Parent Information
Sea of Hands
Yesterday we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan featuring the installation of 400 hands by our students in a ceremony led by Renee Watego, a children’s Pastor at Futures Church Australia and Bundjalung woman with kin ties to the Torres Strait.
The hands are in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, and each hand displays a message or artwork by a student as an act of recognition - of identity, culture, and history.
Well done to all involved in arranging this amazing event, and we are thankful for Renee sharing the word of God, his connection to us, and talking to our students about reconciliation. Encouraging all to listen to what is around us, hear God, respond to the stories of other people, and respect each other and the land.
School Hours of Operation and Supervision after school.
Dear Parents and families,
Please ensure you supervise your child after they are dismissed from school and make their way to you. We ask that you stay close by and encourage safe and appropriate play whilst on the school grounds.
A reminder that the Middle Primary Playground is not supervised after school, and is a space reserved for our OSHC student use only.
To ensure the safety of your child/children please note that as there are no staff on duty, no students are to be left unattended at the school before 8.15am or after 3.15pm.
If you are unable to stay with your child in the morning until 8.15am, or pick them up on time when school has finished, you must book them into our OSHC service. Any children left unattended outside of these times will be booked into OSHC and the cost charged to you through the 'Fully Booked' system.
Car Park Speed
The school is a very busy place in the mornings and afternoons with many children walking alongside and through the carpark. Our carpark speed is walking pace only and vehicles should be driving no faster than 10km/h. Please drive carefully and thank you for keeping our children safe.
School Absences
Please don't forget, if your child is going to be absent from school you will need to notify both their classroom teacher and the front office. This can be done via email. The front office email is: admin@gspv.sa.edu.au
This helps us ensure that your child is safe and accounted for, and that we have the correct information regarding their absence.
School Photos
School Photos will be held on Tuesday 27th February 2024. Your child will have been given their personalised named envelope this week by their teacher. Please return these envelopes no later than Friday 23 February, with a record of your payment on the envelope.
It is ok if you do not wish to purchase any photos, we do ask that your envelope is still returned as your child needs this envelope on the day of the photo to record information for the School Photographer. If you lose your envelope, please contact the front office.
If you wish to have a sibling photo, please collect a Sibling Envelope from the front office and return by the due date. Sibling photos do not include children from the ELC or non-current students.
Students in Stage 3 and 4 are to wear their formal summer uniform, no jumpers.
Siblings
If you have not yet submitted an enrolment application for any siblings of current students, please do so as soon as possible to ensure a position is available, the sooner the better! Your prompt attention to this is greatly appreciated. Enrolment applications can be collected and returned to the front office.
Sports Vouchers from State Government
Save up to $100 per child, per calendar year on sports, dance, learn to swim and Scouts/Guides fees!
The Government of South Australia, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Sports Voucher Program provides a discount of up to $100 on sport, dance, learn-to-swim or scouts/guides fees for children living in South Australia in Reception to Year 9, each calendar year. The aim is to increase the number of children participating in physical activity by helping to reduce cost as a barrier.
To redeem, download the voucher from the Sports Voucher website and provide the voucher information directly to the organisation you are registering your child with. (The hard copy voucher is not mandatory, as some providers have included this information in their online registration systems.)
Mother's Day Stall is back!
The Mother’s Day Stall planning has begun. A team of parents are working behind the scenes to prepare for this special event. If you're keen to help out we are looking for:
* Home Made donations to sell such as:
- Mini Succulent Plants
- Earrings
- Chocolate Jars
- Head Wraps (Please have these dropped off to school Wednesday week 11 and please communicate before then with what you hope to donate, to Alix Zeppel: info@alizefabrics.com.au
* People to be present at the stall to assist the children with sales.
The dates of the stall are: Tues May 7th
Wed May 8th
Thurs May 9th from 1.30-3pm (arrival at 1.15pm please) and
Friday 10th after school.
Save these dates to your diary now.
More details to come closer to the date.
* Raffle donations such as: (please be in touch with Lauren Davis on lauren@funkychickendesign.com.au for any raffle donations aside from money donations, see below for that)
- Massage Vouchers
- Chocolates
- Wine
- Nibbles
- Stationary / Pens
- Earrings
- Any type of Voucher
- Money donations to go towards vouchers (please email Jodi Quast - quast.jodi@gmail.com to contribute this way)
Thank you for assisting us. We look forward to celebrating together!
Welcome Party 2024 🎉
It's time to buy your tickets via the Qkr! app. TICKETS CLOSE THIS WEDNESDAY 21st FEBRUARY.
We are currently seeking approximately 2-3 volunteer photographers for the event. Please contact Kim, our Marketing and Communications Coordinator, if you would like to be a volunteer photographer: kim.reddy@gspv.sa.edu.au
House Teams
The new school House Teams are go for 2024! Students recently received a badge letting them know which House Team they are in (which is also the theme of our Welcome to your house Party!). Attached below are the House Logos – feel free to save them and use at home with your children. You might want to create a sign or clothing for this year’s Sports Day on Thursday 28th March!
Volunteering at the school
Interested in contributing to the vibrant community at Good Shepherd Lutheran School Para Vista? We have plenty of volunteer opportunities within our school and your involvement is crucial in creating a nurturing environment for our students.
To learn more about the available opportunities and the application process, please take a moment to review the attached PDF document. We greatly appreciate your willingness to support our educational journey, and we look forward to welcoming you as valued members of our dedicated team.
Webinar
Digital media platforms help young people develop and maintain relationships with friends and family, make new social connections and find support networks. However, there are concerns among professionals and parents that young people’s online interactions also have significant negative influences on mental health and wellbeing and are detrimental to ‘real life’ interactions with peers and adults.
This webinar will help you:
- Understand the similarities and differences between online and offline peer relationships and interactions.
- Understand the benefits of online peer relationships for young people and some of the challenges they experience while navigating them, including their impacts on mental health and wellbeing.
- Develop insight into how to support young people to develop positive peer relationships in online spaces and how families can encourage these positive relationships.
When: 21 February 2024, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Presenters: Hue Dwyer, Casey Thorpe, Riley Scott, Mandy Truong
Scholastic Book Club
Welcome back to the Scholastic Book Club for 2024.
Scholastic apps are available to download for both Apple and Android devices to make ordering through the Loop system easier.
There is the option to mark your purchases as GIFTS. When these books arrive, you will be contacted directly, rather than books going home with students.
Please also note that some titles offered, differ from the Christian ethos followed by the school.
Orders need to be placed via LOOP by TODAY Thursday 15th February 2024.
Happy Reading Everyone!
Growing Faith Resources
Dear School family,
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of the church season of Lent, a time of reflection in the lead up to Easter.
As well as the regular GFH resources, through Lent, I will be sharing some other ideas you might like to try out with your family at home. Some people struggle with things like prayer, not knowing where to start. I like to remember that when we pray we are talking to God… the One who knows us most and loves us best.
I would like to share this Prayer resource with you. There are 20 prayer starter cards. You might like to print them off and laminate them. You could have them handy around meal or bedtime… We also have some child friendly activity booklets full of ideas that focus on Easter as well as some and Lenten calendars available for you in the front office!
God bless you all,
Georgie
Seasons for Growth
Seasons for Growth is an 8- week program for children who have had changes occur in their families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances. It has been run at Good Shepherd for many years now and each year we see the fruit of children having an opportunity to process change in a safe, supportive group. We have normally run groups for stages 2,3 and 4 in term two but are open to running one this term if the need is there. The groups run for 45 minutes once a week. Children join the group with parent permission, at the suggestion of a parent and/or their teacher.
If you think your children might benefit from this valuable program, or have more questions about it, please contact;
Renee Baker renee.baker@gspv.sa.edu.au
Sonia Hulme sonia.hulme@gspv.sa.edu.au
and we will be in touch.
More information on the program is available at https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/programs/seasons-for-growth-children-and-young-people/