6 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

The term seems to be flying by and it is hard to believe that we only have a few weeks left of school before the July holiday break. The teachers are currently writing a revised report of students’ progress which will be communicated during the Parent/Teacher interviews in week 9 & 10 of this term (22 June-3 July)

Reports and Interviews

To provide an update on progress and allow the opportunity for parents to talk to the teachers about the learning done both online and in classrooms during Term 1 & 2, we will have 10 minute interviews, either by phone or face to face in the school hall.

A note will be sent home next week outlining the interview timeslots and how to register for an interview. Parents need only request an interview if they would like one, this is not compulsory. There will be an opportunity if you do not want a face to face interview that the class teacher can call you for a 10-minute phone interview. Every student will receive a written report at the end of the term.

Interview Dates (School Hall)

Most of the face to face interviews will be conducted in the school hall where social distancing will be observed. Parents will wait outside the school hall until their designated timeslot and then be directed to their child’s class teacher who will be waiting in the hall.

A general guide to face to face interview times are:

Monday 22 June & 29 June - Years 3, 4 ,5 & 6 (3.30pm-6.30pm)
Tuesday 23 June & 30 June - Kindergarten, Years 1 & 2 (3.30pm-6.30pm)
Wednesday 24 June & 1 July - Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 (3.30pm- 6.30pm)
Thursday 25 June & 2 July - Kindergarten, Years 1 & Year 2 (3.30pm-6.30pm)

Teachers will allocate times that they are available within these guidelines. Interviews can be booked online and instructions for this will be sent home next week. Please be aware that you do not need to request face to face interview. Phone calls can be made to parents during those 2 weeks if required.

Reconciliation Week

Last week a number of our classes researched and learnt about the meaning behind Reconciliation Week. 3T shared some lovely photos of artwork they completed.

Opportunity Class Placement Test - Wednesday 16 September (new test date)

Year 4 students are able to sit a placement test on the above date, for an Opportunity Class (OC). Our local OC classes are at Mona Vale Public School, Neutral Bay Public School and Balgowlah Heights Public School. These classes cater for academically gifted and talented children in years 5 and 6. They provide a rich and intellectually stimulating educational environment.

The application process is online and parents must apply between 6 June and 26 June. No applications will be accepted after this date. A separate note will be sent home with all Year 4 students today outlining the application process.

Due to the shorter time frame, changes have been made to the placement process for 2020 applicants. The following components of the placement process WILL NOT take place:

• Late applications
• School assessment scores
• Illness/misadventure requests or appeals
• Selection committees - placement will be determined by results of the placement test.

Please see the link below for more information:

Sick Students

Please keep your children at home if they are displaying any cold or flu-like symptoms. We understand this is very difficult for parents as you return to work and as children begin to pick up the winter colds, but these regulations must be abided to for the safety of all students and staff.

Birthday Treats

If you wish to have your child’s birthday celebrated at school you must purchase ice blocks through the school canteen. The ice blocks are only 50c each. The canteen will not be accepting any ice blocks, cakes or treats from home until further notice.

Pick up and Drop off

Thank you to everyone for your cooperation in picking up and dropping off students in the staggered pick up times and correctly using the “Kiss and Drop” zones. Next term the council rangers will be monitoring the pick-up zones so please be aware of the changed conditions of parking that surround our school. Please do not leave your car unattended in the “No Parking” zone across the road from the main school gate.

At Home Learning

Now that we are all back at school there will be no more online or remote learning provided for students who are at home. As children become sick with colds during these winter months they need to be kept at home until they have no symptoms.

The Department of Education has provided a website where you are able to access lessons for your child during this time. The Learning Hub has activities and assessment tasks that can be used for remote learning. Please follow the link below:

ABC education also has some great resources.

No Dogs Allowed on School Site Anytime

Please stay outside the school grounds if you have a dog with you. No dogs are allowed on school grounds any day of the week including weekends.

Bike Safety

Thank you to all of the students who have applied for a bike licence. Mr Dylan has distributed licences this week and it is great to see our students riding to school safely wearing helmets. Bike racks are available right near Café Owl and behind Café owl if required. Bikes are not to be ridden onto the school grounds. Please dismount from your bike at the school gate and walk it to the bike racks.

Tina Lee - Principal

Dates for Your Diary

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 4 orders are due on Tuesday 23 June 2020.

Community Notices

National Disability Information Scheme (NDIS)

Information sessions for parents and carers of children with a disability or development delay. These information sessions are designed to assist parents with navigating the Disability System and their NDIS plans, especially during the current challenging times.

Northern Beaches Council Covid-19 and shared paths

In these strange Covid-19 times, many more families than usual are using our shared paths. This is a very positive thing to do, for so many reasons; exercise, getting out of the house and mental health being some of those reasons. However, the extra people means that we have to take extra care with our etiquette on shared paths, so that we reduce the risk of injury to ourselves and others.

Please see this short Shared Path video, that is on the Northern Beaches Council YouTube channel.

Please note that everyone can still maintain the required 1.5 metres separation while keeping the Shared Path etiquette, such as walking single file in order to keep to the left and allow others to pass in both directions.