TERM 1 WEEK 4/5 NEWSLETTER 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Meet & Greet BBQ

Next Tuesday, 27th February parents and carers are invited to our annual Meet & Greet for a relaxed afternoon as we kick off the start of the 2024 school year! It's the perfect chance to mingle with staff and other parents, exchange valuable information, and get any questions answered. 

A free sausage sizzle will be provided for all OEPS community members, including drinks. The playground and play equipment will be open for students to enjoy. 

• Date: Tuesday, 27th February (Week 5)
• Time: 4:30 – 6 pm
• Cost: FREE
• Location: School COLA and playgrounds
• Who: All OEPS students, staff, and families

Information for Kinder Parents

What a pleasure it has been getting to know our newest students and watching them grow in confidence at school. It has been impressive to see their enthusiasm as they experience various aspects of school life.

Last week all kindergarten students commenced full days at school, with no early finish option. A reminder at home time that we ask parents/carers to wait outside the March St building for children to be escorted out. Parents are still welcome to wait inside the school site under the shaded area near the classrooms. All K-2 students are supervised in this area by multiple staff until they are picked up or escorted by an older sibling as per parent arrangements.

Upcoming for Kinder

Please note that our Kindergarten students’ second Infants Assembly will be next Friday, 1st March starting at 2pm. At these assemblies, for each class we award; 3 Blue Merits for Safe, Respectful Learners; a Principal’s Award (a text notification is sent to parents/carers early in the week if your child is receiving this award), any students who have achieved a sticker on their Achievement Certificate, Homereading Awards as well as birthday students. This can all be a bit confusing for first time families so please talk to your child’s class teacher or contact the office if you would like further information.

Another event that will occur in Week 10 and 11 this term is Kinder Parent/Teacher Interviews. These allow parents and teachers to discuss how the children have settled into school and also how they are progressing. We will also give you information about the Best Start assessment that took place before school commenced.

Over the coming weeks we will send a notification out to Kinder parents/carers explaining how to book an interview. 

As in previous years, Parent/Teacher Interviews for students in Years 1-6 will take place towards the end of Term 2.

SCHOOL NEWS

Parking Around the School

We have been asked by the staff at Ascott Gardens to remind parents/carers that parking in their March St carpark (opposite the school) is not permitted. These parking spaces are only for Ascott staff/resident's visitors. 

A reminder also to observe speed limits and general parking rules around the school. The zones are regularly patrolled by both police and council parking inspectors, particularly during morning and hometime periods.

Supervision Hours

A reminder that student supervision hours commence at 8:40am until 3:10pm, with only afternoon bus students staying beyond this time until the final bus arrives. It is a parental responsibility to ensure that children arrive at school at the correct time. Students should not arrive at school prior to 8:40am unless on an early bus and there is no other bus available. Staff require this time to prepare & organise materials for the day. Some students have been arriving in excess of 30 minutes prior to this time at which point there is no supervision and a limited amount of staff in the area. We ask for your support in ensuring the safety of our students.

Canteen News

Our canteen reopened for 2024 last Friday. As per previous years, it is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Please note canteen lunch orders can be purchased via the QuickCliq website which can be found on the new School Bytes app or by following the link below. The website will only allow purchases up until 9:30am on the day of the order.

https://www.quickcliq.com.au/

Where can I find the QuickCliq link on the new School Bytes app?

1.       At the bottom of the 'Home' page click on the 'News' tab. Once open, the link is pinned at the top of the page.

2.       It can also be found by opening the ‘Resources’ tile on the 'Home' page. Once open, scroll down and the link is sitting under 'School Resources'.  

Cash Purchase Menu

A reminder that certain cold drinks, ice products and snacks can also be purchased with cash at either recess or lunch.

Stationery Packs and Voluntary Contributions

As in previous years, the school will continue to purchase stationery, educational software licenses and most consumables for students. This is in line with Department of Education policy and though it is a significant cost, we feel it is important to support our community and ensure that all students have equitable access to required learning resources.

Stationery for each class will be managed and distributed by the class teacher, as per the system they set up in their room. The stationery, including books, has been purchased corresponding to the year level/needs of the students. If parents wish to purchase optional additional items we suggest a pencil case, coloured pencils and/or textas for individual use – all clearly labelled.

This policy also applies to requests for consumable items such as tissues, wipes, whiteboard markers, etc. Parents are still free to donate consumable items however it is not an expectation from the school.

With regard Voluntary Contributions (School Fees) the school will continue to send out requests for these fees. It is important to note that as the name suggests, the decision to pay the Voluntary Contribution is a parental decision. As always, money raised from these contributions goes toward the purchase of items to support teaching and learning programs in the school.

Our Voluntary Contribution fees are listed below:

• First child - $50

• Thereafter each child is $22

Summer Uniform

As we continue through the warmer weather of summer, a reminder that during Term 1 it is compulsory for students to wear their maroon school bucket hat while playing in the playground, as well as during PE and Sport. Students not wearing the correct hat will be restricted to playing under the COLA/central lunch area.

Also, a reminder that we have a high expectation for all students to be in the correct uniform. Wearing the uniform is not only important for the self-esteem of our students but promotes the school as a positive and proud part of the community. I have included the following table with the uniform requirements for Term 1 to assist parents/caregivers.

New School App

Last year, the school crossed to a new event management and parental payment system – School Bytes. This initial step was part of a bigger move to take place in 2024.

To commence this year, we are now using School Bytes as our total school management system. School Bytes now manages:

• Attendance
• Communication (School Bytes App)
• Calendars
• Event Management/Parent Payments
• Forms/Permission Notes
• Meetings
• Medical
• School Resources
• Wellbeing
• Academic Reports

What has gone?

• We are no longer using the Sentral School Management system.
• We will stop using the Skoolbag (Audiri) App at the end of next week – Friday, 16th February.
• Class Dojo is no longer being used for parent communication.

Why change?

• Simpler, more efficient management system for parents to use.
• Elimination of multiple, individual management systems.
• Efficient school administration – system integration, meaning information flows automatically between modules where relevant.
• A management system designed specifically for 21st Century, NSW schools.

So what does it mean for parents?

• Most parents are already using the School Bytes Parental Portal. Keep using it but with even more functions!
• Download the School Bytes App – this will make it even easier to use and will replace Skoolbag (Audiri). Make sure you turn app notifications on if you want to be alerted to school messages, newsletters, events, attendance information, etc.

Want to know more – check out a few key user guides we’ve included below:

• Set up your parent portal account
• How to access School Bytes
• Turn on School Bytes parent app notifications
• View or download the school Newsletter or School/Student documents
• Manage student absences
• Syncing the calendar to your phone or device

Need help?

• Please give the office a call, we will do our best to support parents with this change.

A reminder that we are also learning a new system and may need a little patience. 

Class Dojo Has Changed

Please note, as part of our effort to streamline and simplify communication between the school and families, we are no longer using the School/Class Feed and Parent Messaging components of Class Dojo. From this year onward, we will only use this system internally to assist in the management of tracking Yeti/Dojo points – not as a communication platform.

We know that many parents utilise the messaging feature of this product to communicate with school staff. To support ongoing communication between home and school, please see below for email address contacts of all staff.

Going forward, a combination of email and School Bytes Messaging will be used to support electronic communication between class teachers and parents.

As always parents are also welcome to call or come into the school as required for more urgent/complex communication.

Clothing Pool

The Clothing Pool is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:40 - 9:10am. Afternoons are by appointment only.

A reminder that the Clothing Pool also welcomes donations of any clothing. Please drop items off at the office or clothing pool on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

CURRENT FORMS/PERMISSION NOTES

KITCHEN/GARDEN NEWS

Garden Week

Our first week back saw students from years 3-6 in the garden working on identifying garden tools, safety with garden tools and wheelbarrow license tests! This is a really important part of the kitchen garden program as it helps students identify and understand the tools we might use in the garden (rakes, pitchforks, shovels, spades, secateurs, hand forks, hoes, mattocks, hand spades, hoses, buckets and wheelbarrows).

A wheelbarrow license test involves wheeling a load in a wheelbarrow going forward, slalom corners and moving backwards.

We managed to start harvesting our tomatoes, cabbages and corn.

Rabbit Invasion

To the sweet sounds of Watership Down and the juicy taste of ripening vegetables came three stray rabbits! Obviously someone's pets and they were not leaving paradise found! After many (hilarious) attempts to catch the feasters, with the help of Mrs Mac's rabbit cage we got one! The owner was contacted and the rabbit is hopefully happily back home. Now just two to go and a garden brimming with treats, let's hope we can capture them soon. Stay tuned for updates. (And for those wondering ... NO rabbit stew in the kitchen!)

UPCOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY ASSEMBLY

Assembly Information

In 2024 we will continue with our regular alternating Friday Assembly with parents and carers invited to attend. The assembly commences at 2pm on Friday in the School Hall. Each week the assembly will alternate between Primary (Yr 3-6) and Infants (K-2).

On Friday mornings from 8:40am, either Infants or Primary students (corresponding with the assembly weeks listed below) are invited to bring their lots of 10 Blue Merit Awards to the office for stamping. During the day, we will also process Principal Awards and Homereading Awards. These awards and the Safe Respectful Learner Awards will be presented at the assembly after lunch.

Parents will receive a notification early in the week via the School Bytes app if your child is receiving a Principal’s Award.

Photos of the award recipients will continue be included in the newsletter the following week.

Please note the roster below:

• Week 4 - Friday, 23rd Feb (Primary)
• Week 5 - Friday, 1st March (Infants)
• Week 6 - Friday, 8th March (Primary)
• Week 7 - Friday, 15th March (Infants)
• Week 8 - Friday, 22nd March (Primary) 
• Week 9 – NO ASSEMBLY GOOD FRIDAY (29th March)
• Week 10 - Friday, 5th April (Infants)
• Week 11 – Friday, 12th April (PBL Assemblies)

Week 2 Primary Assembly Awards

Week 3 Infants Assembly Awards

P&C NEWS

P&C MEETINGS 2024

Term 1

• Week 8 - Tuesday, 19th March @ 6:30pm

 Meetings are held between 6:30 - 7:30pm in the Staffroom with access from the Spring Street entrance (see map below). Meeting length is strictly limited to one hour or less if possible! New members are warmly welcomed. Do not hesitate to contact the school office if you would like further information.

Parents and carers can also opt to join via Zoom. Zoom participants will need to create a registered account and use the details below:

https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/63652201858?pwd=ZUVKSFdidzErNkZ0OWVMT2hQM3NMUT09

Meeting ID: 636 5220 1858

Passcode: OEPS

JOINING THE P&C OR VOLUNTEERING

We love parent involvement at Orange East. You can volunteer in the classroom, working bees, help cook at BBQ's, share your professional or special interest skills, join a committee and more. Please complete this online form to register your interest and the P&C will email you details of upcoming events and P&C meetings for your calendar.

Expressions of Interest - OEPS P&C (google.com)

COMMUNITY NOTICES