Henley Beach Primary School Newsletter

Movie Night

Our Movie Night held last week was a fantastic success with over 200 students attending. These opportunities are not able to occur without volunteer support; thank you to Rosemary Kourtidis for coordinating the event and all parents and staff who were able to assist on the night. Well done also to the canteen team for their efforts in catering for such a large group.

Department for Education Update

The Department for Education has recently announced an initiative focused on improving support for children and young people with autism. A key part of the announcement was funding for schools to enable the presence of an Autism Inclusion Teacher from next year. The role of the Autism Inclusion Teacher will be to provide assistance for staff on how to best support and educate students with autism. Further information around this initiative will be released prior to the end of the year and we will be working toward having someone in this position for the start of 2023. The funding we will receive is the equivalent of releasing a teacher one day a week to undertake work in this area. This resourcing will be a welcome addition to the positive work that staff already undertake at our school. All staff are committed to supporting children with identified learning difficulties and we have a range of established actions that achieve this, including:

· Adjusting class learning programs to accommodate student needs.

· Teachers and SSOs participating in professional learning opportunities to build their knowledge and expertise in supporting students.

· Securing individual support funding for children through a department application process.

· Implementing a range of support programs that target literacy, numeracy and social skills and knowledge.

· Developing individual learning plans for students with identified needs.

Staffing Update

This week we welcome a new staff member to our school, Belinda Harriss. Belinda’s role will be focused on supporting student wellbeing needs within the school and will incorporate the following areas:

· Contributing to student wellbeing priorities across the school by working in collaboration with all staff.

· Providing support for individual students and groups of students in their social and emotional wellbeing and their connection with peers and school.

Whilst this role is focused on student wellbeing, Belinda is not able to provide specialised counselling support for students and if this need arises, families will be encouraged to connect with a professional service external to the school. Belinda has a qualification in Child Youth and Family Intervention and extensive experience in working with primary school aged children that includes her current role as OSHC Director at Port Nourlunga PS and also working there as an SSO. Belinda will be working at our school on Tuesday and Thursdays.

Home-School Communication

A valued element of school life is the presence of regular communication between home and school. All staff at Henley Beach are committed to ensuring parents and caregivers have the opportunity to discuss their child's learning progress. Teachers can be contacted at any time throughout the term, or alternatively, your child's teacher may also contact you if they have any areas that they wish to talk with you about. If you would like to speak with your child's teacher, please contact them via email, Seesaw or calling the front office.

SSO Recognition Week

Last week we acknowledged the work of our SSOs as part of SSO Recognition Week. Our SSOs fulfil a variety of roles and responsibilities and make an invaluable contribution to the learning and wellbeing of students along with the day to day operations of the school. We are fortunate to have such a committed group of SSOs and we thank them for their work.

School Sport

This week we have many students representing our school in a variety of sporting events. Our boys knockout football team, who have combined with West Beach PS, played in the grand final of this event yesterday. Whilst they were defeated they are to be commended on their efforts throughout the duration of the competition. Today our athletics team will be competing against other local schools in a variety of events. We wish them luck.

Our school's sun protection policy comes into effect for school terms 1, 3 and 4. From the beginning of next week, Sept 5, school uniform broad brimmed hats must be worn. If children do not have a hat they can be purchased from the uniform shop or the front office has limited sizes available.

We have a number of items in lost property including prescription glasses, fitbits, watches, jewellery etc. If your child has lost an item at school please come to to the front office to identify and collect.  

There are also unnamed School Jumpers, lunch boxes, drink bottles etc. in the blue cupboard in the Gym. Please check this space if you are missing any of these items.

Last week we celebrated Book Week for 2022. It was lovely to see some many students dressed as their favourite book characters and to share this with parents/ caregivers in the parade. A big thank you to family and carers who spent time and effort to create such fabulous costumes.

On Friday the 26 August, our choir had their first off site rehearsal at Magic Millions in preparation for the Festival of Music. They conducted themselves very well and followed our school values throughout the day.  Tickets are now on sale at Ticketek.com for the Festival Choir.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Movie Night last week. Without a dedicated team of volunteers and staff support these events would not be possible, so thank you.

Dear parents and carers

We are looking for volunteers who might be able to spare some time to support students in the primary years. Any amount of time that you can afford will be appreciated. If you are already volunteering in the JP area of the school and would like to volunteer with the primary years as well, that is also fine.

We are looking particularly at supporting students with reading, but if you have specific skills such as art and design or technology, that would be welcomed too.

All volunteers must have the following:

· A Department of Human Services Working with Children Check (WWCC).  Individuals can apply for their own WWCC at www.screening.sa.gov.au Go to – Applications Go to – Applications information for individuals Click on – Apply for a check Click on – Submit your own application for a check Once you begin your application you will receive an email to activate your application. When you have done this, you will receive a second email to set your password for your account. This password combined with your username, will allow you to begin your application. To complete your application you will need

•  Information about your full legal name and any names you may have, including previous names, maiden name, names you have legally changed, aliases and informal names (like nicknames)
• Your current address and 10 years of address history
•  If you are verifying your identity online (100-point check), you will need an Australian Drivers Licence or permit plus one of these:
•  Australian birth certificate or extract
• Australian citizenship certificate
• Australian passport

· Completion of the Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC) on-line training www.plink.sa.edu.au/pages/signup.jsf

· A Department general volunteering induction training on-line www.plink.sa.edu.au/pages/signup.jsf

· Completion of a site induction.

Please contact Aileen Clancy on the following email dl.0177.info@schools.sa.edu.au with the words Primary Volunteers in the subject box. This is our first step in the process but if you are interested in supporting us, starting the WWCC, RRHAN, plink course and registering for an onsite induction early means that we will be able to make progress quickly.

Friday 16 September

Session 1: 8.00am - 8.30am

Session 2: 2.30pm - 3.00pm

Please signup to a session to complete your Volunteer Paperwork.

Spring is fast approaching and with it the Charles Sturt Spring Garden Competition. We have entered our beautiful garden in the school garden category again and judging will take place next term. Our Grub Club students have lots of work to do including harvesting, clearing and digging over the soil. They will also start planting spring crops - beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, chilis, capsicums, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin, melon and more. In addition to this, we have the beginnings of a fairy garden which we hope students will add to and turn this area of our garden into something magical.

We rely on volunteers to ensure that as many students as possible get the opportunity to visit the Grub Club and we are always looking for more volunteers. The Grub Club gives students a fun hands-on experience of gardening and helps them to develop healthy habits and a love of vegies. The volunteers maintain the school garden and help groups of students to do a wide range of activities including planting, harvesting, cooking, craft and enterprise projects. No gardening experience is necessary and training and support is provided as required. Please contact me via the school office if you are interested in finding out more. New volunteers will also need to attend the school site induction happening soon.

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Excursions

Science Incursion - 31 August

Festival of Music Performance - 21 September

Yr3/4, Yr4 Maritime Excursion - 22 September

Reception Excursion - 29 September

Last day of term

Friday 30 September (2pm early dismissal)

School Closure Days

Friday 9 September (Adelaide Show)

Pupil Free Days 

Monday 12 September

Friday 25 November

October Vacation Care Program is now open for bookings! Get in quick to secure your position.

Contact Andrew via email at henleybeachps.oshc917@schools.sa.edu.au

Book Week was a big week in the canteen with some new items available to buy. It was so good to see the kids lined up with smiles on their faces. Smoothies were a big hit whilst raspberry and white chocolate muffins were a close second.

The canteen has received some wonderful feedback from the kids, and in response, Brekkie Mix is back and we are also introducing ‘muffin of the week’.

A special thanks to all of our wonderful parent and Year 6 volunteers who came to help with Book Week and Movie Night, especially to Jean the lemon juicing queen. 

We’re busy planning the last special for the term (to be offered in week 9) and the new summer menu. If you have any suggestions please email Canteen.canteen878@schools.sa.edu.au

Also, if you have an hour or 2 to volunteer please come and visit; we’d love to meet you.