School Values Respect • Responsibility • Excellence

Diary Dates TERM 1 January

28 Premier’s Reading challenge began February 3 Enrolment census – all students

MUST be at school 5 Assembly 9.10am in the sports

centre 11 Acquaintance night and AGM 14 Volunteer training 9am in library 18 Governing Council meeting 7pm 19 Assembly 9.10am 21 Year 6/7 Aquatics

OSHC and Vacation Care Before School Care: 7:00-8.30am

After School Care: 3.10-6pm Vac Care/Student free days: 7.00am-6pm

For bookings phone: 0413 917 590 or email: ascotoshc@gmail.com

Newsletter

Term 1 Week 1

31 January 2020 Principal: Julie Hibell, Deputy Principal: Sam Kennedy

Welcome back to school for 2020 and to our new students and families, welcome to Ascot Park Primary School. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and was able to enjoy some quality time with family and friends. I look forward to working closely again with the Ascot Park community to ensure our students become successful learners, confident creative individuals and active informed citizens. We are committed to working together to keep moving the school forward by focussing on our school directions and priorities to achieve the best possible learning and wellbeing outcomes for our students. Staffing update John Ly has transferred to a new school. We thank him for his dedicated work over the last 14 years at Ascot Park and wish him well for the future. We welcome the following new teachers: Jen Kay (LS10), Lyndal Geytenbeek (LS2) and Sonja Djuric (LS7) and new SSOs: Mary Bosnakis, Nicole Knight and Colleen Palmer. Teaching staff for 2020: Pui Heng Chan LS1: Chinese (M-T) Lyndal Geytenbeek LS2: Year 1/2 (M-W) Ryan Koch LS2: Year 1/2 (Th-F) Sasha Dunn LS3: Rec Michelle Miller LS3a (M-W) and LS1: Health (Th-F) Christina Clifford LS4: Rec Anna-Lee Mason LS5: Year 1/2 Michelle James-Martin LS6: Year 2/3 (M-W), Literacy (F) Enza Zollo LS6: Year 2/3 (Th-F) Sonja Djuric LS7: Year 3/4 Melanie Kennison LS8: Year 5/6 Jaimy-Lee Aistrope LS9: Year 6/7 Chris Fleetwood LS9: Year 6/7 Jen Kay LS10: Year 4/5 Mish Clark: AET (M), EALD (T), Performing Arts (W-Th) Andrew Cordery: PE/Gym (T-Th) Megan Jane: PE (Mon afternoons) Specialist Sport The Specialist Sport program will start soon. More information including enrolment forms will be sent home with students next week. School card and fees

School Card application forms are now available online at

www.sa.gov.au/education/schoolcard The new online forms will benefit

both parents and schools by streamlining the application process and

reducing administration in schools. Hard copies are still available from the

front office.

School fee invoices will be posted next week.

School enrolment census On Monday we are required to submit our student numbers to the department which are used for funding purposes. It is important that your child attends on Monday or if they are away, that you contact the school so we don’t miss out on funding!

For more news and information…

Visit our website:

www.ascotpkps.sa.edu.au

Like us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/AscotParkPS

Download the Skoolbag app to get all

the latest school news and events.

Keep up to date with class news and

information with ClassDojo.

Get the Qkr! app – a secure and easy

way to pay for school and OSHC fees,

excursions, canteen and uniform items.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS – EVERY DAY, ALL DAY

BREAKFAST CLUB IS BACK! Wednesday, 5 February 8.15am-8.45am! OSHC Room!

Communication Teachers at Ascot Park are highly committed to maintaining effective communication with parents and carers. This year all classes will be using Class Dojo to send out class information and we will continue to use Skoolbag for whole school communication. It is an expectation that all parents/caregivers use these apps. So we don’t overload families with duplicated information, newsletters will now only be published in weeks 1, 5 and 9 on Skoolbag and on our website. If you would like a hard copy, please register your name at the front office and it will be sent home. Copies will also be available at the front office. To help us improve the school-home partnership we ask that you consider the following points: Teachers prioritise time spent teaching and

building a positive learning environment and they will often not get the chance to check messages or emails during the school day. If you have an

urgent message for your child’s teacher eg after school arrangements such as OSHC, please phone the front office.

Teachers are encouraged to only check or respond to emails and Class Dojo messages during working hours and not at night or on the weekends. For urgent matters, please phone the front office as this will ensure your message is received. For non-urgent matters, teachers will respond to your email or message when practicable.

If you would like to raise a sensitive or complex

issue with your child’s teacher please contact the teacher to arrange a meeting or a phone conversation so that the issue can be given the

depth of discussion it deserves. Please remember to phone the front office or use

the Skoolbag app to notify us if your child is absent.

Car park For the safety of our students, please remember to park in the street when dropping off or picking up your child – NOT in the carpark.

Allergies It is important at the start of the year to remind all families that we have students and staff who are allergic to nuts and one student who is severely allergic to wheat, barley and rye. Please be mindful when packing lunch boxes and do not send any nuts or food containing nuts to school. Teachers have been talking to students about allergies and being respectful and considerate to those who are affected by food allergies.

Eat on a Seat Please remind your child that when they eat at school, either at lunch or recess, they must be seated and not walk around the class or yard.

Premier’s Reading Challenge At Ascot Park we expect all students to complete the reading challenge. Please ensure your child fills in their student reading record as they read their books, get them signed off as they go and please make sure your child hands it in to their teacher by Friday 4 September. The Challenge is to read 12 books in total - 8 of these books are to be from the Challenge booklists, available on the website, and 4 of their own choice. Student reading records will be given out by class teachers. Enjoy the Challenge!

Dress code

It’s been lovely to see students back, especially in

correct school uniform. Just a couple of reminders:

Please label all uniform items clearly with your

child’s name, so if they lose something, it can be

easily returned

Only school sun-smart hats may be

worn. We have a student with severe

anaphylaxis who wears a non-school hat

so he can be easily identified. Hats with a draw

cord are also not allowed to be worn at school for

safety. If your child doesn’t have a correct hat,

they will be asked to sit in the shade in the

courtyard. Hats may be purchased from the front

office for only $6.

Our school colours are green, and

black. Long sleeve t-shirts may only be worn

under the school short-sleeved top if they are

green. Governing Council are currently looking at

a school shirt with long sleeves.

Coronavirus SA Health has changed its advice to us in relation to Novel Coronavirus after the Federal Government issued an updated alert late yesterday. The updated advice is that:

Students and staff who have travelled to Hubei Province in the last 14 days must not attend school and must isolate themselves in their homes for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province.

People who have been in contact with any confirmed novel coronavirus cases must be isolated in their home for 14 days following exposure.

Students and staff who have travelled to mainland China, not including Hubei Province, are able to return to school unless they are contacts of a confirmed case, or they have symptoms consistent with the virus.

All students and staff who have travelled to mainland China should monitor themselves for the 14 days from their departure from mainland China for symptoms of Coronavirus.

Symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and sore throat. People who have travelled to China and have these symptoms should see a doctor or attend a hospital and call ahead so they can prepare. The latest information is available on the Australian Government Department of Health website. www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov The South Australian Department for Education has indicated that it and SA Health will be providing us with further information as necessary, including advising us if there are any known specific risks to our school community.

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum The Child protection in

schools, early childhood

education and care services

policy (2011) states that “all

children and young people in

Department preschools and

schools will access approved

child protection curriculum”.

The KS:CPC teaches children and young people to

recognise abuse, tell a trusted adult, understand what

is appropriate and inappropriate touching and ways of

keeping themselves safe.

Themes

The curriculum is based on two main themes which

are presented through topics and activities.

Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe

Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking

to people we trust

Focus Areas

The two themes are explored through four Focus

Areas, which are examined in growing complexity in

accordance with the age of the learners.

1. The right to be safe

2. Relationships

3. Recognising and reporting abuse

4. Protective strategies

More information can be found on the Department

website https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/teaching/curriculum-

and-teaching/keeping-safe-child-protection-curriculum

Off to a Great Start At Ascot Park School we start each year with an across the school two week program called “Off to a great start” which helps to:

develop shared values, attitudes, skills and

community goals that will prepare the class and

school for success

establish an inviting and conductive to learning

environment – physical, structural, social

Students will work on social programs like You Can Do It and Play is the Way, as well as learn about our school rules and procedures. If you have any questions about the program please discuss with classroom teachers.

Attendance

Regular attendance at school is a shared responsibility between parents/carers and school. Research shows that success in learning and later in life is directly proportional to regular attendance and participation in schooling. The Department for Education attendance rate target is 95%

Responsibilities for Parents and Caregivers Parents/Caregivers…

Are responsible for getting their child(ren) to and from school

Ensure their child arrives at school between 8.30 and 8.50am.

Ensure their child attends school every day during the school term

Provide the school with an appropriate explanation for a student’s absence via phone, email, Skoolbag, ClassDojo, written note or medical certificate

Must sign their child in at the front office if they are late for school, explaining the reason

Must inform the class teacher or front office prior if they need to collect their child early

Parents/carers must sign their child out at the front office and wait for their child there. Parents/carers must not go to the classroom to collect their child as this disrupts the educational program and other students’ learning

Please speak to class teachers or ask in the office if you would like more information on the school’s Attendance Policy. Reading

Reading remains a key priority at Ascot Park Primary School. In students’ first days back at school, reading skills have been embedded in the learning program.

Reading every day has a positive impact on student’s learning. The language of books is much richer and stronger than our everyday language. Reading with or to your child will support them to develop a love of reading and increase their vocabulary.