Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to a new school year. I trust you had a lovely Christmas break and a wonderful time with friends and family.
This year we will be changing the frequency of our newsletter, this being the first for the year. Our school newsletter will be provided to families in the first week of each term and then every 3 weeks, making it 4 times a term. Each term you can expect to receive the newsletter in weeks 1, 4, 7 and 10.
Included in the newsletter will be an additional article on new learning that will be taking place in our school We will also provide updates on the Cluster Star Program, particularly with information on our literacy, numeracy and wellbeing focus for the school. We hope to showcase the learning in our school, especially during these current times of COVID.
The beginning of each new year brings a great sense of optimism, excitement and hope, more so this year, after the challenges we had in 2020. It has been special to see the many excited and happy faces as we returned to school life after a well-deserved break.
We are pleased to welcome new students, staff and families into our community. I would especially like to welcome our new Reception students: Elly, Dan, Rachel, Jonathon, Samaira, Oscar, Charlie, Aryana, Orion, Joshua, Sophia, Rafael, Thaddeus, James, Zac, Owin, Marcus, Lotti, Patrick, Katija, Nate, Emma, Daniel, Declan, Ava, Charlie, Amali and Aurora.
Also, we welcome, Edward, Zaynah and Manuki in Year 2 as well as Jayden in Year 4.
A special welcome to new staff in 2021. This includes our new Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission (APRIM) Mrs Annette McCard, who will be working on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This year we have 3 new teachers in our school. We welcome Ms Natalie Diglio in Year 1/2ND full time, Ms Mae McGee who will be working with Stephanie O’Leary in Year 1SM on Thursdays and Fridays and finally we welcome Mr Jarred Hughes who will be taking our PE lessons for the school on Fridays. We look forward to working with them throughout 2021.
Staffing 2021
Classes:
Specialist Teachers & Learning Coach
Education Support Officers (ESO)
Library
Administration
Play Group Coordinators
Business Manager
Director of Learning (DOL) & Inclusive Education
Assistant Principal Religious Identity & Mission (APRIM)
Principal
Wellbeing Weeks
This year, across the cluster schools in our eastern region, we have developed a new initiative around starting a new school year and wellbeing. During the first 2 weeks of this term, all classes will be spending time on building connections, forming positive relationships and having the opportunity to discover more about each other.
A positive wellbeing approach can certainly improve student performance, behaviour and social connections. This can allow students to flourish in their learning, build resilience, develop protective factors from mental ill-health and provide skills and confidence in seeking help.
Starting a new school year is a wonderful opportunity to spend some time developing and establishing a good positive environment for students to feel connected, belong and valued as they meet their new teacher and new class mates. This whole school approach involves all students, leaders, teachers and staff across the school to have opportunities to make positive social connections.
Over the first 2 weeks, students and staff will be experiencing a wide range of activities that will assist with their social needs, learning about each other, discovering and establishing classroom routines and tapping into their own personal wellbeing.
Part of this approach will include an opportunity for you and your child to meet the teacher in Week 3 of this term. Families will be asked to select a time and book in from the website which will be made available next week. This will be a chance to inform teachers about your child, hear from the student about their learning goals and build a positive and supportive relationship. More details will be available soon on how you can book in and select a time slot.
Throughout this year we will continue to make wellbeing a very important part of all our lives at our school as we look at ways to promote and include wellbeing in all aspects of school life. This year there will be free parent workshops made available across the cluster for you to attend on a range of important parenting topics, presented to us by Madhavi Nawana Parker from Positive Minds Australia.
Child Safety
As part of our professional responsibilities and boundaries, schools are asked each year to communicate to their community about the reporting procedure for child abuse and neglect. It is vital we continue to be observant and report any concerns. Please click on the link provided for more information.
https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse
COVID Update
We are reminding all families that it is important that students stay home if they are unwell. Adults must continue to physically distance, especially at school pick up and drop off or when attending a school event.
We ask you to continue to use our usual sign in procedures for all visitors. A QR code will be made available to schools very soon, this will be used for the express purpose of quick contact tracing in the event of a COVID outbreak in the same way it operates for many businesses across the state and will be used to assist when we have a larger number signing in for an event.
Hand hygiene is still very effective and vital and we ask that students bring a drink bottle and not to drink from the drinking fountains, these are to be used solely for refilling their bottle.
Pupil Free Dates
In 2021, the staff will be involved in Professional Learning opportunities with our cluster schools. It is important that you are fully aware of these school closure days so if you are planning any holidays or have to organise care you are have these in your diaries.
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Please place these dates in your diary. All important dates are available on skoolbag and on our school website under ‘Upcoming Events ‘.
Buildings and Grounds
During the Christmas break, the settlement of the property at 9 Birkinshaw Ave was finalised. This will mean we can begin to make plans to use the space for a new netball/basketball court and additional grassed play space. Increasing the size of the play space of the school is certainly an exciting prospect.
We are continuing to work towards stage 1 of our building project. Over the break the Steering Committee worked closely with the architects to look at design and begin the process of costing. I am very pleased to see that we are beginning to see the possibilities of our new adventure play space and the re- development of the Parish Hall. I will continue to keep the community up to date on future developments as we work towards this exciting project.
During the holiday break , Carol a local artist, began painting murals in our student toilets. This toilet project was organised by the Marketing and Student Action leadership teams from last year. The Teams invited students across the school to select some positive quotes to be designed and painted on the cubical doors to provide students with a more calming and positive toilet environment.
This work will continue throughout the term and we hope to have it completed soon, watch this space for some more information.
Looking forward to a great year
Stay safe
Kind regards
Adrian Grbin
