As we draw to the end of Term 1 2022, we are grateful to have been on-site and getting back to doing what we do best: face-to-face teaching and learning. We have been able to make plans, stick to them and also implement programs for our students. Many of our Prep - Year 4 students are feeling tired due to the intensive swimming program, but we are glad we were able to move the swimming program to Term 1 this year and complete 2 full weeks of swimming.

End Of Term 1

Term 1 ends on Friday 8th April at 2.30pm. Please note the earlier finish time.

Term 2 will begin for SPS students on Wednesday 27th April.

ANZAC Day Public Holiday Monday 25th April
Curriculum Day Tuesday 26th April (students do not attend school)

Final Term 1 Assembly

Our final school assembly for this term will be on Friday 8th April at 2.00pm (note change of time due to swimming) when we will be drawing the Easter raffle.

Portfolios Home Tomorrow

We have re-introduced Portfolio tasks to our assessment schedules this year, and tomorrow the first two pieces of work will be coming home. All students in Years F-6 have completed a Writing task and a Maths task which have been evaluated on an assessment rubric.

The purpose behind these tasks is to inform parents of their child’s achievements, and for parents to be able to see how their child is progressing in particular area.

Please look through your child’s work and discuss it with them. We would like the folders returned to school early Term 2 so we can add the Term 2 tasks for mid-year.

Prep Enrolments 2023

We are now accepting Prep enrolments for 2023. If you have a child who is ready to start school in 2023, please complete an enrolment form (which can be found on the school website or at the office) and submit it to the school, together with a copy of your child's birth certificate, immunisation certificate and any details that are relevant. Enrolment forms can be dropped off at the office or emailed to: scoresby.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Attendance Blitz Term 2

Next term we will be closely monitoring student attendance. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. There is no set point at which absence becomes a concern, however the following categories can help to identify patterns of absence (Attendance Works, 2017):

It is never too early or too late to establish positive attendance habits. Attendance plays a crucial role in setting students up for success in later years. Each fortnight in the newsletter we will be publishing school attendance rates, focussing on and celebrating high attendance rates; this includes monitoring late arrivals.

Please note: We understand that COVID isolation has an impact on student attendance, and we are not suggesting or encouraging families to send their children to school when they are sick or are meant to be in quarantine.

The data we will be using will be for children who are absent and not ill. This term - COVID absences aside - we have seen some students already passing the 10- days-of-absence mark, and that means they have already missed 2 weeks of a 10-week term. We hope you will work with us as we aim to improve our whole-school attendance data.

SPS Lego Masters

In Term 2 we will be running a whole-school ‘Lego Masters’ competition. A Lego Challenge will be set in the Newsletter each fortnight. Families/students complete the challenge at home and send in pictures of their completed creations. Winners from F-2, 3/4 and 5/6 will be announced in the following newsletter and at assembly. More details to follow next term.

ANZAC Day 2022

The 25th of April is a very significant day for Australians and New Zealanders as the day the ANZAC soldiers landed on Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915, during World War 1. Each year we honour and commemorate ANZAC Day as part of our education programs. On Friday 8th April, we will have our traditional ANZAC Day service run by our student leaders. Please see the Year 5/6 News for more details.

For those of you who would like to share an ANZAC tradition, we have provided you with a child-friendly recipe for making ANZAC biscuits that you might like to make with your children.

ANZAC BISCUITS (Makes 20)

Ingredients:

125 grams butter

1/4 cup Golden Syrup

2 tablespoons boiling water

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of Soda

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup plain flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup desiccated coconut

Instructions:

- Preheat oven to 180 degrees c.

- Grease a couple of baking trays or line them with non-stick baking paper.

- Melt butter in a small pan, add the syrup, water and baking soda, it will froth up.

- Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and add the butter mixture and mix well.

- Put spoonfuls of mixture on the prepared trays, approx. 5 cm apart, flattening them slightly.

- Bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

(As an extra tip - for those like me who like them extra chewy - add a little more golden syrup!)

NAPLAN Online Level 3 and Level 5 2022

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN. NAPLAN tests give you information on how your child is progressing against national standards. This information can be used to identify areas in which your child may benefit from additional assistance. NAPLAN does not replace, but rather complements, assessments run by your child's classroom teacher throughout the year.

Adjustments can be provided for students with a disability to enable them to access the tests on an equivalent basis to students without a disability. Some students who have been attending school in Australia for less than a year before the tests may also be eligible for exemption. Your child's teacher will discuss this with you if your child is eligible.

Wherever possible, schools will organise for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during the test window.

The dates of NAPLAN 2022 are:

Tuesday 10th May............Writing

Wednesday 11th May.....Reading

Thursday 12th May..........Conventions of Language

Monday 16th May............Numeracy

Tuesday 17th May - Friday 20th May...Catch-up Tests

To find out more about NAPLAN Online, visit nap.edu.au

See the types of questions and related functionalities available in the NAPLAN Online assessment at nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site .

We are all looking forward to the school holidays and hope that everyone stays safe and well. Schools have been notified about some Term 2 COVID arrangements and we are expected to continue with the same RA testing regime for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 (twice weekly). Continuing to wear masks in primary schools is still being considered. We will be informed at the end of the holidays.

Scoresby PS will receive another batch of air purifiers in Term 2 and they will be placed in classrooms to assist us through the cooler weather and winter months.

SUE HARTLEY AND NICOLE RHEUMER

Scoresby Primary School Leaders

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