Principal's Report

Hello everyone,

Here is the final newsletter for the term. Mostly it is outlining important dates for your calendars.

In this last newsletter are also some photos from the P-2 presentation of their environments.  I thought they did an excellent job!

Enrolments for 2023 are Open. Please see the information provided in the notices/reminders section of this newsletter and submit your forms directly to assist with planning for 2023. Enrolment packs for siblings and new enrolments can be collected from the school office or downloaded from the school website.  

Moving on to Braemar

Could parents who have students moving on to Braemar for Year 5 in 2023 please contact administration here at Newham Primary School in writing to confirm this departure as soon as possible. This will assist us with planning for 2023. Last year we were aware that Braemar made some late Term 4 offers. Please let us know as soon as you accept one of these as well.

Parents and Friends

I would like to encourage any interested folk to support the reformation of our Parents and Friends group. Either by joining and helping with the organisation of fundraising or by buying raffle tickets etc and supporting P&F activities with funds.

Student Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews

The first evening of Parent teacher interviews is completed and tonight is the second evening. All the interviews are being held in the main building.  Prep and 1/2 in their rooms 456A in the little library and 456 B in the chill room. Mr. Furphy’s interviews are postponed until Term 3 when he returns on 25th July.

Last Day of Term

It is hoped that parents will be able to come along and support the Amazing Race in the first 2 sessions of the last day. There will be a morning tea for volunteers and after that there is some tree planting happening in the Bio-diversity area. If you have a moment to spare, please consider coming to one or all of these events.

Camp

Thank you to families who have put their medical/dietary forms in for camp. This information has all been squared away with Sovereign Hill and in the first days back before camp we will provide further information.

Remember pack warm clothes. It is only one night so pack just a few things. When we are out in Sovereign Hill for the day it is difficult to get back to the hostel, so we will need to prepare well for the day. Day one ALL students will need to bring their own lunch and snacks. Day 2 it is provided. A sleeping bag or doona will be required also.

Congratulations Mr. Furphy

Charlie Furphy has arrived, 2am on 21 June 3.07kg and 48cm long. Congratulations to Tim and Alex Furphy.

Covid Update

As you would be aware, following advice from the Acting Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government recently announced changes to the pandemic orders.

There will no longer be a mandated vaccination requirement for staff working in mainstream schools. This change will come in from 11.59pm Friday 24 June, so in effect from the start of Term 3 2022. 

With almost 100% of school staff now vaccinated across Victoria, this will cause little change to our school.

As part of the changes, from 11.59pm Friday 24 June 2022, parents and carers who have COVID-19 can transport their non-COVID-19 children via private vehicle to their primary or secondary school when an alternative person is not available to assist. This will include school holiday programs held on school grounds.

This means that parents and carers will be able to leave COVID self-isolation to take their non-COVID-19 child to school or school holiday programs via a private vehicle. 

The parent or carer must travel directly to and from the school only. They must remain in the vehicle at all times unless it is reasonably necessary to leave the vehicle to walk the child to and from the entrance of the school safely. They must wear a face mask at all times.

Family members are asked to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases to both the Department of Health and our own testing portal. 

You must also let the school know if your child is a close contact. Students who are close contacts and want to attend should still take 5 RATs over 7 days and wear a face mask whilst indoors if they are aged 8 years or over.

Students should continue to stay home if they are unwell, even if they test negative on a RAT. 

Staff Professional Practice Days for Semester 2 

Due to the unprecedented difficulties in engaging replacement teaching staff, the Department of Education and Training has requested that schools provide each teacher’s allocated professional practice day on the same day for all our staff to enable the most effective and efficient use of this day.

As a result, we have scheduled our Term 3, DET mandated, professional practice day for Friday 2nd September.  Students will therefore not be required to attend school on this day. 

This means that there will be 2 student free days in term 3.  Please see the dates below.

Term 3 Dates

Monday 11th July Return to school

Week 2 - Class level newsletters/information sent home

Thursday 14th – Friday 15th July   Years 3/4/5/6 school camp

Tuesday 9th August Basketball comp

Monday 15th August Curriculum Day – no students at school

Wednesday 17th August Whole School Triceratops excursion for science week

Friday 19th August Athletics comp

Friday 26th August Book week Dress up as a book character event

Friday 2nd September Professional Practice Day – no students at school

Friday 16th September- End of Term Assembly and 2.30 finish 

Newsletter Dates

Thursday 14 Jul, 28 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sept, 15 Sept

Special weeks (Beginning…) 

11th July NAIDOC week (carried over from during the term break)

15th August Science week

22nd August Book Week (theme – dreaming with eyes open)

School Council Dates

Thursday 4th August Buildings & Grounds 7.30pm 

Monday 8th August School Council 7pm & Finance 6.30pm

Thursday 8th September Buildings & Grounds 7.30pm 

Monday 12th September School Council 7pm & Finance 6.30pm

Assembly dates at 3pm

Friday 22 July, 5 Aug, 19 Aug, 16 Sept

Keyboard is Monday

Guitar is Wednesday

I have heard that some families will be escaping the winter cold and heading off to warmer climes. Have a lovely time over the break everyone and see you back next term, refreshed and energised.

Simone