Tell them From Me Parent Survey

I continue to urge you to please complete this important survey to tell us your thoughts about our school. We are beginning our planning for a new school plan that will drive what we do for the next 5 years. This is one way you can have input into this planning. Please see survey results later in the newsletter as well as a link to the survey.  Unfortunately these results are based on only 18 responses from parents. 18 people is a very small representation and we would really like to have the opinions of more parents. We really do respond to the results of this survey.

Late to School

Students who arrive late miss out on the directions for the day and probably feel like they don’t quite know what is happening. As you can imagine if a teacher has 3 or 4 children arriving when they have already started teaching for the day it is quite difficult to catch them all up and it interrupts the learning for the rest of the class.

We do have some students who arrive just after the bell. We do not expect these students to get late notes. If they are arriving before 9.05am it is just a waste of time for them to get a late note. They should go straight to class. However, if they arrive after 9.05am they should get a late note. After 9.05am they should be accompanied to the office by a parent. Children should not be signing themselves in late. If there is not a valid reason for being late it is marked as unjustified i.e. running late, slept in etc. are not valid.

Bring a Drink Bottle

Bubblers are still not to be used. We have noticed quite a few students however, who do not have water bottles. Please provide your child with a water bottle so they can refill it as needed throughout the day. This will become more important as the weather warms up.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Unfortunately we will not have our usual student led interviews this term. Many parents however do feel they need to discuss their child’s progress with their teacher. We will be organising telephone interviews for early next term.

 Disturbing Content on Social Media

You may be aware that there has been some violent and highly inappropriate content on Tiktok. You are encouraged to keep children off social media for a few days. It is recommended not to tell children about it as this may cause they to search for it.

Advice from Dept of Ed is as follows;

•           Please encourage anyone who may be at risk or experiencing emotional distress, including worried family and friends, to contact one of the following services:

          Kids Helpline. 1800 55 1800. Phone support is there all day, every day. Online support is open from 8am-midnight every day (AEST).

          Suicide Callback Service. 1300 659 467. Phone support all day, every day, and follow-up calls.

          eHeadspace. 1800 650 890. Open 9am-1am daily (AEST).

          Lifeline. 13 11 14. Phone support all day, every day. Online support 7pm-4am daily (AEST).

          Beyondblue. 1300 22 4636. Phone support all day, every day. Online support 3pm-midnight every day.

Anxious Kids

We see so many students with needs around anxiety. I have been recommended an online program that may help where children are not seeing anyone for their anxiety. The program is called “Brave” and can be found at;

https://www.brave-online.com/    or google Brave Online.

While this is useful for mild anxiety it does not take the place of seeking expert medical advice.

Kind Regards

Sandy Notley

Principal

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 2020-2021 BUSH FIRE SEASON

Dear parent/carer,

I am writing to let you know about arrangements for our school for the current bush fire season.

Our school has been identified as a school at increased risk if a bush fire were to break out. In the event of a Severe or Extreme Fire Danger Rating I am required to inform you via our School Website, Skoolbag app or School Facebook page and we will closely monitor fires in the area. These happen fairly frequently during the bushfire season.

To ensure the health, safety and welfare of students and staff, the NSW Department of Education has determined that on days when a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating is issued for our area, the school will temporarily cease operations for the day(s) the rating is current and alternative learning arrangements will be put in place. This is based on information obtained through a bush fire assessment of our school arranged by the department.

A Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating is likely to occur on a very small number of days during the bush fire season, if at all.

The school will only receive notification of a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating after school hours the day before the forecast is issued. To assist me in contacting all parents please ensure that you have provided the school with up-to-date home or after hours contact details.

When there is a fire in our area we will monitor the situation and keep you informed via School website, Skoolbag app, School Facebook page or SMS.

In the event of an Emergency Warning we will shelter in place or evacuate to a refuge as directed by the Rural Bushfire Service. Should this occur we will ask that no child is picked up until we are safely evacuated or sheltered.

Please read our Bushfire Emergency Plan on our School website or Skoolbag app.

Information for parents and carers provided by the department about these arrangements is attached.

Please contact the school on 4976 1318 if you would like any further information about this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Sandy Notley (Principal)