From the Principal cont...

OUR 2021 GOALS & PRIORITIES

As part of Accountability, our Strategic Plan guides our school’s direction. This process enables us to set purposeful goals and priorities. The specific goals that we’ve agreed upon and guide much of our teaching, professional learning opportunities and resourcing are:-

• To maximise learning growth in literacy and numeracy for all students
• To foster an inclusive and respectful community
• To empower all students to be motivated, curious and self–directed learners

In light of the unusual circumstances of 2020 the more specific goals of our 2021 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) focus on:-

• Learning Catch Up -  ensuring any gaps learning that occurred due to lock down are diligently addressed
• Happy, Healthy & Active Kids – with wellbeing the major focus
• Building Communities and Connecting Schools  - the development of  strong relationships with all our students and their families

A copy of our 2018 – 2021 Strategic Plan is be available on our website www.carnegieps.vic.edu.au and our 2021 Annual Implementation Plan is also  available on our website.

OUR WONDERFUL NEW PLAY SPACE

It was wonderful to have our School Pride Landscaping Project completed last week in time for our new school year. We have developed a timetable to allow all children to have the opportunity to explore and play in this wonderful new area over the coming weeks. The transformation of this area is amazing with a highlight being the raised platforms in our beautiful trees. Please take a moment to walk this way if you have a few moments at pick up or drop off.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK

Like previous years, any parent or carer who wishes to attend an excursion and supervise a group of students  (eg visiting the zoo, museum, Scienceworks etc) needs to have provided the school with a Volunteer Working With Children Check prior to the excursion.  Obviously, the primary duty of care always falls to our teachers but on such occasions, parents may be the primary carer for a period of time at an excursion.

These are free and relatively easy to obtain online at www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au. Thank you for your time and support in relation to this.

Such checks aren’t required for parents who attend sessions such as Book bags or the Parent Helpers program as activities such as this are exempt under the guidelines. If you have any questions or need assistance, please ask.

SCHOOL BANKING

Following updated department guidelines our school banking program ceased late in 2020. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Donna McNamara and Effie Volakakis for their efforts supporting this program over recent years.

FIRST AID PROCEDURES AT SCHOOL

Children who are sick during the day are sent to the First Aid room. If children need to go home, parents or carers are informed and children are collected from school.

If children are very sick or more seriously injured and parents or their emergency contact person cannot be contacted by phone, we are obliged to ring an ambulance to take the child to the doctor or hospital. DET does not provide personal accident insurance for students. Parents and guardians are generally responsible for paying the costs of medical treatment for injured students including medical transport. Teachers cannot take children to the doctor or hospital in private cars. The cost of the ambulance will be the responsibility of the parents.

This can be very expensive unless parents have ambulance subscription. It is very important parents consider taking out ambulance cover. Health Care Card holders receive free ambulance service (children’s names must be on the Health Care Card).

BEING SUNSMART AT CARNEGIE PS

Students are required to wear their school sun smart hat until the end of April and again from 16th August this year. At Carnegie Primary School,students and staff are required to supply their own sunscreen. Students should keep their sunscreen in their school bags and apply as needed throughout the day. We have many shaded areas available for play during recess and lunch breaks. Students must wear their hats whenever they leave their rooms even when playing in the shaded areas.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, OR MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Parents are requested to advise the school if a child’s family situation, medical circumstances, address or phone contact changes during the school year. It is important that all information is kept up-to-date in case the school needs to contact parents/guardians. Forms to update for asthma and allergic or anaphylactic reactions should have been received by parents if such medical conditions are recorded on our system. It is imperative such records remain up to date at all times to ensure we can adequately care for your child should there be a need.

SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS

Thank you to all those families who have already settled their 2021 School Contributions. It would be appreciated if all payments could be made by Friday, 12th February.   If payments are causing any concern please contact our office to make alternative arrangements. If you are unclear about any of these payments  then please call in to the office for further details.

WORDS OF WISDOM 

Linda Jones & Karen Bentata-Grimm