The View

From the Director of Primary

On behalf of the Primary staff, I wish all the students a wonderful return to school for the commencement of the 2020 academic year.  I would like to especially acknowledge the Kindergarten children as they begin their school journey at Mount Carmel College and to all the new students who are joining the Mount Carmel community.  A very warm welcome is also extended to the Mrs Alice Row who will bring a range of skills and experience to the Preparatory class, and to Mr Matthew Desmarchelier who is teaching Health and Physical Education across the Primary school.

 

2020 is shaping up to be yet another very busy and exciting time for the students and staff.  We look forward with optimism to a new school year full of opportunities for achievements, changes and development.

 

I would like to thank the parents and carers for ensuring that the children have commenced the school year well prepared, fully equipped and ready to go.  Similarly, thank you Class Teachers and Teacher Assistants for your incredible work in preparing classrooms and planning engaging sequences of learning as well as the Administration team who worked countless hours to ensure the start of a successful school year.

Parent Information Evening

Our Parent Information Evening for 2020 will be held on Tuesday February 25.  This is an important evening for all parents and carers as it is an opportunity to meet and hear from your child’s teachers about key issues relating to their pastoral care and the curriculum opportunities planned for the school year.  It is a privilege to work in partnership with families so that collectively we are able to achieve the best academic and pastoral outcomes for your sons and daughters.  Research has shown that greater parental engagement has a positive impact on student outcomes including better social skills, a greater sense of personal competence and efficacy for learning. 

Details about the evening have been sent to parents via EdSmart. 

 

Schedule of Year level meetings (held in classrooms)

  • Session 1: 6.15pm – 6:55pm Prep and Year 3
  • Session 2: 7:00pm – 7:40pm Years 1, 2 and 6 (Please note: Year 6 students are to attend)
  • Session 3: 7:45pm – 8:25pm Years 4 and 5

The Kindergarten session will be convened at a later date which will include information about 'Storypark', an online tool that allows teachers, parents and carers to work together to record, share and extend children's learning. Confirmation of this session will be communicated next week.

Student Safety: Safer Internet Day            

Tuesday 11 February was Safer Internet Day.

This is a worldwide event that raises awareness about online safety and encourages individuals and the community to create a better internet for all.

This year’s theme is ‘Together for a better internet’ and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is encouraging parents to mark the day by starting family conversations about online safety. 

This will certainly be an ongoing focus for the teachers throughout the year.  I strongly encourage parents and carers to access the great range of resources available at The eSafety Commissioner's website, including those offering advice on cyberbullying, harmful content and safe interactions online.

Before and After School Routines

At the beginning of each year it is important to outline the arrangements for before and after school supervision and pick-up. 

 

Playground duty:

  • Commences at 8:20am and concludes at 3:20pm. 
  • To avoid congestion and potential danger near the staff car park, we would appreciate it if parents and carers collect children from the basketball court. 

Kiss and Drop Zone:

  • Please enter via the Earl St side of Quorn St (University end) and move to the furthest available spot to allow other cars to come in behind you. 
  • Before school, students need to be fully dressed so that they exit the car promptly from the left hand passenger side. 
  • Upon exiting the zone drivers are to turn left on to Quorn St into Nelson Road. 
  • Vehicles are not to be left unattended as the Kiss and Drop Zone is not a parking bay.  The maximum stop time is 1 - 2 minutes.
  • If you are collecting your child in Quorn Street and are not using the Kiss and Drop zone, please ensure that you do not park on the Children’s Crossing. 
  • All students must cross at the Children’s Crossing and we ask all adults to model this behaviour as well.

College Buses:

  • At 3.20pm a hand bell will be rung in the playground, indicating that students are to assemble on the basketball court to catch buses. 
  • The duty teachers will walk the students to the front of the College or Nelson Road. 

If there are any students remaining in the playground at 3:20pm, they are to wait outside the O'Brien Resource Centre (library). 

If parents are with their children in the playground after 3:20pm, they will need to supervise them on the play equipment.    Please note that the play equipment is not designed for toddlers; only school aged children.

Arrangements should be made with our office staff for After Hours Care if you are unable to collect your child by 3:20pm.

Healthy Lunch Boxes – Nut Alert

Recess is from 10:40am to 11:00am and lunch is from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.  Duty teachers supervise students for the first 10 minutes of lunch.  We encourage as much healthy food in our students’ lunch boxes as possible.  Establishing healthy eats is of primary importance and we remind families that nuts are not to be consumed at school.  This includes foods such as peanut butter, Nutella, hazelnut spreads, health bars and biscuits that contain nuts.  There are a number of students who experience severe and life-threatening allergic reactions to nuts.  Ideally students should only bring water to school in their drink bottles. 

Uniform

Blazers and boaters are to be worn to and from school each day unless an announcement is made indicating otherwise.  Hair over collar length must be fully tied back with a navy or white ribbon or head band.  A watch and small plain silver or gold sleepers or studs, including small pearls and clear diamante, may be worn (only one earring per lobe).

 

Students in Years 1 to 6 are permitted to wear their full sports uniform to school on the day that they are scheduled to have HPE.  Years 3 to 6 students need to wear their College track suit and spray jacket with the house colour shirt to and from school.  This procedure will be in place for the duration of the year. 

All students are required to wear College hats while undertaking outdoor activities during the first term. 

 

Caroline Wilson-Haffenden

Directory of Primary