A big congratulations to our Semester 2 SRC Team!
Our Semester 1 SRC Team passed their leadership roles onto the Semester 2 SRC Team.
We know you will represent your class and our school with great pride.
Principal’s Message
This week is School Administration and Support Staff appreciation week. And, haven’t we got a LOT to be thankful for! You would have to agree that our beautiful office staff deserve every accolade we can bestow on them. Debbie, Michelle, Carolyn, Jodie and Rebecca are the constant, smiling welcome you receive in person or at the end of the phone. I watch each day as they navigate the administration building answering phones, attending to sick/injured children, dispensing medication, providing reassurance to students (and staff!), collating data, updating records, photocopying, distributing messages….. the list is endless. Steve, our hardworking General Assistant and ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ is on the go from 6.30am keeping our school looking great. They are ably assisted each day by our equally wonderful School Learning and Support Officers. (SLSO’s) THANK YOU Yvonne, Beth, Kelly F, Alan, Kooriel, Kellie H, Aunty Linda, Natasha, Kelly B, Tracey, Belinda and Brent. These amazing individuals work in classrooms to support teaching staff and to assist students with their learning and wellbeing. They do so much more than space allows me to mention here. Just be reassured that your children are welcomed everyday by people who genuinely CARE for and actively NURTURE your children in so many ways. They really are the essence of our school and we wouldn’t be without them.
I hope you all received the special note I sent to families last Friday asking for your assistance in eliminating ‘swearing’ from our school. The increase in inappropriate language – including racist remarks – has appeared to escalate in the past weeks. This disturbing trend both saddens and offends me. It certainly isn’t acceptable and goes against all that we, as a school community, values and believes in. Let’s tackle this one together and maintain zero tolerance for any kind of inappropriate language inside our school gates.
Teaching and non-teaching staff are currently working on a situational analysis to determine our teaching and learning priorities for the next 4 years. We are meeting in ‘focus groups’ to look at data, reflect on our achievements and set goals for the future. Communicating and engaging with families is paramount. We need your feedback and involvement in order to have a ‘shared’ vision and to meet the needs of your children in our community. Talk to us. Let us know your fears and frustrations. Let us know your hopes and dreams for your children. We are on this journey together.
PLEASE complete the Tell Them From Me parent survey by following this link. http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/obps20
The more responses we get, the more accurate the information about our connection with our families. The surveys are completely anonymous. Last year we had over 60 responses, (which was good) but we can do better!
The most exciting thing that has happened at Old Bar School in the last week, was the installation of our new Public Address system. We are now able to make announcements to all classrooms and playground areas from a central control situated in the front office. There is also a setting for us to announce emergency evacuations and ‘lockdowns.’ The most exciting element however, is the capacity for us to play music in place of a bell! The chosen song will allow the students a set time to get to their classrooms or lines. What a lovely way to start each teaching and learning session. We are hopeful to have this system up and running before the end of the week.
Have a wonderful week!
Deborah Scanes
