Volume 31 Issue 17 10 Jun 2022 11 Sivan 5782

Primary News

Carrie-Anne Thomas – Acting Deputy Head of Primary

Arriving at school on time

Children need to develop the habit of arriving on time at an early age, beginning from when they start school. Recently we have noticed a growing amount of students arriving late, after 8.20 am, to begin the school day. Arriving on time each morning benefits Primary School students’ academic performance and future habits.

Here are some of the benefits of arriving on time to school each day:

  • Arriving at school after classes have begun can cause students to miss an introduction to a new lesson or routine. 
  • Arriving on time for school every day can help students develop the habit of being punctual with important commitments. This habit can serve students well through their education and into their future.
  • Students arriving at school with time to spare, have the luxury of settling in, and having time to play and connect with their peers before classes begin. This gives them time to literally and figuratively wake up. 
  • Arriving on time each day makes students feel good about themselves and gives them a comfortable and smooth transition to the school day. 
  • It can be embarrassing for students to enter a class that is already underway.
  • It impacts the learning of other students if the teacher needs to repeat information to settle children who are late.
  • It models to your children the importance of respecting the school, its rules, teachers and students.

Here are some suggestions to create positive routines that may support a timely transition to school each day:

  • Have a set time to go to bed. 
  • Have a set time to be out of bed.
  • Prepare uniform and school bag ready the night before.
  • Prepare lunches the night before. 
  • Have set time for starting and ending breakfast.
  • Give your child lots of positive encouragement and acknowledge they are organised and get to school on time.
  • On arrival, recognise the time and celebrate how well the morning routine has worked and highlight the benefits of arriving at school on time to your child.

Go With The Flow (GWTF) – reminder 

To keep our GWTF system as safe as possible, please can families of students in Years 3-6 picking up their children on campus use the Waxman Gate to enter and exit. If arranging an on campus pickup location, please choose one away from the GWTF area (near Avoca street) as the congestion has made the process challenging. If picking up from this area suits you and your family best, we ask you to continue using the ‘Parent pick-up’ option at GWTF, lining up outside the school grounds.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the GWTF timings:

  • K-2 begins at 3.20 pm
  • 3-6 begins at 3.30 pm

We ask that families do not arrive before 3.30 pm if you are not collecting K-2 children or if you are picking up K-2 students with siblings in Years 3-6. Arriving before this time will block the system, and you will be asked to drive around the block. 

Save the Date 
Deborah Blackman Parent Session

On Wednesday 20 July 2022, we have Deborah Blackman presenting on the topic ‘Conversations with our children – keeping them safe’. We highly recommend this session to parents. Deborah Blackman will also run sessions with our students in Years K, 1, 3 and 5 during Term 3. 

In the presentation, Deborah will explore how to talk to your children about feelings, secrets, consent and teach them some valuable skills for child protection. We think it is essential that home and school provide the same message about this very important topic. The presentation will be from 7.00 pm and will be held via Zoom. A link to this Zoom event will be provided closer to the date. 

Years K-2 assembly
Friday 2.10 pm – 2.50 pm – Millie Phillips Theatre

Term 2

  • Friday 17 June 2022 – 2T (Ms Nanwani)

Term 3

  • Friday 29 July 2022 – KH (Ms Turrall)
  • Friday 2 August 2022 – 1T (Mrs Silver)
  • Friday 26 August 2022 – Music assembly 
  • Friday 9 September 2022 – 1B (Ms Chester)

Webinars for Parents and Carers

This month, join one of the free webinars for parents and carers run by the eSafety Commissioner.

These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences. This month’s webinar is: Safer Online Gaming

In this webinar learn how to help young people stay safe by learning about the benefits and risks of online gaming.

This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8 to 13 years of age.

It will cover:

  • The games young people are using and how they are engaging with them.
  • The benefits of gaming and how to mitigate the risks.
  • Practical strategies to use at home and where to find help and support if things go wrong.

Term 2 Dates (Australian Eastern Standard Time):

  • Friday 17 June 2022 from 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
  • Tuesday 21 June 2022 from 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm

Register here