Return to School - Welcome back to Everyone!

Every morning since our return, while on duty at one of our school gates, I get a happy welcome and ‘Good Morning” from our students entering the school grounds. I am amazed at the growth in height of many of our students after not seeing them for so long! Even after such a lengthy time away from school, students have returned to school with a sense of independence and confidence, and a happiness to see their friends and teachers.

Our Foundation students, even though they have been away from school for most of the year, walk into the school on their own, carrying their backpack, know how to find their classroom, unpack their own bag and get themselves ready for the school day!

Thank you to all our parents / carers in our community for your support during drop off and pick up times by staying out of the school grounds as requested for our return to school for the second time this year. This has helped keep our students and staff safe.

We continue to have in place a thorough cleaning schedule across the whole school each day. We have had two extra cleaners working in the school from 10:00am until 2:00pm cleaning all the high contact areas over the course of the day.

Staggered Drop Off and Pick Up Times

Surname starting with	Drop Off Time	Pick up time
L-Z	8.30 - 8.45am	3.15pm
A-K	8.45 - 9.00am	3.30pm

For pick up at the end of the day, please make sure your child knows which gate you are going to pick them up from.

Teachers walk the Foundation students to the basketball courts.

They will be dismissed from there when their parent or older sibling arrives.

Year 1 to Year 6 students are dismissed from their classroom.

A number of staff supervise at each exit point.

School Uniform

No doubt, COVID-19 has seen students becoming more relaxed with not needing to wear the school uniform. Maybe some students would have been responding to learning tasks on Seesaw wearing their PJs?

It has been noted that a number of students are coming to school this term not adhering to the School Uniform Policy.

Please note the following are not part of our school uniform and are not to be worn to school:

Leggings – either as pants or under summer dresses. Uniform is black shorts, black street wear trousers, black tracksuit pants or black skorts.
Coloured footwear - footwear should be white or black or a combination of these.
Non-school windcheaters or jackets.
Caps – black school bucket hats are required headwear for Sunsmart purposes.
Shorts - Short shorts are not to be worn, they must be the length of our regular school shorts.

A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of themselves as an integral part of the school community, and assists in developing pride in representing their school. Issues of equality, health and safety, and expense are also factors that contribute to the establishment of our dress code.

The wearing of our school uniform aims

To promote equality amongst all students.
To further develop a sense of pride in, and identification with our school.
To provide a school uniform that is practical, comfortable, attractive and affordable.
To maintain and enhance the positive image of the school in the community.

2020 World Teachers' Day

This year, World Teachers' Day in Australia is being celebrated on Friday 30th October in recognition of the contribution teachers make to education across the globe. Research states that the most important element that makes a difference to student outcomes is the teacher. Celebrated in over 100 countries, World Teachers’ Day was inaugurated on 5th October 1994 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to commemorate the 1966 joint signing of the UNESCO/ILO (International Labour Organisation) Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. In adopting this recommendation, governments unanimously recognised the importance of competent, qualified and motivated teachers in society. Internationally World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on the first Friday in October. However, as this is usually during Australian school holidays, Australia celebrates the day on the last Friday in October of each year. In our rapidly changing and interdependent world, teachers not only have to ensure that students acquire solid skills in basic subjects, but also that they become responsible local and global citizens, at ease with new technologies and able to make informed decisions about health, the environment and other challenges. Can I encourage you to show your appreciation to your child’s teacher on that day? I’m sure your child will have some ideas.

Parent Requests Class Placements 2021

This is the time of year when parents have the opportunity to put in writing requests for their child’s placement for 2021 based on social issues and learning needs. Despite the need for students to learn to get along with others they are not particularly keen on, there are times when students really should not be together in the same class. Please do not send requests asking for a specific teacher. The staffing has not been finalised for 2021 and staff have not been allocated particular year levels. If you know of any issues that could impact on your child’s learning, please put it in writing addressed to the Principal. All the requests are to be back to school by Wednesday, 4th November. After that date no requests will be allowed as the teachers will be working on student placements and a late request can have a ripple effect on decisions made by staff and impact on placement of other students. If you have spoken with us in the past, your requests will need to be renewed as circumstances change on a yearly basis.

Class lists are made up using a number of factors including: student friendships, academic achievement, aide support needed, behaviour and gender. Students who have been in a composite class in 2020 will not be placed in a composite in 2021 unless a parent requests this.

Reminder

Please contact the office if:

You have a child starting in Foundation in 2021.
Your child is going to attend a different school next year.

Food for Thought:

Regards

Angelika Ireland

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