Back to School 2019 Meet the Teachers - Wednesday 6 February 4:30-5:30pm

Welcome to Another Great Year at KEPS! Welcome back to another exciting year at Kempsey East Public School. In term one all of our students will be involved in a project learning unit on being a super star learner. This will be celebrated later in the term with an exhibition evening for all our parents and school community. Our New School Leaders Congratulations to Macy M and Maxwell B our 2019 Captains and our new Ministers Isiah H, Jaie R, Tilly P, Lilah B. We invite parents of these students to our first assembly on Monday 11 February at 2:30pm where these students will say their pledge and be presented with their badges. This will be a whole school assembly as our Semester 1 SRC representatives will also receive their badges. 2019 Teachers and School Organisation We are continuing our learning journey with our staff and students. This year students will all have a learning journal that will have their learning goals and also record their effort and achievements throughout the year. Each home class will be holding two afternoon teas during the year and students will be able to share their learning journals and work samples with their family. Classroom teachers will work collaboratively to analyse student work samples and plan for their future learning. K-2 staff will have this release from face to face (RFF) on a Wednesday afternoon and 3-6 staff on a

Thursday afternoon. Students will be encouraged to become independent learners across the school. The students will be learning how to send work samples of them achieving their goals via dojo. School Executive Penny Chow (Relieving Principal) Lucas Kelly (Assistant Principal 3-6) Christie Ashton (Relieving Assistant Principal K-2) Karen Knight (Deputy Principal Instructional Leader Early Action for Success Mon-Th) School Administration and Support Staff Julie Whitehair (Senior Administration Manager Tu-Th term 1) Tammy Phelps (School Administrator Officer Tu-Th & Senior Administration Manager Mon & Fri term 1) Alison Hickson (School Administrator Officer) Dianne Griffin (Library administration) Kristy Tolman (Library administration) Anthony Henry (School learning and support officer) Mary Micallef (School learning and support officer) Aunty Gloria (School learning and support officer) Casey Morris (School learning and support officer) Mark Smee (School learning and support officer) Discoverers (K/1) Teleah Waitoa (Alisia Byrnes while she is on leave) Christie Ashton Investigators Kylie Etheridge Bronwyn Mangan (Jacob Easey while she is on leave) Creators Tricia Pickett Lauren Harkins (term 1 as this position will be filled by merit selection)

Innovators Lucas Kelly (2 days a week Sigrid Williams) Megan Cassidy Ben Clough Petah Fishburn (librarian) Sharlee Fowler (RFF, learning support) Claire Fewster (RFF, learning support) Chloe Dwyer (RFF) Sandra Ross (RFF) Tim Trotter (RFF) Class teachers will notify you about individual class routines in a note that will be issued with Tuesday 5th February newsletter. Arrival and Departure From School Students will leave class at 3:15pm. We ask that parents wait for children at the gates. A teacher will walk the children to the gates each day. Parents are asked not to take children until the teacher releases them. Only children catching busses stay in the COLA area. For the first week of the year Kindergarten parents will be able to pick up their child from the classroom. Children will be released from the northern and southern gates. We request that parents and children do not use the centre gate/bus gate as this is used to organise children safely onto busses. The drop off zone remains in the same place. A reminder that this is a pick up and drop off zone so you are not allowed to park in this area or leave your vehicle unattended. Moving to the front of the zone is a courtesy that ensures space for the next parent. The quicker we can move traffic through this zone the smoother we can make the end of the day pick up. Teachers will have the students waiting inside the fence and will let them leave the gate when they see the car that usually picks them up. If your child is not there yet, we will ask that you drive around the block to ensure the flow of traffic in and out of this area. If you ask someone else to collect or drop off your children, please inform them about using the drop off zone. We suggest that you do not arrive in this zone until 3.20pm-3.25pm. That way they will be ready

to get into the car when you arrive and you will not need to circle the block waiting for them. Assembly This year infants and primary will have separate assemblies. These will both be on Monday afternoon with the infant’s assembly starting at 2:15pm and the primary assembly starting at 2:45pm. When your child has their class afternoon tea and assembly item it will be either before assembly for primary students and after assembly for infant’s students. The Assembly of Excellence will take place at the end of term 2 and 4. Voluntary School Contributions In public schools ‘fees’ are voluntary but we really rely on this support from our families to offer all of the little extra’s that we do - providing additional library resources or classroom and playground equipment. The voluntary school contributions for 2019 are: $49 for one student or $90 for a family. We accept EFTPOS, online payment via our website or if you wish to send the money in the note for this payment is at the back of the newsletter. Online Payment This will continue to be available for excursions, camps or voluntary contributions. The permission note will always state whether this form of payment is being accepted for the activity. Keeping You Informed and Sharing the Great Things That Happen at KEPS. We have a variety of ways to keep you informed. All parents will need to activate accounts on Skoolbag, Facebook, Sentral and ClassDojo if they want to be informed of their child’s behaviour, progress or school events. School Website www.kempseyest-p.schools.nsw.gov.au Mrs Hickson updated our school webpage at the end of last year. It now contains copies of permission notes which we will endeavour to update regularly. It is worthwhile checking the site as you may see photos of your child and their friends enjoying school life. The school calendar is also on this site.

Parents will notice that we do not use surnames on items about students. This protects student privacy in our digital age. School Attendance Children must attend school every day that it is open unless they are ill or have a significant family reason. A regular pattern of attendance is very important for every child’s learning. Attendance laws mean the parents of children who are regularly late to school or have many unexplained absences may be prosecuted if the attendance of their child does not improve in twenty days after the Home School Liaison Officer takes on the child’s case. Absences must be explained within three days. After this time they will be marked as an unexplained absence. We have tried to make attendance explanations easier for you. In term 1 we will be trialling a text message that will be generated from Sentral. As we are only trialling this system to see if this will be beneficial to both families and the school, can you please call the school if you have any concerns about this. A text message will be sent to the primary contact person on the day your child is away. If this text is replied to, the reason for the absence will be recorded. You can also send in a note, use a page from the attendance fridge pad that we provide, ring us or call in. Please remember to always explain your child’s absence promptly. Families who have used all of their fridge magnet notepads can have a new one sent home if the request form at the end of the newsletter is completed and returned. Newsletter This is put out digitally on the school webpage, Facebook page and the Skoolbag App each Tuesday. If you are unable to access it these three ways please send in a request to the office to have a paper copy sent home. Early arrivals and Departures If it is necessary to take your child prior to 3.15pm, when school legally finishes, you will need to obtain an ‘early leavers’ form at the front office and then present this slip to the class teacher. Class rolls are marked at 9.15am each morning. If your child is not in class when the roll is marked it

is necessary for an adult to bring them in to the front office where they can be signed in. If the child arrives late to class and does not go through the office then they may be marked as being absent all day. It is very important to establish effective morning routines to ensure students arrive at school on time. Even being 15 minutes late in a day will mean that they miss vital instructions and literacy learning time. Homework Staff will assign spelling and home reading homework for each student. If you would like additional homework please discuss this with your child’s teacher. Homework will be sent home on a Monday and needs to be returned on a Friday. Completing homework on a regular basis is one component of your child being eligible to receive the Exemplary Learner award at the Assembly of Excellence. If you do have any concerns about your child’s homework, please contact the school and organise an appointment with their teacher. Meet The Staff Function There will be an informal event on Wednesday 6th February to allow parents and carers to meet the school staff. This will be from 4:30-5:30. This time is for families to meet the school staff and staff to explain their classroom structures for the year. Religious Education (SRE) Parents/caregivers in public schools have the right to have their children receive instruction in their preferred religious persuasion, where authorised teachers of that persuasion are available. A special religious education program is available at the school and is run by authorised volunteers of approved religious persuasions for students in years 1 to 6. Below is the list of approved special religious education programs at the school for 2019. Please note there is no SRE for Kindergarten. Option 1: Combined Scripture (Anglican, Uniting Church, Baptist, Presbyterian) Option 2: Roman Catholic Scripture Option 3: Non Scripture Students continue in the same arrangement each year, unless a parent/caregiver has requested a

change in writing. At any time you have the right to change your SRE nomination or to withdraw your child from the nominated lessons. Students in non scripture will be engaged in non curricular activities for this half an hour each week. Healthy Food It is very important to send healthy food to school with your child so that they can concentrate on their learning throughout the day. Before school it is expected that children eat only fruit and don’t fill up on chips, cordial and prepacked sugar bars. All classes allow students to have a water bottle in class and have a time each day where the children can eat fruit and vegetables in their crunch and sip time. Food Allergies If your child is anaphylactic or is at risk of a severe allergic reaction it is very important to contact the school. We also need to know about any other allergies. All staff have been trained in the management of anaphylaxis and the administration of epi pens. We keep an epi pen at school and also take one on any excursions in case of an emergency. As we have some children who are anaphylactic, it means that contact with food or substances that they are allergic to can be life threatening. For this reason we ask that no food that contains nuts or peanuts is bought to school and that you also reinforce with your child our message of not sharing food with others. All food that is sent in to be shared eg. party foods and birthday cakes must have a list of ingredients on the item. If the ingredients are not listed staff will not be able to share these items with the class. Teachers conduct lunch box checks each term. If products with nuts are found, a note will be placed in the lunchbox to remind parents not to pack these items for school. Uniform Our lost property fast becomes over flowing. To minimise this please ensure that all items and clothing are labelled so they can be returned to you.

Canteen Will operate three days per week from Wednesday to Friday each week. We need volunteers to keep it open. We welcome mums, dads, grandparents, friends and relations. Please complete the canteen roster form if you can assist. Being rostered once a month will keep us operational. Your children will love it the day you work in the canteen! School Information Folder This was issued to all 2019 Kindergarten families and new families. If you would also like a copy of this please complete the tear off slip at the end of the newsletter and return it to school. Student Information Being able to contact you is critical if your child is ill or hurt. To ensure this is possible please make sure we have up to date contact information for you and your emergency contacts. When this changes throughout the year please ring the office and inform us. Please also ensure you inform us about any current legal, health or care matters concerning your child. There is a form to complete which will be sent home next week. Taekwondo Class Will be running in the school hall on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 4-5pm. Please contact Paul and Carol Francis on 0473070209 if you would like more information. Swimming Carnival This is on Friday 1st February for all Year 3-6 students and Year 2 students who are turning 8 this year and can swim 50 metres. The note is being sent home with this newsletter, and as it is soon, it is important that you complete and return the note asap. The cost is $6.50 which is payable on the day. School Policies There are many Department of Education and Training and school policies that determine how we operate. If you would like information about any of these please contact us. School Photos We have booked these for 14 August 2019. More information will be sent out as this date approaches.

P&C Everyone is welcome to be part of the Parents and Citizen Association. They meet monthly to discuss school matters and ways to support our school. Please consider finding the time to join this important group. The date for the first meeting is February 5th at 2pm. The meetings run the first week on the month alternating between 2pm meeting and 5:30pm meeting. SRC Elections These will be held next week. Parents of students selected will be invited to the assembly on Monday 11 February at 2.30pm, where students will receive their awards and badges. Sporting Schools Mr Henry will again be running this two afternoons a week this year. It is a federally funded sport program to encourage children to be more active. The program will run on a Monday and Tuesday from 3.15 to 4.15pm and will begin in week 3, Monday 11 February. General Permission Note and Information Forms Again this year we will ask that all parents complete a general permission note that will cover any local walking and bus trips. These notes will be sent home next week with the newsletter. This will mean that a note will not have to be returned for trips such as walking to the cross country or local walking excursions. Parents will still be notified about all events by either the newsletter or by an individual note. All of the more major trips and excursions will still require a separate note. We would ask that you return the notes sent home to ensure that we have all up to date information for your child. Pre Loved Uniforms If you have any uniforms at home that do not fit and you are willing to donate them to the school we would really appreciate it. These uniforms will be used for changing students in the case of accidents and also to support families to access affordable uniforms. School Camps We are currently finalising the details for Stage 2 and 3 camps. Stage 2 will go on a camp locally and Stage 3 will go to most likely go to Sydney however this could change. The Stage 2 camp will

camp will cost approximately $250 and the Stage 3 will be term 4 at Sydney which will be approximately $400. Parents are able to make payments for these excursions throughout the year and this money will go on their child’s account in advance. Assembly of Excellence The Assembly of Excellence will be run twice a year at the end of term 2 and near the end of term 4. At this assembly students will be able to receive 3 awards. Exemplary Learner (responds to feedback, achieving learning goals, contributes and collaborates, completes homework and home reading), Exemplary Behaviour (no behaviour notifications, displaying CORR values consistently in all school settings) and Excellent Attendance (must have 95% attendance for the semester). Students will be eligible to receive a School Award at the end of the year if they have received at least 2 exemplary awards during the year (the attendance award is not an Exemplary award). Any student that has been awarded the school award will be able to apply for the Principal Badge. The applications will then be looked at by the school executive team. The Principal’s Badge not only looks at exemplary learning and behaviour but also how the students have represented the school at various sporting and community events throughout the year. Dojo will be used to record points earned in the classroom and for a copy of behaviour notifications if they are received. Please come and see us if you require assistance with dojo after the invitations have been sent out. When students receive 15 Dojo points they will be receiving their CORR card in their classroom and not at assembly. CORR cards will be given out from each hub at every weekly assembly (not including the 15 Dojo Points). The students who will be receiving a CORR card at the assembly will have their name published in the previous weeks newsletter. The first CORR cards will be given out in week 3’s assembly.

Please contact us If you are unsure of anything or have concerns please do not hesitate to talk to us. We can be contacted on ph 6562 4927, fax 6562 8979 or by email kempseyest-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au. Student Requirements We have arranged a package that can be purchased through Randall’s Business Equipment in Kempsey or you are able to purchase elsewhere or use items that you already have. We will not be subscribing to Mathletics this year. Classes will be using different free programs during the day.

VOLUNTARY SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION Child Name Class ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Individual Contribution $49 per student per year Family Contribution $90per year

Payment Method: Cash: Amount Enclosed $_______________ Cheque: Total Amount $_______________

Credit Card: Please phone or call into the office Online Payment: Please advise receipt number __________________________ Signed _____________________________________________ Date ____ /____ /____ A receipt will be sent home with your child.

ATTENDANCE NOTE PAD I require an attendance notepad to be sent home with my child: Child Name Class

____________________________________________ Signed ___________________ Date ___/___/___

REQUEST FOR HARDCOPY NEWSLETTER I would like to receive a hardcopy newsletter (also available on Facebook, Skoolbag & Website) Child Name Class

____________________________________________ Signed ___________________ Date ___/___/___

CANTEEN VOLUNTEER I would like to volunteer in the canteen Day: Wednesday Thursday Friday

Frequency: Weekly Fortnightly Monthly

Your Name___________________________________ Contact Number ______________________________ Signed ___________________ Date ___/___/___