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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Hello Swan Reach,
Pleasingly, the term has continued to progress in a very positive manner. Students are demonstrating our values; Respect, Integrity, Care, Participation and Success. Attendance levels are high and it is terrific to see and hear students and children enjoying their schooling day. Staff appreciate this as it enables the teaching and learning plans to be fully implemented – after all it is our core business.
We’d like to announce our school captains, Naomi and Harley, and proxies, Ryan and Lina. We look forward to supporting them develop their leadership skills and continue increasing student agency at SRAS.
Thank you to all families for your strong support and understanding with the indifferent start to the 2022 schooling year. It is highly appreciated and with some restrictions easing (refer to COVID-19 update section) next week, we look forward to returning to closer to ‘normal’ operations over the next 5-week period. More restrictions could ease after week 9 – we’ll wait and see. Whilst there are no reported cases of COVID-19 thus far at SRAS, we know schools in the Murraylands and Riverland districts are affected, and serve to remind us of the reasons we need to adhere to SA Health and Department requirements and safety measures.
Kind regards
Mr John Robertson
PRINCIPAL
COVID-19 UPDATE
A number of COVID-19 restrictions and site operation matters have eased. Below is a summary of the key ones that SRAS community needs to adhere to for the next 5 weeks of this term – starting on Monday 28th February:
The following services and activities will continue to STOP:
- Face-to-face staff meetings (OK for 1:1 staff performance development meetings)
- Mingling in staff room
The following services and activities can restart: (with COVID-19 safe practices in place)
- Parents on-site (for necessary actions)
- Volunteer programs Eg reading
- Occasional Care, PCMG and Playgroup
- Assemblies & day excursions (outdoors only)
- Combined class activities (outdoors only)
- Community Library
- Extra curricula activities – Eg Sports Day with parent / carer volunteers & spectators
- Inter-school sports
Ongoing COVID Safe practices at SRAS are:
- Masks required for all adults when indoors (except if impeding with teaching)
- Masks required for all secondary students when indoors and on buses (unless medically exempt)
- Masks strongly encouraged for year 3-6s
- Masks make available to all (smaller masks will be issued by DfE)
- Sanitiser made available in every learning space
- Social distancing when possible
- QR code checking is required for schools and preschools
- Staff and students to stay home if presenting with symptoms
- Staff and students to go home if symptoms present during the day
GOVERNING COUNCIL (GC) Annual General Meeting (AGM)
You are cordially invited to our online Annual General Meeting on Monday 28th February at 6:00pm via ZOOM. It is an opportunity to come along and see GC in action, without feeling the pressure to commit. Some key roles and responsibilities of the GC are:
- provide advice to the site leader to make sure the curriculum offered meets local community needs. Eg a specialist programs
- consult with the site’s community to assist when policies are made or reviewed
- take part in an interview to employ a principal
- work on site and preschool improvement plans
- review approve and monitor site budget
- endorse the annual report
The link to the meeting is:
Topic: Governing Council AGM
Time: Feb 28, 2022 06:00 PM Adelaide
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98689894715?pwd=Qi85eld3dm4xc1ZONnpQQjBRaFhhQT09
Meeting ID: 986 8989 4715
Passcode: 5i6v7s
NOTICE of ELECTION and CALL for NOMINATIONS
An election is to be conducted for parent members of the Swan Reach Area School Governing Council at the upcoming AGM on Monday 28th February.
Nomination forms are included with this week’s newsletter. Nomination forms must be lodged with the Returning Officer (the principal) by 4.00pm on Monday 28th February 2022 (extension).
The ballot will be conducted at the Annual General Meeting to be held Monday 28th February 2022 at 6:00pm.
There are 7 Parent / Carer positions and 2 community member positions needing to be filled. Being on GC is an important and great way to support your child(ren) and our school. You may choose to self-nominate or nominate a Parent or Carer who has a child(ren) attending SRAS. Once members are elected then office bearer positions will be nominated and elected for 2021.
4 x 1-year tenures
3 x 2-year tenures
2 x community members with a 1-year tenure
Note Well – under new DfE mandate, ALL GC members must be vaccinated and required to undertake Responding to Risk, Harm and Abuse training for volunteers, facilitated by SRAS.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
SRAS values community feedback and acknowledges that sometimes you may have concerns you wish to share in a safe and valued manner. The following is a guide from the department to assist you in raising a concern or grievance:
Parents / Carers should raise any concerns or complaints about their child’s education with their child’s teacher. It is expected that teachers will:
- acknowledge the complaint
- make a time available (face-to-face, by phone) as soon as reasonably possible to discuss with the parent/s their complaint
- consider relevant legislation, departmental policy and guidelines and school or preschool processes and/or seek advice from your site leader
- identify and discuss with the parent possible courses of action that could be taken to resolve their complaint and the timeframe for this to occur
- where practicable, follow up with the parents, after a reasonable period of time for any changes to take effect, to ensure that the parent is satisfied with the outcome. For example, at parent interview, telephone or email.
- if appropriate (depending on the nature of the concern or complaint) keep a written record of the complaint, its progress and outcomes (refer to this procedure's recording complaints section)
- if a parent is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint management process or decides that it is more appropriate to discuss their complaint directly with a member of the leadership team, then the person hearing the complaint must follow up by scheduling a meeting or phone call with the school leader (if applicable)
Full details are available on the following website:
https://www.education.sa.gov.au/department/feedback-and-complaints/complaint-management-steps
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
The importance and benefits of attendance through schooling years is crucial for children’s best opportunity for success at school and beyond. In particular, regular attendance:
- plays a vital role in developing strong patterns of engagement and attendance with education
- helps develop routines and sets strong foundation for later learning
- builds children and young people’s social capabilities
- prepares children and young people for successful participation in learning and the broader community.
https://edi.sa.edu.au/library/document-library/controlled-policies/attendance-policy
The DfE attendance policy states:
The Act and the Regulations impose statutory responsibilities in relation to attendance at school. The Act requires that children must be enrolled in a school or approved learning program from the age of 6 years until they turn 17 years of age.
The Act also requires that a child must:
- attend the school at which they are enrolled on every day the school is open and at all school activities the school requires the child to attend, or
- participate in the approved learning program in which they are enrolled.
Parents have a responsibility under the Act to ensure their children attend school regularly. If a child or young person does not attend, without a ‘prescribed reason’ for their non-attendance or an approved exemption, their parents may be guilty of an offence.
SRAS endeavours to communicate with families about attendance matters and work with families to ensure maximum attendance for every child.
Where a student’s absence is unexplained, SRAS will contact families via text message to seek clarification about the reason for absence. Where there may be ongoing unexplained absences for 3 days, the home group teacher will call to seek clarification. For unexplained absences of more than 3 days, a member of the leadership team will call to seek clarification. In Chronic cases of unexplained absences, SRAS will refer the family to Social Work Duty Line (Attendance).
Mr John Robertson
Principal
R-2 CLASS
This year our plan for Science was turned upside down when Joke Wenske offered to send in some butterfly cocoons for the R-2 class. We switched our Science planner to focus on butterflies and life cycles. Our first mission was to find two old aquariums that would be suitable for the butterfly cocoons to hatch in and then started collecting data about what we already knew about butterflies. Finally we began brainstorming some questions that the students wanted to learn about butterflies. More information about this can be seen on our KWL chart. When some of our butterflies hatched we then released them back into nature at lunch time.
If you have any questions about butterflies that you would like answered let us know, we can research and find the answer for you.
Mrs Ashleigh Thomas
Julie’s Column
Hi everyone, welcome back to school, and a huge welcome to the new families for 2022. It’s great to see the new students settling in so well already. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Julie Maxwell and I am the Pastoral Care Worker here at Swan Reach Area School. I am here to provide wellbeing support for the school community – students, staff and families. You would have received a consent form for your child/ren to see me individually if the need arises and this explains my role a little. If you would like more information, or want to chat about anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can do this in various ways - either phone or text the school, or email me at julie.maxwell32@schools.sa.edu.au, or call in on Wednesdays or Thursdays when I’m at school (when COVID restrictions lift).
I am starting a new activity at school this year and that is to give out birthday presents to all students. These gifts are mostly second-hand and are either unwanted gifts that my children have received over the years or toys, jewellery, etc that they have grown out of (I have 3 adult children). I have also had some things given to me from an Op Shop and other places and I have bought a few items that I know kids like. The gifts are in good condition but they haven’t cost me anything (I’ve been reimbursed for those I have bought). I let the students choose their own gifts, however, if you don’t want your child to keep the one they have chosen, for any reason, please bring it back to school in good condition and I’ll gladly exchange it.
Have a great year and I hope to be able to touch base with as many families as possible during the year.
Mrs Julie Maxwell
Pastoral Care Worker
OPENING HOURS
The library now has a mobile phone for communication. Please let me know if you would like to be included on the message list to receive notifications, holiday and opening hours etc.
The number is: 0460 366 067
'BEING DIGITAL INNOVATION'
being digital is a program to help promote the digital assistance and learning that SA’s public libraries offer to adult South Australians.
The being digital webpage provides a useful portal for those less experienced with technology and digital to start learning the basics. The content featured is provided by partners including Be Connected and the eSafety Commisioner. We encourage you to further browse the courses offered by these partners on their websites to continue your digital learning journey. being digital is jointly funded by State Government and Local Government. We’re making it easy for you to develop your skills and confidence to connect with today’s digital world. Learn more about our being digital program. Need additional assistance? Contact your local library.
The webpage which has learning content by topic and links to related digital literacy programs at libraries is at http://www.libraries.sa.gov.au/beingdigital
COVID-19 DIGITAL PASSPORTS
Can't access your digital passport or load on your phone? The Community Library can scan your paperwork and reduce to credit card size for your wallet or purse. No charge.
The Swan Reach Area School website is where you can find all the school information including the newsletter, forms and policies. Please visit https://swanrchas.sa.edu.au.
Due date for the next Newsletter is 10:00am, Wednesday, March 9th, 2022. The newsletter is distributed via the SZApp and school website. Printed copies are still available upon request.
Articles can be emailed to dl.0423.info@schools.sa.edu.au clearly marked in the subject box as Newsletter, faxed to 8570 2325 or delivered to the library/front office. Due to the way the Newsletter is now being set up, not all photos are included in the print copy, however there are several photo galleries included online and via the SZApp. Apple devices: open the App store and search and download SZapp, on Android devices open the Play store and search and download SZappa; select the Asia Pacific region and search for Swan Reach Area School. Follow the prompts to register using an email address and create a password to access the online newsletter. Contact the school should you require any assistance.
28 FEBRUARY | Governing Council Meeting (Online) 6pm |
11 MARCH | Ski for Life |
14 MARCH | Adelaide Cup |
18 MARCH | SRAS SPORTS DAY |
22 MARCH | USE (Upper South East) Swimming |
29 MARCH | USE (Upper South East) Athletics |
31 MARCH | PRIMARY INTERSCHOOL SPORTS DAY |
8 APRIL | SSSSA ATHLETICS |
14 APRIL | TERM 1 ends |
15 APRIL | Good Friday |
1 MAY | River Run to the Reach |
PLEASE NOTE COVID RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY TO ALL
COMMUNITY EVENTS UNLESS ADVISED OTHERWISE.
Swan Reach Christian Women's Group invite you to join them for Bible study and fellowship each month. 11am, second Tuesday of the Month at the Swan Reach Lutheran Church Hall. BYO lunch. For more information please phone Taryn 0427 702 377 or Josie 0419 708 224. All welcome.
River Murray Youth Council information night
The River Murray Youth Council is recruiting for 2022. If you’re interested in your local environment and passionate about its conservation, RMYC is for you. Be part of a group of like-minded young people and get involved in practical projects, field days and much more. Come along to a free information session and find out more. Register your interest via the website: https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/mr/events/river-murray-youth-council-information-night