Welcome to our 2021 school year 

It was fantastic to see everyone back at school on Wednesday. The majority of students seemed excited to be back, eager to reconnect with their friends and meet their new teacher.  There were a few little separation tears but when I checked in on all classes just after 9:15, the tears had been replaced by smiles.

We have welcomed 10 new students to our school and we hope they and their families soon feel a part of our wonderful school community.

Classes and staffing 2021

Office Staff

Cindy Tatlow, Alison Dallas and Nicole Norton

Education Facility Attendants

Margaret Grieve, Bec Evans, Megan Smith and Stephen Haines

Teacher Assistants

Kathryn Hubbard, Jo Phillips, Lecia Cooper, Lynne Goninon, Cindy Mathewson, Shannon Murphy, Cass Schwebel, Penny Carol, Carolyn Groom, Mandy McNamara, Alana Alderson and Holly Cock

Leadership Team

Paula Pearce - Principal

Amanda Lloyd – Assistant Principal and Grade 3/4 Team Leader

Katie Fisher – AST and LIL, Kinder-Prep Team Leader

Jessie Type Farrell – AST and Gr1-2/3 Team Leader

Ben Jones – AST and Gr5-Gr6 Team Leader

Support Staff

Karene Bracken – School Psychologist

Camilla Stretton and Susan Hutton – Social Workers

Kate Joyce – Speech Therapist

Melanie Gaul – School Nurse

Communication Between Home and School

We believe that building positive relationships and having effective open communication with parents and carers is vital. When parents and teachers work together it helps children thrive and succeed in school.  Due to this we started the year by brainstorming ways we could improve communication and involve our parents and carers more in their child’s education.  Some of the strategies we discussed were:

• Expanding our use of class Dojo K-6
• Utilising our social media more to celebrate learning journeys, share key focuses and disseminate useful tips
• Adapting assemblies so we can invite community members back.

Please note – that over the last few years we have done our best in informing parents/carers of upcoming events.  This has included: publishing a full year calendar that goes home early in Term 1; regularly re-publishing the calendar in our school newsletter and app;  placing reminders of upcoming events on all our social media; and sending notes home at least two weeks prior to bigger events or excursions.  To stay informed it is important that parents take the time to read all our correspondence and make note of dates.

Remember your child’s classroom teacher is the first point of call if you have any questions or information you would like to share or clarify. This can be done via class Dojo or by phoning the school office for an appointment.  Please note, teachers have no obligation to read or answer messages outside of their work hours.

The next point of call if the issue is more sensitive in nature, is your child’s Grade Level Team Leader (see above) or myself as Principal.

COVID Updates

Restrictions have eased, however, the following things are still in place across DoE sites based on advice from Public Health:

• Parent and carers are allowed on site and in classrooms, however, venue density and physical distancing of adults (1 adult to 2 square meters) still apply. Please take note of any venue density posters when entering school buildings and reduce gathering with groups of adults
• When entering buildings please use hand sanitiser provided and do not enter if you have cold like symptoms
• Visitors no longer need to complete the safety screen form, however, check in at the school office is necessary if you are staying on site longer than 15 minutes
• Cooking from home cannot be shared. If you would like to bring shared food to celebrate birthdays, the food must be purchased and in the original un-opened package.

Parking and traffic flow

The beginning of the year is a good time to revisit our rules regarding parking and traffic flow.

• Parking or standing in the pick-up/drop-off zone is not permitted between 8:45-9:15 and 2:45-3:30. The pick up/drop-off zone is the stretch of car waiting area to the eastern side of the office, near the shelter area.
• On entering the pick up/drop off zone, move your car to the front of the line to allow other cars access into the area
• Do another lap or find a park in a designated area if your child is late to the pick-up zone
• Avoid double parking in the pick-up area as it becomes very dangerous when students attempt to walk between the cars
• Delay arriving to school before 3:00pm as teachers do not dismiss students before this time.  It may be best to alter your family’s pick up time to 3:10 as this allows your child time to move to the pick-up area (and avoids the rush).

When in a parking bay it is important to note that if you try to reverse out of your space in peak times, it causes a traffic congestion by holding up the flow of cars entering and leaving. To help us improve traffic flow it is important that you respect the following:

• Moving traffic has the right of way
• If you are attempting to reverse out of parking spaces please be patient and wait until the flow of traffic has cleared – do not reverse out and stop the flow of traffic
• If possible reverse into the parking spaces so it is easier to move out
• If you are part of the moving traffic, please do not stop the flow by letting others in.

Members of the Leadership Team are always on duty in this area and are sometimes accompanied by our Adopt A Cop Richard Douglas to keep all members of our school community safe and to ensure the efficiency of the area.  Unfortunately, members of our school community can be disrespectful and in some cases verbally abusive to staff when reminded of the rules.  Please note, that all staff and Constable Douglas have the authority to request parents/visitors to move their vehicle and follow the rules above (please see point 3.2 of the Respectful School Volunteer and Visitor Behaviour Policy).

3.2 Roads on Somerset Primary campus

The control of traffic at a school campus is a school matter, and the principal and delegates have the right to instruct anyone operating a vehicle to follow the conditions under which vehicles may be driven, ridden, parked and removed from the school campus.

All drivers on campus are expected to observe the speed limit of 10 km per hour and abide by road traffic signs including parking conditions (time limited parking, drop off and pick-up zones, and staff parking).

All bicycles should be stored in designated areas.

If the rules are not observed, a member of staff has the authority to ask drivers to abide by the rules and move their car.  The school may also withdraw permission to enter the school campus, remove a vehicle parked contrary to the signage at the owner’s expense or any other response the school deems necessary to maintain a safe and functional space for others at the school.

We would really appreciate your support and extra care within our car parks and pick up zone so we have safe and efficient collection and drop off times.

Hats

Due to our Sun Smart Policy, all students need to wear a school hat when outdoors this Term.  These can be purchased at our School Office for $8. Students without a hat will be asked to play under shade.

Canteen

Canteen will commence in Week 3 on a Wednesday and Friday.  Please watch school bags and social media for further information.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club will commence in Week 3 on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:45-9:10.