Message from the Principal

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and community members,

A warm welcome to our 2021 students and staff. This year we welcome 70 new Preps and their families. They have made a wonderful transition to Primary School and their first few days have been very calm and positive. We have also enrolled new students from Years 1 to 6 giving us a total enrolment of 412 students.

We also welcome to our new teaching staff – Miss Nicarla Prentice. Nicki’s role here at St Saviour’s Primary is that of Middle Leader –to support the Principal in ensuring excellent teaching and learning in a faith-centred environment. The ML works in collaboration with the Principal and other senior leaders to develop and monitor the school’s teaching and learning program. Nicki has 12 years teaching experience across the Diocese and is a welcome member of our school team.

Mrs Judy Smith (Assistant to the Principal in Religious Education and Learning Support Teacher) has been on leave for the past two weeks and will return on Monday 1st February.  Judy has been supporting her son Hayden who is undergoing treatment for cancer.  Please keep Judy and her family in your prayers during this time.  

All our staff have worked hard to be well prepared for the start of the school year.  They have cartered furniture, reorganised rooms across the school, setup laptops, ipads in readiness for the students, mowed lawns, trimmed hedges and much more. To them I say thank you very much.  A particular thank you is extended to Jodie McLachlan, our Finance Officer, and the Administration Team who worked so diligently completing our end of year financial roll over and completing the myriad of administrative tasks necessary for a smooth start to the school year. Currently, our administration staff and teachers are learning new Toowoomba Catholic Schools digital systems for administration, finance and reporting. I ask for your patience during this time as like all digital programs there are certain to be some ‘gremlins’ that will challenge us at times.

COVID-19 Update

Parents and carers on school sites: Parents are  encouraged to maintain social distancing at all times in and around our school.  It is a requirement that all parents and visitors sign in using the QR code signs at all entries to the school to ensure our records are kept updated at all times. Please continue to remind your children to wash hands regularly. 

Parking       

The high traffic areas around our school continues to be an issue that require parents to give due consideration to the way they get to and from school. 

A few reminders:

• The service road off Neil Street is strictly not to be used between the hours of 7:45a.m. -8:45a.m. for parents. Parking in this area is allocated staff parking only.
• Prep Carpark: entry via Perth Street. Parents must park and walk their children into the Prep Playground and collect from the Prep Playground. Parents are not to stop on the road and let children depart on the road for the safety of all children.
• Our two designated drop off and pick up zones are Lawrence St and Perth St. Students are asked to report to these areas as soon as they are dismissed and not play on the school oval or playground.  

Schoolzine

Our schoolzine ‘app’ gives all parents the opportunity to be contacted immediately for notices, reminders and any emergency situation.  It is essential all parents and carers sign up to our school app.  Included in this Newsletter is information regarding how to access the ‘app’.  If you cannot access the Newsletter via the app please contact the school office to arrange an alternative method. 

Recent media alerts have reminded us of the importance of procedures in case of an emergency.  In the extremely unlikely event where the school needs to be evacuated it is vital we have a quick and effective method of contacting all parents and carers. 

 Signing In

A reminder that students who are late to school are required to report to the school reception to sign in.

Being late is a great inconvenience to the class teacher and the rest of the class for whom instruction has begun. Your child will also miss teacher modelling and instructions about how to complete the task. From 9.30am our office staff begin ringing the parents of students who have not turned up to school, unless you have notified us that they will be absent.  It is very important that you let us know if your child is going to be away.

Anaphylaxis, Allergy and Asthma Action Plan Forms

In order for us to best care for your child/ren and as part of our commitment to meeting our legislative requirements, could you please ensure you update your child’s Action Plan so it is ready for the 2021 School year. 

ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when children are reassessed by their GP, and each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector prescription, which is approximately every 12 to 18 months, with an updated photo. If there are no changes in diagnosis or management, the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be updated. The ASCIA Action Plan includes the date of next Action Plan review, which should coincide with the next scheduled appointment with a doctor to obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector prescription.

If you need a blank ASCIA Action Plan form you can obtain one from the Office or you may access them online at https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/asci

Parents and Friends Welcome BBQ

The P&F, staff and I look forward to catching up with all families at the upcoming welcome barbeque on Friday 5th February 5.00 pm - 8.00 pm outside the Mercy Centre. 

This is an annual event and the P & F seek some volunteers to help cook the bbq and help serve on the night.  Please contact the following P & F executive member, Mrs Christine Scott if you are able to help assist on 0413 272 848. 

All families will recieve via email a microsoft form to complete to confirm attendance and numbers at the BBQ.

2021 PREP families afternoon tea meet and greet: 

Friday 5th February

Time: 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm

Venue: Prep playground

All Prep parents welcome to come along to meet each other whilst the children play in the playground.  

Cupcakes provided by the school for the children. 

P & F will provide tea/coffee/cake

DATE CLAIMER:

P&F AGM - TUESDAY 16th FEBRUARY - 6.00 pm in the Library

Thanks everyone for a wonderful start to 2021.  

Thanks for reading.

Madonna Sleba