 3 to 6, the day is a great opportunity for students to try touch football in a supportive and enjoyable environment.
The event will be held on Wednesday 3 September, at Tuffin’s Lane. This week, students were invited to nominate their interest in participating. Further details and permission notes will be shared via Compass in the coming weeks.
If your child missed the chance to nominate but would still like to participate, please email me at andrew.wilson@lism.catholic.edu.au or contact the school office.
Aggies Park Run Team
Aggies is starting a Park Run Team! Park Run is a 5km free, community-based program for all levels of runners. The Park Run begins at 7:00am each Saturday morning from the breakwall car park at Town Beach. Some of the Aggies' students and staff already regularly attend Park Run.
The team's format is simple, aiming to create a fun and inclusive environment that fosters physical activity for families. This is a family event, where students can attend with their families. A staff member will be available at Park Run on Saturday morning to hand out singlets and meet with students and their families. Parents are required to stay with their children and be responsible for their care. The first Aggies Park Run will take place on Saturday 2 August. We hope to see you there.
Future Dates
Term 3
- Wednesday 30 July - Zone Athletics Carnival - St Joseph’s Regional College
- Tuesday 5 August to Thursday 7 August - PSSA Rugby Union - Newcastle
- Tuesday 19 August to Thursday 21 August - PSSA Touch Football - Mudgee
- Tuesday 26 August - Diocesan Athletics Carnival - Coffs Harbour
Leader of Pastoral Care
Build the Habit of Regular Attendance
Even small absences from school can add up, leading to significant gaps in knowledge and understanding over time. Consistent attendance is essential for academic success, as every school day provides valuable opportunities to learn and grow.
Izaiah stated:
‘I believe what is great about coming to school is that I am in a supportive and strong community. I love playing with loving friends and learning with the class. I have a caring teacher who helps me when I’m stuck.’

Strengthening Young People Against Anxiety
Catholic School Parents Australia is facilitating a free webinar for parents, 'Strengthening Young People Against Anxiety', with Karen Young, Australia's leading expert on child and adolescent anxiety. Register via the link on the flyer.
Creative Arts News
Creative Arts Spectacular
It is pleasing to see just how far all of our extra curricular dance and drama groups are progressing with their preparation for our up and coming Creative Arts Spectacular.
Save the dates:
Dance and Drama workshop : Sunday 27 July School Hall - 9:00am to 1:00pm
Creative Arts Spectacular rehearsal day: Wednesday 27 August Panthers Club
Creative Arts Spectacular performance day: Thursday 28 August Panthers Club - 12:00pm Matinee and 6:45pm Evening Show

Student Awards

Assembly Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received an award at today's assembly:
Abhyukth S, Aemy M, Alex A, Alexander B, Amelia C, Antonio Jerome J, Athena T, Aubree D, Bailey B, Benjamin C, Bridie W, Cade S, Charlee C, Cody N, Davina I, Eleanore M, Elsie K, Ethan W, Evie E, Grace L, Hadlen S, Hamish D, Harry M, Hunter F, Isabella S, James D, Jaspian A, Jax E, Jaxon S, Jenine Anna J, Jorgie P, Kalani J, Kallan F, Lachlan L, Lexi C, Liam C, Lily G, Maliya L, Matilda H, Mia M, Mia T, Nicholas D, Owen N and Poppy W
School Community Forum

Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back! Please see below the SCF Key Dates Calendar for all that is planned for Term 3.
Year 4 Social Sunday – This Sunday 27 July 3:00-5:00pm. All details have been shared via the Year 4 grade page.
Year 5 Social Sunday – Sunday 3 August 3:00-5:00pm. All details have been shared via the Year 5 grade page.
Year 6 Social Sunday – Sunday 10 August 3:00-5:00pm.
August SCF meeting – Monday 25 August at 5:45pm. Please note this is a date change. We will be joined by Mrs Cath Eichmann, Regional Assistant Director, Hastings and former Principal of MacKillop College. Cath will present to parents on the topic of ‘Managing phones, screen time and social media’ from her experience as a secondary Principal.
Aggies’ Trivia Night – SAVE THE DATE – Saturday 13 September (5:30pm for a 6:00pm start). Gather your friends, family and year group for a great night of trivia and a little dancing! The School Community Forum will be hosting this event in the School Hall. BYO drinks and nibbles. Further details and ticket sales info will be shared soon.
Kind regards
Allison Ritchie
Chairperson
St Agnes’ Primary School Community Forum
E: pandfstagnes@gmail.com

Canteen News

Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
Week 2 | Deb Weston | Sharon McCarthy | Cath Quirk | Alison Neal and Tara O'Brien | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 3 | Zoe Bevez | Barbara McGregor | Shane Joyce | Renee Lisle and Emma Schuch | |
Week 4 | Amanda Ehlers | Sharon McCarth | Lana Clarke and Dominique Jackson-Hope | Teagan Bassett and Daniel Stewart |
Parish News

Community News


