Dear Families,

The winter weather is fast approaching. It is still lovely to have the sun out during the days.

As the weather gets cooler we are starting to experience many illnesses across the school. If your child is sick please keep them home until they are free of symptoms.

We are getting questions from families about COVID as many members of the community are testing positive to COVID. At SHNPS we continue to follow the health advice which states:

Students who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved.

Students who isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.

If you have any questions about COVID guidelines please do not hesitate to contact the office.

If you need more RAT tests we have some available at the office.

If your child has had gastro, please note they must stay home 48 hours after their last vomit or loose stool.

Please note you can log absences on Sentral if your child is away. If you need help logging on the Sentral portal please contact the office.

Uniform

As the weather cools down we ask that students continue to wear school uniform. Students must be wearing a school t-shirt and/or jumper with black bottoms. We have a range of second hand uniforms available to families. If you would like to access some please contact the office. Coats and Jackets can be worn outside, but staff will ask them to take them off in the classroom.

School beanies can be purchased from the office.

Thank you for your help with this.

2023 Student Attitudes to School Survey

Students in Year 4-6 are about to undertake the Students Attitude to School Survey. The following information was sent home to families about the survey.

About the survey

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of their school.

The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.

This year, the AtoSS will be conducted at your school from 23rd May to 9th June.

The survey will take around 20-45 minutes to complete.

What are the benefits?

Young people enjoy having a say! This survey has been running for nearly 20 years and is invaluable in helping schools understand student views to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. The survey responses also help the Department of Education understand how student’s learning experiences can be improved.

What will my child be asked to do?

Your child will be invited to complete the survey online during class time using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child.

How is my child’s confidentiality protected?

Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey from their teacher. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. Personally identifiable data will not be recorded in the survey response file to ensure the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.

Options for participation

Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your child to do the survey, please opt out via email to the school. Please do so before «School’s survey start date», stating that you wish to opt out of your child’s participation, along with their name and year level.

If your school does not receive a Refusal of Consent email from yourself before the survey commencement date mentioned within this letter, it means that you give your consent for your child to participate in the 2023 Attitudes to School Survey.

Education Week

Thank you to all of our families who attended our Open Classrooms last Wednesday. We hope that you saw our feature in The Guardian on Friday.

2024 Enrolments

If you know any families who are interested in enrolling in 2024, please encourage them to contact the office so we can organise a personal tour for them.

If you are a current family and have a sibling starting Foundation next year, please let us know and we can send an enrolment pack home.

Education Support Day

Last Tuesday 16th May was Education Support Day.

Every day, our education support staff work in a range of roles to ensure the smooth operation of our school and support teachers and all of our students to learn.

I would personally like to thank all of our ES staff for the invaluable work they do day in day out and express on behalf of all of the staff and how appreciated they are.

On Friday we celebrated and acknowledged ES day with a morning tea.

Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June.

This year we will have three performers joining us on 2nd June.

Jimi Bani is a 2007 graduate from the Western Australian Academy

Of Performing Arts. Before attending drama school, Jimi played a regular role

in the SBS series R.A.N (Remote Area Nurse) shooting in northern Australia

and since graduating Jimi has had many leading roles across theatre and

Television.

Jimi received the 2013 Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Television or Miniseries (Mabo) and the 2012 Deadly Award for Actor of the Year (Mabo And the Straits); and the 2012 BOFA Award for Best Actor (Mabo and The Straits) Jimi has performed with numerous theatre company’s around Australia and internationally.

Tobias Fatnowna along with his Uncle Patrick Mara & Aunty Idabi Tom will be three presenters. "Ngalpun Gidha" is a family cultural group that provides a culturally rich experience for all people who are willing to learn about Torres Strait Islander culture. They teach people about the history of the Torres Strait through dance, song, storytelling & food. Ngalpun Gidha means "Our Story" in the Kala Lagaw Ya Dialect of Western Torres Strait.

They work with people of all diverse backgrounds to provide the best tailored

Performances & programs possible. Through sharing their experiences with everyone they hope to strengthen people's understanding & knowledge of Torres Strait Island culture.

Grade 6 Transition

Our Grade 6 students are off to Swan Hill College on Thursday. We wish them an exciting day in their first transition day.

Have a great week.

Kind regards,

Brea

Foundation S & Foundation/1 H

Miss Simons & Mrs Holt