Welcome Back

Welcome to the 2023 school year. A special welcome to our new families and, in particular, to our new Prep students who are starting their learning journey at Scoresby Primary School.

We look forward to working with all of you throughout the year to ensure your child’s academic and social development thrives. Our door is always open to discuss any issues you have, and you can always catch us in the yard before or after school.

We welcome our new staff to Scoresby PS: Yasmin Bohn, Mark Butters, Jessica Reeves and Alicia Ktenas-Arvanitis, and also welcome back Kim Louwdyk. We are delighted to have them join our existing dedicated teaching team.

It has been a lovely calm start this year at Scoresby PS. We’d like to acknowledge our staff, who have all delivered our start-of-the-year unit Learning Communities. In this first 2 weeks we take time to get to know the students, set expectations and establish routines. This important work sets our students up for success. We are looking forward to a terrific year ahead!

Curriculum Day - Next Monday 13th February

A reminder that our second Curriculum Day this year is an early one. We have booked the literacy expert, Riss Leung The OzLit Teacher, who will be working with us this year in Writing.

Students are not required at school next Monday.

SSG Meetings - Monday 27th February (Face-to-Face or via Webex)

This year we will be continuing with the format we trialled in the last term of 2022, where we dedicate one day to as many SSG meetings as we can, and book a relief teacher to cover staff so they can attend the meetings. Teachers are placed in blocks to make this system efficient.

The day selected for Term 1 SSG meetings is Monday 27th February. SSGs will run for 20 minutes and will be held face-to-face in Sue’s office, or via Webex, whichever is more suitable. Monday was chosen so specialist programs would not be interrupted.

Maths @ Home

This term we are focusing on building stronger connections with Maths at home. We already have a strong understanding of reading practices at home and the enormous benefits that this brings to our students; we want similar outcomes for our students in Mathematics.

At our staff meeting this week we looked at different ways we can engage with our school community in providing and encouraging Maths games and talks with families at home.

Families are a child’s first educator, and this role does not halt on day one of school. Families lay the foundation for future educational success. They make a difference to a child’s attitude, motivation to learn, and academic achievement through showing their positive attitude towards Mathematics and being engaged in Mathematics and numeracy at home.

Some parents do not feel confident in the area of Maths, but that doesn’t mean that you are “bad" at Maths; nor does it mean that your children won’t be good at Maths either.

Below is an interesting short article written by Professor Doug Clarke. Doug used to teach locally at Fairhills High School in the 1980’s, and then became a university lecturer at ACU for many years. The article outlines a few simple ways that parents can help their children with their Maths understanding. We will be sending home a variety of games and activities this term for you to utilise at home to assist in your child’s Maths skill development. Watch out for them!

Link to article:

You don't need to be “good at maths” to help your children with their maths - ABC Education

Term 1 Auskick Program At SPS

In Term one, NAB Auskick, will be running an introductory Auskick program after school on the grounds of Scoresby PS. This shorter-run program available for community groups is the best, first experience children will have learning Australian football. Run by a team of talented AFL staff members, the after-school program will teach Auskickers how to play footy via fun, game-based activities. This program is also designed to help all individuals, no matter their residency or socio-background, get the Auskick experience. (Auskick pack not included).

The program will run on Tuesday afternoons, 3.45pm to 4.45pm for 5 weeks, beginning Tuesday 21st February. Please see the flyer below to register for this program.

Student Mobile Phones

In accordance with the Department of Education Mobile Phones – Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal student mobile phones must not be used while onsite at Scoresby Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess.

Students are encouraged not to bring mobile phones and smart watches to school unless absolutely necessary.

Where students bring a mobile phone - or any other device with internet connectivity - to school, Scoresby Primary School will provide secure storage and students are required to store their phones and devices by handing them into the school office to be placed in a safe before school. The devices can then be collected from the office after the 3.30pm school bell.

For further information, please see our Mobile Phones Policy on the school website.

Respectful Behaviours in the School Community

We have a wonderful community here at Scoresby PS, and it is important that we continue to work together and treat each other with respect and kindness. The Department of Education and Training has released a policy that describes the positive behaviour expected from parents, carers, and other adults in Victorian school communities.

The policy sets clear standards of behaviour to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for students, staff and adults. There are also other resources to support safe and respectful relationships in our school community, including information about getting involved in the school, advice on how to raise a concern or complaint, and parenting support resources.

Our HEART values are at the core of how we work together and it is important for our students to see these values also modelled within our school community.

Being Sunsmart

This is a reminder to all families that Term 1 is a Sunsmart term and Scoresby PS sunhats must be worn by all students for all outdoor activities, including playtimes and sport activities, throughout this term. Please ensure that your child has their Scoresby PS sunhat at school.

In addition to sunhats, parents are encouraged to apply sunscreen to their child prior to coming to school; staff are unable to apply sunscreen to students at school.

Accident Insurance

The Department of Education and Training does not provide personal accident insurance for students. Parents are generally responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs. The Department of Education Training states that reasonable low cost accident insurance policies are available from the commercial insurance sector. For those parents who seek personal cover, details of an insurer who offers individual accident insurance is:

EBM INSURANCE BROKERS and their website is www.studentcover.com.au

Personal Goods Brought To School At Owner’s Risk

The Department of Education and Training does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools. Principals are requested to remind students and parents/guardians of this at the beginning of each academic year and to discourage parents/students from bringing any unnecessary or particularly valuable items to school. Please, try and avoid bringing these items as it can be most upsetting for all concerned when items do go missing.

Annual Privacy Reminder

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.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages.

Student Supervision Before And After School

Students must be supervised before 8.45am or after 3.45pm

A friendly reminder for safety and the school's duty of care:

We ask that students are not left unattended in the school grounds before 8.45am on school mornings, or after 3.45pm after school, as there is no supervision available for your child/children.

Camp Australia Out of School Hours Care is available each morning from 7.00am -8.45am and in the afternoon from 3.30pm – 6.00pm. For more information, or to register, please go to Before & After School Care | OSHC | Camp Australia or phone 1300 105 343.

SUE HARTLEY AND NICOLE RHEUMER

Scoresby Primary School Leaders

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