Phone 6765 8426 Email tamworths-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Web tamworths-p.schools.nsw.edu.au -

Term 2 Week 1 1 May 2020

Calendar

At this stage, events which have been cancelled or postponed are indicated. You will understand that the current situation is changing rapidly. We will, of course, keep you fully informed as soon as possible.

MaySelective High Schools - Late April early May 2020

Principals confirm school assessment scores online. Errors can be corrected much more easily at this time than after outcomes when parents contest scores

Mon 4-Fri 8 Mother's Day Stall9:00am until 1:00pm - under the bus shelter Woodward Avenue side of the school

Friday 8 Year 3 Dubbo Excursion 1st Installment due - $20.00

Friday 8 Year 4 Sydney Excursion1st Installment due - $25.00

Friday 8 Year 5 Point Wolstoncroft Excursion1st Installment due - $50.00

Friday 8 Year 6 Canberra Excursion1st Installment due - $50.00

Friday 8 Vocal Group- Primary Festival of Choral Music1st Installment due - $53.00

Friday 15 Primary Cross CountryPostponed until further notice

Wednesday 20 Canteen Meeting (in the Library)New Time- 5:45pm

Wednesday 20 P&C Meeting (in the Library)New Time: 6:00pm

Thursday 21 Games n Grub - The Fathering Project5:30pm-7:00pm -Postponed until further notice

Friday 29 Zone Cross CountryPostponed until further notice

In the event that a Major Excursion is cancelled, your payments can be reimbursted or can be left as a future credit on your child's account.

Students working from home

Neight Toomey's robot sculpture working from home.

William's Easter hat! he had heaps of fun glueing everything onto his hat.

Newsletter Page 2

Leonie Byrne, Principal

Welcome BackWelcome back to Term 2. I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather and the holiday break.

Our school continues to operate on a flexible staffing roster for all staff with only a skeleton staff working onsite. All staff can be contacted by phoning the office or via the school email. We thank the families who are able to learn from home continuing to do so until week 3 Monday 11 May.

Very clear medical advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is that a phased return of students to on-site learning is safe. The COVID-19 pandemic will continue for some time so it is important that we adjust the provision of education accordingly. The Department of Education has hygiene supplies, and PPE for sick bay will be provided. Staff will continue to prompt children to wash their hands with soap, as appropriate, throughout the day.

We recognise and appreciate the support from the Tamworth South community as we deal with COVID-19. We need your continued support to stagger the return of our children back into school. This approach will allow us to quickly address any spikes in transmission should they occur.

From Monday 11 May it is anticipated that all students will be at school one day per week. We have tried to keep families together. Please remember your child may not have their usual teacher, as staff are still on an onsite/off-site work roster.

Our timetable for the staggered return of students is based on House Groups as follows:

Monday – Sturt (M - R) and all Special Education classesTuesday – Lawson (E - L)Wednesday – Blaxland (A - D)Thursday – Wentworth (S - Z)Friday – Students whose parents are essential workers or who have no other options.

Drop Off/Pick Up during COVID-19The current concern is around adult to adult transmission. To help keep our staff safe when bringing your child to school please drop off and pick up at the gate and avoid, as much as possible, entering school grounds. No parents will enter the playground unless there is a need to visit the office.

Remember social distancing requirements when dealing with staff and when you run into other parents at the gate. Please don’t be offended if you are reminded to keep a distance by staff, as we need to keep our staff healthy to keep the school operational.

Newsletter Page 3

All School Assemblies have been cancelled until further notice

School Banking Important Announcement

Notice from Commbank School Banking.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly developing situation with the coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused from 20 March 2020 until the start of Term 2. We will of course keep the start date flexible as the situation continues to change.

Please do not bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school. We will notify you when banking will recommence.

Parents/CarersMedia Permission

Media permission is normally given at the time of your child's enrolment.

It is important that you notify the school office on 67658426 if your child's media permission circumstances have changed.

Please call the school if this applies to your child.

Parents/Carers

It is important that you notify the school if your child has a medical condition. This notification should occur either at the time of enrolment, or if your child is already enrolled, as soon after diagnosis as possible.

This ensures that our school community provides your child with the most effective support possible.

Please call the school if thisapplies to your child, so we can share information and clarify each other’s expectations.

Opportunity Class Process for EntryThe placement process for the Opportunity Class entry 2021, including the Opportunity Class Placement Test, will be delayed until later in the year.This is in response to the social distancing measures that are currently in place.

As a result applications did not open on 28 April 2020 as previously advised. The Opportunity Class placement will still go ahead in 2020 however, the process for that,including the timeline, will look a little different this year.

Revised dates for applications, test and process changes will be announced when they are confirmed.

Newsletter Page 4

All Children are to bring their own water bottles to school. Children will not be able to use the bubblers till the COVID-19 threat has passed.

Please make sure all bottles are clearly labelled with your child's name and refill at home each day.

Water bottles can also be topped up at the water station near the canteen.

Newsletter Page 5

Newsletter Page 6

April 27Weekly Tip

Need help keeping your kids active during COVID-19?

This week's tip comes from The Fathering Project founder Professor Bruce Robinson, via The Fathering Channel. Watch the video.

The routine of our daily lives has changed. You may be wondering how you are going to keep your kids engaged in a healthy and balanced schedule each day.

Children cope better with routines and consistency, and the sooner you get them into these daily habits the better. Setting up a family activity plan for daily routines help you establish your new normal.

Family Activity Planning Tips

z Start with a daily plan during the first weeks of your new plan. With the situation changing each day you may need to test out your schedule.

z Keep normal bedtime routines and getting up times for all age groups.

z Start and end each day with a check-in.

z Add in the essential activities on your plan. Work, schoolwork, activity time and mealtimes.

z Schedule in regular breaks. Take your breaks with the kids if you are working from home.

z Plan for exercise. Exercise is a great stress reliever. Remember social distancing does not mean you have to stay inside, and it will do everyone some good to get some fresh air.

z Add in family fun: You may be spending quite a bit of time together, so it is important to plan for some family fun to relieve the stress.

z Try to schedule in something for you all to look forward to when everyone has finished their work such as a family activity. Let the kids choose an activity for each day. This will help keep them focused on their schedule through the days.

tips for cyber safety

While practicing social distancing to keep safe you and your children are likely spending a lot of time online.

z Keep digital devices in communal areas.

z Allow digital devices only in areas of your home that can be supervised. Check in regularly with your child to see what they’re viewing.

z Set time limits that balance time spent in front of screens with offline activities.

z Talk regularly with your children to learn more about their digital friends. Ensure the friends your children communicate with digitally are people they know in real life.

z Use parental controls and install and regularly update filtering software to help block unwanted content, pop-ups and restrict access to specific content and pages.

z Make sure your child uses strong passwords on their accounts and devices.

z Cyber-bullying is often intended to damage a person’s relationships, social status or self-esteem. As a result, the warning signs can be harder to notice compared to physical bullying.

z Warning signs might include: having difficulty sleeping, appearing anxious or having nightmares, withdrawing from activities and reluctant to say why, reluctant to eat or spend time having fun in the same way as before, hiding what’s on their device or computer from you.

z Send time nearby your children while they are using their devices so you can ask questions and take an active interest in what they are doing.

z Become tech savvy: the easiest way to do this is to ask your child about the sites or apps they are currently using at the moment and show you how to use them.

TipCyber safety inisolation

Newsletter Page 7

Parents and CitizensOur P&C meetings are held in the Library on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm (new time).

All Parents, Grandparents and Guardians are welcome to attend. We welcome new volunteers and members.

Next P&C Meeting Wednesday 20 May 2020 in the Library at 6:00pm.

We hope that you are able to join us and become part of our P&C team.

P&C Clothing PoolThe school clothing pool will now be open from Monday to Friday each week. Opening time 8:40am - 9:10am.

In you would like to know more information please connect us on tspspandc@gmail.com or you can leave a message at the office and it will be passed on to the Clothing Pool.

Canteen NewsLate lunch ordersDue to large numbers of late lunch orders and emergency lunches, the Canteen Committee has decided that any orders after 9:30am will be sandwiches ONLY NO exceptions.

NO Phone Orders Accepted:Unfortunately due to the large numbers of lunch orders the Canteen is unable to process anymore phone orders. All orders are to be placed at the Canteen.Canteen Meeting- Wednesday 20 May 2020 in the Library at 5:45pm (new time).

The school canteen runs on volunteers and we are in need of some more volunteers ready for immediate start.

Canteen RosterMonday Kerry Cramp, Annette WardTuesday Annette Ward Wednesday Thursday Annette WardFriday Amanda Bailey

Monday Kerry Cramp, Annette WardTuesday Annette Ward Wednesday Thursday Annette WardFriday Amanda Bailey

Michelle WeberCanteen Superviser

BREAKFAST CLUBCLOSED

until further notice

Canteen News

Parents/Carers

Due to NSW School Canteens being directed to close this week. If you are sending your child/children to school, please ensure that they bring a packed lunch from home as the school canteen is now closed.

We look forward to seeing you next term.

Michelle Weber Canteen Superviser

P&C Clothing Pool Dear Parents/Carers

Unfortunately the Clothing Pool will be closed until further notice.

Please contact the school on 6765 8426 or67659 863 in cases of emergency.

Regards P&C Committee

MOTHERS DAY STALL

The P&C Fundraising Committe will be holding our annual Mother's Day Stall on Monday 4 May until Friday 8 May from 9:00am until 1:00pm under the bus shelter at Woodward Avenue side of the school.

Students will be met by Mrs Weber, we will still bepractising social distancing so we need to be mindful not to bring the whole family. It is suggested that 1 adult and 1 child from each family attend the stall.

Gifts will be $5.00 each. Each child can purchase two gifts. If there are any leftovers on Friday, they maypurchase another. There are many beautiful gifts to choose from. Please bring your money and a recycle bag on the day.

Thank you P&C Fundraising Committee

Newsletter Page 8

Advertising Space AvailableIf you would like to advertise your buisness in the Tamworth South Public School newsletter, please contact the school on 6765 8426 for our advertising charges.