Ninja Course

Our Ninja Course has been a huge highlight over the last week or so. It has been awesome to see the older students using the equipment exactly as set by our expectations. The Ninja warped wall is certainly a challenge for many….as they hang, hang, hang and then sometimes have the strength to get up and over or don’t and try again. This is true resilience.

Black gates

Our black gates have finally been installed just in front of the Prep building entry. This has added a layer of safety to our school. In the past, on the odd occasion we have had an inquisitive and wandering Prep student that has just ventured a little too far or maybe even a visitor to the school that heads straight ahead without coming via the office. Student and staff safety is and always will be our first priority. These gates will be locked just after the 9am bell and be unlocked at 3.20pm each day. Any parents or students that arrive or need to leave the school ground will use the first aid door at the far end of reception. This will ensure all parties sign in / out as they come and go. We appreciate your support with this.

Payment Cut offs for activities, incursions and excursions

Once again, I find myself in the situation of saying ‘NO’ to parents when they request to make a payment after an event has closed off on QKR. It is certainly not pleasant for myself or any of the leadership team to refuse a child to attend, but allowing late attendees causes extra work specifically on the office staff, leads to inaccurate lists and the chance of errors of missed medications and staffing ratio inaccuracy. For your reference this is our process:

The office will set up all bookings on QKR and email parents to advise it has opened on QKR with 4 weeks’ notice for the parents to pay
Teachers to send reminders of the events and payment in their weekly emails
The office will put a post on Facebook 1 week out from cut off on QKR
The office will send an email to the teachers to remind the children that haven’t paid or given permission.
The office will send a direct SMS 4 days out to adult A for students that have not paid
The event will close off QKR at 4pm on the scheduled date.
The day after the closing (which is a week before your excursion/incursion) the office will supply class teachers with a list of students not attending.

Class teachers then make necessary lists for attendees and non attendees and first aid lists are actioned. DET risk assessments are submitted and staffing ratios are confirmed.

I feel we have a very thorough process that is clear and regular. But if you have any suggestions for improvement I welcome your feedback to this process.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is now complete. I want to acknowledge our Year 3 and 5 staff specifically for ensuring our testing sessions ran as smoothly as possible. Also, thanks to Mr B and Brad (our ICT tech) for ensuring all our systems were up and going at the right time. Student results will be delivered to the school, usually in Term 3. We will ensure that these come home with each child once we receive them.

Thanks,

Have a great fortnight!

Nicola

International Happiness Day

Thursday 20th March