Red Cliffs Primary School

NEWSLETTER Wednesday 5th February 2020

Week 2 Term 1

IMPORTANT DATES Pupil Free Day - Tuesday 10th March

Home Page Address - http://www.redcliffsps.vic.edu.au EMAIL: red.cliffs.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Phone: 5024 1044 Fax: 5024 2020

Principal’s Report: Welcome Back: I sincerely hope everyone had a fantastic holiday. Our students have returned to school full of enthusiasm and excitement. It is obvious everyone is very happy to be back. A special welcome to our 2020 Prep students and the following new students:- Noah Barton & Xavier Barton, Andrew Kelly, Dorissa Johnson, Chung Lee Apao, Indie Crisp, Kelsey Smith, Sarah Kelly, Chayse Bursill and Jayme Croucher. NB: Photo on p. 5 Prep Rest days: Our prep students have had a fantastic but very tiring first five days. Prep parents are reminded prep children do not come to school on Wednesdays during February. Contact information: Parents are reminded of the need to advise the school of any changes to personal information - e.g. change of address, telephone numbers and emergency contact details. Donation: On behalf of parents and students I thank local resident Elizabeth Janson for making a wonderful cash donation recently to assist our school.

Insurance: (i) Parents are reminded the Department of Education and Training does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents and guardians are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment and ambulance travel for injured students. (ii) Parents, staff and students are reminded the Department of Education and Training does not hold insurance for any personal property - phones, toys, sporting equipment or cars etc. - brought to school. We suggest valuables are not brought to school. Lunch Orders: The Red Cliffs Bakery will be providing Lunch Orders on Tuesdays and Fridays this year. Parents should ensure their child’s name, grade and lunch order are clearly written on an envelope or paper bag. We recommend placing correct money inside the envelope or paper bag. The child’s lunch order should then be placed inside the “tub” near their classroom.

School Hours: Parents and students are reminded that school commences at 9.00am and ends at 3.15pm. Students should be at school by 8.45am to allow them time to prepare for the day. Students may arrive at school from 8.30am. Students should not come to school before 8.30am as there is no yard supervision before that time. Classrooms are not open until 8.30am. Parents needing their children to arrive at school before 8.30am because of work commitments are asked to contact me directly to discuss the situation. Children arriving at school after 9.00am must report to the office before going to class. Facebook and Newspapers: Parents and carers give consent for Red Cliffs Primary School to place images of their children on Facebook etc. when they sign their child’s enrolment form. Parents not wanting their child to be included in Facebook posts etc. should advise the school accordingly. We regularly post reminders, information and news items. Parents/carers and community members are reminded to “like” Red Cliffs Primary School on Facebook. Have a sensational week. Rod Beer Principal

EXPECTATIONS— HONESTY—RESPECT—RESPONSIBILITY

Important Information

Child Safe: Parents and community members are reminded Red Cliffs Primary School is a “Child Safe” school. All members of staff have a responsibility to ensure the safety of children at all times. All staff are mandated to repor t any suspected cases of physical or emotional abuse involving our students. Please refer to the school website for our Child Safe policy and Code of Conduct.

Nut Free School: Parents, carers and students are reminded Red Cliffs Primary School is “Nut Free”. It is vitally important that new and existing parents and students are aware that peanuts and all peanut products (peanut butter etc.) are not brought to school. Parents are asked to ensure that cakes, slices and muesli bars brought to school are nut free. Charlie Goldup, grade 6, has a severe anaphylactic response to nuts and nut products—e.g. peanut butter. It is essential everyone is very vigilant in keeping our school nut free. I sincerely thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Asthma Plans:

Parents, carers and students are reminded to please provide the school with up-to-date asthma plans. Please ensure your child’s plan is sent to the office as soon as possible.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund: Parents and carers in receipt of Health Care Cards etc. are eligible to apply for the $125.00 Camps Sports and Excursions Fund for each student attending primary school. Parents who received this payment last year do not need to apply again this year unless their circumstances have changed, e.g. your child has started or changed schools or a new sibling has commenced school or your family circum-stances have changed. Application forms are available from the office.

School Materials Charge: The 2020 School Material Charge is $135 per student. This charge helps to pay for consumables such as pencils, pens and photocopying. It also pays for all local excursions and visiting performances. All parents are asked to pay the School Materials Charge by the end of Term 1. Parents wishing to pay the School Materials Charge by monthly or term instalments are asked to contact the office. The School Materials Charge applies to a maximum of two children per family. Parents in receipt of the 2020 Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund will need to pay only $100 per student.

Instrumental Music Tuition: Expressions of interest are invited for students to participate in small group Instrumental Music Lessons. Mr Joel Anderson will be providing lessons in guitar, ukulele, percussion and singing each week. Cost is $15 per lesson (payable directly to Joel). Parents wishing their child to participate should contact the office or Joel directly on ph.: 0417 984 323. NB: Instrumental music is a pr ivate arrangement between parents and Joel.

Parents Club News: Parents Club runs a number of activities throughout the year to raise much needed funds for our students - sports uniforms and special resources etc. Below is a list of what we have previously done and we are asking you to consider volunteering a small amount of your time to help organise these events - March/April: Hot Cross Bun Drive: March - Thursday 26th - sort orders May: Pie Drive/Mothers Day Stall September: Fathers Day Stall - October: Picture Plates - December: Christmas Hamper Raffle - . If you would like to help out please contact the office. You will be well supported with Karen remaining in the background to show you what needs to be done, however due to work commitments she is unable to continue organising these much needed fundraisers. Book Club: Book Club catalogues are sent home twice per term. The orders will be sent home on the Monday to be returned by the Friday. All orders and money need to be placed in an envelope or zip-lock plastic bag with the child’s name and grade clearly marked and dropped into the office to Ms. Lanigan. There is also the option to order and pay online. The books arrive 4-5 working days after being ordered. Thank you for supporting Book Club! Mrs Doering Jeanette Doering (Book Club Co-ordinator)

This Week’s Birthdays…… Layken Barrett 6 Saturday 1st February Bethany Knight 11 Saturday 1st February Cameron White 7 Saturday 8th February Nadia Cohrs 11 Sunday 9th February

Great Behaviour in the Yard: Congratulations to Millie-Rose Munro (gr.2), Cameron Johns (gr.4) and Cody Laird (gr.6) for their Great Behaviour in the Yard this week. Enjoy those Free COLD ROCK Ice Creamery

Henry Ryan

Prep A

Confidence

A fantastic start to

school

Whole Grade

1/2A

Getting Along

Fantastic start to

the year!

Sophie Liersch

1/2B

Organisation

Great start to her learning for the

year

Rauiri Magee

1/2C

Confidence

A great start to our school year sharing

his wonderful knowledge

Chayse Bursill

3/4A

Confidence

A fantastic start to

his new school

Angel Tree

3/4B

Confidence

A great start to the

year

Calais Cooper

5/6A

Confidence

A fantastic start to

school

Nadia Van Miltenburg

Lucas

5/6B

Organisation

A wonderful and organised start to

2020!

Chung Lee Apao

5/6C

Organisation

A fabulous start at

a new school

Stars of the Week

Cold Rock Ice Creamery: I am very pleased to announce that the Mildura Cold Rock Ice Creamery store will be sponsoring the Great Behaviour In The Yard Award this year.

Our Newest Students

Hookin2Hockey 2020 Would you like to be a part of our very successful Hookin2Hockey program? Last year, we had over 140 local children come and try hockey, many for the very first time. This is an eight-week skill development program, will be run at the Sunraysia Hockey Turf, Eleventh St, Mildura, and costs $89 per child. This fee includes a terrific pack which includes a stick, ball, shin-guards, hockey backpack and play-ing singlet. The 2020 program will be starting soon. Free Come and Try sessions are on Saturday 15th February 9 am and Wednesday 19th February 6 pm. For more information please contact Jess Melsen sunraysiahockey.junior@gmail.com

Back row: Chung Lee Apao, Jayme Croucher, Chase Bursill, Sarah Kelly, Indie Crisp Front row: Noah Barton, Xavier Barton, Andrew Kelly, Kelsey Kelly and Dorissa Johnson

7 Ways to make a Sensational Start to the School Year

By Michael Grose

1. Commit to your child going to school every day on time

One of the most important things you can do to ensure your child has a bright future is to make sure he or she goes to school every day—and gets there on time. Kids spend more time asleep than at school, so we need to maximise every day to get full value.

2. Help kids start each day well

A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast and some words of encouragement from you will help set a positive tone for a day of learning. This may mean that you adjust your morning routine so that kids have plenty of time to get up, eat and get ready for the day.

3. Establish work & study habits

The most successful students are those that develop regular study habits that suit their lifestyle, their study style and their school’s expectations. Find out the work expectations from your child’s or young person’s school and help them establish a work routine that matches their personality, lifestyle and family style. Be flexible here as one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to study routines.

4. Make sure your child gets enough sleep

I encourage you to make a big focus as this year as many children and young people are sleep deprived, which impacts on their well-being and their learning. A good night’s sleep consolidates learning, as well helping future learning. Children need between 10-12 hours of sleep each day, while teens need a minimum of nine hours. Help kids get sufficient sleep by having a regular bed-time and get-up time each day. Have 45 minute wind-down time each night, and remove screens and mobile phones from bedrooms.

5. Get your kids outside more for good physical and mental health

Kids today get less exercise than those of past generations, which is an impediment to learning and mental health. Health professionals recommend a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise per day for kids of all ages. Encourage kids to play sport; promote free and active play and look for ways to make moving part of their daily lives. Consider increasing your child’s green time and decreasing screen time for good physical and mental health.

6. Focus on being friendly

Schools are very social places requiring kids to negotiate many different social situations each day. Encourage kids to be open and tolerant; to be friendly; to be involved in plenty of activities and to be social risk-takers. Some kids close down their friendship opportunities through self-centredness, poor attitude and unwillingness to take social risks.

7. Develop self-help skills Successful students are often well-organised, self-directed and self-motivated. You can foster organisational skills and self-direction by developing simple, age-appropriate self-help skills related to their every day lives. Such skills as making lunches, packing school bags and organising after school schedules can be great lessons that impact on how kids perform at school.