The Liverpool Letter
Liverpool Public School - February 2023
Diary Dates
February
- Uniting Parental Skills - Tuesday 7 & 21 February and Tuesday 7 March
- Bounce Dental Program - Monday 13 February - Friday 24 February
- Meet the Teacher and BBQ - Wednesday 15 February
- Zone Swimming Carnival - Tuesday 28 February
March
- Student Leadership Induction Ceremony - Friday 3 March
Notes Sent Home
- Swimming Carnival (Yrs 2-6) - 31.1.23
- New Classes 2023 (K-6) - 10.2.23
- Community Language (Yrs 2-6) - 9.2.23
- Third-Party Software (K-6) - will be sent home on 13.2.23
- Permission to Publish (K-6) - will be sent home on 13.2.23
- Live-streaming (K-6) - will be sent home on 13.2.23
- Voluntary School Contribution (K-6) ) - will be sent home on 13.2.23
- Scripture (Kinder only) - will be sent home on 13.2.23
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to our February newsletter. I would like to welcome you all back to the 2023 school year. Each month we prepare a newsletter which provides some valuable information and also highlights the wonderful things happening at Liverpool PS.
2023 Classes
This year we began the school year by placing students into new classes from day 1 of Term 1 which ensured that teaching and learning started from the first day students returned to school. Our students have come back demonstrating they are ready for a successful year of learning.
As mentioned in previous communications our class structures are based on the number of students leaving and enrolling at Liverpool Public School. This process has involved contacting many families who have not returned from holidays or have failed to present to school. During this process, we must ensure we have accurate enrolment numbers to form classes.
From today we have officially formed 27 classes. Students were placed in their 2023 class. With our current student numbers at 663 students, we have had a minimal restructure to our original classes meaning students from these restructured classes have been placed into their new class. Only classes that needed to be restructured have been affected by this movement. These classes include: K/1J, 2/3O, 2R, 4/5R, 5/6D and 6J. This will not impact on the learning of any student as all teachers are following similar teaching and learning programs.
Staff have spent considerable time ensuring classes best suit the needs of all students and took into consideration each student’s learning and social needs. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this process.
COVID-Safe Measures
We are continuing our COVID-smart measures into 2023. While the community continues to transition towards living with COVID-19, NSW Health advised that the unpredictable nature of the virus will continue to present a health risk to the community, with new waves of transmission expected this year. Our school will continue to operate with baseline COVID-smart measures in place this term to minimise transmission.
These include a combination of layered safety measures, such as:
Staying home if unwell and test for COVID-19 if showing any symptoms
Boosted day cleaning of high-touch areas in our schools
Strongly encouraging masks to be worn by all students, staff and visitors, particularly when indoors or outdoors when physical distancing is difficult to maintain
Strongly encouraging up-to-date vaccinations for our staff and students, including COVID-19 booster shots for anyone eligible
Maintaining natural ventilation with windows and doors open whenever possible, including when cooling/heating systems are in use
Continuing to provide RATs and other hygiene products to schools free of charge.
NSW Government and Department of Education’s fact sheet for parents and carers provides an easy-to-read summary of this term’s COVID-smart measures. See below.
Back to School Vouchers
Every primary and secondary school student who is an NSW resident enrolled for school in 2023. Parents and carers can apply for three x $50 vouchers for each eligible student in their family through Service NSW for items such as:
- school uniforms
- textbooks
- shoes
- uniforms
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/back-to-school-vouchers
Supervision - Before and After School Care
Just a reminder that students should not be dropped off before 8:30am in the morning unless a parent/carer is waiting with their child. Students are supervised from 8:30am when teachers are on duty, prior to this they are unsupervised and are the responsibility of parents/carers prior to 8:30am.
School finishes at 3pm daily and students should be picked up as close as possible to this time. If you are running late please contact the school to notify us. We do understand that at times running late is unavoidable, however we are very fortunate to have the Liverpool YMCA Before and After School Care service on premises to assist our families.
Many of our parents and carers use the YMCA service for before and after school care each day. Please ensure to use this service if you require supervision for your child/ren in a safe and fun environment. Over the next few weeks we will be relocating the YMCA to two classrooms near the Kindergarten playground. More information to come shortly.
Our School Playground
Over the school holidays we have had some works completed which has made our school extremely bright and colourful. These works have provided students with some fun and engaging activities to play during the break times. We will be having more works over the coming months. Additionally, we have had some lovely new gardens installed which ensures our school is an inviting place for all.
Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services Procedure 2020
Just a reminder that all NSW Department of Education schools have a 'Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services Procedure' which was implemented in 2020. This procedure guides student use of digital devices and online services at our school which includes Mobile phones, SMART devices, SMART watches, Cameras etc.
Students are not permitted to bring mobile phones or SMART devices to school unless they have permission from their parent/carer and approval by the principal.
If your child needs to carry a mobile phone to school for safety reasons, they need to be switched off once they enter the school grounds from 8:30am and handed in at the mobile phone window located near the staffroom. Mobile phones will be stored in the office.
Students can collect their mobile phone from 3pm.
Please note if your child is found to have a mobile phone or SMART device in their bags they will be confiscated and parents/carers will be required to meet with the deputy principal or principal to collect their child's mobile phone.
Attached is the procedure and permission note which needs to be returned to school if your child needs to bring a mobile phone to school.
Any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school on 9602 7882.
From the Deputy Principal (Early Stage 1 & Stage 1) - Mrs Pritchard
Welcome back to all our students and families. A very warm welcome to our new Kindergarten students and families. It has been a fantastic start to the year. I have had the pleasure of visiting classrooms in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 and it is amazing to see all the great things happening and a sea of smiling faces from the students all happy to be back at school.
Uniform Expectations
Well done to all our students in the correct uniform including a school hat and the correct shoes. From day one we have noticed that our students are in the correct school uniform and look amazing.
It is an expectation that students are in full school uniform every day. Uniforms will be monitored across each term by our 2023 School Leaders and classroom teachers with rewards being given to classes with the highest number of students in the correct school uniform.
Please remember that we have a second-hand uniform stall every Thursday afternoon from 2:15pm to 2:45pm in the courtyard at the back of the school hall.
Attendance
Students are expected to be at school every day in accordance with the Department of Education. Each week attendance across Kindergarten to Year 6 is monitored. This year we will continue to have attendance celebrations each term for students with 90% and higher attendance rates and even more special, for the students who have 100% attendance rates. Students must also be at school each day for the 8:55am bell to included in the attendance celebrations.
Attendance monitoring across the first week of school has highlighted that we have had a lot of students coming late, after the 8:55am bell.
All students are expected to be at school before the 8:55am bell. Students who are late have a partial attendance day recorded on the class roll. Partial absences (late arrivals/early departures) and whole day absences will be included in the Semester 1 and 2 Academic Reports for each student.
If your child in unwell they should stay home and return to school when feeling better. Students who have 2 or more consecutive days absent from school will have a phone call made home from the classroom teacher. An explanation is needed from parents/carers for any absences from school. This can be by replying to school SMS texts sent daily for students who are absent from school, a handwritten note from parents/carers explaining the reason for the absence or a medical certificate from a doctor.
Morning Drop-Off
Just a reminder that each morning we are encouraging families of our K-2 students to drop off their child/ren and move on quickly to avoid students crying and getting upset. This helps set them up for a successful day. We do ask that parents/carers keep the pathway clear during this peak time for all community users travelling along the pathway.
Meet the Teacher BBQ
Next week on Wednesday 15 February we will be holding our annual ‘Meet the Teacher BBQ’. This will start at 3:00pm and finish at 5:00pm. We will have a BBQ available between 3:00pm and 4:15pm. Beef, vegetarian and halal sausages will be available. There will be three session times available. You only need to attend one session for each child.
The session times are as follows:
- Session 1: 3:15pm to 3:45pm
- Session 2: 3:50pm to 4:20pm
- Session 3: 4:25pm to 4:55pm
This is a great chance for you to meet your child’s classroom teacher and join us for a BBQ. We hope to see you there!
Thank you
Mrs N. Pritchard
K-2 Deputy Principal
From the Deputy Principal (Stage 2 & Stage 3) - Mrs Alfaro
Welcome back to 2023 and a new and exciting year of learning for students at Liverpool Public School. We are so happy to have started the year off with students in their new classes for 2023 and we are very impressed with how settled students are.
Students have started developing friendships in their new classes and teachers are busy teaching programs including implementation of the new K-2 English and mathematics syllabuses. All students in Year 1 to Year 6 have been sitting PAT assessments for reading and mathematics. These assessments provide teachers with valuable information to guide their teaching for the rest of the semester.
This year students in Year 3 and Year 5 will be sitting NAPLAN. These are national assessments for reading, mathematics, and writing. The dates for NAPLAN will be from 15 to 27 March. More information will be sent home closer to the date.
From Monday 13 February to Friday 24 February our regular dental van will be back. ‘Bounce Dental’ have been coming to our school for a number of years, providing a valuable service for our families. Notes were sent home for students in Year 1 to Year 6 this week. We will also be sending notes home for our Kindergarten students. Please return notes as soon as possible to allow for your child to see the dentist. This is a free service for families who qualify, using their Medicare allocation. Bounce Dental will contact parents to let them know if any cost will be involved. More information will be provided on Facebook and Skoolbag.
I’m looking forward to assemblies which will be starting in a few weeks. Remember to look for any merit certificates and hand them in if they are ready to be exchanged for Deputy Principal awards. I’m hoping to have plenty of awards to hand out at assemblies in 2023.
Mrs Alfaro
3-6 Deputy Principal
Liverpool Public School has an official Facebook page which is for the school to inform parents and carers of events going on each and everyday, as well as to positively promote the school within the community. You can locate us at:
https://www.facebook.com/liverpoolpublicschool/
'Like' us on Facebook by clicking on the like button.
Update Skoolbag Information
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please ensure to have the latest Skoolbag app on your mobile phone or computer so that you receive all information necessary for your child or children.
It is important that you select the grade each of your children are in as specific information will be sent to grades. For example, 1V, 1S, 1K will be sent to Year 1 only.
Following the steps below will ensure your family stay connected and up to date with all the latest information.
Sponsors
Liverpool Public School
Email: liverpool-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://liverpool-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
Location: 12 Railway Street, Liverpool NSW, Australia
Phone: 02 9602 7882
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liverpoolpublicschool/