CURRICULUM DAY – FRIDAY 20th NOVEMBER

Just reminding families that a Curriculum Day has been approved by School Council on Friday 20th November, 2020. Please pop this date into your diaries. There will be no school for children on this day but Youth Leadership will be offering a program for families.

GRADE STRUCTURES FOR 2021

For your information, after most families have returned their intentions for 2021, we have an expected 2021 enrolment of approximately 630 students. I anticipate we will run 29 classes. We will have 5 prep grades, 5 grade ones, 4 grade twos, 4 grade threes, 4 grade fours, 4 grade fives and 3 grade 6 classes. Additional teachers and Education support officer time will be in all teams of varying time fraction depending on class structures. Further details will be shared with families over the coming weeks with all families knowing their 2021 classes prior to the end of term. As part of our school’s transition program we organise ‘Stepping Up’ times into our program a little later this term. On these occasions children step up to their next year’s level visiting learning spaces and teachers.

ALLERGIES & ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS

Our school has children with specific health needs including some who have allergies. The most common causes of allergy in children are eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, cow's milk, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Other causes are bee or other insect bites. Like most schools, we do have children who suffer from more serious anaphylactic reactions. Management Plans are developed for these children at our school and staff undertake relevant training.

Preventing an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis is very important. In our CPS Anaphylactic policy we do not ban nuts but we do minimise risks by:-

Knowing and avoiding the causes
Not allowing food sharing or swapping
Practicing food hygiene and good food safety practices
Taking allergies into account when preparing or cooking food at school
In the event of food sharing for occasions such as birthdays ensure alternate treats are available for children with allergies.

PREPARING FOR 2021

Over the coming weeks staff will be writing modified student reports, in light of the year we are in and reflecting on your child/children’s achievements throughout 2020. If all goes smoothly, these will be sent home on Tuesday 15th December. On this day the children will also ‘Step-Up’ to their next year’s class for a short while and will meet the students that will be in their class in 2021. A list of all our classes and staffing structures will be shared with families on this day.

The booklists for 2021 are currently being prepared and were approved by our recent School Council meeting. The costs for 2021 will be quite similar to 2020. The paper work associated with this will be sent out when school resumes next year with payments required when we return. If you wish to view the letter to parents and the School Requirements for your child/children’s year level you can find them on the school’s website or alternatively on Compass from November 9th. Our Parent Payment Policy can also be viewed on our website or paper copies are available at the office. If you have any questions please email or phone and we will answer any questions.

UPDATING OUR SCHOOL’S POLICIES

Staff and School Council recently reviewed our Dress Code and Sunsmart Policy in line with DET guidelines. These were ratified at our last school council meeting and have now been placed on our website. If you would like a paper copy please call into the office.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Linda Jones & Karen Bentata-Grimm

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