Term 1 Week 1 Newsletter

From the Principal

Dear Families,

Welcome back to school for 2024! We hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing break and that all of our students are looking forward to returning to school. Our teachers and support staff returned to work last Wednesday for our Professional Learning Days. Everyone has been busy preparing classrooms for the return of students along with planning the 2024 curriculum documents. 

This morning we welcomed our Preschool students along with our Kindergarten students. This is an important and exciting time for these new starters and our teachers and learning support staff really went out of their way to make them feel welcome and comfortable on their first day. It was great to meet so many new students and families.

Playground changes

We are going to trial a couple of playground changes this term to help our students spread out a little more, use different parts of the playground and to be able to be with their friends.

Year 3 students will be able to use the junior and senior parts of the playground so that they can still be with their friends they may have been with the year before. In order to help with Soccer congestion on the top synthetic oval we are going to make a roster change. Year 5/6 students will be rostered to use the top oval on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the bottom grass oval on Tuesday and Thursday. Year 3/4 will have access to the top oval on Tuesday on Thursday and the grass oval on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Goals will be provided for both ovals. I would appreciate you sharing this information with your child/children. We will also be sharing this information with students tomorrow.

Student Hub

Last year the Student Hub was completed. This room is attached to the Kindergarten unit and is used for small group learning, social and emotional learning, playground support and for sensory needs. This year we are going to use the student hub as an alternative space for play breaks for students who may need extra support to develop skills and strategies to play with others successfully. Students can self refer themselves to attend the student hub and their attendance will be monitored by the teacher on duty.  Students can also be referred to the student hub by teachers. Sometimes students will be asked to attend when they need to participate in Restorative conversations and actions with others. The teachers looking after the hub at break times will mostly be from the Leadership team.

Welcome BBQ and Getting to Know you Interviews

On Monday of Week 3 (12/02/2024) we will be holding a welcome BBQ for parents and families. This is a chance for you to come along to have a look at your child’s classroom and share a sausage sizzle with the community. We will begin at 3.00pm and welcome you to walk through the classroom. Later in Week 3 we will be holding “Getting to Know You” meetings for anyone who would like to share information about their child with the teacher. If a meeting does not suit you and you have information to share please email the front office and it will be passed on to the relevant teacher.

Social Worker

We have been fortunate to secure a social worker to support our community for two days a week. We welcome Yvonne McLauchlan to our staff and we are looking forward to working with her this year.  Yvonne also works at Calwell High School. Please see information from Yvonne below.

My name is Yvonne McLauchlan, and I am excited to join Calwell Primary School as School Social Worker. I have worked in the Education Directorate for several years, and this year will be based at Calwell High School and Primary School. I am looking forward to the opportunity to become part of the Calwell Community, working closely with staff, students and families. I can offer confidential advice and assistance with the following:

• School concerns, attendance, family matters and parenting and behaviour support.
• Accessing and referrals to external supports such as mental health services for students or parents.
• Support to access emergency financial assistance.
• Help with filling in forms or dealing with government agencies.
• Support with NDIS.
• Parenting Workshops.

If you think there is an area I can support with, please call 0401 096 934 or email me at Yvonne.mclauchlan@ed.act.edu.au and we can have a chat. I will be at Calwell Primary every week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mobile Phone Policy

New mobile phone policy for all ACT public schools starts this term

We would like to remind you that the new Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools Policy will commence from the beginning of term 1, 2024.

For students at Calwell Primary School this means:

• Students in years P-10 at ACT public schools may not use or access personal communications devices at school, including recess and lunch, or during school authorised events.
• Students at Calwell Primary School are expected to hand their phone to the front office on arrival at school where it ill be stored safely until the student leaves for the day.

Special considerations and exemptions
Exemptions can be requested if a student needs their device/assistive technology:

• to manage or monitor a medical condition
• to help meet caring or family responsibilities
• to support adjustments for students with disability as part of an agreed individual learning plan.

If you would like to apply for an exemption please speak with our front office. A transition period up to the end of term 1, 2024 is in place for families working through the exemption process.

You can read more about the policy including frequently asked questions on the Education Directorate website. 

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or Katie Brown (Deputy) if you have any questions about your child’s learning at Calwell Primary School.

Kind Regards

Ben Roberts
Principal