Our partnership with you to support every child's learning and growth is important. This term teachers were keen to reorganise 3 way interviews so staff, students and families could meet to discuss strengths and goals. It has been delightful to hear students talk about what they can do well and what they will do next to grow. Please continue to support your child's daily reading and work on ways to support them with their goals. Here are some quick questions you can ask at the dinner table to support their positive mindset and ensure they see themselves as continuous learners...
Covid-19 Update
As a school we are proactively planning for all scenarios in regards to the changing situation around COVID in SA. Whilst cases remain low, we want to be best prepared to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing for all. We need the support of all families to ensure we are planned and prepared for any potential scenario.
In case of a school closure, which could occur in or out of school hours, families are communicated with via the site Skoolbag app. An automated text will also be sent via phone. Please regularly check school communication and ensure notifications are turned on.
Other things you need to ensure:
-School has been provided with your most up to date telephone and email contacts.
-Children know which gates to be collected from, if a site closure was enacted during the day.
(School would need to be cleared as quickly as possible so please have a contact who can collect your child) Children remaining at site will head to the courtyard and families/emergency contacts contacted by phone.
-You are able to access the class learning tools e.g. Seesaw for R-4
-Year 5/6/7 children can access the IT tools and learning platforms used by their year levels.
-You know how to electronically communicate with class teachers.
-That absences and late information is provided to school via email or skoolbag report an absence.
-You have access to a device (telephone, laptop, computer etc... for children to access learning via the classroom apps if we were to enact 'The School in the Cloud" online learning)
Behaviour Support Policy
At West Lakes Shore School our positive, inclusive and kind school is built within a restorative and respectful behaviour support strategy. All staff have been trained in using restorative approaches and in Term 4 our Pupil Free Day will be focused on a whole-school 'Social and Emotional' Mark Le Messurier 'What's the Buzz' program. All staff and students are introduced to the site Wellbeing Hub and students are able to access this area for calming strategies, chill and chats and personalised support. The use of this space is reviewed each semester and children are prioritised for other support, such as The Nest Interoception training or Behaviour Support referrals.
Wellbeing Corner
We continue to look at innovative ways to support students’ social and emotional development and in particular help their emotional regulation. Given recent times this has increased substantially for some individuals. As a school we have researched the potential to introduce an onsite Wellbeing Dog. Other schools have fed back that this helps students regulate, gives them a sense of responsibility and has supported a more positive, happy culture. All risk assessments and appropriate paperwork will be completed and we will look to trial ‘Gordon’, Ms Martin’s dog, in the upcoming weeks. Gordon joined us for our Staff Sports Day in the Pupil Free Week and our teacher ‘Bring your Pet to school day’. He is well trained, calm and loves a pat or two. Any community feedback can be forwarded to carol.press854@schools.sa.edu.au with ‘Wellbeing Dog’ in the subject line. The feedback will be used to create a risk assessment that will be shared with all families.
We are also looking to implement other proactive support, such as social and emotional programs for small groups, and individualised ‘job roles’ relevant to students interests. Ms Jacqui will take up the leadership of the Nature Play Crew and plan the roles of student volunteers across the school. Our new grounds man Jarrod has already started to induct some students to some new grounds roles.
The SEE (suspension, exclusion and expulsion) Framework
Serious breaches of school expectations are dealt with through site reflection processes, take home, suspensions and/or exclusions. A New Department SEE framework provides advice and mandated requirements to schools and our Behaviour Support Policy references this. Governing Council have approved the schools use of take homes for all ongoing and high level emergency behaviours. We also wish to draw your attention to the use of new terminology in this framework including ‘reconnection meeting’ (completed by staff member(s), student and family after each take home or suspension) and suspension pending direction (previously suspension pending exclusion) Our aim in every meeting is to ensure we restore and repair harm and look at directions to best support the individual needs of students, whilst maintaining a safe and productive learning environment for all staff to teach, and all students to be safe and learn. The Framework is attached for your information.
School Day Times
In line with other local schools we have reviewed the School Day with both staff and Governing Council and wish to consult with the community regarding proposed 2021 school hours:
- 8.50 – Start of School Day
- 9.00 – Lesson 1
- 9.50 – Lesson 2
- 10.40 – Recess
- 11.00 – Lesson 3
- 11.50 – Lesson 4
- 12.40 – Eating Time (key year levels extend this to enable students to eat)
- 12.50 – Lunch Play
- 1.20– Lesson 5
- 2.10 – Lesson 6
- 3.00 – End of School Day
The end of the school day will change to 3.00pm as opposed to the current 3.15pm.
Reasons for the proposed changes include:
Aligning times to recent EB agreements and other school 'School Day Times'.
Supporting safe play environments through shortened lunch play periods.
Reducing the daily duty staff elected to do to meet EB agreements and support them to have more opportunity for teams/Partnership Schools to meet and plan/assess/moderate at the end of the school day.
At this stage we welcome community feedback. Please email helen.grant8@schools.sa.edu.au with 'School Day Time Feedback 'in the subject heading. Please provide any comments or suggestions that will be worked through with staff, PAC and GC. We are consulting more widely with our community, OSHC, High Schools and Kindergarten, to ensure all implications are thought through and considered.
Site Works and Upgrades
We are delighted to announce that the school has been selected to be part of a fast-tracked modular education facilities program and this means architects will be allocated this term to commence work on the development of a multi-purpose world-class learning facility for our specialist subject areas. This uses the $5,000,000 Better School Funds.
Thank you to all families for your continued support of school processes and your input at school interviews.
Be Strong, Be Kind, Stay Safe and Calm.
We hope you have a lovely weekend,
Carol, Helen, Fay and Rozika
