Afternoon Routine reminder and update

Thank you for the way in which you are supporting our afternoon routine of pick up to ensure all children are safely and quickly able to leave school. We are continuing to refine the ways in which we support all students, including those who ride their bikes or walk from school independently.

If your child is going to walk or ride their bike from school to home or meet you at your workplace at any time during the school week, they are required to have a signed note from you so that teachers know you are allowing them to have the responsibility to leave without a parent or carer. The Office Aunties will then provide them with a card that they show the teacher on duty at the gate, so that they are accounted for and we can complete our duty of care. They will then be allowed to leave via the end gate and make their way to you or home. If they arrive at the gate without their card or note, they will be sent to the office so that a parent or carer can be contacted. Please note that the bike rack has been moved to the end of the Warlters Street gate to allow ease of students leaving rather than through the bus gate.

Please also continue to support the movement through the exit gates in the afternoons by walking and following the markers from the front gate through to the side gate as your child sees you and walks to you. Teachers are not able to send students to you at your car, you will need to come and collect them with our process.  

Kindergarten drop off transition

Our COVID-19 guidelines allowed us to welcome Kindergarten Parents and Carers at the start of the term to bring their children into school for this very significant transition to the school environment. It has been so special getting to know the Parents and Carers and make connections to ease the anxiety of starting school. 

As the children have become accustomed to their new environment, we now require parents and carers to not remain in the school grounds for any extended period of time. We will be transitioning students into becoming independent at drop off times starting next week. Each of our Parish Primary Schools are planning in their own environment the best way to do this, in the context of their school grounds. For our school, the main entrance gate is a safe and secure place for children to enter and be cared for by the teachers who will assist in allowing parents to drop off and say goodbye. We will have extra staff on hand in the coming weeks at the gate to ensure Kindergarten parents are able to be greeted and have their children supported to enter school and move to the COLA or classroom. If you have any concerns please speak to your child’s teacher.

We remind all parents K-6 that supervision begins at 8:30am and students should not be at school much earlier. For buses who drop off before 8:30am the COLA is the area that all students are required to sit and wait for the supervision teachers. There are some excellent before school providers who drop off at the school gate for families needing options for early work schedules.  

Band Program Launch

This week Sharon Green from St Joseph’s Regional College visited our school on Wednesday night to speak with interested families about the change in our Band Program. It was a pleasure and privilege to have the Jazz Band from the College come along to demonstrate the achievement of their hard work and teaching over time. Sharon explained the reason why the right instruction in music is so important for success and the amazing connections that students have in their learning and wellbeing with the opportunity to learn to play music. The Band Tutors who will be instructing each of our instrumental groups also attended and returned on Thursday to school in order to start organising the tuition groups so that we can commence soon. There was much excitement from the students who have already been in band as well as new faces who were keen to get started. All students who met the tutors today took home notes to assist in the decision making of families who were wanting to consider Band and tuition. Any other families of students in Years 3-6 who would like to receive information can contact the office for a copy of the notes. There is also a wonderful opportunity for any student in our school in Years 3-6 to try out different instruments at SJRC (not at our school) on Saturday 20th February between 10am-12pm. This date has been changed from the weekend prior.  It is important that students find the right instrument for them, so that they can be happy and successful musicians. If you are interested, go along and meet Sharon and her team. We look forward to this new collaboration.