11 March 2022 - Week 6 Term 1
Principal's report
Dear Families and carers,
COVID-19 Update
We are now over the half-way mark of the term and with some COVID restrictions lifting. We are excited to be holding the Swimming Carnival Years 4-6, swimming programs for our R-2 children and three-way conferences can be scheduled face to face.
There are still some protocols in place; classrooms are still operating under the COVID protocols aimed at keeping staff and students safe, the playgrounds are closed after school and staff are encouraged to socially distance when meeting.
I thank all of the community for supporting our school, especially staff and our vulnerable children by keeping children who are unwell or symptomatic at home. The front office team of Debbie Foster, Sue Gaden, Mel Owen-Turner, Tegan Jolly, Susy Clark, Debbie Kennett, Tara Puccio and Naomi Butler have done a truly amazing job at supporting students and families when they present in the front office. They would appreciate it if all families could be prompt in collecting unwell children as this relives the pressure in the sickroom.
GOVERNING COUNCIL 2022
The Governing Council AGM was held on February 28th using a combination of face to face and WebEx. My thanks to all that participated, especially to those who nominated for Governing Council representation. The AGM included reporting to the community of the Annual Report, financial statements and of course the Chairperson’s report. In listening to these reports I can only commend the achievements of the community in a year disrupted - There was a lot to be proud of!
The following parents are your representatives for the forthcoming 12 months:
- Susie Inat- Chairperson
- Anokhi Parikh – Deputy Chairperson and OHSC Advisory
- Carolyn Lam – Deputy Finance
- Amy Bredon - Finance
- Melanie Sandery – Secretary and Community & Fundraising
- Gemma Morath – Sports & Health
- Rachel Conway – Student Learning & Wellbeing
- Devaraj Supramaniam - Student Learning & Wellbeing
- John Wang - Student Learning & Wellbeing
- Shahrinaz (Serena) Shaik – Campus Development
- Mona Jamshaid – Student Learning & Wellbeing
- Brooke Robins – Community & Fundraising
- Maged Shenouda – Student Learning & Wellbeing
- Fiona Voigt – Principal
- Heidi Rohrig – non-voting member
- Nicole Scrivener – non-voting member
- Georgina Zawada – Staff representative
- Jane Allen – Staff representative
We still have a vacancy for 2022; if you are interested in nominating please email using the dl.0647.info@schools.sa.edu.au by the close of business next Wednesday 16th of March, including your interests in the Governing Council Committees.
Congratulations to the Governing Council of 2022, I look forwards to collaborating with you all.
ROAD SAFETY
Staff have seen a number of parents and students dangerously crossing the road, just metres from the actual crossings. I understand that at times we are all in a hurry but children copy what they see and we all need to be modelling excellent road safety practices. Please use the crossings to ensure everyone remains safe.
We are also continuing to see very dangerous driving on Highfield and Hay roads. Parents we urge you to take the time to follow the road rules:
- do not drive through crossings when the flags are up,
- do not park in front of crossings,
- please do not perform three point turns into driveways during the very busy pick up and drop off areas.
Please take the extra few minutes to drive safely around our school.
STUDENT FREE DATES & EARLY DISMISSAL
As per the Chief executive “consent for early dismissal” the process of finishing early on the last day of each term has not changed, however we are now required to inform parents and obtain in principle their consent. These dates have already been approved by the Governing Council.
Linden Park will be finishing early on:
- Thursday 14th April 2022 – school finishes at 2:10pm – Easter Long Weekend
Our Out of School Hours Care will be operating for those families should it be needed. Our Student Free Days were mentioned in the previous newsletter and can be found on our website.
I hope you enjoy a safe long weekend,
Fiona
Student Free Days - 2022
The LPPS Governing Council has ratified our 2022 Student free days:-
- Friday, 25 March – Term 1 Week 8
- Friday, 10 June – Term 2 Week 6
- School Show Day (School Closure) Friday 9 September – Term 3 Week 7
- Monday, 12 September – Term 3 Week 8
- Monday, 7 November – Term 4, Week 4
Staff Update
We are fortunate to have three new staff join our dedicated team at Linden Park Primary School. Please welcome (left-right)
Melanie Fuller (French Teacher) Room 30 - Wednesdays & Room 18 - Thursdays & Fridays
Susy Clark (Front office on Mondays)
Mel Abraham (SSO - Classroom)
NDA 2022 National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence
Each year during March we acknowledge NDA. This year LPPS will acknowledge NDA on the 18th March. The NDA is an important day in our school calendar to join other schools all across Australia to say, “Bullying. No WAY!” The message is very clear; ‘Together we can make a change’. Everyone has a role to play to stop bullying and at Linden Park Primary School. On 18th March each class will be generating their own action to stop bullying within our school.
We strongly encourage our students to develop agency around their own action. In order for students to make meaningful action against bullying, there have been lessons designed by Reception to Year 6 teachers to guide our students through making choices about what action they need to implement within their class and school.
This year in the Early Years (Reception – Year 2) the students will be talking about what bullying can look like, sounds like and what it can feel like. The teachers will be guiding the students through a series of tasks that focus on what action (or strategies) students can take to stop bullying or harassment if they see or experience bulling in our school. Some examples of strategies that we encourage our student to do if they see, hear or feel bullying or harassment is;
- Walk away
- Take some deep breaths
- Report to an adult
- Stand strong and stay calm
In our Primary classes (Years 3-6) the students will be exploring data collected from our WEC (Wellbeing Engagement Collection Data) from last year. This data explores a range of areas, e.g. to what level do students feel safe at school, the strength of their friendships, the strength of connections with staff and peers, levels of health and wellbeing (sport, sleep, healthy diet) and any issues around bullying (social, physical, verbal or cyber). No names are identified in this data. After the students have explored the data, they will identify an area that may need developing or improving and come up with ideas on action they can take.
Please spend time speaking with your child about the action they or their class will be taking to stop bullying and harassment.
Rachel Pontifex and the Odd Bods SAC and Even Stevens SAC (Student Action Committee’s)
Library news
Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed the library escape activity during their library orientation lessons. Teams of students had to solve several clues in the library, most leading to a book. After successful completion of each clue, teams were given puzzle pieces. Once they collected all 20 pieces and put the puzzle together, it revealed their final clue to escape the library.
The library is normally open at lunch time for students to play games, borrow and return books, read and draw. To avoid cohorts of students mixing due to Covid, we will be keeping the library closed until week 9.
We are so excited to have so many new and returning library monitors this year. Being a library monitor is a volunteer role offered to year 5 and 6 students. We will start training next week. Monitors support younger students in the library, return and reshelve books and organise the games during lunch so that students have access to them. The support monitors offer the library each year is outstanding.
If you haven’t had a chance to look at or use the resources in our library website, please take this opportunity. http://lindenparkprimaryschoollibrary.weebly.com/
Years 3 & 4 Water Safety Lessons
Last week and this week as part of the Health and Physical Education curriculum, our Years 3 and 4 students have had water safety lessons at the Burnside Swimming Pool with Department for Education instructors.
The children have engaged in a broad range of water safety activities including using kick boards and noodles, learning how to tread water, floating, collecting items from under the water, duck diving and swimming with life jackets. The children have developed a range of knowledge and skills including; water confidence, survival in the water, swimming technique, rescue of others, water safety, endurance and fitness.
A big thank you to all our wonderful parent volunteers who helped supervise our bus transfers to and from the pool all week.
School Photography Days
School Photos will be taken at our school on Wednesday, 23 March & Thursday, 24 March 2022. Class times will be confirmed closer to the time.
We will be sending home your child's photo ordering envelope. Please take time to read the relevant information on the payment envelopes and remember these helpful points:-
- Don’t seal envelopes inside each other. You can pay for all children in one envelope however each child needs to have their own envelope on photo day
- Family envelopes are available at the school office upon request and need to be ordered before or on photography day. These must be handed in at the front office so we can schedule your children's family photo. Only siblings currently attending Linden Park are eligible.
- Please enclose correct money as no change is given. Cash, cheques, credit card and money orders accepted.
- Placing your child’s order online is the safest & easiest way to order school photos. Simply enter the shootkey printed on your child’s envelope and make your selection! If you are having a Sibling photo taken, do the same with the shootkey printed on the family envelope.
Please ensure your child's individual photo envelopes are returned to their class teacher - even if you are NOT ordering photos - all children will have their photo taken for class rolls etc.,
Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact MSP Photography- Ph: 08 83913951 Email: admin.adelaidesouth@msp.com.au
Student Snap Shot
I’ve been at Linden Park for four years. I’ve been growing my hair for three years and I finally got to cut it on the 26th November. I was really happy being able to help kids with cancer because I was really sorry for the people with cancer because they’ve lost their hair and they did nothing wrong. I was also really happy I cut my hair because people would stop calling me a girl.
I was very happy about being able to donate because that meant that I would’ve helped 1 or 2 kids have a wig to wear. The best part was being able to not need to use that much conditioner anymore well for the next two years, but I’m going to go and donate my hair again by regrowing it.
Hallace H. Year 4 (Room 26)
Harmony Day
In Australia and at Linden Park Primary School, Harmony Day is celebrated during the week of 21st March – 25th March. Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity, a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home.
On Monday, 21st March we encourage all students and staff at Linden Park to wear orange clothes (socks, a hair ribbon, a t-shirt, shorts, etc.). We look forward to talking with our students about diversity and cultural inclusion.
For more information about Harmony Day, please visit https://www.harmony.gov.au/
Rachel Pontifex, Student Wellbeing Leader
Clean Up School's Day
This year marks the 31st year of Schools' Clean Up Day. This initiative is a fun and engaging way to teach students about the responsible disposal of rubbish, resource recovery and the repercussions of rubbish dumped irresponsibly in the local environment.
Our Year 2 students (rooms 2 & 3) with parent volunteers were hard at work clearning up the crossing at Hay Road on Wednesday, 9th March! https://www.cleanup.org.au/about-us
Student free day
- Friday, 10 June – Term 2 Week 6
School notices
Kaurna acknowledgement
Niina Marni. As we feel the earth beneath us, the wind around us and the sun above us, we acknowledge the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of this land. We pay our respects to past Elders and will work with present and emerging Elders to protect and care for this unique land of ours. We also extend this respect to other First Nations peoples.