St Leonards Primary School

Classes 2020

This year we had straight grade classes throughout the school.  This, whilst good in theory has led to class sizes bigger than we would like.  St Leonards is a popular school and this year saw 28 new enrolments come into our community throughout the year, swelling our numbers and putting pressure on classrooms .

2020 will see a mixture of mixed classes as well as some straight classes.  This allows us to keep our class numbers at a much more reasonable level.  Our teachers often work and collaborate together and they will continue to do so to get the best possible outcomes.  Our whole school data is showing excellent results over the past  three years. We know that not all of our learners learn at the same rate and composite classes can be an advantage.

At this stage our 16 classes will be composed of:

2 Reception classes

4 Year 1/2 classes

1 Year 2/3 class

2 Year 3 classes

4 Year 4/5 Classes

2 Year 6 classes

1 Year 7 class

Teachers are in the process of placing learners into classes.  A lot of thought goes into this, and whilst we try to accommodate requests, this is not always possible.

Some teachers have been allocated to classes, however we won’t be releasing this information until all our staffing has been confirmed by the Department for Education.  Our learners will meet their new teachers in Week 9 of this term.

Children's University Graduation

Last night we celebrated the additional learning of over 110 students from our school community who take part in the Children’s University program. They worked very hard all year accumulating hours doing a diverse range of activities including STEM, the art and sports. 

The ceremony took place at Bonython Hall in the city. Our learners then enjoyed a special celebration afterwards. We are very proud of their efforts.

We look forward to welcoming new Children’s University participants in 2020.

Thank you to Heather for all her efforts in coordinating Children's University throughout the year and thank you to the parents/caregivers who came in to help with workshops.

Parking

For the safety of our students, families and the local community, please abide by traffic and parking rules. Unfortunately there have been multiple cases of cars parking illegally, in particular over solid yellow lines. Local residents have been reporting these incidents to the school and the local council. This is likely to result in spot visits from the council, which may result in fines being issued.

Dave Henty-Smith, Principal

Jo Meredith, Deputy Principal

Kathy Baker, Inclusive Education Coordinator

Week 6

• Year 7 Bike Ed - Monday 18 November
• CU Lunchtime Workshop - Monday 18 November
• Move and Groove - Tuesday 19 November
• School Banking (to Cash Office by 9:00am) - Tuesday 19 November
• 9:15am - 10:30am:  Kindy Transition - Wednesday 20 November
• 9:30am - 10:45am:  Years 3-7 Beachfront Hub Band Concert - Wednesday 20 November
• 2:30pm Volunteer "Drop-In" workshop - Wednesday 20 November
• 9:00am Assembly (Ambassadors presenting) - Friday 22 November

Week 7

• Launch of the Bottle Top Art Competition - Monday 25 November
• School Banking (to Cash Office by 9:00am) - Tuesday 26 November
• Move and Groove - Tuesday 26 November
• 9:15am - 10:30am:  Kindy Transition - Wednesday 27 November
• 2:30pm Volunteer "Drop-In" workshop - Wednesday 27 November

A Term Planner is available as a link  on the Skoolbag app. Please check it regularly as it is a live document that updates as items are added. 

Save the Date

Glenelg Christmas Pageant - Sunday 24 November

St Leonards will once again be participating in the pageant. More details soon.

Not sure where to start with the new volunteer process? Need help with the next step? Pop in to the staff room each Wednesday from 2:30pm and we’ll help you to access the online training, or to get the first 4 steps signed off in half an hour. Whether you’ve got 10 minutes or 30, we’ll have everything you need to move forward. All you may need to bring is some photo ID and relevant certificates if you have them (RAN-EC, DCSI, WWCC).  No need to RSVP, we’ll accommodate anyone who turns up.

We hope to see you there!

 Jo Meredith, Deputy Principal

Volunteers have a huge impact on the learning and wellbeing of our children at St Leonards. Their time and energy is valued enormously in the canteen, improving our grounds, as sports coaches and managers, in classrooms, on camps and excursions, as members of the Governing Council and/or its subcommittees (to name a few).

The Department for Education has changed its volunteer policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children. St Leonards Primary School, like all public schools, must comply with the changes. There are new steps to be completed by every volunteer and we very much hope that our volunteer community will persist with the additional requirements to continue their valued contribution to the school.

The new policy introduced by the Department for Education will be fully implemented by the first day the 2020 school year. If you are either a current or prospective volunteer, these new requirements apply to you. Any person volunteering at the school in any capacity must have completed all of the 9 steps listed below. Unfortunately, any person who has not completed one of the steps will not be able to volunteer at St Leonards. The staff team is eager to support you to continue your service to the school.

The 9 steps to be completed by Friday 14 February for each volunteer are:-

1.     1. Volunteer completes a SLPS volunteer application form; please first speak to any current SLPS staff member about your wish to (continue to) volunteer and then list them as one of your referees

2.     2. Volunteer gives the application to the front office, with photo ID and has a brief discussion with the Volunteer Coordinator

3.     3. An SLPS staff member contacts a referee

4.     4. The volunteer applies for a Working With Children Check (WWCC) online, (unless they can provide a copy of a current DCSI clearance). This step may take 3 to 5 weeks; the volunteer can continue with the steps below while waiting for the WWCC to be completed.

5.     5. The volunteer completes a Responding to Abuse and Neglect Education and Care (RAN-EC) course for volunteers, either online or at SLPS.

6.     6.The volunteer reads relevant role description(s); available at the Front Office or on the SLPS website.

7.     7. The volunteer does a general induction course, either online or at SLPS.

8.     8. SLPS site-specific induction, including work health and safety and role-specific training is done at SLPS.

9.     9. The volunteer signs a volunteer agreement

Along the way, SLPS staff must record/document completion of each step. After step 9, each volunteer will be issued with a badge. Volunteers will need to sign in/out at the Front Office each time they attend and wear their badge to work in the school as a volunteer in any capacity. Classroom teachers will be required to ask you to leave at 8:55am if you are not wearing a badge and only approved volunteers will be able to assist or attend any excursion or camp.

More information will be provided to families about this policy in a separate letter with key dates for additional training sessions in 2020.

We look forward to working through this process with you to maintain and continue to build the highly valued support we have at St Leonards Primary School.

Jo Meredith, Deputy Principal

On Monday 11 November our school commemorated Remembrance Day in a couple of ways.

We had a special assembly in the school grounds with The Last Post being played by one of our talented parents, Andy Luyten. The Pledge of Remembrance was recited by students.  

We also had students from Rooms 5, 6 , 11A and 11B go to the memorial at Moseley Square in Glenelg and sing " And the Band Played Waltzing Mathilda".

All the students attending  represented St Leonards well and did us proud.