Torquay Coast Primary School Newsletter

Principals Message

Dear TCPS Families,

Welcome to 2022 @ TCPS!

 

It is just so lovely to have our students and families back on site. We may not all have had the summer holidays that we had planned, but everyone has arrived back at TCPS looking refreshed and rested and that is wonderful to see. It was great to see our students arrive in such a happy and positive manner and to be able to have families back on site to join in the excitement.

 

Here’s hoping for a school year that resembles (as closely as possible) the normality we once all took for granted.

 

Thank you so much to all of our families for being adaptable, supportive and understanding as we navigate another year that looks just a little different. I am fortunate to belong to a school community that includes such amazing families and such dedicated and incredible staff.

 

Gate Times

A reminder to parents that our gates are opened at approximately 8.30am each morning by our school officer. Victorian public schools are only permitted to allow students onsite when supervision is available. We are opening our gates at 8.30am to encourage a staggered arrival at school and to encourage social distancing.

 

Yard supervision, as per Department of Education requirements, is in place 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the school day during usual operations, but will be in place from 8.30am while we are supporting a staggered start to the day.

 

Our School Officer commences his gate run with the Bike Gate first, moving up the hill to the Front Gate and finishing with the Legacy Drive gate. Once the green corridor development is completed on the South boundary, we will also be looking to open up an access gate in that location.

 

A reverse order for closure occurs at approximately 9.10am. 

 

If you need to send or drop your child/ren off earlier due to work commitments etc, please know that the YMCA provide an onsite Before and After School Care service. The YMCA will need to be contacted directly to arrange that care. www.childrensprograms.ymca.org .au  (03 4755 9735)

 

Masks

The requirement to wear masks in different settings can change quite quickly. Once again, masks are required to be worn in all indoor venues, including schools, unless direct teaching is involved. This applies to students in year 3 and above, school staff and visitors to our school. We have again placed a reminder on our office door for parents to please wear a mask when entering the school office area. 

 

2022 Home Group Structures

As our school has moved into our 5th year of existence, it continues to grow as expected.

2018: 127 students (Inaugural year)

2019: 238 students

2020: 361 students

2021: 469 students

2022: 540 students

 

We would like to welcome the following staff to TCPS!

  • Rachel Ryan – Prep A
  • Annie Pettit – 1A
  • Kamala Bode – 1C
  • Ruby Scanlan – 56B
  • Jack Farrow – Integration Aide

Whilst our students are allotted to Home Groups, they learn and collaborate together as part of a Neighbourhood within a  Learning Community. Students have constant opportunities and the ability to work and mix with all children in their year level cohort. Our unique learning environments are designed specifically for that intention.

 

2022 Homegroups

Prep A - Mrs Ryan

Prep B - Mrs Greenhough

Prep C - Miss Gunn

Prep D - Mrs Webb

Prep E - Miss Jones

1A - Ms Pettit

1B - Mrs Isbel

1C - Ms Bode

1D - Mrs King

1E - Miss Hinkley

2A - Mrs Morton

2B - Miss Dangerfield

2C - Ms Strong

2D - Mr Norton

3A - Mr Dahl

3B - Miss Brasier

3C - Mr Francis

3D - Mrs Reid and Mrs Curran

4A - Mrs Rayner

4B - Mr Bonner

4C - Mr Findling

5/6A - Mr Kiss

5/6B - Ms Scanlan

5/6C - Mr Cuthbertson

5/6D - Miss Marie

 

My wish is for a term that is disrupted as little as possible and where our students have an abundance of time learning with their peers at TCPS. Thank you once again for your support.

 

Mrs Loader

Acting Principal

DET Mandates

Please remember that Face Masks required for all students in Grades 3 – 6 (indoors only) unless there is an exemption.

  • Masks exemptions include: Physical or mental disability
  • Medical conditions such as asthma qualify as an exemption – but if unsure please contact your child’s teacher.
  • Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exceptionMUST provide their approval in writing to the school for their child/ren to not wear a mask. Please feel free to email your child’s teacher or the school office – torquay.coast.ps@education.vic.gov.au
  • Parents/carers are NOT required to provide a certificate from a medical practitioner,a simple written statement is totally fine.
  • We have a limited supply of masks that we can provide students if they require a mask so it is hoped students will bring their own.
  • Our aim has always been to create an environment where all our students feel safe, supported and comfortable, despite the many challenges COVID 19 has provided.

TCPS -  SCHOOL COUNCIL 

2021 School Council Members:

  • Kelsey Jamieson – Parent Rep - President
  • Emma Zahra – Parent Rep - Vice President
  • Hutch Hussein – Parent Rep
  • Brad Millar – New Parent Rep
  • Sophie Young – New Parent Rep
  • Matt Corlett – New Parent Rep
  • Darren Roskosch (Principal - Executive Officer of SC)
  • Jo Loader (Assistant Principal – Teacher rep)
  • Bianca McSparron (Business Manager - Finance)

Tutor Learning Initiative

The 2020 and 2021 school year was an extraordinary and challenging one for every school community. We know that the remote learning experience was different for every student. While some students thrived, some students may not have engaged as fully with remote learning and will benefit from additional learning support in 2022. 

 

In acknowledgement of this, the Victorian Government has committed funding towards the Tutor Learning Initiative to support students who may need extra assistance with their learning.

 

At TCPS we have employed a number of extra staff, over and above the funding, to ensure all students in need have access to extra support. These staff members will be working closely with home group teachers to provide targeted support. 

 

Mrs Chapman and Mrs South have also returned from family leave to provide explicit support in this area. They will be working predominantly with our grade 1 students, whilst all of our learning neighbourhoods have an extra staff member to support this intervention program. Students may have direct contact with these staff, or work in smaller groupings with their home group teacher. 

 

With additional teachers in the neighbourhood, we will be able to provide explicit support to a wider range of students. This will also allow the classroom teacher the opportunity to educationally engage more closely with individual students during learning time. This way all students benefit from the program.

 

TCPS has already supported and staffed intervention support since its inception, and our aim is to also make this program sustainable beyond the current funding. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting your child’s home group teacher.

TCPS Assembly

Just a reminder that due to COVID restrictions unfortunately we are not yet able to have parents attend our weekly assembly. Not having our student families at our assembly is a massive loss for our school and I look forward to that changing hopefully in the near future. Assembly is just not the same without our parents/grandparents.

 

We will however be able to have two open learning community days this term, with certain COVID related conditions implemented. A  COMPASS post will cover that information.