principal s message - thurgoona-p.schools.nsw.gov.au
TRANSCRIPT
11 Bottlebrush Street, THURGOONA NSW 2640
02 6043 1244 02 6043 2045 [email protected]
https://thurgoona-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ School Stream @thurgoonapublicschool
Excellence, innovation, opportunity – student success in a caring environment
Term 1, Week 5 Thursday, 25 February 2021
Principal’s Message
School Plan Community Consultation Meetings This is the first year of a new School Improvement Plan. The plan will be in place for the next four years and
will allow our staff to strategically focus on three main strategic directions. We have a new vision statement
and stage strategic directions will compliment the vision statement.
Research indicates that strong partnerships between a school, parents/carers, teachers and the community
make a positive contribution to student learning and student wellbeing. As valued members of our school
community, parents and carers are invited to attend School Plan Community Consultation Meetings.
Meetings have been planned at various times and on different days to hopefully accommodate for varying
needs of parents and carers within our community. Due to current COVID restrictions, meetings cannot
extend longer than 1 hour and a maximum of 50 adults will be able to attend individual meetings. We look
forward to sharing our draft plan and consulting in relation to the school vision, school context and strategic
directions.
Meeting times
8 March – P & C AGM in the school hall -7-8pm
10 March – School Hall – 9-10am
16 March – School Hall – 2-3pm
18 March – School Hall – 5-6pm
Albury Gold Cup The day of the Albury Gold Cup is a gazetted half day holiday in Albury. As a result, the school day
concludes at 12pm. Buses do not operate at 12pm.
New playground equipment The installation of the new playground equipment is well underway and will hopefully be completed prior to
the end of this month.
Thank you to our wonderful P & C who have given us a very generous donation of $20,000 towards this
project. We will share with you some progress photos when the equipment arrives.
Theresa Kane
Principal
School News
From the Deputy Principal’s desk
Welcome to Week 5!
Can you believe it’s Week 5 already? Schools are always busy places but the start of a new academic
year brings out an assiduous quality in us all. Students are learning new routines, teachers are learning
about a new group of students and how they can best cater for the individual needs of each student and
parents/carers are providing the love, support and nurture that little bodies need each day.
Two weeks ago, we held Parent Teacher Information Sessions so that each family could gain a better
understanding of classroom and school procedures. These sessions are a valuable beginning in the
home school partnership for the new year and I encourage each family to take up the opportunity to
attend events like these and parent teacher interviews, in order to stay informed of their child ’s progress.
If you were unable to attend, please reach out to your child’s teacher to obtain a copy of the information
that was shared.
3 Way Conferences
Our staff will be offering 3 Way Conferences in Week 8, beginning Monday, 15 March. This is a valuable
opportunity for you to connect with your child’s teacher and hear about their progress in Term 1. Thank
you to our teachers who make this time available. Within the newsletter today, there is detailed
information about how to book your time slot online using School Interviews. If you are unable to attend
your scheduled interview, please contact the school office before 3:30 p.m. so the teacher can be notified.
NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national
assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to
participate in tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and
numeracy. The results of the tests will provide important information to schools about what each student
can do and will be used to support teaching and learning programs. A NAPLAN report will be issued to
parents later in the year. The same report format is used for every student in Australia. We will be
completing NAPLAN on paper this year and the tests will be conducted from 11-13 May 2021. A
‘catch-up’ day is scheduled for students who miss a test on Friday 14 May. For more information about
NAPLAN, visit the NAP website www.nap.edu.au
Miss Jessica Brooker
Deputy Principal
School News
Scripture 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 (SRE-Scripture) is available at our school and is run by authorised
volunteers of approved religious persuasions.
The following options are available at Thurgoona Public School:
Non-Denominational Religious Education
The curriculum scope and sequence for non-denominational religious education has been authorised
by Presbyterian Church of Australia. The title of the curriculum is CEP CONNECT.
The link to the authorised curriculum scope and sequence is available at
https://cepconnect.com.au/curriculum
Catholic Religious Education
The curriculum scope and sequence for Catholic religious education has been authorised by the
Catholic Diocese of Wagga Wagga. The link to the authorised curriculum scope and sequence is
available at https://www.wagga.catholic.org.au/Education-Catechesis/SRE-Catechesis.aspx
No Religious Education
In the allocated time set aside for SRE, students not attending are provided with supervised alternative
meaningful activities. This could include reading, private study or completing home learning. They are
supervised in a separate physical space from SRE classes by a member of the school staff.
Supervision of students is consistent with the department’s duty of care requirements. Students do not
participate in lessons in the school curriculum or other extra-curricular activities during this time.
Parents/caregivers have been asked to nominate the special religious education program they wish
their child to attend (either non-denominational or Catholic) OR indicate that they wish to withdraw their
child from special religious education. Students will continue in the same arrangement as the previous
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. A note to the Principal/Deputy Principal/classroom teacher will affect this change.
Catholic and non-denominational scripture classes will commence on Friday, 5 March. The 30-minute
scripture lessons will be held each Friday. Kindergarten to Year 2 students will attend SRE classes from
12:25 p.m. until 12:55 p.m. and Years 3 to 6 students will attend SRE classes from 11:50 a.m. until
12:20 p.m.
For more information about Special Religious Education (SRE), please visit:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/learning-across-the-curriculum/
religion-and-ethics
Miss Jessica Brooker
Deputy Principal
School News
3 Way Conferences for Years 1-6 Thurgoona Public School will be holding 3 Way Conferences for students in Years 1 to 6, in Week 8
(Monday, 15 March – Friday, 19 March). You will be able to book a time slot with individual
classroom teachers, depending on their availability. At our school we also have release teachers who
teach key learning areas such as science and technology. You will also be able to make a time to meet
with your child’s release teacher if you wish to. If you are unsure who your child’s release teacher is,
please ask your child’s classroom teacher. Teachers of Learning and Support programs such as MacqLit
and MiniLit, will also be available.
The conferences are a valuable opportunity for parents/carers, students and teachers to discuss goals,
aspirations and progress so that collectively we can plan and accommodate individual learning needs.
Interviews are strictly 15 minutes and spaces are limited. If you require more time with a particular
teacher, please arrange a separate meeting by telephoning the school on 02 6043 1244.To book an
interview time, please follow the instructions below:
Go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au
enter the code 282m9
Enter your details
Select the teacher you wish to see
Select the appointment time that suit your family best
When you click FINISH your selected bookings will be emailed to you immediately. If you
do not receive your email, please check your junk-mail, or enter the event code again and
check your email address spelling. Update your details if email address is incorrect.
DO NOT DELETE the email you receive. Keep it somewhere safe. You may need to refer
back to it at a later date.
REMEMBER TO ADD YOUR APPOINTMENT TO YOUR CALENDAR - reminders will not
be sent home.
Bookings must be finalised by 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 14 March. You will not be able to make an online
booking after this time.
If you need to view, cancel, change or print your bookings:
Click on the link in the confirmation email you received after you made your bookings OR
return to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and enter the code and the email address you used when
making your bookings.
School News
Reminders
Year 3 Swimming and Water Safety Program: The deposit of $30 for this program was due last
Friday, 19 February. Please ensure that this is paid ASAP. The final payment of $30 is due on Friday, 5
March. Please check with the office to see if you have any credit from cancelled events due to COVID last
year.
Media permission and family information updates: Media permission and family information
updates were sent home with your children a few weeks ago. Please return both of these notes ASAP to
ensure that we have the most up to date information for your children. If the media permission note is
not returned, your child’s photo will NOT be published in any media format.
COVID Guidelines (as of 16/02/2021) Parents/carers are not allowed on school site except for the following purposes:
Attend essential parent and carer meetings, orientation meetings and ‘meet the teacher’
meetings.
Pick up children from the administration building if they are feeling unwell or leaving early.
Volunteer for canteen and uniform shop duties or to collect or purchase uniforms.
Volunteer for essential activities essential to the delivery of the curriculum such as
reading groups.
Students are to be collected from designated areas around the school including the lawn area at the
front of the school, the car pick up area and the path leading to Ernest Grant Oval.
Below is a link to the Department’s translated documents for COVID-19 requirements for visitors to
school sites.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/translated-documents/
covid-19-requirements-for-visitors-to-school-sites
Before entering our school, all visitors (including parents/carers) must check in via the COVID
Safe Check-in QR code, as well as going via the office to check in via the visitors book.
In order to keep our community safe, please adhere to these guidelines set by the NSW
Department of Education.
Parents and carers are reminded that students must not attend school if they are unwell, even
with the mildest of symptoms. Students must return a negative COVID-19 test and be symptom
free prior to returning to school.
School News
Sport News
Swimming Carnival The ribbons were presented for Thurgoona Public School’s Swimming Carnival at the Stage Two and
Stage Three assemblies this week.
Congratulations to the winning house, Wareens and also to all our age champions who were presented
with their medals.
Swimming Age Champions
Junior girls Junior boys 11 Years girls 11 Years boys
Daisy Chapman Koby Duff Ella Whitehead Jack Woods
Senior girls Senior boys
Ava Lowe Max Willis
Zone Swimming Carnival Congratulations to the 33 students who represented the school at the PSSA Zone Swimming Carnival on
Tuesday. All students are to be commended on their dedication and proud representation of Thurgoona
Public School at this event.
Timothy Shoard
Sports Coordinator
Sport News
School News
James Fallon High School Year 7 Parent Information evening SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, 4 March, 7:00 p.m. at James Fallon High
School.
Stewart House Donation Drive Stewart House provides services to children from the public education
system in NSW and ACT who would benefit from a positive intervention to
build their self esteem and personal development.
Our Mission
‘We provide for children in need from NSW and ACT public schools, a
residential program of up to 12 days duration where educational and
experiential learning is embedded within a health and wellbeing framework’
For over 40 years, the Stewart House Donation Drive has been a major annual fundraising event in NSW
public schools. Your donation will help ensure that the program is accessible to all children in need across
NSW and ACT public schools and be used to cover direct costs only.
For more information please click on this link
https://www.stewarthouse.org.au/
Donation envelopes will be sent home with all families by the end of the week. For as little as a $2
donation, you could win a prize valued at $4000.
Please return all envelopes to the school office by Friday 7th May to ensure that you are eligible for the
draw.
New furniture Next time you visit the
office please check out our
lovely new couches.
We think they look great!
P & C News
Thurgoona Public School P&C AGM
When: Monday, 8 March
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: School hall
Be involved with fundraising, make new
friends and keep up with school news
We would love to see you there!
Canteen News The canteen is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Counter sales are available at recess and
lunch orders are to be ordered online via QuickCliq.
For more information and to register for QuickCliq please click on the following link.
https://www.quickcliq.com.au/
School Calendar
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
23
24 25
Newsletter
26
Mar
1
K to 6 AFL
Clinics
2 4
Year 7 Parent
information
evening at JFHS
Clean Up
Australia Day
Mar
11
Newsletter
Mar
17 18 19
Harmony Day
National Day
of Action
Against
Bullying
Mar
23 24 25
Newsletter
Week 10
Apr
30 31
School photos
P&C Easter
Raffle drawn
Good Friday
Public
Holiday
Term 1, 2021
Community News
Want to play soccer?
Come and join Melrose FC
Registrations now open
All players welcome
Contact—0438 443 023