Term 1 Week 1
From the Principal
Dear Calwell Families,
Welcome to 2023
What a delight it has been to welcome students and families back into the school. It was great to see so many parents/carers on the school grounds as everyone returned for the new school year. Our students looked refreshed and ready for learning.
As always Term 1 will be busy with a range of activities including our Meet & Greet BBQ, assemblies and sport carnivals. Additionally, this year NAPLAN testing for years 3 & 5 will happen in Term 1. Up until this year NAPLAN had taken place in term 2.
Our wonderful team of committed teachers and support staff have been very busy preparing for the year. Being flexible has been an attribute we have all mastered over the last few years with the challenges and changes we had to manage. This skill has again been needed as we have had to make some organisational and staffing changes both in our planning for 2023 at the end of last year and then last week. The key changes are:
- The class configuration for the year will be 2 x Kinder, 3 x Yr 1/2, 3 x Yr 3/4 and 2 x Yr 5/6. All classes, with the exception of kinder, we are at the agreed number capacity for each class.
- The release programs for this year will be The Arts and PE across the school, as well as Indonesian for Yrs 3-6. Science will be delivered by class teachers, still using the Australian Curriculum and the Primary Connections Science resource we have been using over the last few years.
Connecting with the Community
We look forward to engaging and communicating with families on a regular basis through the following avenues:
- The Calwell Connect Newsletter is emailed to families in even weeks of term. It is also available on the Schoolzine App.
- Our school Facebook page will keep you up to date with school happenings. We post photos and videos of activities and events regularly as well as providing just in time information to keep you informed.
- Seesaw will be used by class teaches to share information about the learning that is taking place in your child/ren’s class/unit, as well as being the vehicle for your child to share his/her work with you. The ‘chat’ function within Seesaw should be used for quick general questions or information. If you wish to communicate with your child’s class teacher about anything significant the preferred method is an email directly to the teacher.
- To Email a staff member add @ed.act.edu.au immediately after the teacher’s full name (with a dot between their first and last name).
- If you wish to communicate with the team leaders Alyssa Owen (Kinder Years 1 & 2) and Emma Vince ( Years 3-6) an email is also the best option. emma.vince@ed.act.edu.au and Alyssa.owen@ed.act.edu.au
- Katie Brown the deputy and leads the preschool. Her email is brown@ed.act.edu.au I can be reached at linda.neeson@ed.act.edu.au
- The general school email is contact@calwellps.act.edu.au and should be used for general communication including answers to quick questions.
- Calwell Primary Website – includes a calendar of events and a wide range of school information including curriculum, programs, policies and parent help information.
Our Meet & Greet BBQ is set for Wednesday 15 February. This will be for all families preschool to Year 6. This is an opportunity for you to not only meet your child’s classroom teacher but staff who work throughout the school. It’s a great opportunity to chat informally with staff and the leadership team. We look forward to seeing everyone.
Staff Team Calwell 2023
A warm welcome to three new teaching staff who join us - Jack Beattie, Carmel Pentland and Veronica Rapp.
Class Teachers
Kinder - Liz Lozberis (KL) and Carmel Pentland (KP) Scrivener Unit
Year 1 /2 – Jack Beattie (1/2B), Lauren Lutton (1/2L) and Emma Peel (1/2P) Corin Unit
Year 3 /4 –Tamara Player (3 /4P), Katie Bicket(3/4B) and Mark Glover (3/4G) Googong Unit
Year 5/6 – Ellen Christou (5/6C) and Pat Delfs (5/6D) Bendora Unit
Preschool Teams
Veronica Rapp / Jacquie Dickson – Magpies
Veronica Rapp / Mel Anthes - Cockatoos
Ellen Tyrell / Annette Mrdack – Rosellas
Rhianna Lockett – Wednesday teacher
Amanda Coleman will also support Magpies and Rosellas
Specialist Teachers & Support Staff
Catherine Gilbert - Library Coordinator / IT Support / Admin Support
Leanne Crampton, Jacqui Deacon, Chelsea Earnshaw, Mel Anthes, Kerry McNeil, Amanda Coleman are our Learning Support Assistants (LSAs)
Nicola Peaker - School Psychologist
Admin Team
Jennifer Hartcher - Business Manager
Bel Haider – School Secretary / First Aid
Lizzie Armati – Front Office / Admin Support / First Aid
Peter Rosser and Chris Brownell - Building Service Officers
We are here to answer your questions and help in any way we can, just give our friendly office staff a call on 61421900, catch a member of the leadership team on the playground before or after school or make an appointment to see us.
Home – School Partnership
Research has shown when parents/carers are actively engaged with their child/ren’s learning and their child’s school it leads to improved student outcomes. To help your child/ren reach their potential here are some ways we can work together:
- attend the Meet & Greet this term
- be involved in P&C activities – you don’t need to take on a role, it can be as simple as attending a workshop, meeting, being connected through the school P&C Facebook site
- contact your child's teacher if you need information or have concerns
- engage in your child's learning through Seesaw
- read to and with your child AND listen to them read as often as possible
- come to an assembly - 2.30pm on Friday afternoons
- contribute by helping with class reading/book exchange, assisting in the library, lunch clubs, fundraising or responding to calls for help or contributions throughout the year
- get involved in school activities even just once
- nominate for the School Board
We are looking forward to a great year and a productive term one working in partnership with you.
Linda & Katie
2023 School Board Nominations
The School Board is the policy making body for the school. Board membership consists of three parents (elected by the parents), two teachers (elected by the teachers), a nominee of the Department and the Principal as executive officer. Members are elected for a two-year term.
Responsibilities of the Board include the development of school policies, philosophy and priorities, approving the annual budget and the disbursement of funds, and approval of the Strategic and Annual Action Plans. The school’s new Strategic Plan 2023 2027 will be developed this year.
The Board is established at the end of term one each year to provide the opportunity for new parents to settle into the school community before elections are held.
There is a vacant position on the School Board for a parent representative. Nominations open 11:00 am Monday 6th February and close at 11:00 am Wednesday 22nd February 2023.
Forms will be available at the front office from the 6th February or can be emailed to you by calling 6142 1900. The new Board commences on 1st April 2023. Nominations must be:
- In writing and signed
- Endorsed with the consent of the person nominated
- Delivered to the Front Office, marked to the attention of the Returning Officer for the School Board by Wednesday 22nd February by 11:00am.
If more than one nomination is received for the vacant position the Returning Officer will conduct a ballot. Should an election be required details will be advertised in the school newsletter. Candidates are required to provide a brief statement detailing where their particular interests lie in the school, what skills or experience they bring to the Board and how they will represent the parent body to accompany their nomination.
Nominations must be received before the closing date by either:
- Hand delivery to the front office, or
- Email to contact@calwellps.act.edu.au with “CPS Board” in the subject space.
The names of all nominees will be announced on 22nd February
If an election is required, the voting period will be from 27th February to 6th March. Further information: contact the Assistant Returning Officer, Jennifer Hartcher, on 6142 1900 or by email: jennifer.hartcher@ed.act.edu.au