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If you need help to understand the information in this Newsletter please contact the school on 9547 1146 or visit the school office for support.

Welcome Back!

I trust everyone has found time to recoup and enjoy time with family and friends over the winter break. For those who travelled, I look forward to hearing some of your stories and travel adventures. For those who enjoyed some time at home, I hope you all kept warm and enjoyed good food and great company.

Term 3 is traditionally a term of consolidation, building on knowledge and embedding good/new practices to enhance learning for all. This term, students and staff will be looking closely at our Numeracy programs, planning and assessment, to further enhance good practice and knowledge of the curriculum. We will also be focusing on our whole school Positive Behaviour practices, offering opportunities for student leaders to demonstrate great role modelling and building school pride.

This term we also have THREE camps- Year 5&6, Year 3&4 and the Year 2 sleepover. We also have the Victorian State School Spectacular performances AND all the planning and actions leading up to our Whole School Musical occur this term. I’m sure everyone can see how important it will be to be at school every single day and be sure every minute of learning time available during the term is used for targeted teaching and learning.

I must acknowledge and thank the various school staff, administration team, Education support and teaching staff who considerable spent time at school over the break to ensure the school and various programs are ready for the start of term. Finance, enrolments, communication with parents, ICT updates, teaching resources, calendar updates, staffroom refurbishments (minor) and multiple other tasks occurred during the holidays- thanks everyone for your commitment to our school and our students.

Term 3 promises to be another great term filled with challenging learning opportunities, stimulating excursions, camps, incursions and for all of our children, the rehearsals and practices for our Whole School Production in October.

There is plenty to look forward to!

‘NO DOGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS’ POLICY

We value the benefits of pet ownership, however, over recent months we have had family members bringing dogs onto the school grounds, during school hours and during ‘pick up’ and ‘drop off’ times. Our School Council policy regarding dogs and animals on school grounds is available on the school website. We ask that no dogs (big or small) are bought onto the grounds during school hours. Please refer to the policy for more information: http://www.albanyrise-ps.vic.edu.au/current/?page_id=212

Staffing

Our school is currently feeling the effects of the nation-wide teacher shortage.

We have repeatedly advertised our current Music and Art positions, in the hope of attracting some interest. We are also making contact with past and current teachers who might consider the role/s, particularly where they have been connected with our school in the past and may be interested. Other options to recruit are being considered also.

Parents/Carers are encouraged to share these job openings/ opportunities with anyone they know who may work well in a teaching specialist position at ARPS.

In the meantime, we will be starting the term with Casual Relief Teachers in Music and Art. We are hoping these CRTs will maintain their commitments and not cancel at short notice, which seems to occur regularly at the moment. Or efforts to recruit specialist teaching staff to these positions will continue- with the outcome communicated to the community as soon as possible.

AFL @ ARPS division competition

We are so pleased to see our AFL team for 2023 being successful in the WESA interschool sports competition and now having the opportunity to compete in the division AFL coemption on 31st July. We wish them all the best of luck!

Uniform

We love seeing students showing pride and connectedness to our school. One important way we do this, is to have students wearing school uniform every day. Wearing uniform connects students, helps us see we are all part of one, big school ‘family’ at ARPS and ensures students are not singled out or seen to be attention seeking or ‘having special privileges’ beyond others in their cohort.

At ARPS, we have LOADS of spare, 2nd hand uniform which we are happy to provide to students on days when their uniform is ‘in the wash’ or lost. We also have our uniform show open every Tuesday afternoon, and orders can be placed at the office any day of the week. Of course, NAMING every piece of uniform helps have these items returned to students more quickly!

If there are any specific reasons why a student is out of uniform (eg. Cultural observance, trauma concern), I urge parents/ carers to contact the teacher and share the ‘out of uniform’ request with staff, so that students are not repeatedly asked by various staff ‘Why are you out of uniform today?’.

A final reminder: facial make up and black leggings/ pants are not part of ARPS uniform.

ParentZone Eastern have 3 upcoming parenting programs this term with vacancies –

Talking Teens, Dads Matter and Parenting Anxious Children. All groups are free to attend for parents living in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs.

Details of the 3 programs are as follows:

Talking Teens

For parents pf children aged 12 to 18 years

Dates: Monday July 17th to August 21st 2023 (6 evening sessions)

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Where: Online via Zoom.

Registration: Click here (this registration link will close when the group is fully booked)

Dads Matter

For fathers and male carers

Dates: Monday 31 July - 4 September 2023 (6 evening sessions)

Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Where: Online via Zoom

Registration: Click here (this registration link will close when the group is fully booked)

Parenting Anxious Children

For parents of children aged 2 to 12 years

Dates: Tuesday August 1st to September 5th 2023 (6 afternoon sessions)

Time: 1:00 to 2:30pm

Where: Online via Zoom.

Registration: Click here (this registration link will close when the group is fully booked)

Please note that all of the Parents Building Solutions parenting programs are interactive so parents attending will need a device with video and microphone in order to participate.

Wellbeing Wonderings