Principal's Report
Mother's Day Afternoon Tea
Next Friday 7 May at 3.30pm
Details will be sent home on Monday
Mother’s Day Stall
The Mother’s Day stall is being held next Wednesday 5 May. If your child would like to bring along some money to go shopping for their mum then please send it with them on Wednesday. $5 or so is usually enough money to purchase goods.
Celebrating Education Week
Open Day & Evening Tuesday 25 May
Now in its 77th year, Education Week aims to positively profile and celebrate the strengths and achievements of Victoria's government education sector.
Education Week 2021 will run from 23-29 May with our Open Day/Evening being held on Tuesday 25 May. We welcome our ACPS community to join in the celebrations.
Open Day
Classrooms Open 9.00am-12.00pm & School Tour 10.00am
Open Evening - Classrooms Open 6.45pm-7.15pm
Foundation: Fun with Words
When you visit the Foundation classrooms, you will find four activities to explore. Feel free to engage in one or more of the tasks. Enjoy a Magic Word memory game, put together some cut up sentences, make rhyming words or make words using alphabet blocks. We look forward to seeing you!
Years 1 and 2: Wonderful Warm Ups
Come along and challenge your Maths brain. Have some fun playing a range of Maths warm up games with your child.
Years 3 and 4: Come and Travel the World with the Grade 3/4s.
With our inquiry focus this term being Geography – come and test your mapping skills and travel the world using Google Earth. You will be challenged to test your skills in finding out information about the countries that make up our beautiful world.
Years 5 and 6: Literacy and Numeracy – engaging and supporting your child’s learning at home through activities
Musical Performances in our Performing Arts Theatre
7.25pm – 7.45pm
Prep 2022 Information Session 6.45pm
For further information please call the office on 9844 2757
TERM 2 WORKING BEE - Grade 1/2 area and all families
The date for this term's Working Bee is Sunday 23 May from 9-11am.
A major focus for this working bee will be rejuvenating the children's garden and chicken house so we can once again enjoy the use of these areas. Stay tuned for further details in the next newsletter edition.
Term 2 Curriculum Day - Tuesday 15 June
This day follows the Queen's Birthday holiday on Monday 14 June giving families a 4 day weekend.
NAPLAN 2021
From 11 May to 21 May, all Year 3 and 5 Primary School Students across Australia take part in NAPLAN -The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The results of these tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement.
This year NAPLAN is online (with the exception of the Grade 3 writing test).
NAPLAN Online is a ‘tailored test’ design that adapts to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of student achievement.
The online platform uses technology to make the test more engaging for students.
All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on the test days.
Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the test. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.
Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a student withdrawal form.
Later in the year you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards.
For more information about NAPLAN you can visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au, alternatively you can speak to your classroom teacher or Brooke Eastwood – NAPLAN Coordinator 2021.
VSBA Works at ACPS
We have been undergoing works at ACPS focused primarily on our Shelter in Place - the theatre. The works have included extensive roof plumbing, covering roof heating/cooling units with screens and replacing doors and mesh screens. Over the next few weeks we will have temporary mesh fencing surrounding the theatre and administration block whilst works continue. The main entrances to the building will still be in use.
Victorian Chief Health Officer message to Victorian schools and their communities
I would like to take this opportunity to thank students, staff, teachers, parents and carers for ensuring a safe and successful start to the 2021 school year and to thank you for your cooperation during the short period of remote learning in February during the circuit breaker restrictions.
As Term 2 commences, schools continue to be able to operate with a largely normal program of activity, enabling important on-site activities to return, such as school open days and working bees, with appropriate health and safety measures in place.
Throughout the pandemic, Victorian schools have rapidly and successfully adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, embedding COVIDSafe principles by reinforcing good behaviours, creating safe spaces, adapting activities, and responding quickly to COVID-19 risk.
While we have seen outbreaks emerge in Victoria, we have also witnessed our capacity to respond quickly to limit the impact of these outbreaks.
Given the current very low risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community, continued high rates of testing and wastewater monitoring, and continued observance of health and safety measures in schools; those with medical vulnerabilities or their carers can feel reassured to continue to safely work and learn on school sites, and enjoy the benefits of doing so.
It is crucial, however, for everyone to remain vigilant by staying home when unwell, performing regular hand hygiene, wearing a mask when required and maintaining physical distancing from others when practical.
Should cases of COVID-19 increase again in the community, I am confident that with COVIDSafe plans in place, alongside our ability to quickly identify and respond to cases, schools remain safe places for all staff and students. I also continue to be reassured by evidence that children are less impacted by the virus and are less likely to develop severe illness.
The school community continues to have an important role to promote COVID-19 testing when a student or staff member has any symptoms, no matter how mild, and ensuring they remain home until they are well. Getting tested and staying home until results are known is critical to limiting community transmission.
Adj Clin Prof Brett Sutton
Victorian Chief Health Officer
ACPS Lunchtime Clubs - Term 2
Our Clubs have recommenced for Term 2. Please take a look at the selection and encourage your child to attend one of interest. All clubs commence at 1.45pm after lunch eating time.
Monday No clubs
Tuesday
KALEIDO Club
ART ROOM
Ginevra and Ms Botham-Clarke
Wednesday
Lego Lunchtime NEW! LEGO Masters Challenge
LIBRARY
Sue Dyos
Thursday
Mindfulness
3/4 BUILDING - Colouring in, quiet music, chess and other activities
3/4 teachers
Friday
GAMES CLUB - Bring along your Bay Blades, board games or any game
The theatre
1/2 teachers
Some happy snaps from Games Club...
I will not be working at school next Tuesday, Thursday and Friday as I will be attending Professional Development and the Principals Network Conference.
Have a happy and safe weekend...
Sue Dyos
Principal