Principal Team Report

Upcoming Important Dates

21 Oct: Teacher Professional Practice Day (student free day)

Camp Australia will provide long day care for students as needed. Bookings are essential via the link below:

28 October: Twilight School Picnic

** All term dates can be found at 2022 Term Dates page.

13 December: End of Year Concert

15 December: Year 6 Graduation

20 December: last Day Term 4 (1:00pm dismissal)

2023 Dates

31 January: Start Term 1 (Year 1-6 students)

1 February: Start Term 1 (Prep students)

10 March: Curriculum Day (student free day)

TBC: TRIVIA NIGHT (postponed from 2022)

Additional Curriculum and student free days will be published before the end of the year. 

In Term 4, we will continue to see the return of a number of community activities such as our twilight picnic on 28 October, the parent and staff Trivia Night in November, our end of year concert and so much more!

COVID-19 isolation requirements have changed

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the Pandemic Declaration and associated Pandemic Orders.

The following settings, based on advice from the Department of Health, will apply from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 October 2022.

It is strongly recommended that students:

• who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days
• should not attend school after 5 days if still symptomatic
• who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school
• advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result

Where students become symptomatic at school they should:

• be collected by their parents/carers
• undergo testing for COVID-19

Reporting Positive COVID-19 Test Results

The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, schools and household.

Parents and carers will therefore be asked to continue to report positive student COVID-19 cases using the VicED COVID Tool.

Asthma and Thunderstorms 

With the Spring wet weather now upon us, it is important to consider how this change in weather may affect health issues such as asthma and hay fever. More over how to approach this in light of COVID-19 awareness. 

Thunderstorm asthma — be prepared this pollen season

Grass pollen season, which runs from October to December each year, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.

Auburn South Primary School will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe when the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases. 

Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid, and we will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater level of risk.  

How you can prepare:

During pollen season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:

• If your child has ever had asthma: talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect your child from the risk of thunderstorm asthma, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma. 
• If your child has hay fever: see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
• If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing: it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.   
• Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.

Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.

COLA for Hire!

Our new Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) is NOW AVAILABLE FOR HIRE!

Contact Michael Wainwright (Assistant Principal) if you or your affiliated sports organisation are interested in hiring this great area (before-school, after-school & weekends). 

This all-weather area can be set up for NETBALL, BASKETBALL, SOCCER/FUTSAL and many other sports and outdoor activities!

On behalf of the ASPS team, we would like to wish all families the very best for a safe, relaxing  and fun holiday break.

Ways to Volunteer at ASPS

With our school continuing to welcome back parents onto the school site, Term 4 is a great time to re-engage as a school volunteer.  The following always need small armies of enthusiastic parents:

• Parents Association Committee (email: auburnsouthparents@gmail.com if interested)
• Kitchen Garden Program (see SAKG page in newsletter)
• as a canteen team member or casual helper
• class events and excursions
• Parent Green Team

If you would like to find out more, please contact the office or myself for further information.