School News

Mr Irwin's Message

Hi Families and welcome to this week's newsletter. I wanted to reiterate the sentiments I shared on Friday afternoon after a successful House Athletics Carnival. I call it successful because it was great to see students applying themselves across all events, encouraging and cheering one another and the great atmosphere the event had because of the strong parent participation on the day as helpers and spectators. Congratulations to Sutherland House on their win, but more importantly to all students for their practice across term one and participation on the day.

World Down Syndrome Day

Today at school we’re in odd socks as we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. But more than just down syndrome, it’s a day where we can celebrate the fact at Teesdale Primary School we are an inclusive school. This means we provide support and opportunities for all students to be successful regardless of their background. It’s something we proudly see in action across classrooms every day with the adjustments students are provided who may need extra support to be successful in their learning. Odd socks remind us that being part of a community is accepting and embracing difference.

I’ve attached in this message a letter from the Deane family. Their daughter Issey started this year and has Down Syndrome. She’s already become a cheeky and popular member of our community who we love having at school. It’s great to hear from Issey’s parents Anne and Haydn on how welcomed Issey and they have been made and how they have felt starting school this year. 

Trust me, if there’s one thing you read this year in the Newsletter make sure it’s this!  It provides amazing insight into their experience supporting a child with a disability. 

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches

To finish this week I wanted to provide a Policy reminder regarding mobile phones and smart watches. Whilst we’ve strongly communicated over the past few years the ban on Mobile Phones in schools and the need for them to be securely stored during school hours, we’ve seen a rise in the number of Smart Watches coming to school and need to communicate that under Departmental Policy guidelines these are classified as Mobile Phones and therefore if students are bringing them to school they need to be stored securely at the office between start and finish times. Our recommendation is that these types of watches don’t come to school. However, if they need to come to school, they can be handed in at the office where they will be stored in our school safe until the end of the day. 

I have attached our policy regarding this for your convenience but if you have any questions regarding this please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

https://www.teesdaleps.vic.edu.au/uploads/TPS-Policies/Mobile-Phones-Policy-2020.pdf

Community OSH News

Please see the attached newsletter from the OSH team.

Student Birthdays

Healthy Lunch Box Choices and Nude Food

Please help reduce waste in our school by packing 'Nude Food' (food without excess packaging) and whole foods or unprocessed foods in your child's lunch box.  Click here for further resources and 'Healthy Lunch Box' suggestions or to download the Pick and Mix poster for the fridge!