Term 1 Week 1 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Calwell Families,
Welcome to 2022. It is great to have our students back to school and we are looking forward to a productive year of teaching and learning. A very warm welcome to families who are joining our school community and to Annie Brill, Emma Peel, Lauren Uhr and Mark Glover who join the teaching team this year. Other new staff members are Mel Anthens, Kerry MacNeil and Chelsea Earnshaw joining the classroom support team and Laura Douch, Annette Mrdak and Jacquie Dickson joing our preschool team as support educators.
While we are becoming more skilled at managing changes, we hope that this year brings fewer challenges and disruptions. COVID restrictions remain in place and in the interest of the safety and well-being of the school community, we ask everyone to please adhere to these consistently. Please also be vigilant in monitoring your child/ren’s health and do not send them to school if they feel unwell or are displaying any COVID symptoms. It is essential that the school be notified as soon as possible if your child tests positive as this will enable us to implement response actions quickly.
We were pleased to be able to provide our school community with the first batch of Rapid Antigen Tests before the start of school. Week two supplies have just arrived and we will communicate how these will be distributed via email. We appreciate it is difficult for families to make collection arrangements each week. This is also an additional task for staff and your assistance in collecting your RAT allocation at the nominated times will minimise our workload.
Under the current circumstances and with our focus on maintaining class programs, Term 1 will look a little different. There will not be any assemblies, sport carnivals, camps or community events. Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) and Learning Assets will continue to underpin our work with students. We will continue to further our work in the area of home/school communication and engaging families in understanding the learning taking place in their child/ren’s classroom.
Communication - Home / School Partnership
Seesaw will continue as the preferred communication method with your child’s class teacher for all non-urgent matters. Please be mindful that your message will only be read when the teacher is not teaching, on duty or attending staff meetings. Messages will read between 8.30 and 5pm. For anything that needs a quick response please phone the office on 61421900 or email contact@calwellps.act.edu.au
- Calwell Connect Newsletter link is emailed fortnightly or is available through the Schoolzine app
- Facebook – the school Facebook page includes photos and videos of activities as well as providing just in time information
- Seesaw – will also be used to enable families to see and comment on student work QR access codes and instructions will be sent home soon
- Calwell Primary Website – includes a wide range of school information including curriculum, programs, policies and parent help information. The site will be ungraded this term
- If you wish to communicate with your child’s class teacher and the matter requires a response or action on the day, please phone the office or email the team leader (Alyssa Owen /Emma Vince).
Executive Staff
The Leadership Team and I are always keen to engage with parent/carers to receive feedback, answer questions and resolve issues. Email addresses are as follows:
Principal: Linda Neeson linda.neeson@ed.act.edu.au
Deputy Principal: Katie Brown katie.brown@ed.act.edu.au
Executive Teacher: Alyssa Owen Pre - Yr2 alyssa.owen@ed.act.edu.au
Executive Teacher: Emma Vince Yrs 3 - 6 emma.vince@ed.act.edu.au
Book Packs
Thank you to those families who have already made payment. Book packs consist of essential items, class work books and stationary which your child/ren will need to fully participate in the educational program.
We would like to distribute these as soon as possible. Payment can be made online or at the Front Office.
Voluntary Contribution OR Library Fund Donation
Voluntary contributions are a very important source of funding for the school as not all school resources are fully funded by the Directorate of Education. The contribution amount suggested by the School Board is low to minimise financial burden on families. We fully understand that some families may not be in a position to contribute, however, to assist the school in providing quality programs and resources we encourage those in a position to contribute to do so as early as possible. Contributions can be made to the Library Fund as these donations are tax deductible. Thank-you in advance for your financial support.
Before School Playground Supervision
Children should arrive at school around 8.45am. Please be aware that children dropped at the school before 8.45am will be unsupervised and may have difficulty seeking teacher support if needed. Teachers will discuss with their class the assistance available to students before school. We would appreciate your support in reinforcing the following with your child:
- a member of the Leadership Team commences roving the playground at 8:45am.
- assistance can be sought from the Front Office from 8:30am onwards
- children can seek assistance at any time before school by coming into the Front Office
- before school between 8:30am and 9:00am there is a teacher presence in the playground as teachers move between the administration building and class units. The playground is visible from the Administration Building and staff are able to monitor the number of children in the school grounds before playground supervision begins.
Linda
Team Calwell Staff - 2022
Scrivener Unit
Kinder Tamara Player (KP), Emily Hardy (KH)
Corin Unit
Year 1/2 Emma Peel (1/2P), Lauren Lutton (1/2L) Tamara Hope (1/2H), Elise Paull (1/2E)
Googong Unit
Year 3/4 Rhianna Lockett (3/4L) Annie Brill (3/4B) Cintha Thompson, (3/4C), Pat Delfs (3/4D)
Bendora Unit
Year 5/6 Mark Glover (5/6G), Lauren Uhr (5/6U), Lisa Jenkins (5/6J)
Preschool Teachers
Anna Dytlewski (Rosellas & Cockatoos)
Ellen Tyrrel (Magpies)
Liz Lozberis – Wednesday teacher Cockatoos & Magpies
Preschool Support Educators
Laura Douch (Rosellas), Annette Mrdak (Cockatoos), Jacquie Dickson (Magpies)
Specialist Release Teachers
Vlado Susko – PE & Indonesian
Ellen Christou - Science
Learning Support - Liz Lozberis
Internal Relief – Pia Hughes
School Psychologist - Nicola Peaker
Library Coordinator / IT Support - Catherine Gilbert
Learning Support Assistants (LSA)- Leanne Crampton, Jacqui Deacon, Chelsea Earnshaw, Mel Anthes, Karen Gardener
Business Manager - Jennifer Hartcher
Administration - Lizzie Armati
School Secretary - Bel Haider
Building Service Officers - Peter Rosser & Chris Brownell
2021 School Board Nominations
This year we are looking for two interested parents/carers to fill a vacant position on the Board for a two year period. Nominations open on next Monday 7th February and close on Monday 21st February 2022. Nomination forms are available at the front office or can be emailed to you by calling 6142 1900.
Nominations must be:
- In writing and signed
- Endorsed with the consent of the person nominated
- Received before the closing date by: 21st Febuary 2022
- Hand delivered to the front office, or
- Emailed to contact@calwellps.act.edu.au with “CPS Board” in the subject space.
If more than one nomination is received the Returning Officer will conduct a ballot. Should an election be required details will be advertised in the school newsletter. Candidates will be required to provide a brief statement detailing where their particular interests lie in the school, what skills or experience they will bring to the Board and how they will represent the parent body. Statements will be required by 10am 7th March ready for publication in the 8th March Newsletter. The new Board commences on 1st April 2022.