Hallett Cove East Primary School

9/12/19  4W, 4E, 5W & 5E Skate and Swim End of Year Excursion Noarlunga Leisure Centre

10/12/19  Volunteers Thank you Breakfast

12/12/19  6E, 6AN & 6AS Radicool Reptile incursion

12/12/19  Year 7 Graduation

13/12/19 Years 5,6,7 Last day excursion to the Marion Aquatic Centre

13/12/19  Last Day of Term - 2:05 pm Early Dismissal

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

DON’T FORGET EARLY DISMISSAL

2:05pm ON FRIDAY 13th DECEMBER 

DON’T FORGET CASUAL DAY ON TUESDAY 10th DECEMBER TO RAISE FUNDS TOWARDS THE COST OF THE SOUND SYSTEM FOR CONCERT

We ask all students to please wear appropriate casual clothes on Tuesday next week at a cost of $2 each, (or more if you wish), to help towards payment of the sound system on concert night. Because our concert was outside, we needed to use a bigger and more specific system than ours, to ensure quality sound production. As a result, I am sure you will agree that the sound on concert night was excellent. As you can imagine this was an expensive exercise and was also not budgeted, so I thank you in advance for your support of casual day. 

FORWARD PLANNING FOR PUPIL FREE DAYS IN 2020

Governing Council has endorsed 2 Pupil Free Days to be held next year in Term 1 on Tuesday 10th March and Wednesday 11th March (after the long weekend). The first is a Partnership Pupil Fee Day and teachers from all 8 primary schools will continue their work together in LDAM (learning design, assessment and moderation). The second is a compulsory training being delivered by a central office team to do with recording One Plans for students with specific needs. I am aware these are together but both are required and fit best with external teams and our One Plan training timetabling requirements. We hope that by giving you 4 months’ notice, you will be able to make appropriate care arrangements in plenty of time. We thank you for your understanding.

JUNGLE BOOK DRAMA PRODUCTION

Congratulations and well done to all Drama Club students for their wonderful presentation of Jungle Book last Sunday afternoon. The script was particularly challenging but all students rose to the occasion very well and did themselves proud. Thanks must go to Evie Donoghue for her excellent leadership of this team which has practised during lunchtimes over many months. 

CONCERT

The End of Year Concert is always a major highlight on the school calendar and this year has been even better with the new twilight format. Students and teachers worked hard and again delivered a wonderful show, which if you attended, I am sure you enjoyed. Thank you to students and class teachers for their preparation and performance, Jenny McFadyen, Nick Marks, Aaron Charlton and many staff who supported behind the scenes structural management of the concert, Kirsten Wallis, Kirsty Gray, Jayne Standfield and Tania Bailey who trained students for the whole school items and Evie Donoghue who trained and helped lead many class items as well as the staff item. I would also like to acknowledge our fabulous Yr 6 concert speakers: Evie, Megan, Amaya, Caeley, Elara, Damian, Alex and Cruiz, who did an amazing job of providing between-act entertainment. I need to say that while I wrote a very basic script, they were supported and strongly encouraged to develop the ad-libbing and humour themselves. I am sure you will agree with me that they achieved that very well. Please enjoy some of the photos in this newsletter and the rest will be on the rolling screen in the front office.

2020 CLASS PLACEMENT PROCESS

We are only just inside a 17 class scenario with our known 2020 enrolments but again, like this year, find ourselves in the position to be able to fund the 17th class. So we have decided to go ahead with this scenario. Class placement information will be sent out to families at the end of next week.

STUDENT AND STAFF FAREWELLS

This is our final Newsletter for the year and is therefore a time to recognise and acknowledge the hard work and achievements of students and staff over the year.

Firstly I would like to thank all students for showing our Values throughout the year and working to be the best they can through developing skills in growth mindset, problem solving and hard thinking, showing resilience and perseverance and using their voice more effectively in their learning, and, showing behaviours to a high standard. These skills will hold our students in good stead in the future.

I would like to thank our Year 7s for their commitment to our student leadership program this year and working as positive role models for all other students in the school. Good luck to all of you for a successful future as you move on to various secondary schools. I would also like to wish those students who are moving to other primary and middle schools all the best in your new schools.

Henny Smith will be retiring at the end of the year. Henny has made a significant contribution to HCEPS over many years and will be missed greatly from our team. On behalf of the school community I would like to thank her for all her outstanding work for the school. We wish Henny all the very best as she starts a new chapter in her life with family, grandchildren, travel and hobbies.

Lisbeth Oppert has worked as an SSO over many years in the school. As you know she is also a Co-Director of our OSHC. Lissy has now decided not to renew her authority to work as an SSO and just concentrate on OSHC. We thank Lissy for the many years of outstanding work she has done supporting students in many of our school programs. Like Henny she will be greatly missed in our school team.

Very sadly, due to the overwhelming number of applications, our school was not successful in winning chaplaincy funding for 2020-2022. As you know we have had Joey Traeger as Pastoral Care Worker (PCW) in our school for several years. She has worked in many social and emotional programs with individuals, groups and classes and made significant contributions to our school Wellbeing programs. She and her work will be greatly missed by everyone. We wish her all the best for future PCW work in other schools.

We have been most fortunate to have had excellent contract and longer term relief teachers working at HCEPS in 2019. As you already know one of those teachers, Nicholas Marks, has been made permanent from 2020. We have also had a teacher placed from another school for 2020. Her name is Carey Evans.

We are currently waiting to hear about staffing for next year and hoping that most of our contract staff will be placed in positions again. We sincerely thank Angela Stephenson (9N/9W) and Edward Wilkins (PE/Science) for their contributions to our school this year. At this stage we are unable to consider contract work for these teachers. I would also like to thank Abigail N’Diaye, who has been working as an extra teacher in our school this term. Abigail has worked in all classes and also supported individuals and groups with special education programs.

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gizella Webb who has been Acting Deputy Principal in the last half of the term. Gizella has been highly organised and managed all aspects of the job to a high level. Thank you also to Zachary Schenkel who has been working in 6AS. 

I would like to thank all staff for their hard work and commitment to the academic and social learning and development of your children.

I would also like to thank our parent community for your ongoing support of school programs, events and staff. Parent support is high at our school and I wish to acknowledge the level of cooperation we enjoy as we work together towards the learning and social development of your children.

TERM 4 HIGHLIGHTS

A very busy and productive year is quickly coming to a close. Aside from the daily routines in each classroom, there have been a number of highlights during Term 4 that again reflect the commitment and planning by staff to make programs interesting and engaging for students. Some of the key highlights include:

• Student Voice in Learning team workshop
• Year 7 Student leadership and Genki Kids programs
• Assemblies
• Japanese Garden Celebration and Festival and Open Day
• Narnu Farm camp
• Marion Cultural Centre visit
• Tennis clinics
• Indigenous Artist incursion
• Remembrance Day commemoration ceremony
• K-R Transition visits
• Year 7 Japanese Dinner
• Year 6/7 Aquatics
• Year 7 Transition to Hallett Cove R-12 School

• World Teachers Day
• End of Year Concert
• Staff working together to plan, assess and moderate student work
• Premier’s Challenges acknowledgement assembly
• Special Volunteers Thank you breakfast
• Excursion to swim and skate at Noarlunga
• Excursion to South Australian Aquatic Centre
• Radicool Reptiles incursion
• Team and class parties, picnics and fun days
• Year 7 Graduation celebration
• End of Year Reports will be sent home on Wednesday

VOLUNTEERS THANK YOU

I say often that Hallett Cove East PS is indeed most fortunate to have many volunteers supporting numerous school programs. The annual Volunteers Thank You Breakfast is just a very small way we can officially thank volunteers for their work and acknowledge your support over the year. The breakfast will be held next Tuesday at 8:30am in the Staffroom.

LOST PROPERTY

There are several items of lost property in the front office. If your child is missing anything, please drop in and check if it is in the lost property baskets located by the front door.

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.

EARLY DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 13th

Students will be dismissed at 2:05pm on Friday for the Christmas holidays, after a brief assembly in the Pavilion at 1:50pm.

AND FINALLY…..

The Front Office will reopen on Monday 20th January, 2020. 

May you enjoy a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season with your children. We look forward to seeing students return safely for the commencement of school on Tuesday January 28th 2020 (after the holiday on Monday for Australia Day).

Anne Rathjen

Principal

Christmas is a time that some people count down to with excitement, and others with dread. There are many happy times; spending time with family, special food, and of course presents. For others there is worry about how to afford all the special Christmas things and how to survive the family get together that always seems to end in tears. For some this is the first Christmas since a separation, or since a family member or pet passed away. There can also be non-holiday related stresses including being in the same house with the same people all holidays without the time apart that school offers. There is a roller coaster of emotions and some of us need support to manage it. Asking for help is a sign of strength and something to be encouraged. Often we have a family member or trusted friend to whom we can talk about our problems, but sometimes it can be easier to talk to someone we don’t know. 

Most people have heard of Kids Helpline the free, private and confidential 24/7 phone service for young people aged 5 to 25. Did you know that you can also email or use webchat?

        Phone: 1800 55 1800

        Email: counsellor@kidshelpline.com.au

        Webchat: www.kidshelpline.com.au 

Far less people are aware that there is also a Parent Helpline. Parents are important too!

        1300 364 100 (cost of a local call)

        24 hours a day, seven days a week

The Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) Parent Helpline provides telephone information and support at any time 7 days a week (calls received between 7.15am - 9.15pm will be answered by local Parent Helpline staff; calls received outside these hours will be automatically redirected to the national healthdirect helpline). It is available to parents of children from birth to 12 years who live anywhere in South Australia. It provides information about health, behaviour and relationships for parents and people working with children and young people.

Personal note    

It is with much sadness that I write this final newsletter article. Unfortunately the school did not receive funding for my position to continue. I have loved my four and half years at Hallett Cove East Primary School and will really miss the school community. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in such a special school with such wonderful staff and families. 

Thank you to those who have made me feel so at home here, those who have worked with me to promote wellbeing in the entire school community, and those who have allowed me to work with their children and families. If you see me around the community please still say hello. 

May you have wonderful summer holidays finding some time to relax and enjoy being a family amongst all the busyness. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

Joey,

PASTORAL CARE WORKER 

Joey.Traeger704@schools.sa.edu.au 

Did you know lunch orders can be placed up to 2 weeks in advance.  If you utilize the pre-order process via the Qkr App please be aware that you can also cancel the order prior to 9.15am if your child is going to be absent for the day.  All you need to do is simply login to your app, cancel the order and a credit will be placed on your Qkr App ready for the next time you order. We hope utilizing the pre-order system will alleviate some of the morning rush pressure and mininise the current issue regarding so many students presenting at the office with NO LUNCH, we understand everyone has busy lives and we do our best to accommodate our community by providing a quick and easy  ordering system via the Qkr App. Unfortunately it seems in the morning school rush more and more parents are forgetting to submit their children's lunch orders.  

We respectfully ask all families to please be diligent in regard to checking you have entered the correct order date and please make sure you finalize your order by entering submit.  It would be a great help to the office staff and our canteen manager if all parties can be diligent with the ordering system.  

We appreciate you support with this matter, thank you.

We have a very dedicated volunteer group of parents who coordinate our secondhand uniform shop.  If you have any uniforms 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.

Opening hours :-

Wednesday morning 8.30-9.00

Wednesday afternoon 3.00-3.30