Issue 8: Wednesday, 27th May 2020


FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

As we approach the half way mark of this term I would like to again thank all families for their cooperation with the COVID-19 arrangements that we have installed.  Over the last week we have seen approx. 94% of our students return to school, which has been fantastic.

We still have a number of processes in place across the school which include:

·     Social distancing protocols continue to be implemented.

·     An extra 2.0 FTE cleaning staff for high traffic areas.

·     Staggered break times.

·     The hand cleaning and hygiene regimes continue.

·     Parents dropping off children at the gates (except K& PP children).

·     Visitors to school are limited.

·     All assemblies, excursions and non-essential in-school activities are cancelled.

Even though there has been a reduction in restrictions across the state it is very important that we maintain these protocols and we ask that parents and carers maintain social distancing whilst they are waiting to collect their children.

 

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, which runs 27 May to 3 June each year.

These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the Reconciliation journey - the 1967 Referendum, and the High Court decision in Mabo.  The week is also preceded by National Sorry Day which was yesterday (Tuesday, 26 May).  Reconciliation Week is a time for us to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in our workplaces, schools and communities.

This year’s theme, In This Together, is particularly relevant in current times and will be treated across the school.

 

P&C MEETING

Our P&C was able to meet on Monday night and I would like to sincerely thank and congratulate the P&C executive for their excellent work over the past months.  Behind the scenes Lauren Harry (President), Mel Richardson (Treasurer) and Amanda Bayley (Secretary) have ensured that the P&C continues to work and support us across the school.  Their work particularly with managing the school canteen has been very challenging and they have done a wonderful job.  Thank you ladies!!

 

SEMESTER 1 REPORTS

With the regular attendance of many students being lower over this time, the breadth and depth of the curriculum covered throughout Semester 1 may have been reduced.  For this reason, schools are not required to include A to E grades on this year’s Semester 1 student reports.  It also means that your child’s attendance will not be reported, and any written comments may provide less information on their progress than usual.  Our Semester 1 reports will include:

  • English and Mathematics - A brief comment regarding progress and the content covered during the semester.  Grades are not provided but effort will be indicated.
  • Science, HASS, Health & PE, Languages and Technologies - Each student’s comment will comprise a common statement indicating the skills and content covered during the semester. Grades are not provided but effort will be indicated.
  • General Comments - The general comment will provide information about attendance, punctuality, behaviour, engagement and attitude.  If teachers can, there will be information regarding general progress.

 

TERM 2 SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAY

A reminder that our next school development day is this Friday, 29th May.  Children do not attend school on this day and with Monday being a public holiday, this will give our school community a four-day mid-term break.  Our staff will be participating in a full day of professional learning at school.  The front office will open from 8.00am and close at 2.30pm.

Have a wonderful fortnight.

 

Kind regards

Craig Ashby

PRINCIPAL

 

 

FROM THE DEPUTIES DESK

Punctuality

School begins at 8:30am every day. Many of our families arrive 5 or 10 minutes late every day – some are even later on a regular basis. If this is you, or if you are arriving right on siren time, challenge yourself to leave the house 5 or 10 minutes earlier every day – even on cold, wet mornings. If you need support getting your child to school on time, please chat with their LA teacher or Mrs Weir.

Why is Punctuality so Important?

Research shows that children with consistent school attendance learn more. If children are to fully benefit from the many learning opportunities, regular school attendance is vital. A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the year, definitely, a significant loss in the teachable moments that you can’t get back.

Children who are late or absent can never recover what is most important: the discussion, the questions, the explanations by the teacher and the thinking that makes learning come alive.

While punctuality will promote learning, arriving late to school can also be very disruptive for the child, the teacher, and the other students in the class.

Regular attendance at school is also important in promoting social development. Developing positive attendance and timekeeping habits at a young age will serve the child well throughout his/her life.

What does your child miss when they arrive late?

  • The opportunity to participate in morning work and share experiences and conversations with their friends
  • The opportunity to be a classroom helper for the day
  • The opportunity to get settled in and be ready for the day with their friends
  • The opportunity to participate in all the fun activities that start right at the beginning of each school day

What can you do to help your child to be punctual every day?

  • Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough exercise.
  • Establish a regular bedtime to ensure that your child gets a good night’s sleep, awakes rested the next morning and has enough time to prepare for school.
  • Show your child why education is important. Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.
  • And most important – Lead by example.

Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success.

https://www.springstonekids.com/punctuality-important-child/

 

Absences

In accordance with the Minister for Education and Training’s announcement on 14 May 2020, all public school students are required to attend school from Monday 18 May 2020, except for those students medically referred to learn from home.

This means students are either:

  • at school;
  • have a medical referral to learn from home;
  • recorded as absent if they do not attend; or
  • students who are unwell, should stay home.


If your child is absent, a reason must be provided within 3 days of them returning to school.

With many students having been absent from school for an extended period of time, it is important that we work together to re-establish good attendance habits.

 

Covid-19 Social Distancing Measures

Thank you to everyone who has responded to measures the school has implemented in response to Covid-19. Kindy and Pre-primary parents are able to drop their child at their classroom door after 8:20am in the morning and pick them up after 2:30pm in the afternoon. Once you drop or collect your child please leave the school grounds.

Parents of Year 1 to 6 children, we ask that you continue to follow the guidelines and remain off school grounds. Our students are showing remarkable resilience and growing independence in these challenging times and our staff are available if your child needs a little extra support. Please talk to a member of the leadership team if you believe you have reason to enter school grounds.

Face to face meetings with parents are not permitted at this stage, but if you need to chat to your child’s teacher you can make a time to talk over the phone.


SCHOOL PHOTOS

School Photos will be taken in Week 8, Term 2.  With current restrictions, students will only have an individual portrait taken, which will then be displayed as Class Photos instead of the traditional Group Photos.  Suitable physical distancing will be practiced.

Family Photos will still be taken each day.  These will be taken in the Conference Room from 8am to 8.40am each day as well as at Junior Lunch breaks.  To arrange Family Photos, please see the front office ladies to collect an order form.  They will then confirm the day and time that the family photo will be scheduled for.

Further information will be communicated to parents and carers regarding online ordering for all photos in the coming week.

 

Jane Weir, Aimee Coffey, Kiera Slade, Catherine Stott 

Deputy Principals

SCHOOL BOARD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The School Board would like to invite our school community to attend our Annual Public Meeting on Monday the 22nd June 2020 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm in the conference room (next to the staff room).  

UPCOMING EVENTS


Friday, 29th May School Development Day - Students Do Not Attend 
Monday, 1st June WA Day Public Holiday 
Monday, 15th June School Photo Day 
Tuesday, 16th June School Photo Day 
Tuesday, 16th June P&C Meeting 
Wednesday, 17th June School Photo Day 
Thursday, 18th June School Photo Day 
Monday, 22nd June School Board Annual General Meeting 
Friday, 3rd July Last Day of Term 



2020 TERM DATES


Term Two

Wednesday, 29th April - Friday, 3rd July

School Development Day  - Friday, 29th May

WA Day Public Holiday - Monday, 1st June


Term Three 

Monday, 20th July - Friday, 25th September

School Development Day - Monday, 24th August 


Term Four 

School Development Day - Monday, 12th October 

Tuesday, 13th October - Thursday, 17th December 


DFES BUSHFIRE MESSAGES

In A Bushfire Every Five Minutes Counts Especially Your Next Five Minutes.  Bushfires are unpredictable and happen every year. The single biggest killer is indecision. To survive a bushfire you must be prepared to make your own decisions.  Have a 5 Minute Fire Chat with your loved ones so you know your plan.  DFES has a great resource here to support this conversation.  https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/firechat/Pages/default.htm 

PARENTING TIPS

HOW TO ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOUR IN YOUR CHILD

A positive and constructive approach is often the best way to guide your child’s behaviour. This means giving your child attention when they behave well, rather than just applying consequences when they do  something you don’t like.

Tips for good behaviour

1. Be a role model

Use your own behaviour to guide your child. Your child watches you to get clues on how to behave – and what you do is often much more important than what you say. For example, if you want your child to say ‘please’, say it yourself. If you don’t want your child to raise their voice, speak quietly and gently yourself.

2. Show your child how you feel

Telling your child honestly how their behaviour affects you helps them see their own feelings in yours. And if you start sentences with ‘I’, it gives your child the chance to see things from your perspective. For example, ‘I’m getting upset because there is so much noise that I can’t talk on the phone’.

3. Catch your child being ‘good’

When your child is behaving in a way you like, give them some positive feedback. For example, ‘Wow, you’re playing so nicely. I really like the way you’re keeping all the blocks on the table’. This works better than waiting for the blocks to come crashing to the floor before you take notice and say, ‘Hey, stop that’.

4. Get down to your child’s level

When you get close to your child, you can tune in to what they might be feeling or thinking. Being close also helps them focus on what you’re saying about their behaviour. If you’re close to your child and have their attention, you don’t need to make them look at you.

5. Listen actively

To listen actively, you can nod as your child talks, and repeat back what you think your child is feeling. For example, ‘It sounds like you feel really sad that your blocks fell down’. When you do this, it can help young children cope with tension and big emotions like frustration, which sometimes lead to unwanted behaviour. It also makes them feel respected and comforted. It can even diffuse potential temper tantrums.

6. Keep promises

When you follow through on your promises, good or bad, your child learns to trust and respect you. They learn that you won’t let them down when you’ve promised something nice, they also learn not to try to change your mind when you’ve explained a consequence. So when you promise to go for a walk after your child picks up their toys, make sure you have your walking shoes handy. When you say you’ll leave the library if your child doesn’t stop running around, be prepared to leave straight away.

7. Create an environment for good behaviour

The environment around your child can influence their behaviour, so you can shape the environment to help your child behave well. This can be as simple as making sure your child’s space has plenty of safe, stimulating things for them to play with. Make sure that your child can’t reach things they  could break or that might hurt them. Your glasses look like so much fun to play with – it’s hard for children to remember not to touch. Reduce the chance of problems by keeping breakables and valuables out of sight.

8. Choose your battles

Before you get involved in anything your child is doing – especially to say ‘no’ or ‘stop’ – ask yourself if it really matters. By keeping instructions, requests and negative feedback to a minimum, you create less opportunity for conflict and bad feelings. Rules are important, but use them only when it’s really important.

DENTAL CARE


All children from Pre-Primary to Year 11 are eligible to dental treatment at the Wellard Dental Therapy Centre located at Wellard Primary School.

Contact details:

Wellard Dental Therapy Centre

25 Breccia Parade 

WELLARD WA 6170

T: (08) 9553 0610