FROM DR ROBERTS

Welcome to term two.  The last two weeks of last term were fantastic.  A huge thank you to parents for your support and involvement in Harmony Week and especially International Food Day – the food looked and tasted incredible with food from so many different countries.  A big thank you to staff who helped organise the day for their students and a particularly enormous thank you to Mrs Everall for her leadership during the week.

The Easter Raffle was brilliant – again thank you to Miss Armstrong for organising the event and to all the parents who donated eggs, time and enthusiasm.  Thank you all for helping to make our school what it is – exceptional!!

I acknowledge and thank our whole school community for showing respect towards each other and thank the way everyone conducted themselves yesterday.

The ANZAC service this morning was another successful event thanks to the preparation of students by staff and the attendance by parents and other community members.  A special thank you to Mr Etheridge and Mrs Subotic for their planning and organisation and to the Madahar Santos family for the beautiful donated wreath.

SCHOOL PROCESSES 

(Australian Early Development Census)

Building a national picture of child health

From May 2024 all schools will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.

The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and schools are obliged to undertake the national census every three years.

Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information.

The data collected through the AEDC is used by some schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need.

AEDC data is reported at a school, community, state/territory and national level. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.

Some teachers have found that completing the AEDC made them more aware of the needs of individual children and their class, and the data was useful for planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing programs.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary for parents.  If you do not wish your child to be involved, please contact the school verbally or in writing to opt-out by 1 May 2024.

The AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection.

Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census. To find out more about the AEDC and how it is being used to help children and families visit: www.aedc.gov.au.

Attendance:

As most of you would be aware, school attendance for students P-6 in primary school is compulsory.  At a school level, we are expected to notify parents if school attendance drops below 85%.  Although most parents give reasons for their child’s absence, we nevertheless, try to keep parents informed by sending out attendance letters early each term.

Walk-Through Wednesday:

For prospective parents, we conduct a Walk-Through Wednesday early in Term 2.  This year, it will be on Wednesday 1 May. Parents are asked to assemble in the front office area at 8:30am. Small groups of parents are led through the school by a staff member and answer questions.  From 10:00-10:30am, parents are invited to morning tea.

Our Walk-Through Wednesday is advertised via Australia Post’s pamphlet drop.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The School Board meets at 6:00pm on Wednesday 8 May
• Bicycles or other vehicles need to be locked if left at school

UPCOMING EVENTS

Week 3:

30 April – Kings Park Excursion TA5

1 May – Walk-through Wednesday

Week 4:

8 May – Hawker Headlines

8 May – Board meeting

9 May – Assembly TA3

Week 5:

14 May – Football clinic (SEDA)

15 May – Lions screening PP/1

17 May – Interschool sports (home)

COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD

Please see our noticeboard outside administration for the following events:

• HPPS Playgroup – Monday morning during school term – 8.30am-10.30am
• John Forrest Specialist programs – Tennis 30 May/Netball 1 & 8 May – trial dates
• Perth Scarecrow competition – Friday 13 September
• Creative Kids Art Club – 22 April-20 June
• Stirling Leisure Centre – Junior Sports competitions
• Greenwood College – Parent info night – Wednesday 22 May
• Government Funded Program: Saver Plus – Assisting families with education costs