NEWSLETTER 2022

Dear Families,

Term 2 Week 2 is NAPLAN— National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy assessments. Angaston Primary School will be doing NAPLAN online. All test aspects will be completed using school desktops/laptops. The only paper component of NAPLAN will be the Year 3 Writing assessment.

Year 3 & 5 students will be involved in a NAPLAN Online trial on 23rd March. The purpose of the trial is to check the ‘technical readiness’ of our IT infrastructure. The trial test is not marked.

Students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parents/caregivers. This is a matter for individual parents/caregivers in consultation with the school. Some students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant co-existing conditions which severely limit their capacity to participate in NAPLAN may be exempt. If you are considering withdrawing your child or believe that your child should be exempt from NAPLAN testing, please contact me at the school to discuss your concerns before the end of this term. We expect all students to sit NAPLAN, so attendance is very important. NAPLAN should be taken seriously by students with their best effort given for all components of the test. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day. This week Year 3 & 5 students will receive a NAPLAN Online – information for parents and carers note, as well as the NAPLAN Online privacy collection notice. Any concerns please contact me at the school.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held Week 10 from Monday 4th April to Thursday 4th April. Details will be sent home soon so parents have plenty of time to book an interview. If times do not suit you, please negotiate an alternative time with your child’s class teacher. Some teachers are happy to negotiate alternative times including mornings or have phone interviews. Interviews are an important avenue for sharing your child’s progress in relation to academic and behaviour standards, as well as letting you know what they need to focus on for term 2. They are also an opportunity for you to discuss any concerns or issues that may be affecting student progress. At this stage we are expecting to hold face to face interviews but please be aware this is subject to change pending COVID-19.

Governing Council

The Angaston Primary School Governing Council annual general meeting was held on Tuesday 8th March. The Governing Council now consists of the following members:

Dan Killey (Chairperson), Adam Forbes (Deputy Principal), Shari Davidson (Secretary), Leon Pendergast (Treasurer), Kym Taylor (staff rep), Carly Clarke, Kate Gabel, Kate Thorn, Kylie Wilshire, Rob Blythman & Alina Gransbury. Thank you to retiring members Yuka Endersby and Darlene Morrish for their support and contribution to the school over many years, and a warm welcome to our new members Leon Pendergast, Rob Blythman, and Alina Gransbury.

Whole School Assembly

Week 5 saw the first outdoor whole school assembly hosted by Room 10/Darmody and Rm 5 Hall/Argent. It was great to see the students sitting together, as well as seeing parents/carers in attendance. Weather permitting, we will continue to host assemblies outside until COVID restrictions are lifted.

National Day of Action Against Bullying

The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is on Friday 18 March 2022. This year, we celebrate 12 years of action for Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative with the theme ‘Kindness Culture’. The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is an important day in our school calendar to join schools across Australia to say ‘Bullying. No Way!’ Together we can make a change. Everyone has a role to play for bullying prevention. Kindness Culture promotes inclusiveness, respect and community belonging. The Kindness Culture theme offers an opportunity to learn about kindness, demonstrate kind behaviour, promote inclusiveness and respect.

Harmony Day 2022 falls on Monday 21st March. This day honours the cultural diversity of the country with the theme ‘Everybody Belongs’ and concurs with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Harmony Day preaches the message of inclusiveness, acceptance and belonging for all Australians, regardless of their cultural background.

Over the next two weeks students will be participating in a range of classroom and yard activities to promote both ‘Kindness Culture ‘and ‘Everybody Belongs’. We will start by promoting the anti bullying message followed by a whole school pledge at our next assembly. Bullying is Never OK! - YouTube – this clip is just one of many that may be used to discuss bullying with your child.

Thank you to those families that have paid the Materials & Services charge of $303 for 2022. The Materials and Services charges are due by 18th March 2022  to avoid debt recovery action by the  Department for Education. Applications for School Card assistance are still able to be made so please apply online at www.sa.gov.au under the heading Education and Learning, Financial Assistance. Please contact the Front Office if you require any assistance.

Payment can be made:

·          via the school bank account BSB 105-021 Account number 104147940 - using your family code or invoice number as the reference.

·          via Cash, Cheque, Eftpos or Credit Card at the Front Office between 8.30 – 9.30am and 2.30- 3.30pm.

·          via Credit Card over the phone between 8.30-9.30 and 2.30-3.30pm.

Any current Direct Debit Payment Plans will continue.

Please contact Kim Oag on 85642215 if you require any further assistance.