Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Tacoma Public School
Hillcrest Ave, Tacoma
Hillcrest Avenue, Tacoma
Ph: 02 4353 1154
PRINCIPALS REPORT
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are SO HAPPY to be back with all our students and be returning to many of our usual school routines. Thank you to
our staff who are meeting our students everyday at the gates and supporting those who are finding it more challenging
on some days. A massive thank you to our whole community for supporting each other during this unique time. To our
staff and parents/carers – well done. We are so grateful to have such a wonderful partnership to help your child
achieve academically, emotionally and socially.
We continue to wash and sanitise our hands at least 6 times a day! We encourage our students to cough and sneeze
into their elbows. All students also are encouraged to bring their own water bottle to re-fill during the day.
Unfortunately, we can’t stop germs from getting in to the school as we can’t control where all our students are and
who they see after school. It is likely (like other Winter months) we will be seeing colds and possibly flu at school
during the colder months. To keep spread to a minimum, we ask you to keep your child at home if they are showing
any signs.
School Attendance: All students are expected to be back at school. Only students who have a medical certificate to
stay at home will be supported to learn at home in line with regular school procedures. This is different to what was
provided during the Learning From Home period. Students who live with a family member with a chronic health
condition or compromised immune system SHOULD ATTEND school unless a doctor advises otherwise, in writing. If no
medical certificate is provided, your child will be marked as ‘absent/unjustified’ and may become an attendance
concern. This may mean a referral to the NSW Department of Education Home/School Liaison Officer.
If your child is unwell, please do not send them to school. If they become sick at school, you will be contacted to pick
them up immediately.
If you need any support to get your child back to school, please contact me.
Parents/Carers : A big thank you to you all for remaining outside the school gates. I understand this is not easy for
everyone, particularly the parents of younger students. While NSW Health advice is that children do not need to
socially distance, it is adults and their safely that we must also carefully consider. I appreciate your understanding
regarding this.
School Uniform : It is about to GET COLD! Low temperatures of 10°C and highs of 16°C from this Tuesday mean all
students will need to wear a SCHOOL jacket/jumper and long pants. I am allowing beanies, but if you can get one in
dark green, it would be appreciated. The uniform shop is sourcing these. Students will still need a school hat to play.
1 June 2020
Term Dates
Term 2 2020 28 Apr-3 Jul
Term 3 2020 21 July-25 Sept
Term 4 2020 12 Oct-16 Dec
Reconciliation Week : We acknowledged ‘Sorry Day’ last week and National
Reconciliation Week is 27th May – 3rd June. This “is a time for all Australians to learn
about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us
can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.” For Tacoma PS and our
community, it is a time to continue to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people, history and culture and to commit to moving forward as a nation through the
development of respectful relationships. Many thanks to Mrs Fraser and Mrs Pearson
who provided activities for all our students to support these relationships in the Reconciliation Week theme “In This
Together”. Thank you also to Kiana for sharing her personal Acknowledgement to Country – you are a valued leader. I
encourage all our families to visit https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/
I encourage ALL parents and carers to join the P & C. It is so important you have a voice for your child regarding decisions
made in the school. The stronger the P&C, the greater gains for the students in the school. We have a great, diverse bunch of
parents – please join to make a difference!
Seen In the Office : Over the last 9 school weeks, I have
been visited by some incredible students. Thank you for
putting a smile on my face – I am so proud of what you
have achieved! Jasmine, Chase, Melinda, Tess, Sienna,
Maddy, Charlotte , Bella, William, Harrison , Paige, Ellie,
Kody, Reagan, Zach, Malakkai, Jess, Kyah, Jarlah, Tyler,
Charlotte, Harlow, Chloe, Addison and all of Bamayi.
Canteen: It is exciting to have our canteen back! At the moment, it is only open THURSDAY and FRIDAY for both recess and
lunch. It is NOT open any other days at this stage. Thanks to Michelle and Leeca for their organisation. Please order via My
School Connect app.
P&C Annual General Meeting: Due to Covid-19, the P&C were unable to hold the AGM in Term 1. The new date is Thursday 18th June @ 7pm. We will be holding this via a ZOOM meeting. A link will be sent to all members and our school community (via School Stream and FB). You must be a P&C member to vote, so please sign up! Visit the P&C Facebook page to ask any questions. https://www.facebook.com/events/367075580930250/ Have a happy and healthy week, Tacoma!
Nicole Heazlewood
Principal
Kindergarten 2021
We are now accepting enrolments for in area students. If you know of anyone who’s child will be
attending Tacoma in 2021 please have them contact us.
Canteen & Uniform Shop
The canteen will be open for lunch and recess on Thursday & Friday. Uniform Shop orders will also be filled on these days.
Uniform orders can be made through the my school connect app or left at the office. At this stage, Breakfast Club will not be
operating.
School Photos
We expect photos to be returned to us for distribution next week!
Stage 2 & 3 Overnight Excursions
Unfortunately the Stage 2 excursion has been cancelled. We are hoping that the
Stage 3 excursion will run in Term 4. It would be a great idea to start budgeting
for this expense. We expect the cost to be approximately $380.00.
Attendance
All students are expected to attend school every day unless they are unwell. If
you child is away please either contact the office on 4353 1154 or text on 0417
436 337 (this number is for attendance text only, you cannot call this number).
Please do not send attendance information through class dojo.
Gates are locked at 9.15. If you are running late you will need to call for entry. All late students MUST sign in at the office
prior to going to their classroom.
Birthdays
Please do not send cakes or food to share for your child’s birthday. Due to the current health
situation the Department advice is not to share food.. Maybe some stickers or individually wrapped
treats (freddos, sour worms etc.)
Ava, Amira, Lyla, Max, George,
Iuni, William, Abigail, Kynan,
Sienna, & Piper.
Don’t Forget!!
Bubblers are not in use so please bring a water bottle.
If your child has any cold or respiratory symptoms please keep them at home. If your child is showing any of these
symptoms you will be contacted and asked to collect them.
Parents are asked to remain outside the school grounds for drop off and collection.
The school gates will be locked to minimise visitors. If you are running late or need to collect your child early you will
need to contact the office on 4353 1154 for entry.
Myth 1: Joining the committee is just for mums Busted: The school committee is definitely not just for mums, but we welcome and encourage dads, step-parents, grand-parents, teachers and school staff and community members who may no longer have kids at the school but who live in the area and are interested in what happens at the school. You don’t even need to join the committee – you can just come alone to one or two meetings to see what happens. The committee is for anyone who has an interest in what happens at the school. Myth 2: I work full time so I can’t help at school events
Busted: Joining the committee can actually be a good way to maintain links to the school even when you are unable to do school drop off or pickup, and find it difficult to attend after school events. Many of the major school events take place on weekends and evenings, but even if you work shifts there are always things you can do at home or online that will help. Remember all members of the committee have family plus work and other commitments, so we definitely appreciate that your time is precious. Myth 3: The committee is full of cliques who all know each other Busted: We are lucky that we have a group of parents who return to the committee year after year, but the membership is constantly changing as kids graduate and families move. We have new members joining all the time, and people often work in different groups for different events so are constantly meeting new people and getting to know each other. We have parents on the committee who have been in the school for more than five years as well as families who are in their first year. You are always welcome to join with a friend. Myth 4: I don’t have any ideas so I can’t contribute Busted: While we always need new ideas for fun new events and activities, we also need people who are just happy to pull their sleeves up and offer their help. Some events are well established and we have guides to follow, other times we are making it up as we go along. Whether you are a think-outside-the-box person or prefer to be methodical and follow guidelines, we need people like you. Myth 5: If I join I will be hounded to help at lots of events Busted: The P&C is not a one-way ticket to endless drudgery. You can choose to help at one event, all events or no events. We respect each other’s limits.
