The Talk Around Traf

Keeping our schools safe

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.

Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 weeks after their first dose.

If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): 

To book an appointment You can book at your local GP or pharmacy: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking

You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

You can also make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before.

Helping children to get their vaccination

Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options are available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations. 👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids.

Welcome Jake Pullar

My name is Jake and I am a qualified painter and decorator by trade but am very excited to start this new journey and join the team at Trafalgar Primary school! I have coached children and young people in various sports and love taking on the role of being a mentor to others. I started in soccer and transferred too football in Primary School but I am also a proud Professional Wrestler. I am super keen to meet all the lovely students and support them with their education, confidence and life skills!

Welcome Kristen Taylor

Hi everyone! My name is Kristen Taylor and I will be teaching one of the Foundation classes. I live in Drouin where I have two pet miniature goats. Outside of teaching, my interests include travelling, baking and reading. I am looking forward to a great year working with everyone in the TPS community. 

Welcome Aerin Vennard

Hello, my name is Aerin, and I am excited to be joining the team at Trafalgar Primary School!   I am a mum of two young girls, who fuel my enthusiasm to promote emotional wellbeing in our youngest generations.   I am originally from the U.K, but now call Yarragon home, with my small family which also includes a ridiculously cute, (and somewhat slobbery), bull terrier. He also photographs better than me, so I have included him in my picture!

2022 Instrumental music

Trafalgar Primary School provides students with an extra-curricular Instrumental Music Program where students have the fantastic opportunity to learn and play a musical instrument of their choice.

We hire specialised music instructors that guide students in developing an appreciation and enjoyment of music. Lessons offer an opportunity to have fun making music on the student’s chosen instrument and become a better musician.

We have 6 Instrumental music teachers working at Trafalgar Primary School this year including a new vocal teacher. You can find a full description of the instruments we offer, bios of all the teachers, and a digital instrumental music form here -TPS Music Website

You can get a form from the front office, the link above or Mr Allan and return it to the front office so we can get lessons started as soon as possible.

Team Vic

The School Sport Victoria (SSV) Team Vic program is open for registrations. These championships offer gifted and talented students (typically starting at the 12 years and under age division) the opportunity to participate in higher levels of sporting competition against students from other Australian States and Territories. Team Vic enters state teams in sports such as AFL football, basketball, netball, soccer, and cricket (See SSV website for full range of sports).

Participation in a Team Vic state team is self-funded.  As a guide it may cost between $1,000-$2,000 to participate.  Costs may include uniforms, host state levies, flights, transport, accommodation and meals.  Costs will vary depending on the location of the Championship.

Parents who wish to have their child trial for a Team Vic state team need to go to the SSV website, click on the Team Vic icon at the top of the screen, then select the sport(s) they wish to trial for, then follow the registration process. Registrations are open until the end of February, with trials to be undertaken in the first week of May.

Dropping Off/Picking Up Students 

We understand drop off and pick up times around School can be difficult but we ask that parents/carers please observe the road signage out the front of the school.   The Police and traffic authorities will be monitoring these areas.  

Swimming Sports

On Friday 11th February students from Year 3-6  walked down to the Trafalgar Outdoor Pool for our Swimming Sports and trials.  As well as the swimming trials, students participated in some team building activities and novelty events.  The tennis ball scramble and noodle relay were a hit. Every student was encouraged to join a relay team and have a go.  House points were collected for the house competition.  

HOUSE COMPETITION RESULTS

First- McGregor

Second- Balfour

Third- Davey

Fourth- Uralla 

Congratulations to all students that participated in trials and a special congratulations to the following students who successfully qualified for the next round of District Swimming: 

Abbey Vandersteen 

Alistair Conrad

Jacob Van Baalen 

Jake Disdale 

Holly Dove

Charli Asworth 

Havana Brown 

Jon Vandersteen 

Skyla Emberlton

Annual privacy reminder for 2022

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. 

First Progress Reports for 2022 (GPAs)

It has been a delight to watch all our students engage in their learning throughout the first half of Term 1. As a part of our school community, I am sure that you are familiar with our school values of Be safe, Be respectful and Be a learner. Here at Trafalgar Primary School, we feel that these values ultimately underpin our students success and form the basis of improving outcomes for everyone.

Our Progress Reports aim to make improvements and to celebrate success in line with our values. This system is known as GPA’s or Grade Point Averages. A Grade Point Average is a score that the school uses to assess the overall learning behaviour of each student every month through the completion of Progress Reports.

The score is representative of how a student has performed across all of their subjects over the past month. These results form part of an internal measure used by teachers to track student performance.  Information about Progress Reports is published in this edition of the newsletter to help you and your child to measure your child’s performance over the last month.  Results will be released next week on Compass.

The GPA is an average of the ratings each student achieves on the three key indicators on the Progress Report. These indicators align with our school values: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be A Learner. Each of these areas is allocated a score based on the level of performance.

Always

Often

Sometimes Rarely

Never

Absent

NA* * (Does not affect GPA Score)

For each subject the scores are tallied and averaged by the number of subjects studied. This then gives a score or GPA. As you can see the highest possible score of 4.0 would be generated by achieving “Always” in every area in every subject.  

We encourage you to examine your child’s progress report closely with them - look for strengths and weaknesses. Look for patterns, for example is there a problem in all subjects and classwork, if so what do I need to do to improve? Is there a problem in one subject or many?

By reflecting closely on your child’s report you will be able to have a more specific and informed discussion with your teachers about how to improve. The focus of these reports is on improvement- what do you need to do to improve? The Progress Reports are only an indication for you and your child to realise where their strengths and weaknesses are and what sorts of conversations they may need to have with their teachers.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Families

Are you the mother of a child with disability? Are you interested in your own health and wellbeing? Are you ready for change? Maybe the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families online facilitated program is for you.  

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Trafalgar High School Information Night