12 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Principal’s Report

2019 Enrolments – We have commenced the year with 378 students comprising of 186 boys and 192 girls and currently have 46 staff. Our enrolments are up from 365 students in 2018 and we had sufficient funding and student numbers to create another class, that is, a Year 3 class in Room 11.

I extend a welcome to our new to GPS parent/carers and students and we look forward to your involvement in our very diverse, community minded wonderful school.

Please welcome the following new to school staff at GPS this year whilst staff are on leave or to replace staff who have resigned and/or retired. We currently have 2 positions advertised – Music Teacher and Early Childhood teacher which are in progress.

• Diana (Dee) Dixon who has been permanently transferred to Geraldton PS as a redeployee working on Tuesdays and Thursdays as our Science and STEM DOTT provider.
• Chrystal Murray who is working in a fixed term role as a Year 3 teacher in Room 11 from Wednesdays to Fridays and working in tandem with Alyse Wilson who is working on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Alyse Wilson is also working in Room 7 with the Year 6s on Fridays with Sheree Fishwick.
• We also have a number of staff who will be taking their accrued LSL during the year. Sara Roberts is working on Fridays this term and next term in Room 2 whilst Ian Davidson takes his LSL each Friday.
• Helen Ferreira has secured employment in Queensland and will be resigning from the Department of Education. We wish Helen all the very best for the future from all of us at Geraldton PS.
• Coralie Simpson has reduced her time at the Front Office for this term to Monday to Thursday for Term 1.
• Please also welcome Alana Bech (pictured below) who has as our School Psychologist. Alana is at GPS each Thursday.

• Mari Prospero, our School Chaplain is working Thursdays and Fridays in Terms 1 and 4 and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Terms 2 and 3.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

If you would like to find out more specific information about what your child should be achieving for each year level please read on…..

As parent/carers, no doubt you would like to know exactly what students are expecting to be achieving for each year level of schooling.

So what exactly are the achievement standards for each year level?

Achievement standards can be accessed on the SCSA (School Curriculum Standards Authority) website under the tab of Teaching. Areas under this tab include the Early Years Learning Framework, Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines, WA Curriculum Guidelines and General Capabilities Guidelines.

Across Foundation to Year 10, achievement standards indicate the quality of learning students should typically demonstrate by a particular point in their schooling. Achievement standards comprise a written description and student work samples.

An achievement standard describes the quality of learning (the extent of knowledge, the depth of understanding and the sophistication of skills) that would indicate the student is well placed to commence the learning required at the next level of achievement.

The sequence of achievement standards across Foundation to Year 10 describes progress in the learning area. This sequence provides teachers with a framework of growth and development in the learning area.

Achievement standards can be accessed on the SCSA website under the tab of Teaching. Areas under this tab include the Early Years Learning Framework, Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines, WA Curriculum Guidelines and General Capabilities Guidelines.

Here is the link to the ASCA Achievement Standards for your interest.

ENGAGING WITH THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Parent Welcome BBQ

If 500 sausages consumed are any indication, our inaugural Parent Welcome BBQ was a success. This informal and relaxed evening is a means where we can have staff, parent/carers and students get to know each other whilst consuming sausages, fruit, juice boxes and have fun on the bouncy castle and water slide whilst the adults chat.

Many thanks to our wonderful P & C Association, School Council members, Student Councillors and staff who set up, cut up, cleaned, cooked, washed and packed away to help make the event a success.

Our mantra is that what we (staff and parent/carers) have in common is the best interests of your child and one of the key ways to provide the best learning outcomes for your child (be in social, academic, behavioural) is to develop a positive and effective working relationship.

Please note that we have scheduled to have Student Led Conferences for PP to Year 6 students in Week 9 – Tuesday 2 April. This day will be an Early Close Day for the purposes of meetings with teachers, parent/carers and students. In addition to the early close day we will be using the whole week for the purpose of arranging meetings where the focus is on Student Led Conferences so that teacher can get to meet with all parent/carers as we can’t fit every family in on one Early Close Day.

So what are Student Led Conferences and how do they differ from the normal parent/teacher meetings?

They are parent-teacher conferences in which the child is not only present, but in charge of explaining his or her progress, reflecting on accomplishments, and setting short and long-term goals.

Why student-led conferences? They:

• show parents and students that their opinions and experiences are valued by the teacher
• empower the child to take responsibility for her learning
• give the parent and teacher a chance to hear the student reflect on his progress in his own words
• reassure students that parents and teacher are there to support them
• hold students accountable for their academic and behavioural choices
• give the parent the opportunity to see the teacher and child interact
• provide the teacher with insight about parent-child relationships/home structure
• take unnecessary pressure off of the teacher by focusing on the student and his/her work samples

Most importantly: because parents and students love doing them! Parent turn out at student-led conferences is often higher than traditional conferences because students are so vested in the process.

Parents Frequently Asked Questions about Student-Led Conferences

Why are we having Student-Led Conferences?

They are widely recognized as best educational practice! Research supports the fact that student achievement increases when students reflect on their work, identify strengths and weaknesses, and set goals, thus taking ownership of their learning. Student-Led Conferences promote self-confidence, as well as vital organizational, presentation, and communication skills. They also provide parents with an opportunity to celebrate their students as learners. Student-Led Conferences support district goals, strategic plan initiatives and state employability standards.

What is my role during the Student-Led Conference?

Encourage your student. Be specific in you praise, comments, and compliments. Listen to what your student is saying and ask follow up questions like, “What part of this assignment was challenging for you? Why? What did you learn from this assignment? How can I help you with your goal?”

Respect your student’s ability to lead and share. Your student has spent a lot of time and effort getting ready to present their work to you. Allow them to guide you through the Student-Led Conference.

Be proud! Your student’s ability to take ownership of their progress and present their goals to you is impressive.

What is my child’s role during the Student-Led Conference?

Your student will be leading the conference. They will be presenting you with a collection of their work. As they show your specific assignments and assessments, they will be reflecting on their progress, and identifying strengths and weaknesses. Your student will share the goals that they have developed based on the reflection process.

What is the teacher’s role during the Student-Led Conference?

The teachers have spent the past month preparing your student and teaching the skills necessary for the conference. During the conference, the teacher will be circulating amongst the conferences, providing encouragement and affirmation to the students. While there may be several conferences going on simultaneously, the teacher may join your conference briefly to help facilitate the process with your student, or to provide additional information about your student’s progress. In order to meet the needs of all students, the teachers will not be able to meet with parents privately during Student-Led Conferences.

Can I meet with the teacher(s) privately at another time?

Yes. The teachers are always available throughout the school year for individual conferences if you have concerns that you wish to address. Call or e-mail your student’s teacher(s) at any time to set up an appointment. We also encourage student/parent access

We’re Reflecting, Reviewing and Revising our:

• Parent Information Booklet

I am currently updating the GPS Parent Information Booklet which should be available later this week and would appreciate your feedback once the revised version is completed.

• Homework Policy

Thank you to all students, staff and parent/carers who completed the Homework Survey at the end of 2018. I have attached a summary of the results for your interest. We are setting up a working group to get together an updated policy to reflect all key stakeholder viewpoints and to meet the Department of Education Homework Guidelines. This will be put to the School Council to continue working on at the March 25 meeting.

• Emergency Management Plan

We have twice practised our evacuation drill with PP to Year 6 students in the last couple of weeks and are revising the Emergency Management Plan which includes aspects such as evacuation, lock down, intruders, fire, adverse weather, threats and hazardous materials. Kindergarten students will also have evacuation drill practice in the next couple of weeks. A summary of the Evacuation Plan is provided below.

Acceptable User Agreement (Electronic Media and Viewing Permission)

• We have updated the Acceptable User Agreement form below to more accurately reflect the role of electronic media in schools as we either promote, celebrate, document and inform you, the parent/carers and the wider school community about our students’ and the school’s achievements in the media. We would appreciate it if this could be returned to class teachers as soon as possible.

• Student Health Care – Allergy Awareness Policy

We are in the process of updating this policy.

Allergies are very common and increasing in Australia, affecting around 1 in 5 people at some time in their lives. There are many different causes of allergy and symptoms vary from mild to potentially life threatening.

In most schools some children are anaphylactic.

Common allergens for anaphylaxis are:

• foods (e.g. peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish, fish, milk, egg, sesame and soy)
• insect bites (e.g. bee, wasp, jumper ants)
• medications (e.g. antibiotics,)
• latex (e.g. rubber gloves, balloons, swimming caps)

At GPS we use information provided by parent/cares to identify students at risk and their known allergens and inform all staff, including relief staff and Canteen staff about students at risk.

In the Daily management of students with anaphylaxis we:

• Confirm that an Individual Anaphylaxis Health Care Plan that incorporates an Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Action Plan is completed for students at risk.
• Record relevant information on SIS.
• Confirm parents have provided a prescribed AAI (Adrenaline Auto Injector) that is within date.

GPS staff undertake undertake the ASCIA online analyphylaxis training program which includes prevention strategies and how to recognise and respond to anaphylaxis, including hands-on practice with adrenaline autoinjector trainer devices. This was done with teaching staff on Wednesday 27 February 2019.

Some of the strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to known allergens inlcude:

Taking reasonable steps to minimise the risk of exposure to known allergens for identified students including:

• confirming that students anaphylactic to insect stings wear shoes at all times;
• establishing rules precluding the sharing of food;
• supervising young children with anaphylaxis during meal breaks;

• ensuring students wash their hands before and after eating;
• regular cleaning of environmental surfaces; and
• advising parents that the school is allergy and nut aware and requesting them not to send foods with whole nuts or nut pastes to school.

* This request does not apply to foods labled as ‘may contain traces of nuts’ as this applies to many foods and excluding them all is not practical.

• Parents of children with anaphylaxis should be advised of the importance of teaching their child to eat only food provided from home or another safe source, e.g. foods from the school canteen that have been determined to be safe.

School Council Update

Congratulation to Craig Palmer (pictured) who accepted a nomination to remain as the 2019 School Council Chair. Thank you very much to our outgoing members Dianne Westlake and Shane Day who have been an active part of the School Council over the past few years.

There is an opportunity for two places on the School Council for parent/community representatives. If you are interested in nominating and/or finding out more information, please contact Craig Palmer or Jacqui Quartermaine. I have attached a nomination form. Nominations are due in to Jacqui Quartermaine at Jacqui.Quartermaine@education.wa.edu.au by Wednesday 20 March, 4.30pm.

P & C Association

The GPS P & C are a wonderful, hardworking and proactive group of people and are always seeking more members. The P & C AGM is on Monday 18 March at 7.00pm in the GPS Staffroom. All welcome. Please contact Stan Corneille, President, Sara Todd, Vice President or Fleur Thompson, Secretary if you wish to find out more about the P & C.

Internet Safety

There has been a recent strong concern via media reports about inappropriate and offensive content being accessed by young children on the internet.

We have addressed this with all of our Year 1 to 6 students about strategies to help keep themselves safe online and staff will continue with this in class during the year.

We highly recommend that parent/carers also provide their children with simple and effective strategies re online safety as sometimes children are faced with online situations that they simply don’t know how to handle.

Teaching your child to be cybersafe will help them to engage with the online world safely, responsibly and discerningly and can assist to protect them from online risks.

Please find below a link to the Office of ESafety Commissioner which has a section called iParent which provides resources to support parent/carers. One of the iParent Risks Online sections is about Protecting your kids from inappropriate, offensive or illegal content. You can learn about the digital environment and how to help your child have safe and enjoyable online experiences.

Games, apps and social networking

Learn about the latest apps, how to protect your information and where to get more safety guidance.

8 TIPS to keep on top of your child's screen time

Loose Parts Play

For generations, children have been using found materials in their play, from rocks, to sticks, to boxes and rope and tape. The theory that we are prescribing to is that having open-ended materials to play, build and create with will inspire our students to be inventive and creative. Last week our students began to use the Sea Container “Loose Parts” play equipment. The current focus is on being creative with boxes and pool noodles as well as using some large pieces of play equipment. As you can see from the photos, the children have been having a great time. Each week, two classes are scheduled in for the Loose Parts play should they wish to do so. The Faction Captains and Vice Captains supervise this on a rotational basis and they are doing a fantastic job with this.

General Operational Items

A reminder to return any Medical Plan documentation to Mrs Simpson at the Front Office. This applies to students who require specific actions/plans for a range of common conditions. Forms are available for common conditions. For other conditions the generic health care form or a plan provided by a medical practitioner can be used.

The following plans are available from the Front Office should you require one or more of them:

• Severe allergy/anaphylaxis
• Minor and moderate allergies • Diabetes
• Seizure
• Asthma
• Activity of daily living
• Administration of medication
• Emergency response plan for students with special needs
• Generic health care plan (for all other conditions).

Year 6 Camp to Coral Bay

Planning for the annual and much looked forward to Year 6 Camp to Coral Bay is well underway and Year 6 students have received notes about this.

Our manager Katie Taylor is currently collating the camp costs breakdowns and parents will receive a detailed breakdown of costs as soon as they are ready as we are still working them out. Once we get an idea of how many students are intending to attend, then we can start crunching the numbers, so to speak.

In 2018 the costs totalled $22 220.91 for 43 students. This year we have 59 Year 6 students. If each child goes then because of numbers we may need to take one big and one smaller bus with will impact on costs but until we know the final numbers of students, this is an unknown.

The $550 cost is the maximum the school can charge and in 2018 the cost per student worked out to be $497 which included the $3000 raised by the Year 6 Camp Fundraising Committee. The 2019 Year 6 Camp Fundraising Committee has raised more than that amount and are still fundraising so that has to be added to the camp cost funding breakdown.

Camp costs included food, accommodation, boat trips, insurance, coach hire, consumables and the hire of equipment.

We do our very best to keep the cost as minimal as possible whilst providing a really good safe camp learning experience for the students.

I am aware that is a significant cost for parents which is why the Camp Committee has been working so hard to raise more funds to lower the cost for all parents

Building, Maintenance and Works

As you can probably see, we have had the decking outside Rooms 1 and 2 replaced which looks fresh and new. We are in the process of replacing and repairing the benches outside of Rooms 1 and 2 (facing the oval) as they are rusty. We have ordered 4 x 4m long benches which will be arriving shortly and will also be ordering another bench for Kindergarten.

As you may have noticed, the single flag pole has been replaced with 3 flag poles. This is so that we can simultaneously fly the Australia, Aboriginal and Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander flags, and also, when the occasion demands it, the WA Flag and other flags.

Additionally, I am hoping that the Department of Education will look favourably towards my request to replace the very faded lino in both lesser halls in 2019 as it is pretty faded.

Mr Gregorinni has also worked very hard to replace the soft fall in various playgrounds and also put up lots of pin up boards during the January holidays.

We have also updated the PA system so that everyone should be able to hear announcements loud and clear when they are out of the classrooms.

Future planning – we would like to fill in the current enclosed sand pit just outside Room 16 with pavers so that students have an outdoor play room so to speak, as the current design makes it just about impossible to bring in sand efficiently. We are considering ideas and places for a sand pit for our Junior Primary students.

Student Leadership

Congratulations to the following Year 6 students who were selected by their peers and staff for student leadership positions of Student Councillors and Faction Captains for 2019.

They have very keenly commenced a number of jobs around the school already including welcoming the Fremantle Dockers, speaking publicly to thank guests, setting up for Daily Fitness activities, setting up for the Parent Welcome BBQ, presenting at assemblies and coordinating the Loose Parts play activities.

They are also meeting regularly with Mrs Rutter, Mr Bradley and myself to plan for future activities and leadership opportunities.

Student Councillors:

Violette Barndon, Meika Butterworth, Seonie D’Silva, Aikysia Indich, Enrico Luces, Mia McGrath, Lucy Slavens, Beau Wilson

ADDITIONAL STUDENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Harmony Week Incursion – 21 May – TAIKO DRUMMING AND FLUTES WITH Toshinori Sakamato and Anne Norman

We are very lucky to have secured a TAIKO Drumming performance for Harmony Week this year. This will be particularly exciting for our drumming group students. This highly energetic, visually exciting and entertaining Japanese music performance incorporates performance and audience participation to give students a greater understanding of Japan, both culturally and historically. Instruments include shakuhachi and fue (flutes), taiko (drums of various sizes) and a variety of other percussion instruments. Students get to join in with both the drumming and songs.

Students will bring home an incursion note and permission slip about this and parent/carers are welcome to attend either the 11.00am or 1.50pm performance. There is a cost to this incursion.

The reason we have split the incursion is because of the Interm Swimming schedule and we don’t want any classes to miss out.

2019 Synergy Schools Solar Challenge

We take as many opportunities as we can to provided extension and enrichment for our students and Tessa Goddard, Year 6, Room 6 teacher has successfully registered for our students to be involved in the 2019 Synergy Schools Solar Challenge. This event will be held at Champion Bay Senior High School (formerly John Willcock College) on Thursday 21 March and we can send one team of 4 students. We look forward to hearing about it all from Miss Goddard and the selected team.

The Indonesian Consulate General - Cultural Performance and Workshop

The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia, Ibu Dewi Tobing, and her staff will be visiting Geraldton in the week leading up to the Harmony Week 2019. The Primary Language Support School (PLSS) - Mt. Tarcoola PS and Champion Bay SHS have invited up to two classes of upper primary Indonesian students to participate at the cultural performance and workshop provided by the Consulate staff. Pak John will send out notes to students involved.

Thank You

Thank you to Maeva Hall who has very generously donated a huge range of Occupational Therapy equipment, games and resources to GPS. We are incredibly appreciative of your generosity and pictured are Maeva’s grandsons Lincoln and Riley with the OT resources as well as our Education Assistants poring over the wonderful resources.

Celebrating Successes

Congratulations to all Merit Certificate recipients, students recognised for REACH slips and students recognised for out of school achievements at the last assembly. Thank you to the Student Councillors who organised and ran the assembly. The next assembly is on Friday 15 March with Room 9, Year 3/4 and Ms Johnson.

Congratulations also to the following Year 5 and 6 students who were successful in the PEAC (Primary Extension and Challenge Program) in 2019:

Amelie Dumont, Dylan Horn, Joshua Orlando, Martha Burkinshaw, Priyasha Kshetri, Claye Gilchrist, Enrico Luces, Violette Barndon, Jackson Burns, Eddy Grice and Ngaire Simmons.

Well done to the following students who are learning musical instruments via the Instrumental Music Program:

Brass – Miles Newman, Lucille Worthington, Sharlie Townsend, Shantel Stellmaker, Mikiyah Sekodel, Josh Orlando, Abbey March, Malia Grieve, Chloe Brew, Lincoln Scott, Kaeden Brott, Banjo Stewart, Eddy Grice, Patrick McGowan and Sebastian Jose.

Clarinet – Frances Simmons, Amelie Dumont, Zephyr Hicks, Rufus Jeffries, Dylan Horn

Wind Instruments– Vylet Wall, Eliza Jose, Sophie McPherson, John-Marcus Solomon, Ngaire Simmons, Tom Larson, Beau Wilson, Violette Barndon, Pippah Aldrick, Enrico Luces, Isabella Mitchell, Meika Butterworth

Guitar – Eli Grigsby, Priyasha Kshetri, Finlay Wilson, Kylan Crinquand-Tomasino, Lara Day, Martha Burkinshaw, Jackson Burns, Jimmy Hipper, Jack Davies, Seonie D’Silva and Beau Bradley.

No wonder over half of the Combined Schools Band students are comprised of GPS students!

Regards
Jacqui Quartermaine
Principal

PARENT TERM 1 planner ~ 2019

TERM 2 COMMENCES 30 APRIL FOR STUDENTS
PLEASE NOTE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO TERM PLANNER.

SPLASH DAY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO THE FIRST FRIDAY OF TERM 2.

NEWS FROM THE CANTEEN

Welcome back for 2019

The Canteen is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday every week and is available for all students Kindy to Year 6. If your child has a special dietary or cultural requirement, please come and talk with me as we may be able to provide for them as well. I have done allergy aware training.

The canteen is always looking for volunteers and the children love to see their family in the canteen. So if you have a spare few hours come and chat with me, food training is not a requirement and you are not locked into coming every week.

We also have a range of second hand uniforms (gold coin donation per item) and hats ($15) for sale in the canteen. These are available for purchase on Canteen open days.

I have really enjoyed my first year and 2019 will bring bigger and better things for our school canteen so keep your eyes peeled

Amy Blyth
Canteen Supervisor

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

NGALA – RANGEWAY CHILD CARE CENTRE