Dear Parents/Caregivers,
NEW SECTION IN THE NEWSLETTER
Please note the new section from the student Lighthouse Leaders below Ms Hayden’s report. This will be a regular feature in future newsletters.
EXTERNAL SCHOOL REVIEW REPORT
We have just received the final report from the External School Review that was held in March. All schools are reviewed as part of a 3 year process and this is the second review that has been done at HCEPS in the current review format. I am very pleased to say that our school had an excellent review with strong acknowledgement of the work that staff members do to continually address improvement particularly in student learning. Early next week the report will be uploaded into the website and I encourage you to read it.
PRIMARY STUDENT USE OF MOBILE PHONES AND PERSONAL DEVICES POLICY
At different times over the last few months, you may have heard that the Department for Education (DfE) has released new expectations regarding mobile phones and personal devices in schools. (Personal devices include smartwatches, ipads etc that have photo/video and/or internet capability.) DfE has provided all schools with a policy template which includes the mandatory expectations of primary or secondary students around mobile phones and personal devices during school activities. Schools have added some extra detail to address their local needs. Our policy has just been approved by Governing Council.
Early next week, a Skoolbag notice will be sent out with the new policy attached. It will also link to an eForm for you to complete to indicate whether you need your child to have a mobile phone or personal device at school or not. It should be noted that students from HCEPS are strongly discouraged from bringing mobile phones or personal devices to school, but if parents wish them to, they and their families need to be aware of how the devices will be managed. So I ask that you please read the policy closely and ensure you understand the expectations of the school and DfE around the ongoing implementation of the policy. I ask please that the eForm be completed by the end of Week 6, (Friday 4th June), for each of your children.
REPLACEMENT OF THE RUBBER SURFACE IN THE YELLOW PLAYGROUND
This coming week, works will commence to replace the rubber surface underneath the yellow playground. The area around the playground, part of the paving and some lawn area will be fenced off throughout the process. It is expected that the replacement process will start on Tuesday and take up to 2 weeks depending on the weather. Trucks will need to access the area through the gates near the JP yard so I remind all parents/caregivers to ensure that vehicle access through those gates from the street is not impeded by other vehicles at any time but certainly during this process. Thank you for your understanding.
NAPLAN CONGRATULATIONS
A big congratulations to all students who participated in NAPLAN during the last 2 weeks! Despite a few initial nerves on the first day, everyone settled very easily into the process and were able to finish appropriately. Results should be available by September.
THANK YOU SOMA GOVENDER
From a recent Skoolbag notice you will know that Soma Govender has been filling a 3 week Wellbeing Leader position behind Naomi Pudney. Naomi will be returning next week so Soma finished in her role today. I would like to sincerely thank Soma and acknowledge the work she has done not only in the wellbeing programs in the school but for her support of students at risk and NAPLAN during that time.
COMING EVENTS
TERM 2 PUPIL FREE DAY – FRIDAY 11th JUNE
Staff will be training and planning curriculum and other elements of the Site Plan. If you need child care, the OSHC will be open that day. Please contact Sally Mitchell on 8381 7577 to book in.
PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS – WEEK 9 TERM 2.
MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING BOOKING PROCESSES WILL BE OUT SOON.
PLEASE NOTE THAT END OF SEMESTER 1 WRITTEN REPORTS
WILL BE TABLED AT THESE MEETINGS.
With regards,
Anne Rathjen
Principal
