Redhead Public School Newsletter

Welcome back to the last term of what will go down as a memorable year in history. 

Last week we sent out notifications outlining the new Term 4 changes within the Department. Thank you for working with us to accommodate these changes.

We are looking forward to a settled term and providing students with some wonderful and engaging learning experiences. 

Kind regards

Lisa Monaghan

Principal     

Teacher, student, and parent expectations all play a role in ensuring optimum outcomes for students. Our focus over this term is establish a culture of High Expectations for student learning across the school. 

Across the school we are focusing on:

·         Adopting a Growth Mindset.

·         Making clear student learning goals.

·         Aiming for personal bests and fulfilled potential. 

·         Learning from our mistakes.

·         Offering support and encouragement through learning.

Our Year 6 students have commenced their final term of primary school and they have so many fantastic things to look forward to - Morisset Camp, Year 6 Farewell and a fun end of year trip to Dullboy's. Thank you for being so patient with us! We have tried to ensure the students have the most memorable end to primary school. 

Our new Kindy Club processes went out last week to our 2021 Kindergarten parents. We are looking forward to meeting our new Kindergarten students in Week 4 for our first Kindy Club. Our Year 5 buddies have been completing their buddy program ready to support the new Kinders during their transition. 

Students are very excited to see our final musical this Friday. Anyone wishing to purchase a musical USB please do ASAP. Mrs Huggins is finalising the USB in anticipation to go home in the next few weeks.  

All public schools across NSW are engaging in a process of deep reflection and evaluation to identify priorities for the 2021- 2024 School Improvement Plan. A comprehensive situational analysis will include consultation with students, staff and community groups.

We are in full swing with our anonymous random phone calls. Mrs Francisco has been making phone calls to random parents of each class so please help us by providing feedback and suggestions. We have appreciated the comments and ideas we have received so far. 

Parents/carers are reminded that the law states EVERY day a child has an absence from school must be explained. If your child is away please either submit a Skoolbag eFrom absence, reply to the SMS or send the school an email explaining the absence. If you have not done any of the above, please send in a written note when your child returns.

Last week we had record low attendances absences with last Wednesday only 4 students absent for the entire day. Our Director of Education called to congratulate the school and community for ensuring every learner is at school every day! Well done to our Redhead students.  

Mrs Langholz will not be returning next year. Her Instructional Leader position at Wallsend Public School has been extended to include all of 2021. 

We have commenced the process to lease out our canteen which will start in 2021 as per outlined in our previous newsletter. It will be advertised in the local newspapers in the next few weeks.     

Staff will be attending extended staff training on Tuesday 17th November from 3:10pm until 6:10pm in lieu of our Staff Development Day on Friday 18th December. On this occasion staff will explore the 'What Works Best' document and our school data in preparation for the new school plan.

Commencing at the start of 2021, the Staff Development Day changes include:

• an increase from one to two Staff Development Days at the commencement of Term 1
• a decrease from two to one Staff Development Day at the end of Term 4.

The Term 1, 2021 School Development Days are scheduled for the following dates:

• 27 and 28 January with students returning 29 January 2021.

Kindergarten 2021 Best Start assessments and starting dates will now need to change to accommodate this. More information will be provided during our Kindy Club sessions.

As we begin term four, our 2021 planning will commence shortly with our leadership team, classroom teachers and support staff starting to work collaboratively to develop class lists for the 2021 school year.

We will create these classes in consultation with our classroom and specialist teachers, leadership team and of course, the feedback we receive from parents/carers. The process of balancing classes for a variety of factors, while ensuring gender diversity within each classroom, is a complex task. Our staff put many hours into the creation of positive and productive class groupings.

If there is anything that you feel we should know about your child that will help us to make an appropriate class placement for next year, please provide a written comment to this email address: 

redhead-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 

Your comments should be focused around the learning needs of your child. Please note it is not possible to make requests regarding the classroom teacher. Whilst all requests with substantial grounds for the placement will be considered, the final decision will be based upon the professional judgement of the teaching staff.  Requests will not be considered after 9th November 2020. 

Applications for student travel in 2021 opened from Monday 12 October 2020.  Please see document attached for more information.