Leadership Report 

A NOTE FROM LEADERSHIP 

We are now more than halfway through Term One, with only five weeks left before students are on their first school holidays for 2022. It has been a delight to be on the gates in the morning greeting our families as they arrive at school. We are particularly proud of the way our students are always so friendly when they are greeted, by happily responding back to the teachers and always with a smile, ready to begin their school day. 

Assembly 

This week we welcomed the Prep students to their first assembly at Saltwater. It was very exciting to have them join us and be part of our weekly assemblies. The smiles on the students faces that received awards this week were priceless. 

Lack of Casual Relief Teachers (CRT)

Due to the restrictions put in place during COVID over the last two years, there has been a shortage of relief teachers across Australia. Many of the teachers who do relief work are employed to cover classes when a teacher is absent, however, they have not been available over this period. Due to this factor, this has heavily impacted on schools across Australia as well as our school. This means that when we cannot replace a classroom teacher, a class needs to be split, usually across the cohort. Teachers across cohorts plan similar learning activities and this then supports any students who are in a different classroom due to their teacher’s absence. We hope that with the borders now open this problem will be soon rectified.

Our first priority is to replace a classroom teacher with a casual relief teacher when they are absent. However, there is a significant shortage in casual relief teachers at the moment across the state. This means that when we cannot replace a classroom teacher, a class will be split evenly across other grades in their cohort. 

COVID Test Kits

Free rapid antigen tests will continue to be made available for all staff and students at Saltwater P-9 College throughout Term One 2022. 

Please ensure that you test your child/ren every Monday and Thursday. If your child/ren have COVID symptoms, please ensure that you undertake a RAT test.

Mask Wearing

For all school settings:

• Students in Year Three to Six are encouraged  to wear a face mask indoors and in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs even if vaccinated. 
• Students in Years Prep to Two are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school or an OSHC program.
• Face masks remain strongly recommended but are not required in secondary schools.

Dogs In School

Dogs are not permitted within the school grounds at any time unless given approval by the Principal. The exception to this policy is for dogs that assist people with disabilities. It is not permitted to tether a dog at the school boundary fence. Owners must remain with their dogs, outside the school boundaries, at all times. Owners are entirely responsible for the dog’s behaviour and for cleaning up any mess left by the dog.  

School Photos 

Saltwater’s Goals and Priorities For 2022

After the success of Saltwater’s School Review last year, we have refocused our goals to align with the School’s Strategic Plan (SSP). 

Saltwater’s Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) goals for 2022 are:

• To improve student learning outcomes for every student in Literacy and Numeracy using data 
• To improve student engagement and agency in learning
• To develop confident and resilient learners equipped to thrive in the contemporary world.