Dear Community
As this is our last formal newsletter for the year, I’d like to take the opportunity to say a few words about the year that was 2022. This has been our third year of having COVID impacting what we do, and in many ways, the most challenging so far – it was the first time we had to deal with cases in our school and navigate the ever changing mandates when dealing with them. We have worked through this as we always do at Scarborough – together. Because of this, despite restrictions and uncertainties, we have still managed to provide a fantastic range of amazing learning opportunities and experiences for all of our students. For this, I would like to pay credit to our outstanding staff who have shown an outstanding degree of flexibility and patience, continually going above and beyond to make many of these opportunities possible.
Our staff work tirelessly to ensure that they are providing excellence in curriculum content and delivery in our classrooms each day, but beyond this, they also but a lot of thought and effort into creating broader, experiences for our students such as running club, choir, taiko, camp, incursions and excursions. My thanks extend beyond just teaching staff who are present in classrooms each day, but to all staff from our cleaners (especially this year!), gardeners, office staff, library assistants and everyone else in between. We all truly work as a team to provide the best we can for our students. Everybody’s input in invaluable. So thank you!
I’d also like to acknowledge our students and the amazing efforts that they have put in this year. Their resilience and flexibility in a time of uncertainty has been outstanding. This time each year I get to do one of the favourite parts of my job, which is reading through all of our student’s reports. I genuinely enjoy reading about the progress that has been made by everyone, from our kindy students who have been discovering sounds, letters, numbers and the joys of learning to navigate a classroom environment with lots of new friends, to our Year 6 students who we have been nurtured over the years academically, socially and emotionally, to ensure they are ready for the adventures that high school holds for them. Well done everybody!
Finally, to our Scarborough Primary School community, you are amazing. You are engaged, positive and proactive and have been so supportive as we have rolled with the punches this year. We appreciate the support that you give us in doing the best for your children; from the tireless efforts of our P&C and Board, to everyone who has volunteered their time in classrooms and throughout the school, to the way you have engaged with our classroom teachers to ensure the best for your children. You inspire us to strive to do our best every day and are such an important part of our cultural fabric.
On that note, I’d like to wish you all a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday break and look forward to seeing you all again in 2023.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody.
COVID Update
COVID cases have risen sharply in our community over the past week with cases reported in the following classrooms:
Thank you to everyone who has reported positive cases to the school. It is much appreciated as it gives us an opportunity to look after ourselves and each other as required. Whilst we are no longer required to report cases to the Department of Education, this latest wave serves as a timely reminder of guidelines developed from current health advice and to be vigilant when monitoring your family for symptoms.
Testing positive to COVID - to reduce the risk to others it is recommended that staff and students:
- stay home until symptoms have resolved. The infectious period for COVID-19 varies. A minimum of 5 days is a useful guide, but it can be 10 days or longer
- register RAT results
- if you must leave the house, wear a mask when indoors and on public transport
- avoid large gatherings and indoor crowded places.
COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts cannot visit public hospitals for 7 days.
Close contacts - a close contact is a household or household-like contact, or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period.
Isolation for close contacts is no longer mandated, but close contacts are encouraged to test daily for 5 days and only attend school following a negative RAT result.
Close contacts may choose to wear a mask.
2023 Planning
We are well underway with planning our class and staffing structures for 2022. As we are a highly transient community, with people continually coming and going, we won’t be able to finalise our class structures or teacher placements until the end of January. However, there are a couple of things that you can do to help us with this process.
- Please let the front office know asap if you intend to move schools next year.
- If you have any requests that you would like considered for next year, please email me at Sarah.Dawson@education.wa.edu.au or make an appointment for a meeting or phone call.
- Please note that whilst all requests will be carefully considered, they may not be able to be granted. Please make requests directly to me, not through classroom teachers, to ensure they receive appropriate attention.
Booklists and Contributions and Charges.
You should have received the 2023 Booklists through your children. If you did not receive them, please contact the front office for copies.
Just a reminder that booklist orders need to be submitted before 9 December to receive free home delivery. Orders can still be placed after this date but will be charged a late fee of up to $5.00 for delivery.
Alternatively, you may choose to visit the Campion store in Canning Vale or Malaga for a "while you wait" collection service. Further information can be sourced from the form sent home with your child recently.
As always, if you have any queries, please don’t hesitate
Sarah Dawson
Principal
