12 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

Calendar of Key Events

From the Principal…..

Welcome to 2020! It’s been wonderful to talk with many parents as I’ve been around the school during the first few days and to hear of the excitement children have shown as they return to school. As I have visited classrooms I’ve been able to observe students fully engaged and showing their focus and dedication to learning times. These first few weeks are important in setting routines, learning about what students can do, helping to build a sense of community and starting to set tasks which will inspire and stretch thinking.

Wayne Craig – Curiosity and Powerful Learning

On Monday last week teachers and teacher assistants worked with visiting author and educational research expert, Wayne Craig. Wayne has worked extensively in many countries including US, UK and Singapore. Wayne led a session about Curiosity and Powerful Learning, helping us to learn about the factors which help to improve student achievement. We look forward to sharing some of this learning with you.

Novel Coronavirus

The DoE has been providing schools with current information about the protocols around the Coronavirus and its implications for school attendance for anyone who has visited Wuhan City or Hubei Province in China. Further information is available at:

The Public Health Hotline can also provide information – 1800 671 738.

Reminders about personal hygiene and hand washing routines to avoid the spread of germs is an important message for everyone. The DoE has designed the attached posters to remind us about the importance of correct washing procedures to avoid the spread of bacteria.

Off and Away All Day

Last year the DoE surveyed a range of stakeholders about the effects of mobile phones on students and their learning. The DoE’s new mobile phone policy starts in all government schools in Tasmania soon. Our policy at PPS is now in line with the policy in all other government schools in Tasmania. Research has shown clearly that mobile phones are a distraction to student learning and do not belong in classrooms or with students during the school day. All mobile phones, and other devices which can access wifi, should be delivered to the office for safe keeping at the beginning of the school day. They will be kept there with student names clearly attached to each phone, for students to collect at the end of each day. A poster competition is being conducted in conjunction with the beginning of the new statewide policy. Details are included with this newsletter.

Welcome BBQ

All members of our school community are warmly welcomed to our annual Welcome BBQ which will be hosted by our School Association next Thursday. The BBQ will be held in conjunction with open classrooms so that parents can hear about the routines and expectations of class programs and meet class teachers.

* We hope to see the families of every child there!

Athletics Carnival

Planning is underway for our Athletics Carnival which is scheduled across several days during weeks 4 and 5. Mrs Fleming is organising the carnival and will be taking groups of students for some of the more specialized events before the carnival date. These include long jump and 1500m. The carnival proper is planned for Friday 6th March to be held at the Perth Football Oval. We look forward to a day of fun, activity and the sporting attitudes to which we have become accustomed at sporting carnivals at PPS. We hope you have this date in your calendar.

WWVP Cards

Many parents in our school community already have their WWVP Card so that they can assist in classroom as regular helpers or volunteer to come along on excursions. This is a DoE requirement for all parents in all schools. The process takes about 3 weeks and a minimal cost once you have completed the process through the Department of Justice website online. Please talk to the office staff for further information if you need advice about their process.

Welcome to New Members in our School Community

This year we welcome a number of new students and their families to our school community:

Haylee & Cooper Prep B
Skylar-Rose, Harper & Jack 1-2 F/H
Ellah 2-3C
Zaralee & Adilyn 3-4 JL
Seth & Eljay 3-4 D
Sienna, Mathilda & Bodie 5-6 LJ

We also welcome the following members to our school community:

Amelia Woods – teacher – Prep A
Georgina Dargaville – teacher – Prep A and LiL

Assembly Awards

Perth Primary School Student Attendance Data

2020 Classes

School Levies

A reminder that student levies are now overdue. Please finalise your account or contact the office to organise a Levy Payment Plan.

Validation Forms

A reminder to parents to sign and return Student Validation Forms to the office.

Duty of Care Reminder To Parents

Medication

In line with Department of Education guidelines for the administration of medication, all medications are kept in a secure location.

Department forms, available from the office, must be completed by a medical practitioner and a parent, before any medication can be administered to a student.

Medication is administered by authorised school personnel according to instructions received from the Medical Practitioner.

It is not possible to dispense over-the-counter medications such as Panadol without authorisation.

If your child requires prescribed medication to be administered whilst they are at school, you must arrange for:

• Form A / Form B written request to the school to administer the medication;
• the medical practitioner’s specific prescribed instructions for administration on the pharmacist’s label;
• the safe transfer of medication to the school;
• medication to be delivered to the school in original prescribed container only. An official register for the administration of medication to students will be maintained by the school.

Asthma

If you child has an Asthma Plan, please provide this to the office.

Absence

• Regular attendance is necessary for children to engage effectively in school, so we ask all parents to ensure children attend on every possible occasion.
• Please provide an explanation for all absences - notes, messages, online form or phone calls are all acceptable.
• Online form is available via the Schoolzine app (szapp).
• If someone is away for an extended period of time, regular contact with the class teacher is recommended. For those who do not have access to text messages, an answering service is available on the school phone after hours.
• Following any five unexplained absences the school is required to start a formal communication process with families.

LATE ARRIVAL

• Anyone who arrives after class teacher period must report immediately to the school office so that their attendance can be noted and a pass issued for entry into class.

APPOINTMENTS DURING THE DAY

• Parents must sign students out for appointments during the day.

EARLY LEAVING

• Parents needing to collect children during the day are asked to advise the school by note or phone call earlier in the day.

When can your child be authorised to be absent from school?

Changes have been made to provide certainty for schools, parents and students as to the reasons a child can be authorised to be absent from school.

Reasons your child can be authorised to be absent include:

• sickness/incapacity
• medical, legal or related appointments
• natural disaster or extreme weather preventing your child from safely attending their enrolled school
• terminal illness of an immediate family member
• bereavement of a person your child had a close, significant or family relationship with
• having witnessed or been subjected to family violence
• being a participant or official at a recognised State, National or International event
• participation in a recognised learning experience
• an application for home education being received by the Education Registrar and provisional registration being granted.

What will happen if my child is absent for a reason that isn’t listed?

The absence will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Principals receive notifications about the number of unauthorised absences your child has.

Your child’s school may send you a letter notifying you of the number of unauthorised absences your child has.

They will seek to work with you to increase your child’s attendance to maximise their learning if the Principal is concerned about your child’s attendance.

What happens if my family go on holiday during school term?

Schools have always encouraged family holidays to be planned for during the scheduled school holiday breaks.

If your family decides to take a holiday during school term, you are encouraged to discuss your plans with the Principal. Penalties will not apply if an absence is explained.

Happy Birthday

Celebrating birthdays this newsletter are:

Coopar, Lucy, Ignatia, Bodhi, Degan, Jamie, Sonny, Emma, Koby, Laila, Haylee, Dex, Tommy, Kiyani, Zac, Taylah, Jett, Jaxon, Victor, Amelia, Oscar, Rubi, Madison, Azhara, Chaise, Lincoln, Jack, Armani, Ava, Theo, Phoebe, Sophie, Liam, Georgie, McKenzie, Payton, Caitlin, Lola, Spencer, Bree, Logan, Armi, Mrs Arrieta, Ms Hernandez, Miss Delphine, Miss Bolch, Mrs Whyman, Mrs Dunn and Nurse Bec.

School Psychologist

School Social Worker…..

Canteen News…..

Canteen commences Thursday 13th February 2020

Ordering canteen is done online via our Qkr. Parents need to update their child/ren’s class every year. Please look further in the newsletter for instructions to download the Qkr app.

Raspberry Chocolate Muffins (Week 2 & 3)

Chocolate Cake (Week 4 & 5)

Assembly Roster Term 1

School Banking

School Banking Day commences Thursday 13th February

Uniform Shop Hours

Monday 8:45am – 9:00am
Thursday 2.45pm – 3.00pm

Payments by cash, Qkr, or EFTPOS (at the office)

Hats available all sizes from the office

Limited stock:

Boys bootleg trousers $10.00
Cargo shorts $12.00
Boys long cargo pants $17.00
Rugby Top (new logo patch sewn on) size 14 only $45.00

Can’t make the sale day? Order on QKR but hurry, limited stock!

Outside School Care Hours (OSHC)

Early Birds and After School Care

Early Birds 7:45am - 8:30am Monday - Friday
please contact the school office 6398 2302 ($3 per child)

Please Note: Payments and bookings can be made via cash or the Qkr app
(our preferred payment method).

Please Note: Parents are required to personally drop off children to BSC.

After School Care – Midlands Kids Club (Northern Midlands Council)
please contact Kate Lee – 0438 911 303

Community News……

2020 Professional Learning Days/Moderation Days

2020 Term Dates

2019 PPS Support Staff

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