Newsletter: Term 1 - Week 7

A Message from the Principal

COVID Update –

We are continuing to have a number of Covid cases within our school community and thank those families who diligently report cases to our school, enabling ACT Health to identify classrooms within which transmission is high. As well as our school’s measures surrounding cohorting, hygiene practices and ventilation, what really supports our community is when families keep their children at home when unwell. School is not a comfortable place for students who are ill, and regardless of whether their symptoms are synonymous with COVID or not, I would ask for their wellbeing that you do not send them to school when unwell.

Some families will notice that we have had teachers away at certain times resulting in some relief teachers and the splitting/combining of classes. When we split classes we try and ensure classes are divided into another class within their cohort. This ensures that students can continue with a similar program and their learning is disrupted as little as possible. We ask that you please be understanding the challenge that covid in particular can bring to our staffing profile, particularly with current seven day isolation requirements for household contacts and those that test positive to covid.

Evacuation –

We again had an alarm triggered in one of our buildings yesterday leading to an evacuation of all students and staff. Thankfully this was another false alarm with no course of concern for the safety of our community. Our students evacuated quickly and safely to the oval upon the sounding of the alarm. We of course will share with students that this was a false alarm, but also stress how important it is for them to act quickly and safely should another alarm sound. A school evacuation can coincide with plans of families to pick students up early for appointments and such. In this instance we respectfully ask for your assistance in waiting outside the front office until we receive the all clear from emergency services. Once this is given, students quickly return to their learning spaces and we will then send students to the front office for pick-up as required. We will not be in a position to interrupt the evacuation to release students to families before this all clear.

Dance Workshop –

We have sent out information surrounding a dance workshops which our year 3-6 classes will participate in next week. This is an opt out activity, so if you do not want your child involved in this, please respond to the email sent out on Tuesday as soon as possible. The workshops will be provided by Passion and Purpose, a multicultural dance school that provides hip hop classes and cultural dance for primary and high school aged students. I know a number of our students already participate in external classes run by this group and am delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to our students.

Parking –

We are continuing to notice some of our families park illegally at school drop off and pick up time and have received complaints from parents within our school community and nearby residents. In response to these continuing issues, the school in conjunction with our P and C will be meeting with the director of the school safety section of Transport for Canberra, Andrew Crichton, to consider options for this ongoing problem. Andrew is meeting with myself and two members of our P and C next Tuesday to look at the issues in person. He will then join a P and C meeting in the near future to have a discussion regarding our management plan and whether this needs any updates in light of his visit next Tuesday.

Students attending OSHC –

After consultation with Communities at Work we will now be letting students from Years 3-6 leave from the school hall in the morning and make their own way up to their learning areas. At the end of the day, we will also let students make their way to the service. I have reminded students through a video message the importance of attending after school care if they are in any doubt as to whether they are meant to attend the service or make their way home. Communities at Work staff will be in a position to advise them through their bookings information. I would appreciate families reiterating this message to their children.

Staffing –

I will be in a position in our next newsletter to announce some changes to our school executive team for term 2 until the remainder of the year. We will be having a couple of new faces joining our team and will unfortunately be saying goodbye to a few of our current school leaders. I look forward to sharing this news with you soon.

Term One Road Map –

Principals were advised of some changes to restrictions at school level today during an information teleconference. I will share these in more detail next week. Unfortunately we are not yet in a position where we can invite parents back on to the site without having a pre-booked appointment. I am hopeful that this situation will be relaxed in the near future, allowing us to resume welcoming parents to school events including assemblies.

Book of the Week –

At my previous school I often shared books that struck a chord with me as a young boy or those that I enjoy reading to my daughter. Once such book is Swallows and Amazons by English author, Arthur Ransome. The story centres around the holiday adventures of four siblings and their boat, The Swallow within the England’s picturesque Lake District. Full of adventure and excitement the story is an excellent read for students in our upper primary years. It is the first book of a series featuring these siblings and friends. There is also a recent movie of the same name which loosely follows the first book. In my opinion whilst being good, it by no means equals the excellence of the written work which is quite often the case when books are turned into movies.


Dates to Remember

  • Friday 8 April - Last day of term 1

  • Monday 25 April - ANZAC Day - Public holiday

  • Tuesday 26 April - First day of term 2

Communications Sent Home This Week

Notes and Emails Home

  • COVID-19 exposure letters

  • Years 3-6 Dance workshop

  • 2022 Stationary and voluntary contributions reminder


SMS Texts Home

  • Absences


Medical Information and Consent Form

Attached to this newsletter is the Medical Information and Consent Form.

The ACT Education Directorate requires this form to be completed each year for every student whether they have a medical condition or not.


If your child has a medical condition that requires medication at school please ensure that action plans and medication are provided to the school and are in date.

If you are unsure you can contact reception to check.


We also use this form to make sure your family's emergency contact details are up to date.

Mobile phone numbers are used for the SMS absence system and email address for communication. You can also update change of address or household living arrangements.


Please return these forms via email to nevillebonnerps@ed.act.edu.au or to your child's learning group teacher by Friday 25 March even if they do not have a medical condition.


If you require a hard copy these can be collected from reception.


NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing will take place ONLINE between 10 - 20 May 2022


NAPLAN Demonstration site NOW available. Students and parents are welcome to explore the NAPLAN online website.

Available are mini tests, information about NAPLAN and opportunity to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online testing : https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site


Please contact Kerry Johnstone through reception, ph 6142 1201, with any questions.

Harmony Day

On Monday the children will be exploring the theme of Harmony Week - Everyone Belongs, including making something orange to wear (the official colour of Harmony Day) - if your student has an orange school uniform shirt it would be perfect to wear on Monday. Please NOTE it is a uniform wearing day.

In the Newsletter next week we will share some of our learning!

Watch out for events around Canberra celebrating Harmony Week.

Reporting Absences

If your child is absent from school you will receive an SMS alert. If your child is sick or on leave please reply to this message to advise the reason for absence.

This is our preferred method as it is recorded as an approved written absence.

Please only call reception if COVID-19 related.


Parents' and Citizens' Association

2022 NBPS P&C Committee

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, 28th March at 6.30pm. Further details will be provided closer to the date.

We are always open for school parents to attend these meetings.

Canteen

Our canteen is open for lunch five days a week, orders are via Flexischools or cash direct to the canteen. Any cancellations must be advised prior to 9am on the day. Forgot to pick up some lunchbox items over the weekend? We have some great meal deals on Mondays and Tuesdays to ease the stress!

Birthday cupcakes

Our amazing canteen team offers birthday cupcakes! Cost is $30 per class, with orders required one (1) week in advance. To place an order, or for more information, please email canteennbps@gmail.com.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

The second hand uniform shop will be open on Wednesday, 23rd March from 2:30pm to 3:30pm in the car park on Mabo Boulevard. We have loads of pre-loved uniforms for sale. Preferred payment is via EFTPOS, however cash will be accepted.

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 1 book club orders have begun to arrive and should be given out to students soon.

Issue 2 catalogues are also on their way home. Orders for issue 2 close on Wednesday 23 March so we have time to get orders handed out by the end of term. Orders can be placed online via the LOOP website or app. Unfortunately, we are not accepting cash orders are the moment.

Don’t forget 20% of every sale is given to us in ‘rewards’ that the school can use to purchase resources from the catalogues.

The school has been able to purchase $1200 worth of books to restock the home reading book supply using rewards generated from orders. We are thrilled to be able to provide quality books for the students to enjoy so thank you for supporting Scholastic.

Contact Us

Want to touch base with your P&C? You can email us at nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com, or find us on FB at https://www.facebook.com/NBPS.PandC.


Contact Information

Principal:

Will Johnston william.johnston@ed.act.edu.au


Deputy Principals:

Sascha Steinbeck (P-2) sascha.steinbeck@ed.act.edu.au

Melissa Brough (3-6) melissa-louise.brough@ed.act.edu.au

P&C President:

Jayne Trustum nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com


Board Chair:

Amani Kerr

Reminders

Getting Kids to and from School Safely

Did you know that children find it difficult to judge the speed of moving cars?

40km/h school zones are in place between 8am and 4pm to help children get safely to and from school.

Remember to slow down and obey the signposted school zone limits and park safely and legally around schools – especially at school drop-off and pick-up times.

If you live close to your school, why not walk, ride, scoot or skate to school instead?

Let’s work together to keep our kids safe.

Community Information