TERM 2 WEEK 5/6 NEWSLETTER 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

RECONCILIATION WEEK

Over the past week, students across the school have learnt about Reconciliation Week.

The day before this special week marks National Sorry Day, this year on Sunday 26^th May. The day is a time to remember the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as The Stolen Generations. On National Sorry Day we acknowledge and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and our nation.

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June – is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week was Now More Than Ever. The theme is a reminder to all Australians that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will – and must – continue.

Over Reconciliation week, OEPS students were encouraged to become aware of and appreciate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions to sustainable land management.

We explored our Indigenous Garden and Bush Tucker Garden and discussed how "Now More Than Ever" we can connect to these spaces and care for these environments. We represented this through drawings on a handprint which have been pieced together to create a large installation art piece to celebrate our commitment to reconciliation and caring for our school and community environments. The artworks are displayed in the demountable classroom with our community welcome to come in and view the work.

Thank you to our stronger Smarter Team for their work in supporting Reconciliation Week across the school. 

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Coming up later this term is our mid-year report/ interview process. The report and interview process provides a practical and straight forward way for teachers and parents/carers to communicate regarding student progress. The mid-year report contains assessment, effort, social development & commitment to learning, additional activities and absences information. Student reports will be provided to parents on Friday, 21st June (Week 8).

As in past years, a key feature of this process are parent/teacher interviews. The aim for our mid-year report/interview process is to produce a straight-forward shortened format report supported with interviews to explain teaching strategies, show student’s progress and outline clearly areas for development. Interviews allow for a two-way flow of information and also give parents/caregivers the ability to ask questions and discuss any concerns or clarification they may require. Mid-year is an ideal time for these discussions to take place as teachers prepare for the second semester. At the end of Semester Two we will revert back to the more detailed report format but will only offer parent/teacher interviews through request.

To facilitate the booking of parent/teacher interviews we are going to use the School Interviews website. This website allows parents to see in real-time teacher availability, bookings and also to coordinate bookings across several teachers. Parent/teacher interviews will be 15 minutes long with separate parent interviews accommodated in the case where this is more appropriate.

The School Interviews website opened today and will close on  Wednesday, 19th June. After this date, interviews will only be able to be booked by contacting the school office. Parents without internet or computer access are welcome to come in or ring the school office for assistance with making an interview booking.

Please follow the instructions below to make your booking:

Follow the link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/tsh3x

Enter the event code: tsh3x (only required to change a booking)

The website will guide you through three simple steps, and moments later you'll get an email confirming your bookings. If you need to change or cancel your bookings, just enter the event code again (tsh3x). If you're on the same computer, you'll go straight to your bookings.

PLEASE NOTE BELOW SOME VARIATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN 5/6 GALAH FOR REPORT AND INTERVIEW TIMEFRAMES 

Due to teacher leave earlier this term, we have made the decision to move both report distribution and the interview period into early Term 3 for students in 5/6 Galah (Mrs Pulbrook).

• 5/6 Galah reports will be distributed on Friday, 26^th July (Term 3 Week 1)
• Interviews will take place from Monday, 29^th July to Friday, 9^th August (Term 3 Week 2-3)

Please note that we will open a separate School Interview booking website for this class later this term – details to go out via email to parents/carers. These classes will have a different School Interviews website passcode to the classes in the regular interview period.

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS

A reminder that Kindergarten interviews have already taken place in Term 1—these students will still get their reports at the same time as the rest of the school but will not have interviews unless by request.

OFFICE VISITORS

SCHOOL NEWS

2025 KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS

As we move towards the half way point for the year we begin to make plans around our incoming 2025 Kindergarten students and in particular our school transition processes. If you intend to enrol a kindergarten student for next year, or know of someone that will be, please ensure enrolments are placed via the school office as soon as possible.

CLOTHING POOL

The Clothing Pool is open every Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:40 - 9:10am. Afternoons are by appointment only. A reminder that the Clothing Pool has moved to what was formerly the General Assistant/Cleaner's Shed - next to the disabled toilet.

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

SCHOOL CANTEEN CHANGE REMINDER

A reminder, as previously advised our school canteen will no longer open on Mondays.

Due to increasing operational costs, we have made the hard decision to cut the canteen service back to only Wednesdays and Fridays. Historically, Monday has been consistently the lowest day in terms of sales for the service. Starting in Week 6, there will also be a slight price increase across most items to support the ongoing viability of the service. Even with this slight price increase it will remain similar, if not cheaper, to most comparable canteen services. As always, the aim of the canteen is simply to 'break even' with no profit or cost to the school.

We regret the need to make these changes but hope you will continue to support the canteen service at the school. 

ATTENDANCE REMINDER

CURRENT FORMS/PERMISSION NOTES

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:

Term 2

• Week 6 - Friday, 7th June (Infants, K-2)
• Week 7 - Friday, 14th June (Primary, Yr 3-6)
• Week 8 - Friday, 21st June (Infants, K-2)
• Week 9 - Friday, 28th June (Primary, Yr 3-6)
• Week 10 - Friday 5th July PBL (TBC)
  

WEEK 3 PRIMARY ASSEMBLY AWARDS

WEEK 4 INFANTS ASSEMBLY AWARDS

CLASS OF THE WEEK

TERM 2 WEEK 3 - 3/4 PARROT

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P&C NEWS

P&C MEETINGS 2024

Term 2

• Week 8 - Tuesday, 18th June @ 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

HOLIDAY SWIMMING INTENSIVE PROGRAM

JULY HOLIDAY INTENSIVES – NOW OPEN!

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We have now opened bookings for July Holiday Intensive Swimming! Please see information below:

DATES: Monday 8th July - Friday 12th July (first week of school holidays)

PRICE: $87.50 for 5 days

CLASSES:

PRESCHOOL 1 & 2, LEVELS 1, 2, 3, 4: Run for 30 minutes.  

BREASTSTROKE MASTERCLASS (Wed/Thurs ONLY) - Run for 30 minutes, available to level 4, minimum 2 day booking.

PRIVATE CLASSES - Limited availability, please request via email (addtional fees and criteria apply). 

TIMES:

All lessons will take place between 9am-12:30pm.

BOOKING:

When you book, you must book and pay for the whole week.

To ensure we can process your booking in a timely manner please include the following information when emailing through your request.

Preferred time:
Child/children’s Names:
Child/children’s Current Level:

Please be aware, all outstanding Term 2 fees must be paid in full before holiday bookings will be accepted.

Payment for Intensives is due 2 weeks in advance. Any cancellations must be made in writing 2 weeks prior to the start date. Cancellation Policy will apply as per our Terms and Conditions. 

If you book & do not attend, you will still be charged the full fee for holding the booking.

**Please be advised we can only take bookings via email, not in person or over the phone. Due to a high volume of correspondence, reply times may take longer than usual.

Kind regards,

The LTS Team

Orange Aquatic Centre