A note from Mr Jackson

Parent forum: exploring school values and understanding our school

This term there will be a number of opportunities for staff, students and our parent community to reconsider the central values of our school. This will be an important time to ask ourselves what are the key characteristics that we endeavour to foster in our students. We would love for you to be involved.

We have set aside the evening of Wednesday, 22 March at 7:00pm to discuss two important items. The first is a reflection on the key values of the school. This will be one of a number of opportunities to voice your ideas and reflections as we define a whole school set of values. This evening will also be a chance to share reflections on the school as it enters a period of review. While term one will see the collection of a diverse range of data to inform the review process, term two will see the review take place. Parents, students and staff will have a number of opportunities to contribute to the review, this date being one.

Literacy and Numeracy in the Younger Years 

Two Workshops for Foundation and Kindergarten Children

In an effort to support parents of students in Prep, we are looking forward to presenting a workshop on early development of literacy in the early years. The workshops will explore simple ways parents and carers can foster conversations and experiences that enrich learning at home. Year 1/2 parents and careers are invited, although much of the content will be repeated from 2022.

Numeracy in the Younger Years

Wednesday 1 March at 7:00pm

Literacy in the Younger Years

Wednesday 8 March at 7:00pm

Instrumentalists Begin

This week we welcome back our instrumentalist team! Jenny, Cathy, Olivia and Ms Bright all provide wide range of classes for students who are eager to learn an instrument. This includes the violin, a range of wind and brass instruments, the piano, percussion and guitar. Contact with these teachers can be made by contacting the office. 

Qkr! Reminder

It is important to keep information on Qkr! up to date with your child’s correct class. This obviously changes from year to year. This ‘home group’ information allows uniform and canteen orders to be delivered to the correct classrooms and consent forms to record the correct class of students. All users should check to see if this is correct. If you require support, please speak with the office team who can help with this configuration.

Parent Payments

As we invest in the days ahead, we are thankful to all who have completed their Parent Payments. This payment covers a range of costs detailed in the Parent Payment Policy available online. Last year many have made significant contributions to the Library and Building fund. Last year, this enabled an upgrade to our PA and the completion of the Bike Shed. These voluntary payments can be made by visiting the office or simply through Qkr!

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) Reminder

A reminder that CSEF is available for eligible parents. To be eligible parents/careers will need to hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent. More information can be found here. The CSEF application form can be found here. We are more than happy to support you to complete the form or provide a hard copy.

School Council Elections Announcement

At this time each year, we we take a moment to thank all those who have served on the School Council over the year. Their voices, staff, students and teachers, have shaped and enhanced our community. This year we note a number of parents who have completed their term of two years as School Councillors. These parents are: Sam King, Anthony Sinclair, Kristen Munro and Robyn Allen.  We also acknowledge the contribution of Tzin-Yi Kocak.  A number of teachers have also served over the year and should be thanked for their contribution; Celeste Watts, Lynda Whitechurch, Matt Buckley and Bronwen Brasch. I am thankful for their encouragement, wisdom and enthusiasm.

While we have one more meeting of our 2022 School Council on Monday next week, we have scheduled our Annual General Meeting for Monday 20 March at 7pm. This is a public meeting and all are invited to attend. It will be followed by the first meeting of the 2023 School Council.

Please find attached Notice of Elections and Call for Nominations for our School Council and a Timeline for Elections. If you wish to nominate a member of our community or self- nominate then please contact the office to receive a Nomination or Self Nomination Form. I have also attached an information sheet that may support your considerations.

Please feel free to speak with me or other councillors if you would like to explore any thoughts about nominations or the role of School Council.

Assemblies on Fridays

We are excited to have our first whole school assembly on Friday at 9:00am. Changes may occur due to inclement weather or a range of other reasons. Such changes are communicated via Compass. Assemblies are an opportunity for our Captains to lead and for the Students of the Week to be celebrated. Classes will have an opportunity to share their learning, Students of the Week are communicated to parents on Thursday via a Compass post. Preps will join us later in the term.  The assembly is held outdoors in front of the 5/6 and Prep learning spaces. All parents are invited to join us.

Parent Teacher Interviews

A reminder that our parent teacher interviews close on Monday morning. While most class interviews are scheduled for Tuesday 14 February, Prep S has been scheduled for Wednesday 15 February. If you require an interpreter for the meeting please contact the office. 

Surveys have been distributed to students in Year 1 to Year 6. Please ensure these are returned to the classroom teacher in preparation for the meeting. Prep transition statements have already provided expansive information to Prep teachers.

Consent Forms

Thanks to all who have completed the consent forms circulated via Qkr! and in hard copy. These important documents provide parental consent for the following …

• Local Excursions
• Online Publishing
• Digital Technology (Prep-Yr2) and (Yr3-Yr6)
• Seesaw

Please speak with the office if you would like to receive a hard copy of the documents.

We will shortly distribute consent forms for those parents/carers who wish to participate in Christian or Islamic religious education.