Hello everyone!

Welcome back to a new term. From conversations in the yard and car park it sounds as though many families were able to make the most of the time together in a relaxing way without COVID causing issues. We may not be having many Covid cases now but please keep a look out for a virulent cold/gastro going around currently which has hit the upper grades and staff hard. Finding replacement staff has been tricky but rest assured our staff are maintaining work expectations for their students via google classrooms.

We have also had reported amongst our students the first cases of Influenza for the season.

2022 marks 150 years of public education in Victoria. Public schools in Victoria were established with the belief that every child deserves a high-quality education, regardless of background or economic circumstance. This is worth acknowledging and celebrating, so come and celebrate with us during Education week this term. P-2 will be inviting parents to come along to their PMP session on Monday 23rd May and 3-6 will be inviting parents to their poster information session on Friday 27th May. Further information on these special activities as well as other activities will be sent out by classroom teachers closer to Education week 22nd to 28th May.

One of DETs initiatives this year is called a Positive Start to 2022. Through this, regional schools affected by Covid can book special excursion/incursion activities for students at reduced costs. This is a great idea, and the demand has been intense. The scramble for bookings has been reminiscent of trying to book concert tickets for your favourite band. So far, we are on a waiting list for a couple of things

BUT

we have managed to book a whole school excursion for P-6 in Term 3!

During Science week the whole school will be going to the Melbourne Museum to see the new Triceratops with an education session. Teachers will keep families informed closer to the activity date.

Excursions, Incursions, and Camps

For the first time in a long time, we are finally able to get back to curricular and extra-curricular activities in and outside of the school. This is also the first year of the new DET parent payment plan for all schools.

School fees which have always been voluntary, remain so but schools cannot ask for them past term 1. Payments for excursions, incursions, and camps are to be treated along a similar line. Basically, DET have determined it is a ‘no pay no go’ scenario for schools. At the beginning of the year our families were asked to return a parent payment form with boxes ticked. This gave consent that their children would participate in these events and at the same time, gave approval to the school contacting them with reminders for excursions, incursions, and camp payments. Otherwise schools can not chase parents for payments to activities that are not compulsory.

This causes a dilemma as many of our extra-curricular activities while not compulsory, enhance the curriculum, skills, or social and emotional wellbeing of our students. We do not want any of our students to miss out and yet under this DET determination, it is expected that students who haven’t made their payments or given permissions will not be involved. Therefore could parents please return their forms. If you no longer have the form we can provide a replacement, please contact the office.

It is therefore also imperative that parents please note when there is an activity requiring a payment and/or a permission and respond BEFORE the due date. A good way to remember is not to give permission without making a payment, then it is all done at once.

Remember we are not meant to keep reminding parents if they haven't consented to receiving reminders. Some families have credit at school from missed events last year. Please check with the office. If there are families who need time to pay, they MUST inform the school so that their children do not miss out in the meantime.

Car Park Safety - Could families please ensure the following.

Students use gates to enter and leave the school grounds. A reminder that jumping the fence is not the way to leave the school.

Parents get out of their cars and come to the gates to pick up their children. If students can see you in your car, they want to dart across, which has caused some close encounters with moving cars.

It is expected that ALL children wait in the school ground for parents, not out on the footpath. Could siblings be encouraged to wait for each other and go together in a group. A larger group is easier to see.

The only children who need to leave immediately are those children walking to the hall to meet parents.

If you will not be at the hall carpark in time for pick up, please call the school and we can keep students safe at school until you can arrive to pick them up from here. This will minimise incidents occurring up at the hall.

At the end of the school day ALL students crossing the school carpark driveway are to be accompanied by an adult- either the teacher on duty stopping traffic or parents walking with their own students. Even in the yellow vest, standing out in the middle, stopping cars I have had a car just drive past me. Imagine if it had been a child and not me.

Most parents manage to pick up students before 3.45pm. At this time if there are still students waiting in the yard, they will be taken to the office to wait inside. Should you arrive and not see your child, please make your way to the office. The office will also give you a call to check on behalf of your child how far way you are and reassure them. (Please also update your emergency contacts, so that the school can contact someone should you be unavailable.) It is the school's responsibility to contact parents or alternative caregivers. We have a duty of care until parents/caregivers arrive.

If you have another parent picking up your child(ren) and your child doesn’t know about it please call the school, so we can inform your child of the plan.

It doesn’t take much to follow procedures designed to keep our kids safe and unfortunately it also doesn’t take much for something to happen in a split second, resulting in an accident. We have had too many close calls.

ANZAC Day

This year it was a little tricky having Anzac Day attached to the school holidays, but we managed, and I would like to thank Aloysius, Charlie Te. and Darcy for standing together as a Newham group and for laying our wreath at the service in Woodend. It was also great to see Newham students marching as members of various Scouting groups and supporting the returned services.

On our first day back at school we held our own service after recess. We were able to lay 3 wreaths and the school leaders addressed the group with a lovely new service. Thank you to all students for your considerate participation.

Newham Athletics

Next Monday our own athletics day will be held. For the first time post-lockdowns we can get out and about! The Macedon Shire has allocated us the 2nd Romsey oval for our big day out. Don’t forget to wear your house colours! Mrs Hammond has sent out a request for parents to help on the day, please come along if you can. We would also like an extra adult on each of the 2 buses heading across to Romsey. Please let Mrs Hammond know. Thank you to parents who have already volunteered. We look forward to seeing more of you this year.

NAPLAN

Next week is NAPLAN. Our plan under the new electronic format this year is to maintain the continuity of assessment by following the pre-electronic schedule. This will mean that all our assessments will be completed within the week, with time during the following week for any catch up.

P-2 at the Melbourne Zoo

A very exciting moment for our Preps next week as they embark upon their first big excursion to Melbourne on the 11th May. The zoo is a wonderful excursion at any time, and they should have a lovely day. Could parents please ensure that all forms, permissions, and payments have been made.

GRIP Conference

On Friday 13th all the 4/5/6 students will be heading to Bendigo for the GRIP leadership conference. This is an excellent opportunity to explore leadership and the variety of ways someone can lead. The bus will be leaving at 8am and back at regular home time. A permission slip for this excursion has been sent out this week via uEducateUs. Could parents please ensure that all permissions and payments have been made.

School Photos

School photos aren’t too far away on the 19th May, further details will be sent out shortly. In the meantime, try not to wobble too many loose teeth in those smiles!

Platypus Talk

Landcare have offered our 3-6s an afternoon for a talk delivered by a platypus expert on the 20th May. This is very exciting, and everyone is looking forward to the event.

Welcome Vicki

Vicki has joined Newham Primary School as our office administrator. She is quickly getting to know staff, students, and parents. Having 2 staff in the office once again helps ensure that there is someone available for parent enquiries, student first aid and staff support.

Thank you!

A huge thank you to the Newham General Store for their generous donation of raffle funds from their Easter Raffle.

And finally

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to everyone's Mums!

Have a lovely weekend.

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