Hallett Cove East Primary School

• NAPLAN Testing Tuesday 10th May - Friday 13th May
• Pupil Free Day Tuesday 14th June
• Pupil Free Day Monday 25th July

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

EARLY DISMISSAL THURSDAY 14th APRIL - 2:05pm

THANK YOU EVERYONE

What a long and busy COVID affected term we have had. I would like to thank all staff and students for the excellent work they have done, and for just “getting on with it” in spite of very challenging circumstances this term.

Thank you also to the school community for your support throughout. With the constant changes to restrictions and updates from the SA Health and/or the Department for Education, sometimes it appears that schools have been out of sync with what is happening in the community. We have, however, remained constantly aligned with department expectations and your support throughout this has been greatly appreciated. At this stage we have not received updates regarding what Term 2 looks like in terms of any further lifting of restrictions. I will let you know when any updates become available including during the holidays. 

STAFFING CHANGES FOR TERM 2

Congratulations to Kerry Patterson who will officially retire from the start of Term 2. We thank Kerry for her 16 excellent years of service to HCEPS and acknowledge her significant contribution to the learning of many, many students over all the years of her career. We wish her the very best in her future endeavours. Ellie Burford will continue to teach 7E for the rest of this year. Kimberley Chamberlain will also continue to teach in 9E on Thursdays and Fridays and Jess Dyer will teach in 8W on Fridays.

I would also like to let the school community know that this will in all probability be my final newsletter for HCEPS. I will be taking long service leave from the start of Term 2 until the end of the year. (I will also have enough to continue leave until the end of Term 1 2023.) At this stage I am planning to retire after that, although I have not made that very final decision yet. I plan to do that in Term 4, at which time I will also come back and say a proper goodbye to students.

In the event that I do retire and that this is my final newsletter, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the school community. It has been an absolute privilege to work here for over 12 years. HCEPS is made up of fabulous students, a professional, hardworking, caring and wonderful staff and a very supportive parent community. I would particularly like to thank Andrea Hayden for her outstanding support of my work in her role as Deputy Principal over a number of years.

I will miss working with everyone, but after 43 years of working in schools in a career I have loved, feel it is the right time to do other things in my life. During my leave, my husband and I will travel to different places around Australia, (we particularly love bushwalking in national parks and great open spaces), and look forward to the safe arrival of our first grandchild.

Congratulations to Andrea Hayden who will be the Principal and Renee Fisher who will be Deputy Principal from Terms 2-4. Zac Schenkel will be the teacher in 8E behind Renee. 

GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

Congratulations to our new Governing Council for 2022. The new Governing Council met for the first time this week. All the office bearers and sub-committee representatives were chosen.

Congratulations and a big thank you to the following office bearers and representatives:

Chairperson – Amber Pellerin

Deputy Chairperson – Nikki Dopson

Secretary – Yvette Eglinton

Treasurer/Finance – Melissa Vlachos

Assets and Grounds – Sally Matthews

Canteen – Sally Matthews

Education – Nikki Dopson

Fundraising – Melissa Vlachos

OSHC – Nadia Hodgson

Sport – Melissa Vlachos and Nadia Hodgson

Uniform – Rachel Peake

Other reps – Leanne Craig and Jessica Chaplin.

Any items, issues or queries for Governing Council can be raised either through the front office or the school’s email address marked ATTENTION GOVERNING COUNCIL. 

APPROVAL OF PUPIL FREE AND SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS FOR 2022

The Governing Council and Education Director have approved the following Pupil Free and School Closure Days:

• Tuesday June 14th – Staff working on literacy and numeracy improvement initiatives
• Monday 25th July – Teachers planning and developing new curriculum with teachers from partnership schools
• Friday 9th September – School Closure Day for the Royal Adelaide Show
• Monday 7th November – Teachers moderating curriculum in like year levels in preparation for the reports process

HIGHLIGHTS OF TERM 1 2022

Despite this term being severely impacted by COVID, our staff has continued to work at a high professional level. Highlights aside from our routine programs included:

• Student Leadership application process and commencement of roles
• Traffic Monitor training and work
• R-4 Swimming program
• Schools Clean Up Australia day
• Gymnastics
• Student Leadership assembly
• National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence and Harmony Day activities
• Footsteps Dance program – cultural focus
• Premier’s Reading and Be Active Challenges commenced
• Cross country training

AND

• AGM
• A new Governing Council elected

HATS IN TERM 2

According to our SunSmart policy, students do not need to wear hats during Term 2. I would ask however, that students still bring their hats to school for the first week or two just in case we have weather where the UV reading is above 3.

SCHOOL SECURITY IN THE HOLIDAYS

To help prevent vandalism and other crime in the school during the holidays, we seek your support to please report any suspicious behaviour you may observe in and around the school to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or direct to Police on 131 444. I thank you in advance for doing so.

…..AND FINALLY

Please stay healthy and safe during the holiday break with your children. Staff look forward to working with all students from the start of Term 2, Monday May 2nd.

PUPIL FREE DAYS

TUESDAY JUNE 14TH (DAY AFTER LONG WEEKEND IN TERM 2)

AND

MONDAY 25TH JULY (FIRST DAY OF TERM 3).

With regards

Anne Rathjen

Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

What a bright and colourful end to our week ten! It was so pleasing to see our students joining in with great spirit for such a worthy cause. It also brought a smile to many a face, especially our visiting “unicorn teacher”.

I would also like to remind families that hats are not required for outside activities and play time next term unless the UV rating is 3 or above. Students may, of course, continue to wear their hats if they wish. I would like to ask parents to talk to their children about the choices they make during play time, especially as the weather starts to change. If it is spitting with rain children can choose to run off the oval before the weather bells go as we have so many covered areas to play or wait out the few minutes of a shower. If there is a muddy section in the yard, please remind your children to avoid it. Our students know which areas are safe and suitable for play and which are not. Getting muddy at soccer on a Saturday is usually considered “okay” but getting muddy at school at lunchtime is not.

As Anzac Day falls in the middle of our break this year we have not organised a school Anzac Service. This does not mean that we do not want our students to reflect on the importance of this day as we will still talk about it when we are back from holidays. Students are often invited to share any of their experiences.

As you have read in Mrs Rathjen’s information she will be on leave for the remainder of the year and I have been appointed as the principal. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work with our staff, our students and our school community in this new capacity. I hope we all have a great break over the next couple of weeks and return refreshed for term 2.

Kind Regards,

Andrea Hayden

Deputy Principal

Families would have received their account statements through their child's class this week.

If you are yet to pay your 2022 Materials and Services fees we remind families to clear all outstanding accounts as soon as possible to avoid debt collection services to be appointed.  Please remember to contact the finance office so any credits can be applied to you account prior to final payments being made.

Please note this year school card applications should be submitted online, please read the attached information and click this link for step by step instructions to lodge your application online.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties we ask you contact the Business Manager via email at dl.1053.finance@schools.sa.edu.au.

Imelda Jolly

Business Manager

It is impossible to overestimate a child’s need for your complete attention. So much of my time spent in the yard at recess and lunch is devoted to listening with undivided attention to individual students. Some of what they tell me is big, and other things seem small, but one thing is clear: it is all extremely important to the storyteller.  And consequently it means so much to them when I listen and show them that it is important to me as well.

For some families, spending one on one time is a daily occurrence. For others, particularly larger families, it can be quite challenging to find the time. As our lives get busier we need to make time to become aware of the unspoken needs, and make steps towards fulfilling them.

One idea is to hold a “date night” where an outing is scheduled for just one child, and just one parent. Some of the fun is in planning beforehand, and reminiscing afterwards, but the greatest benefit is the conversations you can have without so many distractions. The child has the opportunity to talk about themselves, their dreams and desires, and they don’t have to share the spotlight. And in this environment they don’t need to fight or argue, their need for attention is being fulfilled by you.

“Date night” doesn’t need to be expensive. It just needs to be something that your child will enjoy. Maybe it is as simple as going to the supermarket with you and helping choose what your family will eat for dinner. Or going to the library and reading books about things they love but their siblings can’t stand.

For older children a traditional date of dinner and a movie can be a way to show them how they should expect to be treated when they start dating. And also, how they should treat others.       

Experiment with it, and as long as your child feels loved and understands that you value time spent with them, it has been a success. 

Joey Traeger

Pastoral Care Worker at HCEPS Wednesday and Friday

Joey.Traeger704@schools.sa.edu.au

Well done to our Year 5 & 6 knockout cricket team who had a fantastic first round match against Woodcroft PS on Friday of week 7.  It was an awesome whole team effort and we are excited to find out our opponents for the second round match later this term.

 Regards,

 Aaron Charlton

PE / SCIENCE TEACHER

Volunteers are important to our school community. Our canteen relies on help from volunteers to deliver a meal service to our pupils.

To enable us to provide a varied recess and lunch menu offer to our pupils we really do need your help.   

If you have a spare hour or more we would welcome your support.

Not registered with the school as a volunteer?  Volunteer application packs are available from the front office containing all the information you need to submit your registration as a volunteer...... WE NEED YOU

Great news – the Second-hand uniform shop is back up and running and loaded full of clothes of all sizes.

It will be run a little differently until parents/caregivers are allowed back on site.

If you are wanting something from the shop, either please email hcepsfundraising@gmail.com what you are after or contact the school office and let them know.

Items will then be left at the office to be placed into your child’s class pigeon hole once payment is made via the Qkr app under Payments – Optional Payments.

If you have any uniform items in good condition that are now surplus to your needs our volunteers would appreciate donations.  

Donations can be left at the administration office. Thank you.

Volunteers are urgently needed to help with next terms Mother’s Day stall. Week 1 - Thursday 5th May morning (8.30-10.30). Even if only an hour or so - it will help out enormously. This is a fun event to help out with, helping the kids choose gifts for their loved ones.

You must have completed all the volunteering requirements & shown proof of double vaccination or willing to do so.

If interested or have any questions please email hcepsfundraising@gmail.com. 

Qkr App (pronounced quicker) is Hallett Cove East Primary School and Out of School Hours/Vacation Care preferred form of payment. 

Please click for more details Qkr App

Download on the App Store or Get it on Google Play