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Welcome back to all of our students and families and a warm welcome to the number of new families that have joined us this term. I hope everyone was able to enjoy some quality time over the holiday break.
Unfortunately, I joined the many Western Australians to test positive to COVID and was required to complete my one week of isolation.
We have a very busy term ahead of us with NAPLAN for students in Years 3 and 5 starting in week 3, swimming lessons for students in years Pre Primary to Year 4 and the winter carnival for the Year 5 and 6 students.
Following the announced changes to the operating guidelines for schools we will be able to start returning to a more normal schooling experience. From Friday
- Masks are no longer required (however you may wear one if you wish)
- Parents may enter classrooms
- We will be able to run our Families & Schools Together (FAST) program on site with CLAN Midland
- We can begin planning for the reintroduction of school assemblies in the under covered area from the start of Term 3
I remain hopeful that the changes announced recently, whilst very much appreciated, won’t lead to an increase in students and staff at Arbor Grove contracting COVID.
Winter
This week has reminded us that we are heading into winter and with that will come rain and colder days. I would encourage all students to ensure they have some warm clothing (preferably not hoodies) with their names in them ready for the colder days.
Sick Children
It is important that any students that are unwell, particularly those with flu like symptoms, do not attend school. Please remember to advise the school by phone or email when your child is unwell.
Staffing Changes
I would like to welcome the following new staff to our school
- Mrs Beth McBain in Performing Arts
- Mr Sam Hall in Room 16
- Mrs Crystal Sanford in Room 8 for Term 2
- Ms Dzenana Vatres in Technologies for Term 2
We also welcome back Mrs Seymour for another term.
I wish to advise the school community of two staff that have decided to leave Arbor Grove PS to pursue other opportunities outside of the Education Department;
- Ms Bianca Marshall, who has been our Library Officer since 2019
- Mrs Lana Viska who has done a wonderful job as our Manager Corporate Services since joining the school in 2017
I would like, on behalf of the school, to recognise the contribution both Ms Marshall and Mrs Viska made to the school and wish them both well in their new endeavours. We have begun the process of back filling these important positions and I look forward to advising the school community when appointments have been made.
Parking
The City of Swan community regularly identifies school parking safety concerns as a priority. In order to address these community safety concerns, the City has developed a school parking process. To assist with understanding these local laws, the City of Swan has developed a School Road Safety Guide which is available on the City’s website via the following link www.swan.wa.gov.au/Your-City/Parking-travel/Parking/Safe-and-legal-parking.
Over the next few weeks the City’s Parking Enforcement and Community Safety Advocate teams will commence patrols to capture images of vehicles parked in contravention to the local laws. Whilst the City aims to address these concerns without imposing penalties, Caution notices will only be issued for a limited period with infringement notices with applicable penalties being imposed for the remainder of the school year.
Glen Purdy
NAPLAN Online – Information for Parents and Carers
From Tuesday May 10 2022, students in Years 3 and 5 will be completing the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Online.
Your child will do the NAPLAN tests online in 2022 . One of the main benefits of NAPLAN Online is tailored (or adaptive) testing, in which the test presents questions of higher or lower complexity depending on a student’s performance. Tailored (or adaptive) testing is designed to assess a wider range of student abilities and to measure student achievement more precisely.
Why do students do NAPLAN? NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests.
What does NAPLAN assess? NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. As students are assessed on the same literacy and numeracy curriculum content, regardless of whether they complete the test online or on paper, results for both formats can be reported on the same NAPLAN assessment scale.
How can I help my child prepare? Help your child prepare by reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and by reminding them on the day to simply do their best. Teachers have ensured students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and been provided appropriate support and guidance in preparation.
To find out more about NAPLAN Online, visit https://www.nap.edu.au/
Kym McCabe
ANZAC Day Ceremony
On the last day of Term 1 we held our annual ANZAC Day Assembly. With restrictions limiting mass gatherings, we opted for a virtual assembly. At 8.45am, all students tuned in with their class to commemorate the ANZACs. The assembly was run by our Student Leaders and Faction Captains, with all classes participating throughout. The assembly included The Last Post and The Ode, which acknowledge the bravery demonstrated by our soldiers and loss of life suffered throughout Australia’s various conflicts.
Year 6 student, Kaylee Gorton delivered a moving poem “In Flanders Field”, which was written by John McCrae in 1915. All students participated by learning to sing “I Am Australian” in Noongar with Mrs Butcher and in AUSLAN with their classroom teacher. Each class was asked to make a wreath to place underneath the flags located in the middle of the school. Kaylee Gorton and Nate Blackwood lead the student representatives out to the flag poles, where the wreaths were placed.
Following the assembly, many classes conducted further research on the significance of ANZAC Day and participated in additional activities to commemorate our soldiers.
A huge thank you to Mr Williams, Miss Parfrey and Mrs Ellen who organised, filmed, directed and edited the assembly.
The success of the P&C depends on the involvement of the parents and the wider school community. A successful P&C can add immeasurably to the success and appeal of the school through ensuring that students have access to the best resources available and that parents are both informed and have a voice.
All members of the school community are welcomed and encouraged to get involved in the P&C. Meetings will resume back on school grounds this term & everyone is welcome.
Cookie Kit Fundraiser
Thank you to the amazing P&C members and volunteers for their mammoth efforts in week 10, preparing 172 DIY Cookie Kits for the Arbor Grove families.
That’s 1376 cookies, 516 bags of icing, 344 tubs of sprinkles all boxed up with instructions and handed out on Thursday April 7.
Special thanks to Phil Holling from Coles Ellenbrook for the donation of the boxes into which the cookies were packed.
Thank you also to Kim and Amy Holmes from Swan Valley Earthmoving for the donation of a lunch platter that fuel the bakers.
Mother’s Day
Due to the Covid restrictions in place since the start of the year, we have been unable to hold our usual Mother’s Day Stall. Instead, this year we will be offering Mother’s Day Mystery Bags containing a selection of different gifts for Mums or other special ladies, as well as a Mother’s Day Raffle.
Mother’s Day is next week, so get your orders in now to avoid missing out! Order forms were sent home at the end of last term and spare forms are available from the school office.
Pre-orders are essential and are available now on Flexischools or cash and order forms to the P&C box behind the Office. Please use correct cash amounts as no change can be given.
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page in the coming days for a sneaky peak.
Book Club
Thank you for your continued support of Bookclub. As soon as Issue 2 has arrived, it will be collected, sorted and organised ready for delivery to your child's classroom over the coming weeks. We expect Issue 3 catalogues to also arrive soon, these will be distributed as soon as possible.
If there are any issues or queries, please contact me via email agpsbookclub@outlook.com.au
Rhiannon Harvey
AGPS Bookclub Coordinator
Canteen
Unfortunately, the canteen remains closed until further notice. We will update further regarding this, later this term.
Fundraising with Bows
Ponytails and Fairytales a local Perth company supply Hair Accessories in our school and faction colours as an ongoing fundraiser for the P&C.
Shop for bows and sports products online, where there's PayPal, After Pay, Cards, and Bank Deposit payments available.
20% from each purchase benefits our school community. Happy shopping!!
https://www.ponytailsandfairytales.com.au/.../arbor-grove...
Entertainment Memberships
Visit: https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/87028aWednesday 11 May | FAST |
Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 May | Breakfast Club |
Tuesday 31 May and Thursday 2 June | Breakfast Club |
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