Newport Lakes Primary School

Whole School News

Thunderstorm Asthma – be prepared this pollen season

Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.

 

Newport Lakes Primary School will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases. 

Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid, and we will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk. 

During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:

  • If your child has ever had asthma, talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma. 
  • If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
  • If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.   
  • Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.

Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.

Find out more 

 

For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also visit the Better Health Channel website.

 

Icy Pole Days Friday 27th October

Icy pole treat is on again tomorrow!

Students are able to purchase an ice block for 50 cents at the start of lunch time. These days will then run fortnightly on a Friday.

  • Friday 27th October
  • Friday 10th November
  • Friday 24th November
  • Friday 8th December

 

 

 

Junior School Council -  Nude Food Day

The JSC have had many discussions about how we can take ‘action’ and ensure we have a healthier environment and a cleaner school. We also feel that we can make a positive difference by becoming more aware of climate change and pollution. With this in mind, on the 3rd of November we will have a Nude Food Day.

Nude Food means: food without excess packaging on it. An option may be to use beeswax wraps or containers instead of glad wrap or plastic wrappers of any kind.

By having a Nude Food Day we would be reducing the rubbish and plastic that needs to go into bins and sent to landfill. This would also help the natural environment around the school, such as Newport Lakes Reserve.

 

Please note that students will not get in trouble if they bring a plastic wrapper to school. The class with the least rubbish will win the Nude Food Day Challenge and be awarded with a certificate.

 

If you would like more information about Nude Food, please go to this website Nude Food Activities for services_Generic.pdf (nsw.gov.au)

 

Changes to the Yr.5 & 6 1:1  iPad Program

In years 5 and 6, the school’s curriculum involves the students’ accessing technology at a greater degree than previous years to support learning in all subject areas. iPads allow for students to develop research skills, collaborate with their teachers and peers, as well as supporting visual and creative thinking.

 

In 2024 the school will be changing from a 1:1 BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) iPad program for the years 5 and 6 children to a school supplied 1:1 iPad program.

 

From 2024, parents will NOT be required to provide their year 5 or year 6 child with an iPad for use at school.  

 

Several reasons have contributed to this decision including;

  • Being unable to guarantee the cyber safety of a device that is not owned by the school.
  • The increasing cost of the iPad device has become very difficult for many families.
  • Parental feedback indicates a greater number of incidents and iPad-based problems at home between parents and students.
  • Parental feedback and student surveys indicate that students may be gaining more than recommended screen time at home, and some of this is contributed to school iPad activities.

Beginning in 2024 every child in years 5 and 6 will be allocated a school iPad that will be pre-loaded with the required apps for classroom use. 

 

The iPad will only be available to students at school and will not be taken home. 

 

Students will not be permitted to download any of their personal apps on their allocated school iPad device. 

 

Beginning from next year, the year 5 and 6 homework will not be IT based but rather provide opportunities for students to develop organisational and time-management skills without a reliance on technology. Homework will continue to be provided in line with the school's Homework Policy. 

 

The iPads will be purchased and supplied by the school and there will be no additional costs to parents. 

 

If you are a year 5, or year 4 parent and has purchased an iPad in the last 12 months specifically for your child to use in the school’s BYOD iPad program, and no longer requires or wants to keep their device, the school will offer to ‘buy back’ the device at pre-owned market value. Parents can contact the school office if they would like further information and details in regard to the iPad buyback program. 

 

We believe that a change to a school owned and supplied iPad program will be beneficial to parents, students and teachers and will ensure that learning at school can be undertaken in a cyber safe environment. 

CHANGE OF DATE!!

'Growing Up Online' - Parent Session .

NLPS invites parents to an educational and empowering session about the benefits of growing up online, and what parents and carers need to be aware of. 

The session will be covering topics such as:

  • reality & risk
  • online grooming
  • cyberbullying
  • sharing nudes
  • problematic gaming
  • exposure to damaging content
  • and top tip
  • question time

Susan McLean is Australia's foremost expert in the area of Cybersafety and young people. She was the first Victorian Police Officer appointed to a position involving Cybersafety & young people. Susan took her first report of cyberbullying in 1994 and since then has conducted extensive research and has completed advanced training and tertiary studies in both the USA and UK. She has authored resources for the Victorian Dept. of Education & Training, writes and reviews school policies, provides crisis management/advice to schools and to national and international companies. Susan is the most highly qualified & experienced presenter in Australia and is internationally renowned. 

  • When  -  NEW DATE -  Thursday 30th November  -  7pm to 8pm
  • Where  -  NLPS Multi Purpose Room
  • Bookings essential via CompassTix  -  https://compasstix.com/e/ocgvm3hojn  
  • This is an adult only session - no child minding is available

 

Term 4 Lunchtime Clubs