Prestons Post
Term 2, Week 3
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to our Week 3 newsletter. We are in the middle of another great week of great learning at Prestons.
Learning
Our students and teachers are busy working on achieving learning goals in each classroom. Our K-2 classes are focusing on explicit teaching of reading skills and processes and our 3-6 classes are focusing on explicit teaching of comprehension strategies. I am so proud when I walk into classrooms and see students working hard at the engine rooms with their teacher or working in small groups or independently to practice the skills and strategies they have been learning.
Updates on our Strategic Improvement Plan
As we continue to work on our Strategic Improvement Plan, our teachers are working together to ensure that research and evidence-based practices underpin our work. Learning is the focus in every classroom. In the attachments below I am including link to download a parent guide to evidence-based practices to show What Works Best in schools. There are some great tips for parents on how to help your child at home.
P&C
Next week on Tuesday at 1.30pm we will be holding our first Term 2 P&C meeting. The P&C is a fantastic forum for parents and carers to come along and be a part of their child's school. We hope to see many new families join us on Tuesday.
We are also thankful to our P&C for organising the Mother's Day stall which will be held this Thursday. We hope all of our mothers, grandmothers, aunties and other loved ones have a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday.
Staffing News
Our much loved Deputy Principal Mrs Beavis will be starting her maternity leave at the end of Week 4. We wish Mrs Beavis and her family well as they await the birth of their beautiful baby. Mrs Lisa Whittles has been appointed as our Relieving Deputy Principal while Mrs Beavis is on maternity leave. Mrs Whittles brings a wealth of experience and will be joining us from Monday Week 4 so that she can get to know our school before Mrs Beavis starts her leave. We are looking forward to meeting baby Beavis in the coming weeks.
Road Safety
As always, the safety of our students if of the highest priority. Parents and carers are asked to drive and park safely around our school and to supervise their children closely while crossing the road. All children should hold a parents hand when crossing the road. Please take the time to speak to your children about safety when crossing roads and the need to look to the left and right before crossing.
Have a wonderful week and don't forget to ask your child what they are learning at school.
Liz Van Der Meulen
Principal
Wellbeing Update with Mrs Lloyd
This week some families have received a letter to encourage their child to come to school. This is a friendly note to remind parents the importance of attending school. Last week, students who met the attendance goal for Term 1, received their special certificate. It was lovely to see students proud of this achievement and on behalf of all the teachers we would again like to congratulate them.
Attached is a very simple explanation of how much schooling your child can miss if they do not attend school regular. Please remember if there are any concerns or issues regarding attendance, we ask that you notify the school immediately.
This term, our year 4, 5 and 6 students are taking part in the Tell Them From Me student survey. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve. The survey is completed online and is run by an independent research company, The Learning Bar which specialises in school-based surveys.
Staff in schools will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. To ensure confidentiality, participating students will receive a unique username and password. Where fewer than five students respond to a question, the results will be suppressed. The survey typically takes 30 minutes or less to complete and will be administered by the school during normal school hours. Once the surveys are completed by students, reports are prepared and in most cases are available to schools within three business days.
As well as schools getting student feedback, the Department of Education, through the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), has access to data from across NSW and is running a research project to look at state-wide patterns of student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices. The research is looking at how these things impact on student outcomes, including academic performance. Individual students will not be identified in any CESE publications, and all information will be handled in accordance with the relevant privacy legislation. Students’ personal information will not be disclosed by the department to any other person or body other than as required by law.
This research will help schools in New South Wales to better understand how to improve student wellbeing and engagement. It will also help teachers and principals discuss what works to improve student outcomes. If you wish your student to not participate or you have more questions please contact Mrs Lloyd. We thank you for all your support.
Spotlight on Learning
Spotlight on Learning
Spotlight on Learning
Dates to Remember
6th May - Mothers Day Stall
7th May - Winter PSSA Begins
7th May - Issue 3 Book Club Orders Due
11th May - 21st May - Naplan Testing
20th May - Year 2 Zoo Excursion
9th June - School Photo Day
Mothers Day
The P&C will be holding a Mother’s Day Stall on Thursday 6th May.
Students will be given the opportunity to purchase a gift from the stall during the day.
Gifts will range in price from $2.00 - $5.00
*Any stock remaining will be sold on Friday 7th May before school between 8.30am - 9:00am*
Stewart House Donation Drive - 2021
Stewart House is a not-for profit organisation which provides refuge for children who may need a break from their regular schooling or family circumstances.
Each year Stewart House looks after 1,800 public school children accross NSW and the ACT. These children take part in a 12 day residential program at the organisation's headquarters on Sydney's northern beaches.
Stewart House relies on donations so this service can continue. Your donation towards this will help and will put you in the draw to possibly win a $4000 family holiday.
Please return the envelope, with your details completed and your $2 donation enclosed to the office by 14th May 2021.
Year 2 Sydney Zoo Excursion
Students in Year 2 will be attending an excursion to Sydney Zoo on Thursday 20th May 2021. Permission notes have been sent home with students.
Excursion Outline
WHO: All Year 2 Students
WHEN: Thursday 20th of May 2021 (Week 5, Term 2)
WHERE: Sydney Zoo
TIME: Students arrive at school by 9 am for a prompt 9:15am departure.
Students will return to school prior to 3pm
TRANSPORT: Coach with seat belts
UNIFORM: Full school uniform including enclosed shoes and a hat.
FOOD: All students must bring a packed recess, lunch and drinks for the day. This needs to be packed in a small bag labelled with your child’s name.
Students will not be able to purchase food or drinks during the day.
COST: $19.00
Please note that our preferred method of payment is online.
If paying online, use the “Make Payment tab @ www.prestons-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au. Please indicate this on the permission note and include the receipt number. The payment description to use online is: Year 2 Zoo Excursion.
Please return the permission note and $19.00 payment to the office by Thursday 13th May 2021.
PSSA Winter Sport
Friday 7th May 2021
Sports events will be held at the following locations:
* Netball - Woodward Park
* Boys Soccer A- Brownes Farm
* Boys Soccer B - Brownes Farm
* Girls Soccer - Ernie Smith Reserve
* Rugby League - Brownes Farm Reserve
Please ensure that your child has their hat, sunscreen and plenty of drinks. Students depart school at 12:00pm and will return back to school at 3:00pm
PSSA Winter Sport - Payments
A reminder to parents and guardians of students participating in PSSA. All outstanding payments are now overdue to be paid.
Payments can be made by cash or EFTPOS at the front office. Alternatively you can also make your payment online.
Classroom Chat with 4 Killer Whales
4 Killer Whales are eager to have the opportunity to tell everyone about some of the awesome things that have been happening in terms 1 & 2!
4 Killer Whales and our next-door neighbours 4 Bluebottles have been working together on our informative writing unit. We’ve been exploring the properties and characteristics of informative texts. We’ve also been refining our use of technology to research relevant information.
In Mathematics we have been working in small groups to achieve our learning goals. We have been focused on fractions and angles in our most recent learning cycle.
We are also super excited for the start of Winter PSSA and in school sport. We can wait to get active ....... GO PRESTONS!