Hallett Cove East Primary School

• Monday, 14th February - Whole school return to Face to Face learning
• March 7th - 11th - R-4 Swimming has been scheduled for Week 6

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

A GREAT START TO 2022

Despite the challenges of hybrid learning, we have had a very positive start to 2022 having started the year with 381 students and a staff that is looking forward to working closely with students and the school community throughout the year ahead. Even though students have been working face-to-face, remote or at school remote, they have generally been settled, happy and working closely with staff in whichever setting. We appreciate and thank you for your support through this complex process.

On Monday, school will return fully to face-to-face learning and we welcome everyone back to school. Any children who remain at home either due to parent request, or due to isolation or illness, will be able to access appropriate learning materials through the Our Learning SA website. The provision of remote learning programs by the school will cease.

This is just a reminder that for the foreseeable future parents are not permitted on site, so we please ask that you say goodbye to and collect your children from the gates, and thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

We also ask that you please keep any child who is at all unwell, at home until s/he is better, even if it there are not COVID-like symptoms.

Unfortunately, during my isolation as a close contact, I have now also become COVID positive and will only return to school in Wk 4. I would like to again acknowledge the excellent leadership of Andrea Hayden and the fantastic support of staff in my absence.

STAFFING NEWS

We welcome Jane Taylor and Kimberley Chamberlain (teachers) and Sally Johnson and Naira Tandilyan (SSOs) as new staff members this year, with all other returning staff having worked at some time during 2021. 

A full list of staff and their roles/responsibilities is attached here.

On behalf of the school community I would also like to congratulate Aisha Venner and her husband on the safe arrival of their son during the holidays.

ACQUAINTANCE MEETINGS

Due to the different start to the year this year, the Acquaintance Meetings that usually occur in Week 3 will be either delayed, or offered in a different format. As our priority has been on managing the hybrid learning processes we have not yet had time to organise a suitable alternative but more information will be available in due course.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Despite the fact that current restrictions are minimising access to parents on site, eventually we will start our volunteer programs again. Thank you to our many wonderful volunteers who support the school in a variety of ways throughout the year. We highly value positive working relationships with volunteers and the support you provide to our school programs.

While we wait for restrictions to lift, it is a very good time to follow up requirements that need to be undertaken to participate in volunteering programs in the school.

If you are current volunteer, this is a friendly reminder that you must have completed the new RRHAN training and have an up to date Working with Children Check to continue volunteering with us this year. If you have recently completed one or both of these processes, please email a copy of your documents to the front office so our records can be updated.

If you have not participated before but are interested in volunteering we would love to have you. There are some official processes that do need to be undertaken first but please do not let that put you off. Please contact the front office to ask for a Volunteer pack to be sent home with your child, or to discuss the Working with Children Check and RRHAN processes or any other information you need.

Just a reminder to all volunteers, current and new, that in order to volunteer you must also be double vaccinated and prepared to show your vaccinations record. Current volunteers, if you have not yet provided this to the school, please contact the front office to organise a time for a leader to sight the evidence.

Once volunteering programs recommence, volunteers will be asked to sign in at the front office and will be issued with a Visitor sticker to show that you are authorised to be in the buildings.

NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNING COUNCIL (2022/2023)

Because of the different start to the 2022 school year, Governing Council meetings are being postponed to only commence in Wk 6 instead of Wk 4 for the current Governing Council. The first meeting will be via Zoom.

It is an expectation, however, that AGM, happens before the end of the term so we can elect new members to Governing Council . At this stage AGM is planned for Wk 8, (with date and meeting format to be confirmed).

In getting all our parents/caregivers of the school community thinking about membership to Governing Council I provide the following preliminary information.

Membership of the Governing Council provides an opportunity to participate in discussions around a variety of school issues as a representative of the parent community and is a great way to learn how schools operate. The Hallett Cove East Primary School Governing Council Constitution states that the Governing Council will consist of 17 Council Members. This is comprised of the Principal, 2 Staff of the school and 14 elected Parents.  Currently there are some vacancies for 2022/2023 that are required to be filled. So we will shortly be preparing the application process for the new Governing Council. I encourage everyone to think seriously about joining Council. If you are interested, please look out for information regarding nominating for Governing Council that will be sent out very soon through Skoolbag.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is a key priority for all schools and it is vital that students are at school and on time every day. Even being late in the morning, means they miss part or all of the R-6 Reading Block. Children are expected to arrive at school between 8:30am and 8:40am and be in classrooms ready to commence tasks at 8:45am. If children arrive at classrooms after this time, they are deemed to be late and will need to check into the front office to have their electronic attendance status changed from Absent to Late. We ask please that students are signed in by parents through the front office (via the Admin gate during COVID restrictions), when arriving late. At a designated time each morning, a text will be automatically sent to the parents of any students with unexplained absences who have not arrived by then. (If you receive an absence text, we ask that you please either reply to the text with the reason for absence, or, ring the school.)

Not being at school at all, means 6 hours and 20 minutes of important learning time is lost. Obviously we understand that children do become ill and that families have urgent issues that arise from time to time. If these events occur we ask that you please ring the school. Not only is it important that students maximise their time in learning, this information also helps you and us to know where your child is ensuring s/he is safe. Attendance is a key Department for Education (DfE) priority and as such is subject to ongoing monitoring. The school’s Attendance brochure and policy are on the school’s website and can provide further information. I thank you in advance for your cooperation with this process.  

CYBER SAFETY ARTICLE IN THIS NEWSLETTER

The Southern District Community Engagement Newsletter is attached to this newsletter. While much of it is for schools the information may also be important for parents regarding ways to teach children about safety online.  

COMING EVENTS

 SCHOOL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The School AGM will be held on a date to be confirmed in Week 8 and in a format to be finalised.

More information will be out soon.

R-4 SWIMMING

Please note that R-4 Swimming has been scheduled for Week 6 (March 7th – 11th) with year levels, times and programs for these students still to be confirmed. More information will be out soon.

Anne Rathjen

Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Monday morning, as Mrs Rathjen has said, will be the resumption of our face to face learning for all our students. We are very excited about this. Here is some further information from the Department for Education and the school.

Restrictions for the Next Two Weeks

We still have some restrictions for the next two weeks. At the time of writing this the following information applies:

We are unable to have assemblies or gatherings of children but the children are allowed to mix with others during recess and lunch.

Year 3-6 students are strongly recommended to be wearing masks when inside. Our younger students are also welcome to wear masks. Whilst staff have been instructed to wear surgical masks students may wear fabric masks. We have a limited supply of child masks (these are small Disney Branded Surgical type masks) and a reasonable supply of blue surgical masks with shorter ear loops. Should you wish your child to use one of these could you please contact your child’s teacher via Class Dojo?

We are still to limit adults on site.

We will open the drop zone gate and house 9 gate for students only.

We understand that some students may need their parent to bring them in Monday morning but if this is the case could you please come in through the pencil gates and discuss this with me.

We anticipate that our reception and year 1 students will continue to be able to independently go from the pencils gate to the class teacher.

For this week we will continue having the class teachers of the youngest classes standing near houses 7 and 8 until the 8.40am bell goes.

Can I re iterate that once the gates are open the class teacher has a duty of care for the students in their class so this is not a suitable time for a parent to have a conversation with a teacher. If you have any information could you please send this via Class Dojo?

The following information is taken directly from the COVID19 Staff Update dated 10th February 2022.

“Online learning resources

To reiterate, teachers are not expected to deliver a face-to-face learning program and provide remote learning if a student in your class tests positive to COVID-19 or is required to isolate due to being a close contact outside of school.

 In this case you can encourage them to use the learning at home lessons on Our Learning SA.

 Reception to year 10 students can access a minimum of 3 Learning at home lessons online each day. Lessons are delivered via video or Microsoft PowerPoint and can be accessed on any device. 

 Parent ICT helpline

The parent ICT helpline will continue to be available to assist parents and carers if students are accessing the learning resources on Our Learning SA (due to testing positive to COVID-19 or being a close contact outside of school). Parents can call 1800 271 211.”

Drop Zone and Staff Carpark after School

Could we please ask that the entrance to the staff carpark is not blocked by any vehicles whilst waiting to pick up students at the end of the school day?

Some of our wonderful SSOs finish work every day at 3pm. We know they have other commitments and need to be able to leave the site promptly and safely.

Speaking of safety we also need the car park clear in case we need any emergency vehicles to access the school grounds.

Very importantly please do not call your students to your car unless you are in the drop zone parking bays.

 In both the morning and afternoons it is important that all students and adults walk across the marked crossing to ensure that drivers know when to give way to pedestrians.

R-4 Swimming.

You will have noticed from Mrs Rathjen’s article a change from R-5 Swimming to R-4 Swimming.

This year the staff have decided to trial a 2 day Surf Education Program for year five students. This is an open water safety program and we will provide further details when we have a booking. This will, hopefully, be at the same time as the year six students do Aquatics in term 4. We asked but year fives are not allowed to do the year 6/7 Aquatics program at Port Noarlunga.

Information, invoices and consent notes for R-4 Swimming will be sent home as soon as we are told that such activities can occur after week four. (Our swimming is booked in for week six.)

The Last 8 School Days

All the staff would like to thank parents, grandparents, family members and friends who supported our students during the remote learning and appreciate the significant undertaking this has involved.  We appreciate their efforts.

Thank you to all our staff and students for a successful start to such an unusual year and I look forward to seeing them all on Monday.

Kind Regards,

Andrea Hayden

Deputy Principal

During week 3 all families will receive their invoices for materials and services fees $340 and incursion/excursion levy $60 for 2022. A poll of the school community was conducted at the end of the 2021 school year which overwhelmingly resulted in our families agreeing to the 2022 Materials and Services Charge being set at the core charge of $340 for Reception to Year 6 students, this amount is known as the ‘prescribed sum’.

To allow us to provide the quality program and resources that we have planned for the students in 2022, we ask for these invoices to be settled within 14 days. We provide several payment options, QKR App (our preferred option), EFTPOS, cash, cheque, or a 24/7 BPOINT payment option via our school website which allows our families and caregivers to select a regular payment option to be deducted from a selected bank account or credit card on a weekly/ fortnightly or monthly basis. If you would like to take up this option please complete the application online via the school website. Details on how to access the Qkr App are available via the school website www.halcoveeps.sa.edu.au.

Please note this year school card applications can be submitted online, please go to www.sa.gov.au and search school card to complete your application.

Should you have difficulty with settling your account please contact the school finance officer to put a payment plan in place.

Imelda Jolly

Business Manager

Joey Traeger,

PASTORAL CARE WORKER

at HCEPS on Wednesdays and Fridays  

Joey.Traeger704@schools.sa.edu.au

As we continue to operate within the COVID boundaries, volunteers for the moment will be unable to assist.

However, we will, and do still need volunteers to be willing to help as soon as the restrictions ease. 

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

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!

Unfortunately we are still unable to offer the full Menu at this time. 

our current menu selection is available to be ordered via the Qkr! app ONLY

• Limited Lunch menu 
• Orders by 9.15
• We thank you for your continued understanding and support.
  

A selection of items from the menu: 

• Corn on the cob $1.50
• Beef burger $6.00 / Vegetarian burger $6.00
• Chicken Yumbo $6.00
• Hot dogs $4.50 / Vegetarian Hot Dog 4.50
• Pizza $5.50
• Mac and Cheese $5.50
• Lasagne  $6.00
• Veggie Fried Rice $5.50
• Chicken Nuggets $5.00
• Meat Pies $5.50
• Sausage Rolls  $4.50
• Muffins $1.00
• Cookies $1.00
• Ice blocks

See Qkr for further selections.

Sorry no sandwiches, wraps, and potatoes available until further notice.

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