Dear Parents/Carers

Sharing Learning with Families – what's planned at Evandale Primary for this year?

After extensive community consultation in 2021 DECYP have developed new policy and procedure documents (which are still gradually being implemented) to guide how schools will be communicating learning progress with families. It has brought about a significant shift away from formalised written reports to a more regular communication opportunities with some software and resources still under development for schools to use.  This shift also recognises the importance of parents and schools working together to optimise the learning for students.  

I recently shared the attached Sharing Learning with Families document that was developed in consultation with staff to ensure that we were meeting the 2023 departmental requirements and the feedback was so overwhelmingly positive from the SA Committee members that I am now sharing it with you all.  I recall one comment being “wow - I bet most people don’t know half of the work that happens in the school – this shows how much you guys do and go above and beyond for our kids”.  

I’ve tried to capture all of the planned times throughout the year that we will be sharing learning progress with you and what format that sharing will take.  I does look like a lot I admit, and we are definitely meeting  more than the minimum DECYP requirements. Please know that you can also arrange to meet with your child's teacher or one of the leadership team in addition to these occasions if the need arises. Look out for the link to book in for the parent-teacher- learner 3 Way conversations to occur at the end of this term. We hope that all families are able to be involved.  

EPS Sharing Learning with Families 2023.docx

Welcome to our school

We welcome Mrs Bronwyn Carrol back to our school for the remainder of this term as our acting SBM. Our position has been advertised and we are now working through the recruitment process. Thanks again Mrs Power for your wonderful work at EPS – we will miss you heaps : )  

Welcome also to Miss Mollie Dowling (1-2-3) and Miss Maddison Viney (3-4G) who are here at our school for 4 weeks on their university practical placements. We hope that you enjoy learning about how to be amazing teachers from our staff and students.  

Northern Midlands Sporting Schools Association (NMPSSA) Cross Country 

Best of luck to our Grade 3-6 school reps at the interschools cross country carnival at Cressy DHS tomorrow. Just a reminder that students need warm clothing, to wear their representative school shirt (to be brought home this afternoon and returned next week clean) and plenty of snacks and drinks for the day. There is also a canteen so students can bring some money. Spectators are most welcome but do need to stay in the designated spectator areas. Please see the letter sent home for estimated starting times for events.  

Trivia Night Interest Meeting 

The annual EPS Trivia Night is back on the planning table for 2023 as a major fundraising event for our school. We are looking for people to come and help put this event together and have an interest meeting for parents, staff and community members on Monday 19 June 3:30pm at the school.  Please come along and find out what part you could play in helping us run this event (don’t worry the jobs are well defined and don’t require too much effort – promise!!) If you are unable to attend this meeting in person here’s the link to join us on teams. Trivia Night Interest Meeting.  We are raising money to have our roof cleaned and to put towards developing our nature playground. We hope to see you there.

Regards,

Jennifer Gray

PRINCIPAL

Teaching staff have been collecting data relating to our inquiry into home reading and promoting reading across our school community. Students have completed surveys about home reading, and we have collated this dataset. We had a great number of parent/ carer surveys returned. We appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey and provide many comments and suggestions. Congratulations to a parent from 5-6M for winning the ‘lucky dip prize’ of a coffee voucher. Teachers are still gathering student data to ensure that we have a clear picture of what is happening in relation to reading so that we can hone work and set a specific and measurable goal. Teachers will be beginning the research and professional reading phase of the inquiry in the next couple of weeks. If you hear of any great ideas that we can borrow or find any initiatives that might support promoting reading, please let your child’s teacher know. We really value our school community’s voice! 

Winter wellness 

The cooler months bring colds, the flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.  

Being prepared is the best way to protect yourself and your family. 

Prepare 

Children are most likely to catch and spread the flu. Make sure your child has received their annual flu vaccine. This will boost their immunity against most likely circulating flu strains. It will also help stop them getting very sick. 

Plan 

If your child is at higher risk of becoming very sick from the flu, COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, make a plan with your healthcare provider for when your child becomes sick.  

Protect 

Protect others by keeping your child home if they’re unwell, encouraging regular hand washing, and covering coughs and sneezes. 

For more information, read the [enclosed/attached] parent and carer factsheet or visit the Department of Health website. 

Thanks for doing your part to keep our school community safe, healthy and learning.  

SLC News  

Thanks everyone for supporting the PJ/Movie Day last week.  We raised $274.50 on the day. Mrs Brilliant Becker also donated $400.40 as money raised from the Mother's Day Stall. We are now on the verge of being able to choose the cubbyhouse designs and we think we have raised enough money to purchase a flatpack cubby and to pay for the installation of the footings and construction of the cubby which is very exciting. 

  

CITY MISSION WINTER APPEAL

The City Mission Winter appeal starts today (the first day of winter) and this year is focusing on supporting families and individuals who are experiencing financial hardship. Many families are experiencing these challenges this year perhaps for the first time due to the steep rise in the cost of living.  Any small donation that you can make to help others will make a huge difference to people’s lives.  We are collecting non-perishable food items, particularly winter warmers such as pasta, pasta sauces and soups.  Donations can be dropped off at the office. Money donations can be made either by clicking on the donate now button on this digital poster promoting the “Pay It Forward” campaign or putting money in the collection tin at the office. We are also planning to create posters to place around the community with QR codes to make money donations easier to do. Please help us to help other people – City Mission is a local charity supporting local people.

The 2023 Tasmanian Primary All Schools and Tasmanian Secondary All Schools cross country events are almost here! Get your entries in now!

Primary All Schools XC: Tuesday 27 June 2023 – entries close at noon, Wednesday 22 June

The Primary All Schools registration portal is open. Registration, event information and regular updates can be found here:

Inside Out 4 Kids will be delivering their Early Childhood and Primary Emotional Literacy Programs in Term 3. These engaging whole class programs runs over 5 consecutive weeks in our P-1, 3,4 and 1,2,3 classes. Some of the areas of focus will be on understanding how to identify, describe and express emotions which can be helpful for self-expression, language and stress management. More details and permission forms will be sent home in week 8. It is a wonderful opportunity that staff and students find very engaging.

PIANO LESSONS

Sandra Harvey is available again in 2023 for piano tutoring. If your child is interested in lessons please contact Sandra on 63981001 or sharvey_music@hotmail.com

Do you know of anyone who would be great for this part time position?? If you can think of anyone, please pass these details on!