Welcome back to term 3. It has been great to see students return from the break energised and re-engaging with their learning in a positive manner. We are looking forward to another productive term for our school community.
Our Sports Day, held last term went very well with all participating students to be congratulated on their enthusiasm and efforts on the day. Well done to the Seagulls team! Thank you to Renee Hanna for her efforts in planning and coordinating the day and also to our senior students who did an excellent job assisting in various roles leading up to and on the day.
Thank you to all families who contributed to the recent surveys regarding the additional jumper option for the school uniform and School of Languages. Based on the feedback provided from both parents and students, GC will now go ahead with implementing the new jumper design. In the coming 1-2 weeks we will publish, via Skoolbag, an image of the jumper and how it can be ordered. In relation to the School of Languages survey, it has been determined that we will offer the option of French to our students in 2023; it is expected that these lessons will be taught at the same time as current Japanese lessons (which will continue next year). An information session for families will be offered in term 4.
Further to these surveys, this week families should receive an email or SMS from the Parent Survey Team with a unique link to participate in the department’s annual survey. All parents/carers are invited to complete the 2022 annual parent survey, which is now open. The survey takes less than 10 minutes and will help us understand what we’re doing well, where we can improve and what’s important to you. Information collected will inform school improvement planning and activities at the school. It has been coordinated centrally and your answers will not identify you or your child. The survey closes 5pm Sunday 28 August. For more information please visit Department for Education website and if you did not receive an email or SMS with your unique survey link, contact education.ParentSurvey@sa.gov.au and include our school’s name in your email.
2023 Enrolment Planning
Thank you to all families who have submitted an enrolment expression of interest for 2023. Having this information helps with class and staff planning for the coming year and further correspondence regarding enrolments will be sent out to families shortly. The Department for Education has recently announced mid-year intakes will occur for pre-schools in 2023 and then for reception in 2024. Below is some information regarding this process:
Mid-year intake in preschools:
Children born on or before 30 April Commence preschool in term 1 Complete terms 1-4 (of same year)
Children born between 1 May and
31 October Commence preschool in term 3 (mid-year) Complete terms 3 and 4 and terms 1 and 2 of following year
Mid-year intake in schools:
· In 2024 this will flow on to schools with children starting reception in term 1 or term 3.
· Term 1 students will complete 4 terms of reception and term 3 students will complete 6 terms of reception.
What families need to do:
· This means families can register their interest now in enrolling in their local preschool to start in term 3 2023. They can do this via the registration of interest form on the department’s website.
· Families should submit the registration of interest form by Friday 30 September 2022.
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)
Annually, all approved authorities for schools in Australia participate in the mandated Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on school students with a disability (NCCD). Information is collected about students with disability across Australia in a consistent, reliable and systematic way and gathers data around the student’s disability category and the level of adjustment provided. Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
· year of schooling
· category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional.
· level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
This information assists schools to:
· formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools.
· consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools.
· develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability. The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. Our school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.dese.gov.au/about-us/resources/department-education-skills-and-employment-complete-privacy-policy-0). Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).
Staffing Update
Carolyn Ebert, the school’s youth worker, will not be continuing in this role due to securing a position outside of the Department for Education. Carolyn has provided valuable wellbeing support for our students during her time at the school and we wish her all the best in her new position. The school will be taking steps to fill her role which will be announced to the school community once finalized.
Assembly
Our first assembly of the term will be held tomorrow in the gym from 2.20pm. Family members of presenting classes are welcome to attend – your child’s teacher will notify you via Seesaw if this occurs.
Book Week
Planning for our Book Week celebrations, to be held in week 5, are underway with the theme for this year being ‘Dreaming with eyes open’ and we will be looking to have our annual parade on the morning of Thursday 25 August (further details of the parade will be provided closer to the date but we will be aiming to hold the parade shortly after the first morning bell). All children are encouraged to come dressed in a costume/clothing connected to a favourite book or book character. Along with the parade, throughout the week, classes will also complete activities to celebrate the importance of books and reading.