Marion Primary School Newsletter

Leadership Report

Term 2 is now in full swing and our students and classes have all settled into the learning routines for this term. I have been able to visit our classes over the past few weeks and am learning all of our students' names and what they are learning about in class which has been very exciting. 

Parent Survey - School Hours

At Marion Primary School, our school day and teaching time is currently running 10 minutes over the times stated in the Department guidelines. We are currently not compliant with the working hours and teaching times set out for schools.

 

The Governing Council has been made aware of this and subsequently, we need to survey you as our parent body to consult and gain information about how you would like to see this change in time. Our PAC (Personnel Advisory Committee) in consultation with our staff, has compiled this survey and will analyse the results. We will then make an amendment to the school day, to take effect from the start of Term 3, 2023.

 

There are three options in the survey for you to select from: 

  • Shortening the start of the day by 10 minutes 
  • Shortening the end of the day by 10 minutes 
  • Shortening the start and end of the day by 5 minutes = 10 minutes 

Each option has pros and cons and we require your preference.

 

Currently, our school day does not align with many local schools. By finishing our school day at 3:05 pm (shortening the end of the day by 10 minutes) will align all schools in our partnership. This will enable us to: 

  • Capitalise and maximise productivity during core learning time in the mornings when students are most alert and fresh
  • Support behaviour and regulation when students become tired
  • Attend Partnership training and development promptly

The survey window will be open for you to vote from the start of Week 5 and closing Friday Week 6 at 4pm. You will receive your individualised survey link via a school EdSmart email from Monday next week. 

COVID updates and sicknesses

Over the past week, we have again seen a spike in COVID cases among students and families at our school. Like all of our staff, the message for families is the same: 

Please ensure that you follow the latest department guidelines and if you are not well, stay home and ensure you test yourself for COVID. 

If we all do our part, we can help to minimise the spread and keep each other safe.

If your child is unwell and tests positive for COVID, please notify your class teacher and call the office to provide further details. 

Reception Enrolments for 2024

Do you have a child starting Reception in 2024? If so, you need to speak to our office staff ASAP to get them on our 2024 enrolment register. Starting from 2024, we will have 2 Reception intakes: Term 1 and Term 3. While the Education Department has not yet released all the information about how the new process will work, we do know that it is important that children are on our register as early as possible. If you are unsure or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office staff.

School Disco

Last Friday evening we held our School Disco! This was a great evening of dancing and games provided by Footsteps. Be sure to check out the Disco page to see the kid's thoughts and some amazing photos showcasing their moves and them all enjoying the night and the fun to be had!

Working Bee

At our latest Governing Council Meeting in Week 3, the committee decided that they would like to hold a School Working Bee on Sunday 2nd July, 2023 from 8:30am - 12pm. 

We will be focusing on improving the presentation of our school grounds by tidying, weeding, trimming and gardening around the surrounding boundaries of the school. We have beautiful grounds and with a few helping hands and a little TLC, we can have them looking even better! 

The work will not involve heavy equipment or machinery and basic gardening gear (gloves, secateurs, rakes, shovels, bins etc.) will be all we require to make a big cleanup! 

 

As an added incentive to get some helpers along to volunteer, a barbeque breakfast of bacon and egg rolls and tea/coffee will be offered and supplied for all our helping hands. 

If you are able to help out and volunteer sometime, please make contact with the front office and we will record your name and details. 

More information will come out closer to the date.

 

Many thanks, warm regards and have a wonderful weekend.

 

Guy Walmsley

Principal