Speers Point Public School Newsletter

Thursday 23 July 2020, Term 3 Week 1

Principal's Message

Welcome Back for Term 3

It’s a great start to Term 3 and students have started back eager and smiling. Over the weekend we issued out the letter online regarding all of the current procedures and updates around Covid-Safe practices. We will include the letter with this newsletter in case you missed it.

Students are being continually reminded of safe hygiene practices and the cleaning of frequent touch areas continues during the day.

We have also distributed School Infrastructure’s Welcome pack now that all construction has been completed. Over the course of the next few months there may be some tiny defects or rectifications but nothing that should disrupt any day to day operations of the school.

From this term our newsletter will now come out on the odd weeks, so we are able to better share student award information from assemblies on even weeks. So week 1 – here we are.

Watagans (Support Unit) Pick up time change – back to 2.50pm next week

Over the last 15 months we have had a special consideration granted while Bell St was a major construction zone. This consideration allowed us to dismiss students from the Watagans support unit classes slightly earlier at 2.40pm.

Now that we are completely construction free we are moving the time for the Support classes back to the previous 2.50pm pick-up. This practice of 2.50pm allows staff to support these students safely to transport ahead of the main student body.

All other aspects around using the Kiss ‘n Ride zone, Assisted Transport etc will remain the same. Parents using the Kiss ‘n' Ride zone please be mindful that we are moving through this group first to allow for a smooth and quick afternoon pick-up process.  

Late Arrivals/Early Leavers

Students who arrive late in the mornings should be accompanied by a parent or carer to the office. As attendance records are an official document, we are unable to record a student’s reason for being late as an explained absence – that can only be given by the parent or carer.

For any students leaving early we also require the parent or carer to sign the student out at the office.

Text Alerts - Absences

Late last term we started the text alert system for absences. This is an automatic system that sends a SMS text message out to parents (first listed number) if a child is absent. The system is set to send this message out at 9.30am. If a student is late, and has not arrived before 9.30 the system will send out the message assuming the child is absent.

This system is a further safeguard for our students. This gives us all a way of ensuring that the school and parents know where the child is on the day.

Please be make sure you let us know of any updates to phone numbers as they happen.

Student Reports

In our return to school letter I mentioned an ongoing issue with our software that generates our student reports. We have been let down by the technical support from this provider who are yet to deliver a fix to the fault. Unfortunately, this means reports are not ready to distribute this Friday as advised last term. Once this has been rectified we will be getting reports out.

Staying Up to Date

Once again we’re finding that changes are happening faster than our fortnightly newsletter will keep up with. If you don’t already, please follow and check in with our Facebook page and Skoolbag app – these are two of the most effective ways of getting news out quickly to parents and community as the need arises.

Have a great week

Chris Payne

Principal

Term 3 Information

Please find attached Term 3 information letter that was sent out on Monday 20 July 2020.
Download

School News

PBL FOCUS

Weeks 1 & 2

RESPECTFUL

Respectful behaviour in the classroom

Safe, Respectful, Responsible, Achiever

Don't forget your water bottle

A reminder that our bubblers are not being used at the moment in line with COVID-19 restrictions.

Students are reminded to please bring a water bottle to school.

Library News

CLASS BORROWING WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK

A note will be sent home with Students this week, informing you of their library day.

Please make sure they have a library bag with their name clearly marked.

BOOK CLUB

Issue 5 will be sent home this week.

Orders are due by Friday 14 August 2020.

Students can bring their orders and money to the office or you can order online via the LOOP

OUTSTANDING LIBRARY BOOKS

If you find any Speers Point Public School library books at home, could you please return them.  Thank you

Parents & Citizens update

Welcome back SPPS families,

We hope you all had a relaxing break and everyone is ready for the second half of the year.

The first event we have for Term 3 is the P&C meeting, which is scheduled for week 3. These meetings keep parents and community updated on school events, discuss future plans & developments within the school, as well as fundraising and expenditure of these funds back into the school community.

If you are interested, you can join us from the comfort of your couch at home via Zoom:

SPPS P&C Meeting Term 3 Week 3

Time: Monday, August 3rd at 06:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88945908994?pwd=U0ZKaWVmTW1ydXhBdHUxb2p2MVMyZz09

Meeting ID: 889 4590 8994

Password: 868416

If you need help or are unsure how to use Zoom, please feel free to chat to any of the P&C Executive Committee at school, via our email speerspointpublicschool@pandcaffiliate.org.au or via the Facebook page.

Also if you have something you would like to raise as an Agenda item for this meeting, please email our secretary Kat at speerspointpublicschool@pandcaffiliate.org.au by no later then Monday 27th July. The Agenda will we released via our Facebook page a few days before the meeting.

You can become a member of the P&C at any time for just $1.00. Registration forms are located at the School Office.

Canteen News

Canteen will remain closed for the next three weeks, with a review of the situation at the end of week Three. We understand this is a disappointment to many students and their families. In the meantime, the P&C will be taking this opportunity to address some maintenance issues in the canteen and make sure our Covid Safe practices are up to date. We look forward to welcoming your gorgeous faces back to a safe canteen as soon as we are able!

If anyone has questions about canteen, please send them to Elisha at speerspointcanteen@gmail.com.

Keep your eyes on our Facebook Page for more: https://www.facebook.com/sppspandc

Contact our Secretary at any time: speerspointpublicschool@pandcaffliate.org.au

Calendar Dates

Friday 14 August - Book Club Issue 5 Due

Thursday 3 September - Kinder 2021 Parent Information night, 6pm

Tuesday 8 September - School Photos

Newcastle Portraits - How to order School Photos

https://newcastleschoolportraits.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Navigate.pdf

School Photos are on Tuesday 8 September 2020.

Please don't forget to order your photos online.  Please see information below

Community News

Speers Point Public School

Speers Point soaring high, spread our wings and learn to fly.