Hi everyone

I am back into video mode this week, trying to feel a little more connected to you all. If you would like to read what is in the video link, find it here below. I hope that things are going ok for you at home, please know that we are thinking of you and appreciating communication with us if there are things that you are concerned about.

P&F and Parent Engagement

This week I just want to highlight the focus of our P&F and work in our school around Parent Engagement and Communication. Our P&F are usually active in our school in the capacity of fundraising and community events, but during this time, their role is changing. Rather than not meet at all with restrictions, we are meeting via Zoom and finding new ways to work together for school improvement.

This week we discussed further ways that our school staff can gain insight from our P&F in things that matter to parents in the area of communication, especially at a time when we are not able to see each other as much. There are some great ideas being considered around how and what we communicate. We will share some things with you as we get moving in this space. If you have anything you would like to contribute, please let us know at any time. 

We welcome Steve Robinson, one of our new parents to the school, as our Parent Assembly Representative. You will have noticed some of the opportunities for parent courses and information advertised in our newsletter - these are well worth a look. If you register, you have access to the webinars after the event.

Road Safety

We have had a number of parents and carers approach us with concern for their safety and that of our children with the traffic outside our school front in the mornings and afternoons. Some close calls have made for frightening experiences for adults and children. It is crucial to the safety of our community that all road users make good decisions around these busy times of the day. 

Cars

• Use signed zones as they are marked for dropping off, picking up and parking.
• Use appropriate speed and turning areas - a few extra minutes to make a safe choice or wait for someone is not much. 
• Watch for pedestrians and other vehicles.

Pedestrians 

• Take the best possible path for safety - there are no marked crossings. 
• Watch for vehicles - a few seconds is the difference between safe passage and a potential accident.

Council have not been prepared to make any changes to the traffic conditions in the past few years but we are currently seeking further support for a fresh look.

Drink Bottles

Check out our clever and entertaining students, helping us remember to bring our own drink bottles as we are unable to share bubblers at school. There are many students who are not regularly bringing their own drink bottles. Please ensure your child has a drink bottle for school every day - they are able to fill them from taps as needed.

Our Community

With so much to feel concerned about in the world around us, it is always wonderful to spread some good news around. Here are my reflections on our school community this week:

Year 1 - Prayer

Another change with COVID has meant that we are back to not gathering as a whole school for Monday prayer/assembly. Our lovely 1B class this week led prayer via Zoom with the rest of the school participating from their classrooms. We appreciate Mrs Blundell working with the technology aspect of this positive way to keep us meeting together. 

Year 5 - Drumming

Our Year 5 students have been very lucky to have Mr Mark Spence from St Joseph’s Regional College working with them on drumming skills each Thursday. The workshops were organised with no cost to our students by Mrs Leanne Johnson also from the college through the Lismore Creative Arts Partnership. The students are really working well and learning some great skills during this time. We appreciate the time that Leanne and Mark have put into this program for us.

Year 6 Peer Support

It was sad for us under new COVID guidelines to have stopped our Peer Support program from this week. We hope we may be able to pick this back up in Term 4. Our lovely Year 6 leaders spent time this week preparing some bookmarks for each of their Peer Support groups to thank them for working so well with them in the first few weeks of term. 

Tess Koning
Principal