Echuca Twin Rivers Primary School 

Principal's Report

Acting Principal - Rob Hogan 

Assistant Principal -Anthea Mathers 

Dear Families,

This week has been a very busy week.  Our students experienced their first transition session today in the next year level. These classes are not yet finalised, however  these sessions provide the opportunity to interact with other students and spend time with a new teacher. It was lovely to see so many smiles and listen to the excitement in our students' voices when they were telling us about their morning. We have another session planned next Friday followed by the State Wide Transition Step Up day on the 8th of December. New families to the school are strongly encouraged to attend this session. 

Covid Restrictions Eased 

This week we received notification from the Department of Education that some of the current Covid restrictions are easing. 

 

  • Parents are now allowed back onsite and  all activities involving parent volunteers can recommence, however this needs to be strictly monitored. We do ask that you make an appointment and you will be required to sign in upon entry and sign out upon departure to ensure accurate contact tracing can take place if required. All parents will need to enter and exit via the front office.
  • The office doors will be open, you do not have to ring the doorbell anymore (our office staff are delighted by this news!)
  • Full day transition can now take place for our new Foundation students on the 8th of December. We will inform you as soon as we know what the secondary school transition plan is and whether there are any changes to its original format.
  • Staggered pick up times will continue until the end of the year as this is very helpful when decreasing the traffic congestion at 3:15pm.
  • Graduation ceremonies can go ahead with parents in attendance. More information about this will be going home soon.
  • Multiple interschool events can now go ahead.
  • Class bubbles and playground bubbles can not be abolished.

As a school, in partnership with the Specialist School, we are currently working through these changes and will inform you of the finer details early next week. If you have any questions, please ring the school or drop in and ask our staff. 

Reports

Reports will go home on Wednesday 16th of December. If you require a hard copy (paper copy) of your child's report, please notify the office for this to be arranged.  Interviews are not scheduled, however if you'd like to discuss your child's report with their teacher, please contact the school to make an appointment. 

Student Support Group Meetings

Students who are funded under the Program for Students with Disabilities are scheduled to have Student Support Group meetings next week. Either Nicole or Emily have contacted all families this applies to regarding these meetings and scheduled times. 

2021 Planning 

Over the next couple of weeks teachers and the leadership team will be involved in a range of strategic planning days for 2021. During this time, our leadership team and classroom teaching teams collate and analyse the year's data and this then informs our planning for the year ahead. We audit the curriculum and plan new  learning inquires for the year as part of the Professional Learning Team initiative. 

Toy Drive 

We are very excited to announce  both Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist and Primary school have joined the Echuca Moama Community Projects along with the Echuca Moama Uniting Church and will become a drop off point and key contributor for the 2020 Christmas Toy Appeal. It is exciting to be involved in a project in our Community that our students will benefit from.

 

What does it look like for us?

The VCAL team  at Echuca Specialist School  will build a pallet Christmas tree that will be situated in our school foyer.

From Monday 30th of November we will be inviting donations of new, unwrapped toys from staff, families and members of the local community. If you feel that you could make a donation, we invite you to bring an unwrapped toy or toys to the school foyer and place it under the Christmas tree. 

 

Julie Langdon Sands will be the co-ordinator of this project. The toys at our school will be delivered to the Echuca Moama Uniting Church on both the 9th and the 16th of December. Our Student Leaders will travel to the church to help sort the toys with the volunteers. 

 

Last year the project provided gifts for 216 children. This is a great way that we as a Community can give back to the wider local community of Echuca Moama. The toys will be sorted into major and minor toys - families that access this program are able to get one major toy per child and several minors depending on availability. Members of the community will be able to drop the toys off at our school between 10am and 12pm each day from Monday 30th of November until Thursday 17th of December.

This will be promoted through both Facebook pages, newsletters and the Riverine Herald.  This is strictly voluntary;  we are aware that Christmas can be a difficult time for many. 

School Dentist 

The school Dentist will be in attendance next week. Thank you to all the families who have returned the forms. 

School Wide Positive Behaviour 

This week's focus area is learning and revising the behaviour expectations when moving around the school This looks like:

  • Walking my bike or scooter in and out of the school via the back gate.
  • Using a quiet voice when walking between learning spaces.
  • Walking on the paths
  • Accepting who I am standing next to.
  • Being patient and waiting my turn.
  • Walking at the same speed as my class behind my teacher.
  • Lining up quickly when the bell goes
  • Keeping my hands, feet and objects to myself.
  • Walking in the courtyard

Wishing you all a great  weekend. Don't forget to slip, slop and slap, it is going to be another warm one.

 

Kind regards, 

Rob and Anthea