From The Principal and the Leadership Team
From the Acting Principal’s Desk
At Claremont College we are deeply committed to integrity—the alignment of our inner values with our actions. Integrity is when our words, behaviours and commitments match who we truly are. It’s about living with honesty and authenticity, and staying true to our values, regardless of external pressures.
In a world where it can sometimes feel easier to put on a ‘perfect’ persona, integrity reminds us to do what is right, even when no one is watching. But integrity isn’t just about following rules; it’s also about caring for others and treating people with kindness, even in the smallest of ways.
As we celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day this week, we are reminded that kindness is a powerful expression of integrity. Whether it’s holding the door for someone, offering a helping hand, or simply sharing a smile, these acts reflect a deep commitment to living authentically and compassionately. Our students, staff, and parents at Claremont College demonstrate this every day through their quiet generosity, patience, and thoughtfulness.
We see integrity and kindness in action when we hear that:
- Chelsea J, Scarlett Y and Stella L created a bake sale to raise money for Sydney Children’s Hospital;
- Children encouraged others during Cross Country on Wednesday;
- Tom H and Jayden T cleaned up their classroom without being asked; and
- Lily P consistently shows kindness and respect to others.
These moments are small but significant as they reflect the heart of integrity and kindness, creating a community where people feel valued, seen and respected.
As we continue to build a school culture centred on honesty, respect, and self-awareness, I encourage you to join us in continuing to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness by encouraging your child/ren to practise kindness and embrace integrity in their everyday lives. When done with sincerity, these simple acts brighten someone else’s day but also help strengthen the character of the person performing them.
Let’s remember the words of 1 Timothy 6:18-19:
“Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.”
Let’s continue to inspire our children to live with integrity and kindness by building truly meaningful and lasting lives for themselves and others.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to foster a school community where integrity and kindness are celebrated and valued.
A Huge Thank You for a Successful Cross Country Event!
We would like to extend our thanks to Mr Geering and the entire staff team for organising a wonderful Cross Country event this past Wednesday. The day was filled with energy, teamwork, and incredible sportsmanship. We are so proud of all the students who participated and cheered each other on.
We also want to thank our parents and families for their continued support—whether it was through encouraging our students, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines. Events like these wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration of our entire school community.
Thank you again for making the day such a memorable and inspiring one!
Mrs Larissa Cameron
Acting Principal
Follow Us
Website: www.claremont.nsw.edu.au
Instagram: @claremontcollege
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/school/cla…
Inspire For Life
Year 5 Bake Sale
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Chelsea J, Scarlett Y and Stella L in year 5 for organising a wonderful bake sale to raise funds for Sydney Children’s Hospital. The kindness and generosity shown by these students was truly inspiring to us all.
Opportunities For Parents To Meet The Go-To Teacher
At Claremont we value opportunities to establish these important connections between home and school as we partner with you to support your child/ren to grow, learn and flourish over the coming year. We have a number of opportunities for you to connect with teacher/s in the coming weeks.
- Week 4/5 – IP Weeks: meetings for parents and students who are on an Individual Learning Plan (IP). These parents have been contacted directly.
- Various Weeks – Parent/Student/Teacher Goal Setting Meetings (K-6).
Goal Setting Meetings
YEARS 1-6
Year 1 to 6 parents can book their meetings and complete each year group’s questionnaire, through the access links below.
Parents will have a choice of joining their meeting in person, via Zoom or by phone. If your meeting is in class time, your child will be in the meeting alongside the teacher. If your meeting is outside of school time, we ask that your child be sitting alongside you during the meeting.
All Year 1 to 6 parents are required to complete a questionnaire alongside their child/ren, at least 24 hours before the day of your meeting, as the contents of this questionnaire will guide the discussion during the meeting.
If you have a child on an IP (Individual Program), you will already have had your first IP meeting for 2025, so attending a Goal Setting meeting is optional. However, we would still like you to complete the survey with your child.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
The Meeting Dates For Each Go-To Teacher Are As Follows.
Janelle Ford
Deputy Principal, Academic Excellence, Innovation & Pedagogy
Positive Behaviours @ Claremont
GO. FLUSH. WASH. EXIT
This week, our House Captains took the initiative to remind students about the importance of using the toilet blocks appropriately. They reinforced our school rule of ‘GO. FLUSH. WASH. EXIT.’ to ensure that students are using the facilities in a responsible and hygienic manner.
We kindly ask for your support in reinforcing this message at home, reminding your child/ren of this rule. This will help us ensure that all students are safe and minimise the time spent in the toilet areas, while promoting a more efficient and respectful use of the facilities.
Thank you for your continued cooperation.
Larissa Cameron
Acting Principal
Open Parachute for Parents and Caregivers
Coping with Bullying
Bullying is a topic that understandably provokes strong emotional reactions. In the lesson linked below, we reflect on how pervasive bullying is in our society, supported by societal norms such as displacing our pain onto others, blaming others for our feelings and seeing that the loudest voice usually gets what they want. In the lesson, we reflect on how children are often exposed to this role modelling in many different contexts. Bullying is seen as more than mean behaviour or interpersonal conflict. It is defined, in this lesson, as someone repeatedly hurting another person, with the person being hurt feeling powerless to change the situation. The lesson incorporates self-reflection exercises where parents can reflect on their own experiences and observations of bullying, the involvement of exclusion and privilege in this dynamic and how this can play out in various scenarios, including the workplace. The lesson also asks us to consider that both the person engaging in the bullying behaviour and the person experiencing the bullying are experiencing pain in different ways. The lesson provides tools for the parent of a child who is being bullied and for the parents of the child who is bullying, suggesting that it is important for us to give both the opportunity to change.
Please find the link following. You will be prompted before accessing the lesson to enter an email address.
Catherine McKersie
School Counsellor
Sibling Interviews Kindergarten 2026
Whilst we give priority to enrolments of siblings, placement can not be guaranteed. If you have a child due to begin school in 2026, please ensure that your application form is lodged. The online enrolment application can be found under the enrolment tab on our website and linked here. Additional references are not required for sibling applications.
Should you have any questions or require confirmation that an application has been submitted, please contact Mrs Rochester on 9399 3217 ext 2.
School Tours
We invite all parents to let your family and friends who might be interested in enrolling their child/ren at Claremont College, to our upcoming School Tour on Thursday, 6 March. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to see firsthand what makes our school such a special place for learning and growth.
They will explore our classrooms, meet our dedicated staff, and learn about the programs and activities that make our school unique.
Feel free to share this invitation and help us spread the word!
Date: Thursday 6 March 2025
Time: 9:00am – 10:30am & 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Follow this link for more information.
MindQuest 2025 – Enrichment Program for Gifted Students
📍 St George Girls High School, Kogarah
📅 Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 April 2025
St George Girls High School is offering its highly regarded MindQuest program for gifted and talented students in Years 1 to 6 on Saturday, 5, and Sunday, 6 April.
This exciting program provides stimulating courses designed to challenge and inspire young learners. The course fee is $250; a complete list of available classes can be found on the MindQuest website. If you are interested in registering your child or want more information, brochures are available from the Claremont office.
⏳ Registration closes on Friday 14 March 2025.
Renee De Rossi
Head of Inclusive Learning
Upcoming Events
Action Items
The following events require your attention:
Year 6 – Canberra 3 Day Excursion
Year 6 – Young Leaders Day Excursion
Year 5 & 6 Bible Study Breakfast
Key Dates Calendar
Key Dates Calendar as of 21 February 2025
Around the School
Merit Assembly
Congratulations to the following students who received a Gold Certificate or Pennant at the merit assembly on Monday:
Gold
Year 3 – Niki P
Year 4 – Ethan S, Jake B
Year 5 – Jayden T, Lara R
Year 6 – Wilson W
Pennant
Year 3 – William B, Juliette L
Year 4 – Harry L
Grade Captains
Congratulations again to the following students who were presented with their Grade Captain badges for Term 1. This time we have photos from Monday when the students received their badges.
Kindergarten: Angie M, Emily L, Eloise C, Leon R
Year 1: Maggie B, Dom M, Parker F, TJ F
Year 2: Isabelle K, Atticus T, Jonathan NH, Reuben C
Year 3: Benjamin K, Claire L, Annie J, Matthew C
Year 4: Zara M, Eden G, Ethan S, Agathe G
Year 5: Matilda LS, Jayden T, Thomas F, Lucas S
Year 6:Amelia D, Sofia LN, Leo I, Charlotte C
We look forward to seeing how these students will develop in their leadership roles, and we are confident they will inspire their peers and contribute to our school’s vibrant community.
Thank you for supporting your child’s leadership journey. Together, we can nurture the next generation of leaders.
Kindergarten
Kindy News – Term 1 Week 4
Year 6
Year 6 – 3 Day Excursion to Canberra
Year 5 and 6 Breakfast Bible Study
All Year 5 and 6 students are warmly invited to join us in the Year 1 Learning Space for breakfast, conversation, Bible study, and prayer. The group will meet every two weeks on Friday mornings from Friday, 28th February, to Friday, 28th March (Weeks 5, 7, and 9) from 7:45 am to 8:15 am.
Mr. Andrew Goddard will be leading the group with Miss Josie Alexander and Mrs Lina Gonzalez. Students can be dropped off at Coogee Bay Road before walking directly to the Year 1 Learning Space.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Year 5 & 6 Bible Study Breakfast Event Note
Chapel @ Claremont
This week, Rev Andrew Goddard spoke to the students on the following topic.
No one would think that they’re the ‘world’s best parent.’ Most would happily settle with ‘adequate’. God though, is the best parent. He disciplines his children when they need it, he teaches them who he is and who he made them to be, and most of all he loves them with the greatest sacrificial love.
As 1 John 3 says,
‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!’
MUSIC @ CLAREMONT
It’s been lovely singing with the choir again and hearing all their beautiful voices. We are always looking for new members, so if your child wants to join, it’s not too late!
Please try your best to drop your child off promptly at 8am. They’ve been coming in slowly over the first 10 minutes, and therefore we lose a lot of our precious singing time when this happens. Thank you!
CLICK HERE for the links and lyrics for the songs we have started learning for the ANZAC Day ceremony at the beginning of Term 2. Please try and find time to sing through these at home if you can. We still have lots of time, but eventually need to be singing these without looking at the words.
Mrs Yasmin Davis
Music Teacher
Library @ Claremont
Each year, on 17th February, National Random Acts of Kindness Day grows in popularity. Individuals, groups, and organisations celebrate it nationwide to encourage acts of kindness. This week, during library borrowing, we focused on the following books that promote acts of kindness.
Sometimes statues are granted a chance to become warm, breathing creatures. The stone lion has only one dream – to run, pounce and leap in the park across from where he sits. But one snowy night, when a baby is abandoned at his paws, he is compelled to think differently. Set during the Depression, a young girl finds comfort in the presence and strength of a stone, cold lion perched outside the entrance of the city library. Feeling compelled to help the girl, the lion feels his heart start to beat and his emotions awaken. Margaret Wild’s whimsical story is enhanced by the soft dreamy pastels of Ritva Voutila’s illustrations,
Margaret Wild is an internationally renowned children’s author whose books have been translated into several languages. Her writing deals with a wide range of themes, but most notably issues of identity, trust and death. She’s won several awards, including the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award. This is a picture book for children of all ages.
In this award-winning picture book, a cast of friendly characters invite friends over for a play – there’s fun to be had, food to eat and families to meet! Co-written by disability advocate Eliza Hull and Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin, the inclusive rhyming text explores characters’ various disabilities and how they’ve adapted their homes to be accessible. With bright, friendly illustrations from beloved illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett and a diverse cast, this is a must-read for all families. This delightful picture book has been shortlisted for several awards, including being shortlisted as a Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book in the Early Childhood category.
Recommended for ages 4 years and older.
Mrs Susan Kesur
Librarian
Sport @ Claremont
Key Dates
K-6 Sport
Wednesday 29 January – 9 April
Claremont Cross Country Carnival (Years 2-6)
Wednesday 19 February
IPSHA Swimming Carnival
Tuesday 2 March
IPSHA Cross Country Carnival
Wednesday 2 April
P&F Colour Fun Run
Wednesday 9 April
Cross Country Carnival
This week, we were very excited to hold our annual 2-6 Cross Country carnival in the beautiful Centennial Park. We had a fantastic day of students challenging themselves (mentally and physically) and enjoying the competitive spirit with their friends and peers. Well done to everyone who ran, jogged (and maybe, at times, walked) their way around the course. A massive thank you Congratulations to the following age champions from each age group:
Age Champion Podium Photos
The top 5 students from each age category (8-9 combined, 10, 11, 12+) have qualified to represent Claremont at the upcoming IPSHA carnival to be held at The King’s School, Parramatta on Wednesday, 2 April. Further details will be sent regarding this once the start times etc are finalised by IPSHA. In the meantime, students who will be competing on the day will need to purchase the Claremont athletics singlet from the uniform shop prior to the carnival. Please see below for the 2025 Claremont Cross Country team.
Other Photos From The Day
I would like to extend an ENORMOUS thank you to the parents who volunteered to offer assistance on the day. The carnival cannot run without the extra support of the parent community. The staff, students and spectators are indebted to your generosity in giving your time to ensure a smooth and fun carnival for everyone. Thank you!
Kindy and Year 1 Mini Cross Country
Kindergarten and Year 1 had a fantastic time at Grant Reserve for their mini Cross Country on Wednesday. The students brought along their enthusiasm and determination and can be very proud of their participation on the day. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, cheers, and plenty of encouragement as students gave their best effort in the race. Following their run, they enjoyed various fun and collaborative activities, including the parachute, egg and spoon race, sack race, and ball games. Congratulations to all the students for a wonderful morning.
Kindy & Year 1 Wednesday Sport Mini XC Photos
IPSHA Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to the following students who qualified to represent Claremont College at the upcoming IPSHA Swimming Carnival on Tuesday, 4 March, at Sydney International Aquatic Centre. Event Information will be communicated directly with parents of students representing Claremont at the event.
Good luck to all the students who will be attending!
IPSHA Carnivals/Carnival Progression
* Only for students 8 years and above in 2025
Claremont →IPSHA→NSW CIS→NSW PSSA→SSA
AFL Gala Day
The Paul Kelly Cup 5 /6 gala day will be held on Wednesday 5 March at Queens Park for both boys and girls. The day consists of a number of games of AFL against teams from other schools played on small fields with modified rules to make it more accessible to all participants. It is a fun filled day and a great opportunity to develop some more skills and interest in AFL. Students do not need to have prior experience playing AFL to participate. Students in Year 5/6 were given the opportunity to sign up with Mr Geering this week and those students and parents will be provided with further information at the start of next week.
Mr Joel Geering
Head of Sport and PDHPE
P&F News
A Splashing Start to the Year!
We’ve had an incredible start to the year with two fantastic community events that brought smiles all around!
Our free event at Botany Pool was a huge success, welcoming families back to school with a day of sunshine, laughter and loads of fun. Although it wasn’t the hottest day of Summer, the kids still had a blast in the pool, playing cricket, climbing trees and reconnecting with friends. There were plenty of smiles and a truckload of gelato consumed too! A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the afternoon so much fun.
We also had a fantastic time at the Cross Country Carnival with our Juicies ice block fundraiser. It was the perfect way to cool down after the kids gave their all on the course. The excited faces and sticky fingers said it all! A huge thank you to everyone who supported us at the last minute. Your enthusiasm and generosity never cease to amaze me!
The P&F are excited to announce that we will be holding a Colour Fun Run on Wednesday, 9th April. The event will take place during school hours at Grant Reserve, Coogee, and parents are encouraged to come along and cheer on the children.
The Fun Run will be our major fundraising event for the year, so mark your diaries and keep an eye out for more details in the coming weeks!
Last chance to RSVP to Bubbles & Bites. We hope to see you there!
Have a great weekend!
Morgan Ryan
P&F President
[email protected]
General Information
Canteen
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE UPDATED YOUR CHILD’S GRADE BEFORE PLACING YOUR FIRST ORDER ON FLEXISCHOOLS.
Ordering
Orders can be placed for both recess and lunch through an online ordering system called Flexischools (www.flexischools.com.au). You can also download the app and order from any smartphone or tablet device. Orders are required to be placed by 8:30am on the day the order is required, however, you can place orders up to four weeks in advance.
If you have any concerns with your orders or would like to discuss anything with the canteen staff, please feel free to email us at [email protected]
TeamKids
Click HERE to read the TeamKids Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter
TeamKids has a fun-filled Term 1 in-store!
We can’t wait to see you!
Book NOW – www.teamkids.com.au/venues
Bookings
A reminder for ALL families to book and verify their bookings for Term 1. Also, if your child is away or will not be attending a pre-booked session, please assist by contacting Customer Service to cancel your booking on the day. Please note this has an impact on the service’s staffing for each session.
Please visit www.teamkids.com.au to secure your spot! or call Customer Service on 1300 035 000.
Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop is run by Ranier on the school premises during school terms on the following days:
Monday: 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 11:00am
Methods of Payment: Cash, EFTPOS, MasterCard and Visa
For new students, fittings are by appointment. Simply book online at ww.shop.ranier.com.au
The Uniform Shop is located within the main body of the School. Please access the Uniform Shop via Coogee Bay Road lower side gate.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 9213 0720
Responses will be provided during opening hours.
Note: The website can answer most of your questions at www.shop.ranier.com.au
For more immediate assistance, head office details are:
Online: ranier.com.au/contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 02 8337 7290
Extra Curricular
Chess Coaching with Sydney Academy of Chess
Friday mornings from 8:00am in the Library. See the attached flyer for more information.
Wednesday Afternoons St Jude’s Kids Club
Please find the details here.
