7 Salamander Street Phone: 6652 3355 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 Fax: 6651 3991 Email: [email protected]Web Address: [email protected]Coffs Harbour Public School 7th February, 2018 Dear Parents and Carers, Welcome to the second week back of school for the year. It has been a great week and a half and I am so thrilled with the way the students have quickly settled into routines and school life. We have had our biggest group of Kindergarten students start this year – 68 students. The majority of students completed their BestStart assessments last week and now they are ready to learn. Kindergarten students were placed into their 2018 classes today. Teachers have been able to closely look at the dynamics of students to work out the best combinations of students in their new classes. Congratulations to all students who participated in the School Swimming Carnival. It was very successful and a joy to be a part of. Good luck to the group who are representing our school at the District Swimming Carnival. Yr 1-6 Mainstream students were placed into their 2018 classes on Monday. We have had a lot of new enrolments and some students move interstate so I am pleased we had the time to place students in their new class factoring in the movement over the last few days. Thanks again for your patience whilst we have deliberated over class sizes and groupings. In today’s newsletter there is an outline of staff and their role this year as well as a copy of the school’s attendance policy and homework policy for your reference. I hope this is helpful. Have a great week, Leonie 2018 Changes Sport All students K-6 will now have school sport on a Friday. Some of our classes will be participating in Gymnastics for their sport this term. So Friday is the day for all students to wear their sports uniform please. Assemblies Year 3-6 Assemblies will now be held from 2pm to 2.30pm on even week Thursday afternoons in the hall. K-2 assemblies will be held after the Yr 3-6 assemblies from 2.30pm- 3pm on even week Thursdays. Parents and carers are always welcomed and encouraged to attend. Each fortnight a different class or group will perform an item. We look forward to seeing you at this Thursday’s assemblies. Triple Permission Note Please make sure you complete the permission note for local walking excursions, permission for photos to be published and permission to participate in child protection lessons. These notes need to be completed each year. Thanks School Fees We have kept the school fees at $40 per student again this year. Voluntary contributions have been set at $10 per year per student. Students in special education classes are asked to pay $40 per year for the use of the school bus as well. Thank you to the families who have paid these fees and we are now taking payment at the of- fice. EFTPOS facilities are available. Parking and Pick Ups As our school continues to grow parking is becoming scarcer. The Rangers visit our school on many mornings and afternoons at school pick up and drop off times. Please be aware that driving through and parking in the bus bay is illegal. We encourage pickups for all students to be done at Curacao Street – opposite the tennis courts. A teacher will supervise students walking down to the drop off point. Parking is more readily available and there are no time limits. Please do not wait for your child inside the school gates. 2018 School Leaders Mrs Leonie Buehler — School Principal We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work and we pay our respects to the Elders both past and present
Welcome to the second week back of school for the year. It has been a great week and a half and I am so thrilled with the way the students have quickly settled into routines and school life.
We have had our biggest group of Kindergarten students start this year – 68 students. The majority of students completed their BestStart assessments last week and now they are ready to learn. Kindergarten students were placed into their 2018 classes today. Teachers have been able to closely look at the dynamics of students to work out the best combinations of students in their new classes.
Congratulations to all students who participated in the School Swimming Carnival. It was very successful and a joy to be a part of. Good luck to the group who are representing our school at the District Swimming Carnival.
Yr 1-6 Mainstream students were placed into their 2018 classes on Monday. We have had a lot of new enrolments and some students move interstate so I am pleased we had the time to place students in their new class factoring in the movement over the last few days. Thanks again for your patience whilst we have deliberated over class sizes and groupings.
In today’s newsletter there is an outline of staff and their role this year as well as a copy of the school’s attendance policy and homework policy for your reference. I hope this is helpful.
Have a great week,
Leonie
2018 Changes
Sport
All students K-6 will now have school sport on a Friday. Some of our classes will be participating in Gymnastics for their sport this term. So Friday is the day for all students to wear their sports uniform please.
Assemblies
Year 3-6 Assemblies will now be held from 2pm to 2.30pm on even week Thursday afternoons in the hall. K-2 assemblies will be held after the Yr 3-6 assemblies from 2.30pm- 3pm on even week
Thursdays. Parents and carers are always welcomed and encouraged to attend. Each fortnight a different class or group will perform an item. We look forward to seeing you at this Thursday’s assemblies.
Triple Permission Note
Please make sure you complete the permission note for local walking excursions, permission for photos to be published and permission to participate in child protection lessons. These notes need to be completed each year. Thanks
School Fees
We have kept the school fees at $40 per student again this year. Voluntary contributions have been set at $10 per year per student. Students in special education classes are asked to pay $40 per year for the use of the school bus as well. Thank you to the families who have paid these fees and we are now taking payment at the of-fice. EFTPOS facilities are available.
Parking and Pick Ups
As our school continues to grow parking is becoming scarcer. The Rangers visit our school on many mornings and afternoons at school pick up and drop off times. Please be aware that driving through and parking in the bus bay is illegal. We encourage pickups for all students to be done at Curacao Street – opposite the tennis courts. A teacher will supervise students walking down to the drop off point. Parking is more readily available and there are no time limits.
Please do not wait for your child inside the school gates.
2018 School Leaders
Mrs Leonie Buehler — School Principal
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work and we pay our respects to the Elders both past and present
Staffing 2018 Mrs Joleene Ware – Kindergarten teacher Mrs Tracy Duffy - Kindergarten teacher Mrs Kate Grimston – Kindergarten teacher Mrs Jess Johns – Kindergarten Learning and Support teacher (LaST) Mrs Sandy Gentle – Kindergarten SLSO (School Learning Support Officer) Mrs Leigh-ann Barton – K/1 Special Education teacher Mrs Carmel Groom – K/1 Special Education SLSO Mr Simon Easey – Year 1 teacher Mrs Marcia Pont – Year 1 teacher Ms Lana Clarke - Year 1 teacher Mrs Mel Grassick – Year 1 Learning and Support teacher (LaST) Mrs Mardi Thomas – Year 1 SLSO Mrs Shelley Anderson – Year 2 teacher Ms Veronique Freeman – Year 2 teacher Mrs Bree Mifsud – Year 2 teacher/ Assistant Principal K-2 Mrs EJ Ford – Year 2 Learning and Support teacher (LaST) Ms Dallas Gittens – acting AEO Mrs Kelly Hyndman – Year 3 teacher Ms Danielle Morgan - Year 3 teacher Mrs Anita Hodgson – Year 4 teacher Mr Scott Murphy – Year 4 teacher Mrs Michelle O’Donnell- Year 3/4 Learning and Support teacher (LaST)/ Assistant Principal Yrs 3-4 Mrs Ana Dun - Year 3/ 4 SLSO Ms Mel Mulrooney – Year 4/5 teacher Mr Zac Kenny – Year 5 teacher Ms Jess Mckellar- Year 5 teacher Ms Heather Berry – Year 6 teacher Mr Tyson Blanshard - Year 6 teacher/ Assistant Principal Yr 5-6 Ms Minka Wright – Yr 5/6 Learning and Support teacher (LaST) Ms Charlotte Wilfert – Yr 5/6 SLSO Mrs Naomi Court – Yr 3-6 Special Education teacher Mrs Lynnette Tredinnick - Yr 3-6 Special Education SLSO Mrs Gai Cross - Special Education teacher / Assistant Principal Special Education Mrs Kathy Turner – Special Education SLSO Mrs Jenny Snodgrass – Special Education teacher Ms Tahleen Miller- Special Education SLSO Ms Alicia Jacobson – Special Education teacher Ms Mel Farrell – Special Education teacher Mrs Yvonne Ide - Special Education SLSO Mrs Claire Murray – Special Education teacher
Ms Bel Leeson – Computer Coordinator/ STEAM coordinator Mrs Kath Leeson – Librarian Ms Robyn Veugen – Librarian SLSO Mrs Deb Newton – EALD teacher Mrs Tracey Backhouse – EALD teacher Ms Nagham Al-Athami - EALD SLSO Mr Ken Haase – Itinerant Support teacher Hearing (ISTH) Mrs Lauren Hodge – Itinerant Support teacher Hear-ing (ISTH) Ms Tracey Drayton – Itinerant Support teacher Hearing (ISTH) Ms Kim Beedie – Itinerant Support teacher Hearing (ISTH) Mr Wayne Murphy – School Counsellor Mrs Nancy Baker –School Administration Manager Mrs Laura Baker – School Administration Manager Ms Kristy Craigie – School Administration Officer Mrs Karen Apps – School Administration Officer Mrs Caitlin Mackie - School Administration Officer Mr Garry Matthews – General Assistant Mr Dave Storer – General Assistant Mrs Sue Davis – Instructional Leader Mrs Louise Blomfield - Instructional Leader Mrs Kellie Melittas – Deputy Principal Mrs Leonie Buehler - Principal
Visitors in our School
Whilst we love having parents and carers visit our school, we ask that you go to the office. For safety and child protection reasons we ask parents and carers not to go to classrooms or the playground. The office staff are very happy to collect your child and bring them to you at the office if you need to collect them early. Thank you in advance.
Uniforms
It is wonderful to see many students in full school uniform. If you are buying school shoes/ runners, please make sure they are black. Students feel a great sense of pride when they have the correct school uniform. Thank you to all our families who continue to donate old uniforms to our “Second Hand Uniform” shop.
School Gymnastics
School Gymnastics will start again for Yr 2 - 6 this week. The school will subsidise 50% of the cost of this year’s program. The cost per student is $3.00 per week which can be paid in bulk ($24) or weekly to the class teacher. A note has gone home to students participating for term 1. Participating classes for Term 1 are Special Ed, 5K, 3H, 4H, 6B and 6T. The remaining classes will be undertaking the gymnastics program in term 4.
Safety Internet Day
Stage 2 and Stage 3 students, along with 164 other schools across NSW, participated in Safer Internet Day today. They learnt great strategies in how to recognise cyber bullying and how to be a good digital citizen.
Good News Story of the Week!
Kindergarten students have had a fantastic start to their new school. This week they have been
enjoying many activities in and outside the classroom.
Happy kinder students of Coffs Harbour Public School
P&C NEWS
Our next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 14th Feb , 6pm in the school’s staffroom.
The school community is concerned about ways to make our morning drop off routine safer. Parent’s cars should not enter the bus zone between 8am - 9:30am & 2:30pm - 4pm.
This means that children can use the crossing safely without cars entering the area. The best place to drop your child off in the morning, is further down Salamander Street.
In the afternoon children line up and are led down by a teacher to Curacoa Street where parents are able to park easily and safely. This is suitable for K-6 students.
Keeping Your Child Safe - Road Safety
Scripture Lessons
Please complete the attached tear off slip to advise the school if you would like your child to participate in
SRE (Scripture) lessons this year. Scripture will start next week. All notes are due back to school by
Friday 9 February 2018. Thank you
I give permission for my child _____________________ in class _____________ to attend SRE
(Scripture) lessons each week.
Yours sincerely,
____________________ (signature) Parent name ____________________ Date _______________
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Wk
5/2
6/2
7/2
8/2
Guitar Lessons
K - 2 Assembly (2:30pm)
Performance by 2A
3 - 6 Assembly (2pm)
Performance by 3H
9/2
2
12/2
Kindergarten -
Bus Safety Talk
13/2
14/2
15/2
Guitar Lessons
16/2
STEPS - Eye Screening Kindy 3
19/2
20/2
21/2
22/2
District Swimming Carnival
Guitar Lessons
K - 2 Assembly
Performance by 2F
3 - 6 Assembly
Performance by 3M
23/2
4
26/2
27/2
28/2
1/3
Guitar Lessons
2/3
5
5/3
6/3
7/3
8/3
Guitar Lessons
K - 2 Assembly
Performance by 2M
3 - 6 Assembly
Performance by 4H
9/3
6
12/3
13/3
14/3
15/3
Guitar Lessons
16/3
Bullying -
No Way Day
7
19/3
20/3
21/3
22/3
Guitar Lessons
K - 2 Assembly
Performance by 1E
3 - 6 Assembly
Performance by 4M
23/3
8
26/3
27/3
28/3
29/3
Guitar Lessons
30/3
Good Friday
PH / No School
9
2/4
Easter Monday
PH / No School
3/4
4/4
5/4
Guitar Lessons
K - 2 Assembly
Performance by 1P
3 - 6 Assembly
Performance by 4/5M
6/4
10
9/4 10/4 11/4 12/4 13/4
Last Day of Term 1 11
Coffs Harbour Public School
2018 Term 1 Calendar
Coffs Harbour Public School Attendance Policy
1. Objectives - Policy statement
1.1 Section 22 of the Education Act 1990 requires students between the ages of six and fifteen to be enrolled at a government or registered non-government school and to attend that school whenever instruction is provided, or to be registered with the Board of Studies for home schooling. 1.2 All students who are enrolled at school, regardless of their age, are expected to attend that school whenever instruction is provided. 1.3 Section 24 of the Act requires principals to maintain an attendance register (roll) in a form approved by the Minister. Attendance registers must be available to authorised officers at all times.
2. Context
2.1 Regular attendance at school is essential to assist students to maximise their potential. Schools, in partnership with parents, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students. 2.2 Encouraging regular attendance is a core school responsibility. 2.3 This policy should be read in conjunction with current Departmental policies and procedures for enrolment of students in NSW government schools.
3. Responsibilities and delegations
3.1 Parents and Carers are:
3.1.1 Responsible for enrolling their children of compulsory school age in a government or registered non-government school, or for registering them with the Board of Studies for home schooling. 3.1.2 Responsible for ensuring that their children who are enrolled at school attend regularly. 3.1.3 Required to explain their children’s absences promptly to the school. 3.1.4 Required to go the front office when a student is absent for part of the day to complete a part day notice (late arrival/early departure).
3.2 Classroom Teachers will:
3.2.1 Mark the classroom roll each morning at 9.15am and make the appropriate recording for students who are absent in compliance with the attendance register codes for rolls. 3.2.2 Collect and file all absence letters and record appropriately in the class roll. 3.2.3 Send home note to parent/carers if they have not been notified of an explanation for a student’s absence within a seven day period. 3.2.4 Telephone or initiate contact with parents/carers to discuss concerns in relation to student attendance after no response or if attendance is of concern. 3.2.5 Encourage student attendance by implementing a range of strategies which include:
Student and parent interviews Reviewing the appropriateness of the student’s educational program Referral to the school’s Deputy Principal or learning support team or school counsellor Attendance at Rewards Day, Term Assembly Prize and Class Attendance Party
3.2.6 Monitor student absences and notify the Deputy Principal if they have cause for concern of a student’s regular absences or excessive absences.
Coffs Harbour Public School Attendance Policy - continued
3.3 Assistant Principals will: 3.3.1 Liaise with their team members to ensure students with three unexplained absences have had a note sent home to their parents/carers. 3.3.2 Liaise with parents/carers in relation to students with unsatisfactory attendance. 3.3.3 Monitor student attendance and follow up on students’ with unsatisfactory attendance. 3.3.4 Record students who have received a compulsory school attendance parent notice (Letter 1). 3.4 The Deputy Principal will: 3.4.1 Liaise with staff to ensure students with unsatisfactory attendance are monitored. 3.4.2 Liaise with parents/carers in relation to students with unsatisfactory attendance. 3.3.3 Report to the Learning and Support meeting students with unsatisfactory attendance. 3.4.4 Complete HSLO referral when necessary. 3.4.5 Monitor students with unsatisfactory attendance. 3.4.6 Implement strategies to encourage attendance which could include:
Implementation of individual student attendance contracts Provision of awards to students (Rewards Day, Class Attendance Party, Term Assembly Prize)
3.4.7 Liaise with the Regional Student Welfare Consultant and the Home School Liaison Officer. 3.4.8 Record students who have been referred to the HSLO. 3.4.9 Provide clear information to students and parents regarding attendance requirements and the consequences of unsatisfactory attendance via parent letters (Letter 3), the school information booklet and the school newsletter. 3.4.10 Advise parents promptly when their children are absent from school without explanation. 3.4.11 Ensure that accurate records of student attendance are maintained in an approved format. 3.4.12 Ensure that all cases of unsatisfactory attendance and part or full day absences from school are investigated promptly and that appropriate intervention strategies are implemented. 3.4.13 Ensure that school personnel are provided with information on attendance requirements and their obligation to monitor and promote regular attendance at school. 3.5 The Principal will: 3.5.1 Ensure the Director, Public School Education, and appropriate Educational Services staff are well informed of issues relating to students with unsatisfactory school attendance.
Coffs Harbour Public School
HOMEWORK POLICY Endorsed by Staff and School P& C: Jan 2017
Next Review: Jan 2019
1. PURPOSES OF HOMEWORK
Homework bridges the gap between learning at school and learning at home. It allows for practising, extending and consolidating work done in class. Homework provides training for students in planning and organising time and develops a range of skills in identifying and using information resources. Additionally, it establishes habits of study, concentration and self-discipline. However, schools and parents should recognise that it is important for students to also participate in leisure activities outside of school.
2. TYPES OF HOMEWORK
1. Practice exercises help students to remember and practice newly acquired skills – such as learning mathematics
times tables, practising spelling words, and reading for pleasure.
2. Preparatory homework requires students to source and read background information to prepare them for fu-ture lessons on a specific subject – such as reading an article on the Gold Rush in preparation for a lesson in Aus-tralian history, Research/Project, Talking/Listening and news.
3. Extension assignments encourage students to pursue knowledge individually and imaginatively. Assignments
may include writing a book review, researching local news or retrieving items from the internet. (OPTIONAL/ADDITIONAL)
3. EXPECTATIONS
The amount of time that students are expected to spend on homework will depend upon the age, ability, home environment and extracurricular activities of students, including family and cultural obligations. It is important that students of all ages have opportunities for free time, leisure and physical activities outside of school.
Homework for Kindergarten – Year 2 Reading to children at home and involving them in family activities will greatly assist the development of their skills in literacy, numeracy and problem solving. In Years K, 1 and 2 some formal homework is usually set. For example, students may be asked to complete simple computations, to copy letters or words, or practise phonics.
Homework for Year 3 - 6 Students in Years 3-6 will be expected to work more independently. However, teachers will still provide guidance
and assistance to students having difficulties completing their homework. Much of the homework will be in Eng-
lish & Mathematics, however, it can be set across all areas of the curriculum. Homework will consist of a grid for-
mat that allows for some task choice and flexibility. Teachers will discuss expectations with their own classes.
Parents and caregivers can help by:
being aware of their school’s homework policy taking an active interest in homework
ensuring that there is time set aside and for homework
encouraging and supporting students to complete homework
providing, where possible, a dedicated place and desk for homework and study
encouraging their children to read and take an interest in current events
assisting teachers to monitor homework by signing completed work if requested and being aware of the
amount of homework set
communicating with teachers any concerns about the homework and their children’s approach to the
homework. Concerns may relate to domestic considerations or extra- curricula activities.
HOMEWORK POLICY - continued
Students can help by:
being aware of the importance of homework
have an understanding of their school’s homework policy
completing any homework within the given time frame
alerting parents or caregivers to homework expectations
seeking assistance from teachers and parents or caregivers when difficulties arise
showing their homework to their parents or caregivers
ensuring homework is of a high standard
Homework requirements will be outlined in Parent-Teacher meetings at the start of each year.
