Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to 2023

I would like to warmly welcome our new and existing students and families to Oak Flats Public School in 2023. I hope that you all managed to relax, spend time with family and friends and are ready to embark on another wonderful year of learning.

Creating connections and belonging has been especially important this week as our littlest students began their educational journey. Kindergarten Best Start Assessments took place and commencement of Preschool began. I applaud both Kindergarten and Preschool teachers for all their preparation, the children for how settled and happy they were and the parents for preparing them for the start of their Kindergarten and or Preschool journey.

STAFFING NEWS

As you are aware, Mrs Daliya Phipps has left Oak Flats Public School and was appointed as the Principal, School Leadership and External/Validation beginning Term 1. We wish her all the best and know she will be absolutely amazing in this role and will be missed by both staff, students and parents. This has resulted in some changes to Executive positions at our school. I will be Relieving Principal for Term 1 and Emily Chatterton - Relieving Deputy Principal, for Term 1, Melissa Connor - Assistant Principal of Stage 1, Mrs Tasha Ross - Assistant Principal of Stage 3, Jordan Walker-Lau – Relieving Assistant Principal of Stage 2, and Kellie Urszulak - Relieving Assistant Principal of Early Stage 1.

As Relieving Principal, I look forward to leading the school with the Executive team, getting to know students and families of Oak Flats Public School and upholding the outstanding reputation Oak Flats Public School has in and outside of our Oak Flats community.

This year we welcome to our staff four new members. Following a merit selection process, we welcome Mrs Tasha Ross as the new Assistant Principal and this year she will lead Stage 3. Mrs Ross is from Kiama Public School and comes with considerable knowledge and experience. We also welcome Mrs Kristie James from Campberfield Public School, as classroom teacher on 3/4J. Mrs Elisa Higgs, will work in our Preschool and Monica Gastini is our new School Counsellor. We are very excited to welcome them to the Oak Flats Public School Community. We also welcome back Mrs Katie Smith and Mrs Natalie Shephard, both classroom teachers.

2023 CLASSES

When determining class sizes, the Department of Education provides the level of staffing, finances and resources to schools based on student enrolment figures. Schools have to submit actual enrolments based on students in attendance at school. Formulas are used for the staffing to establish the number of teachers and classes that are provided to Oak Flats Public School. This year we have formed 19 classes and currently students are in their 2022 classes and will move into their 2023 classes, at 2pm tomorrow.

Parents, carers and students will be informed of their new class groups and will begin working with their new teachers tomorrow afternoon. I would like to assure parents, that teachers have spent many hours devising classes. Our school takes great care to ensure the placement of each and every student into the most appropriate classroom setting. To ensure this the school considers the following factors:

1. social

2. emotional

3. academic

4. behavioural needs

5. the dynamics of students working together

6. the teaching team working with each grade

7. students who are funded for support

8. students who have identified needs

9. careful consideration has also been given for the students who have either arrived or departed from the school this year.

Our class groups also provide equitable class sizes at each grade level.

Following evaluation and consideration about student progress, class structure and overall school organisation, teachers at Oak Flats Public School feel our 2023 arrangements will best suit the needs of all our students, and we appreciate parent and carer understanding that moving students again is difficult without causing imbalances and inequities.

At Oak Flats Public School, we believe that strong, direct, and open communication is best. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher(s) or our administrative staff if you have questions, need clarification about a school matter, or wish to discuss the personal academic/social goals for your child. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me, if you have any questions or concerns over the course of the Term 1.

COVID GUIDELINES

While we continue to transition towards living with COVID-19, NSW Health advise that the unpredictable nature of the virus will continue to present a health risk to the community, with new waves of transmission expected in 2023.

In line with the health advice and community settings, we will continue implementing baseline COVID-smart measures in schools throughout Term 1. These include:

· reminding students, staff and families to stay home if unwell and test for COVID-19 if showing any symptoms

· boosted day cleaning of high touch areas in our school

· strongly encouraging masks to be worn by all students, staff and visitors, particularly when indoors or outdoors when physical distancing is difficult to maintain

· requiring masks for staff and volunteers who interact with students at greater risk of serious illness if they were to contract COVID-19 – including in SSPs, support units and some mainstream settings

· strongly encouraging up-to-date vaccinations for our staff and students, including COVID-19 booster shots for anyone eligible

· maintaining natural ventilation with windows and doors open whenever possible, including when cooling/heating systems are in use

· continuing to provide RATs and other hygiene products to families who need them.

MORNING DROP OFF AND PICK UP

To avoid congestion during the morning drop off and conclusion of the school day, the following procedures have been put in place. In the morning, students can enter the Preschool, Wentworth and/or Griffiths Street gates. Just a reminder to all parents and carers the earliest students can enter the school grounds is 8:30am when the electric gates open. Upon entering the school, students are asked to go to their designated area.

At the conclusion of the day, students can leave the school grounds through one of three gates, which include Wentworth Street, Griffiths Street and Preschool. It is asked that parents organise with their child a gate they are to exit at the end of the day, to avoid confusion and anxiety for students, especially our little people.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

Parent information sessions will be held in Week 4 commencing Monday, 13 February in classrooms. We encourage parents and carers to attend and take the opportunity to find out about your child’s learning this year, meet their teacher and learn how you can support them at home.

If you are unable to attend, each class teacher will provide a handout for your information.

Scheduled days for each stage are:

Stage 2 - Monday, 13 February

Stage 1 - Tuesday, 14 February

Kindergarten - Wednesday, 15 February

Stage 3 - Thursday, 16 February

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and Years 5 will be sitting NAPLAN in 2023, beginning Wednesday, 15 March and concluding Monday, 27 March. Further information will be sent to families in the coming weeks.

SCHOOL BELL TIMES FOR 2023

9:00 - 11:00 Morning Session

11:00 - 11:45 Lunch

11.45 - 1.30 Middle Session

1.30 - 2.00 Recess

2.00 - 3.00 Afternoon Session

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

Our Years K-2 and Years 3-6 Assemblies will begin in Term 1, Week 4. Years 3-6 assemblies are held during even weeks and Years K-2 assemblies are conducted during odd weeks. We look forward to seeing parents and visitors attend our assemblies.

NEWSLETTER COMMUNICATION IN 2023

This year the school newsletter will continue to be published fortnightly. There are many ways other than the newsletter that parents can access information about our school, including notes sent home, Facebook, the School eNews App, and the school website.

There are also a number of ways to receive our School Newsletter: Download the free School Enews app to receive alerts and the newsletter.

1. Open App Store, Play Store or Windows Store

2. Search for "School Enews"

3. Download the "School Enews" app (icon on right)

4. Open the app and search for "Oak Flats Public School"

Subscribe for Email Updates and the newsletter.

You can also subscribe through the school website for the newsletter and updates to be sent to your email account. Simply go to the school website and click on the tab ‘Newsletters and Notes’ and follow the simple steps to subscribe.

CONTACT DETAILS OR CHANGES IN MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please come to the office and update any contact details or changes in medical conditions for your children. We need to be able to reach you in case of an emergency. This is for the safety of your children. If your child has asthma or anaphylactic reactions, it is your responsibility to update your child’s medical plan and medications.

Staff train to keep our children safe. All teachers are trained in CPR and have their skills updated each year. This is part of our ongoing commitment to keeping students safe. Our staff have also updated their emergency care training.

A number of our students have allergies which require them to have EpiPens in case of contact with certain substances. To keep our entire school safe, we ask that no nut products are brought to school. This includes items such as muesli bars, peanut butter etc. Families are reminded that cakes from home cannot be brought in for your child's birthday under the current COVID 19 guidelines. Birthday cupcakes and sundaes can be ordered through the Qkr app. We appreciate your ongoing support with this.

STUDENT ABSENCES

This year, our school will once again have a focus on attendance. Our school's target is to have an attendance rate of greater than 90%. It is important your child attends school each day unless they are sick. It is also important that your child arrives at school and to class on time. Our school day officially commences at 9.00am and goes through until 3.00pm. Any lateness will be recorded as a partial absence and is required to be explained by the child's parent/carer. Parents are reminded it is a legal requirement that you explain your child’s absence in writing on the first day of their return. Some further reminders:

· If your child is absent for two or more consecutive days, please advise the school.

· If your child is absent for three or more consecutive days due to illness, please attach a doctor’s certificate to the absentee note.

· If you are planning on taking a holiday during the term, you must apply for Extended Leave - Travel. The application form is available from our office and must be completed prior to travel.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Preparations for the school’s Annual Swimming Carnival have been finalised with our carnival taking place tomorrow at Oak Flats Pool. I would like to thank Miss Ford and her team for their outstanding organisation and attention to detail and I wish all our competitors the very best.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Kind regards,

Alice Wigny

Relieving Principal

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