Important Notices
Year 3/4 Camp
For the second year running, we have been incredibly lucky with our timing and received news this week that our Year 3/4 Camp can proceed due to the general easing of restrictions.
The students will travel to Camp Manyung on the 10th - 12th November for three days and two nights. Whilst there, they will take part in a great range of outdoors and adventure activities that will be the perfect way to celebrate the end of lockdown and so long spent apart and indoors.
Due to the late notice of this camp proceeding, we have a very limited amount of time to confirm numbers and get organised. Year 3/4 parents are requested to pay close attention to communications and notices home and please return and respond as quickly as possible.
Staying Sunsmart
With the return to school over the last couple of weeks (and the full-time return from this Monday), it is really important that we remember we are now into our Sunsmart period when higher UV levels mean we need to take extra precautions when we are learning and playing outside.
When coming to school each day families and students need to remember to;
- Pack a wide-brimmed hat that protects the face, neck and ears. Suitable hats can be purchased from the school office for $10. Hats such as basebal caps or bucket hats are not suitable as they do not offer enough protection.
- Wear sun protective clothing such as shirts and tops with high collars and necklines and that cover the shoulders and the tops of arms.
- Apply sunscreen before school and pack some more in school bags to reapply at break times (there will also be sunscreen available in each learning space
In addition, our staff will reinforce the importance of sunsmart behaviours, encourage children to seek shade whilst outdoors and remind and support to apply sunscreen.
From the start of next week (1st November), any students without a wide-brimmed hat at school will only be able to play in the shaded quadrangle area.
School Review Update
Over the last few weeks the school has been busy completing our School review process.
This is something that all schools do every four years to understand how they are performing, the growth they have made and the areas they should focus on next.
Whilst the process to gather data, evidence and opinions has been taking place for most of the year, it culminated in three 'review days' earlier this month where an expert panel took their time to look over a wide range of data, speak with parents, students and staff and better understand our strengths and weaknesses.
Finally, they made recommendations and set some targets for us to work towards over the next four years. These goals, targets and strategies form our new School Strategic Plan (SSP) - the document that will drive all of our discussions and priorities for 2022 - 2025.
We will be sharing more about these exciting future directions in upcoming newsletters.
Classroom Libraries - donations needed
Over the last few weeks we have been working hard to unpack, prepare and setup our new classroom libraries.
By creating an attractive oasis in each learning space containing engaging and high-quality books, we hope to inspire our students and embed a love of reading and an understanding of what great writers do. There is extensive research to show that heavy enagement in reading from an early age helps to support imporved educational, and indeed life, outcomes.
As well as the hundreds of beatiful books that we have purchased from Readings with funds raised by our families oer the last couple of years, we would also like to say thank you to the parents that have made donations of books that are no longer required at home.
We will graciously accept any other donations of books that you believe are quality literature and in good condition to help build these classroom collections. Please let me know on the email address below if you need to arrange a time to drop off some books.
Thank you also to everyone who has supported the many fundraising events that the school have had going as these funds are really helping us to ensure that all literature that is making its way to your children, is high quality and engaging.
Jac Morphy
Jacqueline.Morphy@education.vic.gov.au
Literacy Leader
New Out of School Hours care provider
For the last couple of years, we have worked with two different companies for our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) program. Our term-time before and after School care program has been run by TheirCare and our holiday care program by Team Kids.
Whilst we think both companies have done a great job - parent and student satisfaction is high and they have contributed to our school very well, we also know that dealing with two companies (two booking systems, two sets of staff, two websites and apps) is not ideal. Therefore earlier in the year School Council made the decision to select one company to run both programs from the start of 2022.
At our most recent School Council meeting we selected Team Kids as this provider. Council was very impressed by the company's knowledge of, and connection with, our school and our values. We are excited by the program they will offer, both term-time and holiday, and how this will engage children of all ages. We were impressed by their commitment to inclusion.
Further information will be provided over the next few weeks about this change and how you can register your child for the great holiday program and before and after school care with Team Kids.
The Chicks Have Arrived!
Yesterday Henny Penny Hatching delivered an eleven day incubation program to our door, allowing Foundation students the opportunity to watch eggs hatching in a specially designed incubator, and then to observe the hatched chicks at play in a large, clear-sided brooding pen.
Three very fluffy little chicks arrived yesterday to the delight of the students and one more hatched this morning ! All going will we will have a total of fifteen chicks.
