Newsletter 30.04.2021

Issue 6


Principal Update

Dear Ardeer South families,

Welcome back! How fortunate we have been to have a relatively 'normal' start to the term!  Can you believe, a year ago we were at the beginning of remote learning? WOW! Haven't things changed!

We hope all students had an enjoyable and restful break in the holidays. How amazing was the weather? I am sure you enjoyed the beautiful autumn days as much as the staff did. I hope that all of the Easter Eggs have now been eaten and we can settle back into school routine for the term ahead. For those families who are celebrating Orthodox Easter this weekend – I wish you and your loved ones a cheerful and fun-filled Orthodox Easter.
COVID-19 Update

The news coming out of India regarding the outbreak of COVID-19 is heartbreaking.  To all of our Ardeer South Indian families who may have family and friends in India, we are thinking of you at this difficult time.

Whilst we are in a very fortunate position to be relatively Corona free in Victoria.  The reality is, that we are still in the middle of an unpredictable outbreak and must continue to take the recommended precautions to ensure our health and safety. 

This week I have received a letter to share with the community from the Victorian Chief Health Officer:

Dear members of the Ardeer South Primary School Community,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank students, staff, teachers, parents and carers for ensuring a safe and successful start to the 2021 school year and to thank you for your cooperation during the short period of remote learning in February during the circuit breaker restrictions.

As Term 2 commences, schools continue to be able to operate with a largely normal program of activity, enabling important on-site activities to return, such as school open days and working bees, with appropriate health and safety measures in place.

Throughout the pandemic, Victorian schools have rapidly and successfully adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, embedding COVIDSafe principles by reinforcing good behaviours, creating safe spaces, adapting activities, and responding quickly to COVID-19 risk.

While we have seen outbreaks emerge in Victoria, we have also witnessed our capacity to respond quickly to limit the impact of these outbreaks.

Given the current very low risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community, continued high rates of testing and wastewater monitoring, and continued observance of health and safety measures in schools; those with medical vulnerabilities or their carers can feel reassured to continue to safely work and learn on school sites, and enjoy the benefits of doing so.

It is crucial, however, for everyone to remain vigilant by staying home when unwell, performing regular hand hygiene, wearing a mask when required and maintaining physical distancing from others when practical.

Should cases of COVID-19 increase again in the community, I am confident that with COVIDSafe plans in place, alongside our ability to quickly identify and respond to cases, schools remain safe places for all staff and students. I also continue to be reassured by evidence that children are less impacted by the virus and are less likely to develop severe illness.

The school community continues to have an important role to promote COVID-19 testing when a student or staff member has any symptoms, no matter how mild, and ensuring they remain home until they are well. Getting tested and staying home until results are known is critical to limiting community transmission.

Adj Clin Prof Brett Sutton

Victorian Chief Health Officer

Assembly and access to classrooms

Every Friday at 2:30pm, we hold an assembly in the John Evans Room.  As written above, school operations are returning back to some ‘normality’.  As a result, I now invite all parents/carers to attend assemblies.  We will continue to use Facebook to ‘Live Stream’ assembly, as the feedback about this has been overwhelmingly positive.  If you are yet to join our private Facebook Group, please click on this link - https://www.facebook.com/groups/402506947029831

In addition to this, we are currently developing a parent helpers course program, so that any parents wanting to help in the classroom are able to do so.  These details will be shared with our community shortly.

One thing that has been very noticeable is the independence our students have developed.  We want to continue to see this! So I ask parents that they encourage their children to look after their own school bags and be responsible for taking their belongings in to and out of the classroom as we see our parents and carers on school grounds more.

NAPLAN

Our Grade 3 and 5 students will participate in the annual NAPLAN assessment this term.  We are wanting all of our students to complete the assessments so that it provides the school with data on how we are teaching students and where individual’s students require support in the future.  Therefore, attendance is important on these days.

Writing - Tuesday 11th of May

Reading - Wednesday 12th of May

Language Conventions - Thursday 13th of May

Numeracy - Monday 16th of May

We hope that all students will be able to sit these important tests, so that we can capture this point in time 'snapshot' of their capabilities and then use this data down the track to align with our school's own comprehensive data sets. An Information Sheet for Parents with more details about NAPLAN will be distributed to all students in Years 3 & 5. If you have any further questions about NAPLAN, don't hesitate to make contact with the school via your child's classroom teacher.

Ardeer South Primary School is aware that EID is falling in the same week as NAPLAN. In previous years, families who celebrate EID often make a choice for their children to enjoy the celebrations at home and not attend school. I would respectfully request that the students who are completing NAPLAN and celebrating EID attend school to compete their NAPLAN assessment and then, if their parents choose to, they take their child home after the NAPLAN test.

Students have been working with their teachers to ensure they are well prepared to complete the tests.  I have no doubt our students will try their personal best and complete the assessments to the best of their ability.  If you have any concerns about your child completing NAPLAN, please speak with your child’s teacher.

Students Attitude to School Survey

The school values student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and as a result, we conducted a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school. The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. The school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. Students from Ardeer South Primary School (Years 4 to 6) will complete the online survey next week.   All responses to the survey are kept anonymous to ensure that the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.

Swimming

I am excited to see so many of our students attending the FREE swimming lessons provided this year.  We know that swimming is a lifelong skill that allows us to enjoy water activities with family and friends.  By seeing our student’s access this program, we know we are equipping them with skills that could also save their lives. 

Can I please ask that parents provide support to the swimming program by sending students with named belongings?  We will always do our best to return lost swim wear, towels, socks and jocks, but if they are not named it is impossible to find the right owners.

The swimming program begins next Monday 3rd May.

Curriculum Day

Today (Friday 30th April 2021) is a planned Curriculum Day for staff.  Our focus has been around further developing and embedding a consistent lesson structure into all classrooms.  The day has been overwhelmingly positive and our staff have continued to work hard to ensure the best possible learning outcomes for all of our students.

Cars and Safety Reminder

This week I have had some parents expressing some concerns and frustration of traffic flow around the school and parking of cars. Therefore I want to remind parents that it is their responsibility to observe all road rules and regulations around the school.  Due to the increased level of frustration for motor vehicle use – I have called Brimbank Council to ensure they provide education in this space or alternatively, start fining drivers for their use of a motor vehicle or parking inappropriately. 

In past newsletters, I have included reminders and I have included the same details again in this fortnights email in the hope that this message about vehicle safety is heard by our community.

Parents are not permitted to drive vehicles into the school car parks when bringing their children to, or collecting them from school. It is extremely dangerous as it creates a traffic hazard as well as places students in ‘out of bounds’ areas.

Parents are not permitted to park on the school crossings (or in front of our large school bin/dumper). It is a parking infringement and as such, offenders may be fined by police or Brimbank Council law enforcement if observed.

Please ask that your children cross the roads at the designated school crossing points. Parents using the drop off/pick up zones on Nina Street should stop their cars and allow their children to exit or get into the car, then drive off. Please do not park across the crossing as this is a dangerous and illegal practice.

Please recognise that Nina Street is a One-way street during school times.

Please also note, the parking restriction in this area is 2 minutes – enough time for children to enter and exit the vehicle safely.

I want to also highlight that the street speed limit is 40km/h around the school.  Please make sure that you obey this restriction and drive safely around the school.  Children can be highly unpredictable at times, by travelling at this speed it will allow for better reaction times as a driver if a child was to run on the road.

Student accident insurance/ambulance cover

As per DET guidelines, it is important that we remind parents that we do not provide personal accident insurance cover for students. Parents and guardians of students who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport. Parents are able to take out private Student Cover accident insurance if they choose to via www.studentcover.com.au in addition to this family ambulance cover is also encouraged.

 2020 Annual Report to the school community

The 2020 Annual report to the school community has now been endorsed by School Council and is available to view on our website. If you would like to read it, please click this link - https://www.ardeersthps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/2020_annual_report.pdf

2022 Prep Enrolments

It’s hard to believe I am writing this as I can’t believe how quickly the year is going, but Prep enrolments for next year will be taken from the beginning of term 2.  We have already been receiving enquiries about new families joining our school in 2022.

Parents are required to supply the following information when enrolling:

  • Proof of age (birth certificate or passport)
  • Immunisation certificate

Prep tours will be held throughout Terms 2 & 3 for interested parents. Bookings through the office are essential for the school tours.  If you know anyone interested in having a school tour please pass on the school number – 93632768.

REMINDER: If any of our current families have children beginning school in 2022, please grab an enrolment form from the front office.

We recognise how challenging it is to collect paperwork from the school, so we have also made the school enrolment available on our school website.  Click here - https://www.ardeersthps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/student_enrolment_form.pdf

RAMADAN

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. It's a time of celebration and joy to be spent with loved ones. Ramadan Mubarak!

School Values

Our School values are important to us.  Remember to Respect, Be Responsible and always put in Effort.

 

Stuart Telford

Principal



Vice Principal update

Term 2 is off and running at Ardeer South Primary School!

I’ve witnessed so much learning over the last fortnight as our students have wasted no time getting back into our school routines. It only takes a short walk through our school to see how happy and engaged our students are, each and every day. I am so proud of our school community – the amazing children we have at this school are truly our greatest asset as they continue to impress me with their work ethic and care for each other. You will notice in our wellbeing report that we have begun structured lunch time activities for our students in the yard. Did you know that these are entirely run by our student leaders? This program provides leadership opportunities for our senior students as they support the social development of their younger peers. I am thoroughly enjoying watching this space grow as I think it really exemplifies what our community is all about.

You will of course be aware that today was a student free Curriculum Day, which provided our staff with the opportunity to engage in meaningful professional learning. With our unwavering focus on maximising student achievement, we have been learning about the best way to apply the ‘High Impact Teaching Strategies’ within our classroom lessons. A particular focus in this space is in the areas of goal setting, feedback and metacognition, which is all about giving students the opportunity and support to reflect on and track their own learning towards the development of a particular skill. You may hear your child talk about this when they refer to our ‘Bump It Up Walls’ within the classroom. These display walls provide students with examples of what high quality work looks like and encourages students to reflect on what level they are working at and what skill they need to develop to ‘bump up’ to the next level. This is an example of how we encourage ongoing reflection and academic progress for each child, in every classroom.

The weather has been very erratic over the past fortnight! As I greet students each morning, I can’t help but notice how many children are still arriving in shorts and a T-Shirt. Some of these mornings have been particularly chilly, even on days that heat up considerably in the afternoon. Sometimes I feel cold just looking at them! Given that it is only going to get colder from here, it may well be time to dig out that windcheater. If you are unable to locate your child’s winter clothing, please remember that you can chat to Sandy in the office for any of your uniform needs. Alternatively, you may want to look into our ever-growing collection of clothing in our ‘Lost Property’ area. Remember, keeping names on clothing makes this whole process a lot easier for everyone involved.

Please also note that there are only a few short weeks until NAPLAN, with the first test commencing on Tuesday the 11th of May. In the past few weeks, we have dedicated some time preparing children for these tests, including an opportunity for students to sit a mock online version that replicates the experience on the day. On NAPLAN, our goal at Ardeer South Primary School is to comply with all DET requirements whilst ensuring that we support our student’s needs throughout this process. The NAPLAN test will not be unfamiliar to your child as students regularly complete assessments as part of regular classroom practices. If you have any concerns about NAPLAN, please speak with your child’s classroom teacher. All parents of students completing NAPLAN would have received correspondence regarding the finer details of the assessment period. This included a post that was uploaded to COMPASS recently.   

Finally, I just want to take a moment to acknowledge how important it is that we model positive interactions between each other before and after school. Whether the conversation is taking place between different parents or between school staff and parents, we need to remember that we regularly have the eyes of very impressionable little people on us. We know that children look to follow the behaviour of adults and the behaviour shown is often the behaviour that is replicated by the children. Please also note that it is never appropriate for one parent to approach another parent regarding behaviour concerns between children. These issues are best raised with the school to be investigated in a manner that respects all people involved.

That’s all from me for this week – rug up, keep smiling and we will continue on our learning journey.

Brock Wilson

Assistant Principal 



Student Wellbeing News

This term saw the commencement of recess and lunchtime activities for our junior students. Year 5/6 leaders have taken on the important responsibility of running these activities. This responsibility involves setting up, overseeing, engaging in and packing up activities that our junior students participate in.
In the coming weeks, a series of recess and lunchtime middle and senior activities will be organised for other students.

 Svetlana Boja

Leading Teacher

Student Wellbeing

 







Literacy

Learning Specialist Update – Olivia Sinclair-Thomson

Well done Preps on your learning this week using the BUMP IT UP WALL.

A Bump It Up Wall is a simple way that students can assess themselves and their goals.

In this photo, you can see students are working on writing the letter I. If you have a child in Prep, ask them how they use the Bump it Up Wall.



Italian


Ciao a tutti! Hello everyone!

These two weeks have been all about Special days. In particular, we have been learning all about Anzac Day. In Art, Foundation to Grade 6’s collaborated to make Mosaic poppies in honour of the day. We made an Anzac Day wall display by putting some of the poppies in a wreath with the words Anzac Day and the rest were placed on the wall to be the field of poppies. The display is outside our Art Room, feel free to have a look at our great work! I am very proud of our students as they were all respectful during these Art sessions. Mother’s Day is another special day that we are currently preparing for. All the year levels are making pop up cards in Art. Students had the option to make a particular pop up style with a tulip as the flower or their own pop up card as well as making a flower bouquet for the special person in their lives.

While for Italian, Foundation to 2 students are learning about Italian colours and in particular the colour red for the poppy. Grades 3-6 are doing a research project about Anzac Day in Italian and English.

That is all from me. Until next time, keep smiling! 😊….Signorina Ly








Prep Cohort

This week students have been working on the letter Ii. We have learnt how to sound out the letter, write the letter and recognise the letter.

Students have also been making the letter Ii during writing rotations which has helped them develop their fine motor skills.








1/2 Cohort

The Grade 1/2s have had such an exciting start back to the term. Week 1 saw us introducing learning topics across the curriculum, including creating and identifying 3-digit numbers and the introduction of our Integrated Studies unit ‘Changes over time”. We also had the exciting opportunity to partake in a Grade 1/2 dance lesson. It was fantastic to see the students express themselves through movement. The students also had an opportunity to learn and practise their dribbling, passing and shooting during a basketball clinic led by students from SEDA College.






3/4 Cohort

On Monday the 26th of April 2021, I learned something EPIC! Guess what it is?! Well, it’s basketball! Today the SEDA College came to A.S.P.S to teach our awesome school. Well, only some of the SEDA College came, only the pros of basketball. What I learned from basketball is that teamwork is really important. Teamwork is number one for having the best team EVER!!! Today was incredible, the best day I’d possible had during sports at school! I learned so much about basketball today! I wish the basketball people who taught at A.S.P.S could see this note! – Vivian Tran

The basketball clinic started on Monday at our school. The first thing that we did was have shots at the goal. The coach taught us how to do a layup. It was so much fun. We learned lots of new things like how to defend. We played a game called ‘In and Out’. – Ayaan Malik

On Monday we had basketball practise after recess and we had lots of fun. Our first coach was Tyra. She taught us how to do layups. We had to score with one dribble and that was not so easy. We tried our best. After that we had a competition and it was the boys vs girls. The boys won by five goals. We also played ‘In and Out’ and if we lost then we chose if we wanted to go with Efai or Jimmy. I chose Efai and I practised defence. I got the ball off him 11 times! It was fun! – Ethan Ghebreyesus

On Monday 26th April after recess, all of the 3/4 classes went outside to the basketball courts. Where all of the SEDA College students picked six students to go and start their first skill. It was fun. – Anika Khan

On Monday 26th April, after recess we had a basketball clinic. All the 3/4s were put in a groups with the SEDA College. We all did the four skills. My first skill I did was dribbling. We had to run back and come back with the ball. After I did that my group had passing. I did chest, bound and overhead throws. Then in shooting we got into three groups and started shooting. After that in defence we played ‘In and Out’ and ‘Split’. When we got out we did defence. – Hayley Pham

On Monday 26th April 2021 SEDA College came to run a basketball clinic. There were four main skills; dribbling, shooting, defence and passing. In dribbling you bounce the ball up and down with your fingertips, not your hands. In passing we did chest passes, bounce pass, and overhead passes. To do a chest pass you put your hands up where your shoulders and elbows are touching, like a chicken. To do an overhead throw you lift your hands up on the top of your head. – Johnny Makroglou

 

 





5/6 Cohort

Dear Parents, Families, Friends and students,
These are some of things Grade 5/6 have been doing over Week 1 and 2 at school.

Written by the Class Captains - Hussna, Nasra, Bibi, Samantha, Kha and Merielle. Enjoy : )

Clubs - by Nasra

During this week some new clubs have started. Students have thought of great ideas for clubs. Such as drawing club, Barbie club, Chest club, MUsic club, Pokemon club. These clubs run in classrooms and the library. Lots of students from Grade 5/6 and Grade 3/4  have had a lot of fun participating.

Running Activities for Prep -2  - by Hussna

For the last few weeks there have been a few activities for the preps such as car racing,toys, kinetic sands and alot more. These are the people who have been taking care of this role for the past few weeks Athena, Maiden, Arham, Dzan, Grency, Nasra, Kathy, Hussna and the house captains have been sorting the activities. Thank you house captains.

Basketball - by Hussna

On the 26th of April there were a few basketball members from (SEDER college) that came to our school. They teached us a lot of skills, for example Close out, Passing, Shooting, and defense. All of us had so much fun the teacher saw everyone with a smile and everyone giving out nice feedback.

Cross Country - by Bibi

Last week on 23th of April the students who made it to the districts cross country came to the school with a result which is: Maher 1st, Manje 1st, Jana 3rd,

Riyal 4th, Grency 5th, Ahmed 5th, Kaan 6th, Athena 8th,

Anika 10th, Harry 10th, they enjoyed it and wished them good luck in the next cross country race.

Photos - Kha

On Wednesday the 28th of April we had photo day. All classes participated on photo day and all classes had fun. People struggled with smiling as if saying cheese. There are some family packs that will take photos together and there are some that will get a ragular pack and there are some who don’t even want photos.

Ramadan, Orthodox Easter week, and ANZAC Day by Nasra,Merille,Samantha

A few weeks ago, Ramadan started for some religions. This is the 2nd or 3rd week. They have been celebrating it for a while now. They have been fasting for at least 12 hours a day. We are proud of you :).

Sunday the 2nd of May is orthodox Easter. On Othodox Easter, people dye eggs red,to represent Jesus's blood.

Orthodox Christians from Greece ,Russia, Bulgaria ,Ukraine and more celebrate Orthodox Easter.

40 to 50 days before Orthodox  Easter, Christians fast. They also make candles and light them up at their  church. A ;ot of orthodox Christians make cookies in the shape of infinity because Christains believe that Jesus loves you for infinity.

 

On Sunday 25th of April it was ANZAC day. A lot of people remembered the soldiers who lost their lives at Gallipoli in World War 1 by putting red poppies on their shirt and making ANZAC biscuits. Last week we made poppies as a whole school for ANZAC in art and most of the kids had fun. ANZAC day stands for Australia New Zealand Army corps.

Volleyball Tournament by Merille

You may or not know that there will be a volleyball tournament with some of the grade 5/6  that wanted to participate and it will start next week. As for how it will run, let me tell you how there are four teams. Each team has to vs each other at the end the last team has to vs the teachers to know who the winner is.

Word Work by Hussna

This week in Reading the Grade 5//6 classes have been focusing on strategies for working out unfamiliar words in our reading books. The more words you understand the better your writing will be.

Looking forward to ...

The things we are looking forward to is swimming that will happen next week and are looking forward to making sure everyone that has been recommended for them to go to swimming next week.

We are also looking forward for the volleyball tournament to see who wins and who tries their best to win but does not succeed and looking forward to see who win the teachers or the students.












Student of the Week

23rd April 2021

Muhammad

Prep A

For being a great friend in class and always helping his friends.

Zain

Prep B

For always trying his best with his work and participating in class discussions. Well done Zain !

Robel

1/2 A

For making good choices and being mature during learning time. Keep up the work Robstar!

Nelisha

1/2 B

For her fantastic writing about what she would do if she were invisible! Well done Nelisha, keep up the amazing work.

Amira

1/2 C

For showing the school value of effort and creating an amazing recount of her holidays. She is always listening and trying her best. Amazing job Amira!

Zoe

3/4 A

For your amazing organisation when reading at home. Thank you for your note taking.

Mimah  

3/4 B

For being an all-round superstar and showing an interest in all of her subjects.

Jarryd

3/4 C

For being able to use text clues and his prior knowledge when inferring, keep up the great work!

Saige

5/6 A

For showing maturity, responsibility and resilience in everything she does.

Sarah & Katrina

5/6 B

For working independently while Miss Myra is away and giving their best effort to every task

Arielle

5/6 C

For being respectful during whole-class lessons and always completing fantastic work. Well done!

Beyonce 5/6A

Italian

For being a respectful learner during Italian sessions

Katrina 5/6B

The Arts

For always achieving her best during Art sessions

Humaira  3/4B

Tutoring

For being able to prove a subtraction problem without using a calculator.

Johnny  5/6A

PE

For always coming to PE with a great attitude!