I would like to take this opportunity to thank the students, staff, and community for their warm welcome as I returned to ETRPS this term after a long time away unwell. I was very excited about the opportunity to work with the students and staff at the school once again. I have been in the yard as much as possible to re connect with our students and in classrooms at every opportunity to participate in learning alongside our students and staff.

I will continue to work on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays in Term 2.

Have a restful, happy and safe break and we will see you again in Term 2.

SENTRAL Reminder:

A friendly reminder that SENTRAL is our school management system. As a parent/carer, you now have the ability on SENTRAL to give parental permission for your child/ren to attend events that occur throughout the school year. If you need support with accessing SENTRAL please contact the school office and they can assist with your access codes.

If your details have changed at all, please update with the office staff.

Parents Action Group (PAG)

The Parent Action Group (PAG) are excited to be organising events to raise much needed funds for the fantastic programs we have here at ETRPS. If you would like to be a part of our PAG, please let us know via ClassDojo or simply call the office to express an interest. We encourage and support parent input as much as possible. Anthea would love to hear from you.

Traffic Management

This is a reminder that the drive through bus zone located at the front of the school is for the Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School buses only. Please keep this zone clear for these services. Students can enter and exit the school at pick up and drop off time via the front gate (located to the side of the main building) and the back gate (located at the back of the oval, near the bike shed). Please park in the car parks provided, closest to the gate your child/ren enter and exit. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.

NAPLAN

The NAPLAN tests for Years 3 and Year 5 students have taken place and a few ‘catch up’ sessions completed. The four days of testing is not easy but generally our students take a very positive approach to completing the tests. The results of these tests provide diagnostic information for parents and teachers about a child’s performance in literacy and numeracy. This information will be used as part of a range of analytical tools to support teaching and learning programs to improve student achievement and outcomes. The report issued as a result of the tests will describe a child’s particular skills in language conventions and writing, reading and numeracy. Parents will have their student’s reports forwarded to them later in the year, while the data the school receives from the NAPLAN tests will be used to plan for the future learning needs of our students.

If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN in 2024, please contact Nat Harvey or Matt Saunders.

School Crossing reminder:

We are very lucky to have a school crossing that is operational and is actively keeping our students and families safe. Wilkinson Drive is a very busy road, and it is imperative that our students and their families use the crossing ensuring the safety of all road users before and after school.

While many of our families are making use of the new crossing, some families are choosing to cross the road at other points. We strongly encourage our parents and carers to lead by example and use the crossing when making their way to and from our school grounds. We want our students to develop safe road habits for when they become old enough to make their way to and from school independently. We appreciate your support with this.

Buddies Launch

Buddies at ETRPS was launched last week. All students will have a buddy to work with, teach and learn from throughout the year. We will be holding Buddy sessions in rotation on Wednesdays in session 5. The program connects to our school values of Respect, Inclusion, Responsibility, Resilience and (Academic Excellence).

News Crew

Our News Crew program is underway with four of our 5/6 students reporting the school news during the term via ETRPS News. The news reports will be posted via our social media accounts on Friday afternoons and will include photos of students involved in whole school events and also classroom activities that are occurring at ETRPS. Check it out!

It is apparent that several students are either not wearing their helmets when riding a scooter and or bike, to and from school; or, are removing the helmet upon exiting from the school gates.

Please note: Helmets are to be worn when riding bikes and scooters by law.

We want to ensure your child is as safe as possible when travelling to and from school. Please talk with your child, at home, about the importance and safety aspects of wearing their helmet.

Teachers will be recording those not wearing helmets and a phone call will be made home to discuss this safety concern. Where students continue to attempt to ride without helmets, we will ask that their bike or scooter remain at school.

Please be aware that we can support families in the purchase of a helmet if required.

Parents: can you please help us keep your children safe at drop off times. The gates are opened at 8.35 am. Prior to this time, there is no supervision. Children have been seen to be running in the bus bay, on the footpaths and in the gardens. There has been near misses, and reports made to us regularly, as the community is extremely worried an accident is looming.

Students are to wait at the gate calmly until staff attend.

School Council

Our School Council held its Annual General Meeting Wednesday, where the school’s Annual Report was endorsed by Council and new office bearers elected for the next 12 / 24 months. I would like to welcome our new parent and staff representatives and of course, thank our retiring councillors for their support over the last two years. Ms Deborah Flett remains our SC President and Ms Mel Sproal Portwine retires from Treasurer along with Ellen Polychrone stepping down.

Our parent representatives are: Deborah Flett, Sarah McKee, Jayde Douglas, Rohini Dobell, Jason Lee, Rebecca Edge. Our DET representatives are Mel Bourke, Tara Horkings, Matt Saunders, Julie Hommelhoff and our Community representative is Becky Holland. The AGM was immediately followed by our second council meeting for the year and it was great to have strong representation from both parents and staff.

Respect, Inclusion, Responsibility, Resilience, (Academic Excellence)

Wishing everyone an enjoyable holiday period.

Julie Hommelhoff

Principal

Buddy Program