No 6/2020 Term 2, Week 2 Thursday, 7 May 2020

News from the Principal

Welcome to term 2. It’s fantastic to see so many students back at school. This week our attendance has been in the low 80% range. More students at home are returning next week. Teachers are working within their normal timetable and routines, while still connecting with students from home. From Monday 11th May, teachers will no longer connect live on line. With all teachers back to their roles, we can’t provide extra support for teachers to connect on line. The weeks 1-2 work submitted online and in hard copy will be assessed, as if students were at school. We expect work to be completed to the best of the student’s ability. Teachers will continue to provide work through Teams and communicate through the posts. They will phone during the week to connect with parents and students, outside of school hours or during their non-instruction time. Microsoft Office Teams is an excellent online platform and will be integrated into classroom learning. If you haven’t yet returned the RPS IT Agreement, please do so this week. We have greatly appreciated parents’ and students’ support during this time; it’s amazing what can be changed and achieved during a crisis. I thank all staff for their incredible commitment to making this unusual teaching and learning situation and our school work so well.

MATHS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY Teachers will be engaged in Maths professional development; task design, assessment and moderation. Thank you to our Governing Council for approving this day.

NATURE PLAY We are very excited because our long awaited Nature Play space is now under construction.

Riverland Creative Pools and Landscaping are creating this space and doing a great job.

The children love watching what’s happening from behind the site fence and notice the changes each day. It’s very exciting for them!

We will keep you up to date with photos, thanks to our resident photographer, Grant Schwartzkopff, thanks Grant.

Progress in just 3 days……

Pavers lifted and stacked, area levelled and new areas defined. It won’t look like this for long!!

Respect Excellence Self Belief Trust

Renmark Primary School

Newsletter 58 Murtho Street, Renmark, SA, 5341 Website: www.renmarkr7.sa.edu.au

Phone: (08) 8586 5737 Email:dl.0376_info@schools.sa.edu.au Fax: (08) 8586 4020 Principal: Ms Lyn Bretag

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Term 2 Attendance

As per the Department for Education’s advice, attendance

for students learning from home must be accounted for

each day.

If students who are learning from home are unwell, absent

for family reasons or attending appointments, families must

notify the school by 9.30am.

Students who are learning from home must contact the

school or their teacher by email, Microsoft Teams or phone

the office every day.

Remembering the ANZAC’s

Our SRC and Little Leaders created a beautiful school

wreath and on Saturday 25th April, I had the privilege of

representing our school to lay it at the Cross of Sacrifice.

During our lessons last Monday, students in rooms 3, 5 and

6 learned about the significant role our ANZAC’s played in

the First World War. They then created their own art piece

in response to the poem “In Flanders Field.”

COVID-19 parent resources

It is normal to be anxious during the COVID-19 pandemic and it is natural for children to pick up on our feelings and emotions. Children may need extra attention and reassurance, so it is important we let them know we’re looking after them and make ourselves available as much as possible.

This page provides a range of resources for parents, carers and children about the coronavirus.

1. Factsheet “Communicating with your child about

COVID 19.”

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/communicating-

with-your-child-about-covid-19/

2. Information Booklet for younger children.

https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/e9b5644

1-60ad-4abf-a260-c5a6319eb831/20043%2BCovid-

19%2BChildrens%2BBook_WEB_Secure%2B%282%29.p

df?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPAC

E-e9b56441-60ad-4abf-a260-c5a6319eb831-n5EA8IN

3. Family, nature and COVID-19

https://natureplaysa.org.au/wp-

content/uploads/2020/04/Nature-Play-SA-Family-Nature-

and-COVID-19-Guide.pdf

4. Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 for

parents and carers

https://www.education.sa.gov.au/supporting-

students/health-e-safety-and-wellbeing/covid-19-

coronavirus/advice-families/frequently-asked-questions-

about-covid-19-parents-and-carers

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Term 2 Literacy in Room 18

We have come back happy to learn. Our

mornings include THRASS practice, whiteboard

work, reading and story writing.

Zhalee, Keeley and Dominic writing a story about fish.

Kaelin, Jessie and Ali reading their decodables.

Georgia, Amelia and Madison writing sentences on whiteboards.

Manraj, Hamish and Athefa practising THRASS phonemes and letter names.

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Thank You A big thanks to Diana from Murray Community Services (REATS Inc.) for kindly donating new cutlery and tea towels for our kitchen.

Axel from room 2 helping to unpack the cutlery.

All school buses contracted by BusBiz now have Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed. This measure has been taken by BusBiz to improve student safety and limit vandalism on the buses.

The CCTV will operate on all bus runs as well as when the bus is utilised for camps and excursions. Footage from these cameras will only be viewed in accordance with the department’s ‘CCTV Use on School Buses Guideline’ as stated below.

“Should there be an incident that may warrant the viewing of the CCTV footage such viewing must only be undertaken for the purpose of investigating the incident in question. For incidents not reported to SAPOL viewing of CCTV images should be conducted by the Principal of the school and any other person the Principal believes should be present.”

At no time will this footage be shared or released for public viewing.

Family Reminders

Grab ‘n’ Go lunch orders (Starting Week 2)

THURSDAY ONLY – orders MUST be submitted by 8am on the Thursday (can be ordered 2 weeks in advance), via the Qkr! App. For information on how to download the app, visit our Facebook page or school website for instructions.

Pupil Free Day Friday 5th June – Maths professional development

Public Holiday Monday 8th June – Queen’s Birthday

School Banking

Bank SA school banking occurs every Tuesday. Applications can be made at your local branch.

Book Club

A virtual catalogue now replaces the printed catalogues that you’re used to receiving. Please see Page 6 for more information.

Please return ASAP Covid-19 ICT Agreement

The 2020 COVID-19 ICT ‘Acceptable use and Behaviour agreement’ will be sent home again this week to families.

All Parents/Caregivers must sign the agreement (one per child) to advise that they have read and understood their responsibilities in the use of the new ICT platforms for learning (whether learning on site or at home), agreeing to supervise your child and/or take responsibility for your child’s internet use.

Cyber-Safety Use Agreement (2020 Year 5 students only)

In term 1, parents/caregivers of year 5 students received a Cyber-safety agreement to sign for years 5, 6 and 7, agreeing to the acceptable use of RPS’s information equipment and services. If you have not yet signed this agreement and your child is at school, a hard copy will be sent home. If your child is at home, you will receive a copy via post. Please sign and return asap.

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WHAT’S ON ???

Don’t forget to check out our School

website @ http://www.renmarkr7.sa.edu.au

And RENMARK PRIMARY SCHOOL OFFICIAL

Dates to remember

Term 2 2020

Week 2, 3, 4, 5

May 10 Mother’s Day May 18-22 National Volunteers’ Week May 26 National Sorry Day

Week 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

June 5 Pupil Free Day June 8 Public Holiday (Queen’s Birthday)

July 3 Casual Day / 2.30pm dismissal

Please Note: Dates are subject to change

School Uniform Donations

Do you have any second hand school uniforms that you would consider donating? We particularly need school T-shirts, sizes 12-16. All school uniform donations are very welcome. Second hand uniforms can be purchased from the front office for a gold coin donation.

2020 Term Dates

Term 2: 27 April – 3 July (10 wks) Term 3: 20 July – 25 September (10 wks) Term 4: 12 October – 11 December ( 9 wks)

Community notices

Riverland Oral Health Centre (school aged dental) Address: 10 Maddern Street, Berri SA 5343. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm Phone: 8580 2700.In an emergency or for after hour’s advice call: 1800 022 222. Dental care is free for most children-SA Dental bulk bill Medicare.

Renmark Out of School Hours Care OSHC opening hours: 6.30am-8.30am & 3.15pm-6.30pm, Pupil free days and School Holidays 6.30am-6.30pm. Please Call: 8586 4481 for bookings.

Family Activities Program Follow the link below to access a fantastic ‘Family Activities Program’ put together by the Renmark Paringa Council. The Program includes activities suitable for all age groups.

http://www.renmarkparinga.sa.gov.au/familyactivities

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We’re really excited to have BOOK CLUB running this term, but it will look a little

different! It will be a virtual catalogue rather than the printed catalogues you’re used to

receiving.

To order from this issue go to: Scholastic.com.au/Book-Club/virtual-catalogue-1/

Place your order on LOOP as normal and orders need to be in by: Friday 15th May

Students will receive their order at school as normal.