Panania North Public School

Newsletter 13 - 15th October 2021

Principals Message

This term will see a lot of changes as we gradually transition back to face-to-face learning as the Premier announced in the adjusted return to school plan last week. Below are the key dates and details to help prepare you and your family for the return, including some changes in the staged return to school.

The return to school roadmap is subject to change depending on advice from NSW Health. You can stay up to date with the most recent information on our Advice for families page.

For those families who have siblings across year groups I know it will be difficult to keep some at home while others are back at school. But to re-iterate the message above – we need this time to prepare our school and staff for having all our students back, so it’s essential that you only send your children to school in line with our set plan.

Preparing for our return to school

Students return

  • Students who are unable to return due to isolation or have been identified as high risk will continue to be supported with a 'Learning from Home' Program.
  • All other students will recommence their learning program at school.

Week 3 - Beginning Monday October 18, 2021

  • Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 Students Return (Kindergarten, Years 1 & 2)

Week 4 - Beginning Monday October 25, 2021

  • Stage 2 and Stage 3 Students Return (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6)

Staggered start /finish times and school gate entry

Mornings 

All students will go straight to their classrooms when they arrive at school

  • Kinder students enter through main school gate on Bransgrove Rd
  • Year 1 & 2  (Stage 1) enter through front carpark gates (no cars will be allowed in the carpark)
  • Stage 2 and Stage 3 students to enter through the back gates using the Wall Street or Mae Crescent entrances
  • Siblings who are in different years may arrive through any gate if they are together.

Afternoons

  • Kindergarten and Years 5 & 6 (Early Stage 1 and Stage 3) FINISH at 2:50pm and leave through the same gates as the morning
  • Years 1, 2, 3 & 4 (Stage 1 and Stage 2) FINISH at 3:00pm and leave through the same gates as the morning
  • Students who need to wait for siblings to finish will assemble on the seats under the cola outside the office block. Siblings who are in different years may leave through any gate if they are together.


Lunch and Recess

  • Stages will have staggered lunch and recess times and separate playgrounds
  • Our school canteen will be open


Keeping us safe

  • All staff on schools sites will be fully vaccinated from 18 October.
  • While at school, face masks are required in all indoor and outdoor settings for all staff and all students in Year 7 and above (unless eating or exercising). Masks are strongly recommended indoors for primary students indoors and outdoors (unless eating or exercising).
  • School ventilation has been checked to ensure all indoor areas meet the guidelines
  • Regular reinforcement of personal hygiene including washing hands and using sanitiser
  • No external visitors including parents onsite
  • New QR code check in


School uniforms

School uniforms are available for purchase online. At this stage we unable to have parents onsite to purchase uniforms.

Helpful tips for parents and carers to support children return to school.

Every family has a different learning-from-home story. Here are some ways you can support your child return to school and reconnect with their school community.

Be positive about returning to school
  • Ask your child how they are feeling about returning to school. Your child may be feeling a mix of emotions about their return, so it is important to listen to any concerns and respond in a calm, supportive and reassuring way.

  • Promote positive conversations by asking what they like about school and what they are looking forward to when they return. Let them know that school staff are looking forward to seeing them. Your child might like to make a list or drawing about things they have missed about school.

  • If they feel nervous or worried, help them understand this is a normal reaction, and that you and their teachers are there to support them.

  • If your child has questions about COVID-19 provide factual and age appropriate information. Let them know everyone at school is working hard so that everyone is safe.

  • Consider limiting media content your child is viewing if it is contributing to worry or distress.

  • Remind your child that everyone at school is working hard to make sure that everyone is safe and that anyone who is unwell will stay home.

Prepare yourself and child for changes and new school procedures
  • Look at the school website, Facebook page and newsletters to learn about new procedures that may have been introduced such as changes to parents’ access to the school grounds, drop off and pick up points as well as new rules such as wearing face masks or hygiene rules.

  • Discuss these with your child and plan together how these changes will be managed. The more your child understands the changes, the more comfortable they are likely to feel. If you are unsure about anything, contact the school or your child’s teacher.

Re-establish your routines
  • Routines help provide certainty and increase feelings of security, so it will help to re-establish routines and plan for the return.

  • In the week before, bring back the usual wake up, bed and breakfast routines. Set aside time to find school equipment and check uniforms and shoes still fit – your child may have grown. Give yourself enough time to organise replacements or a uniform alternative if needed.

  • The day before returning, encourage your child to check their school timetable if needed, pack their school bag, and get their lunch box, drink bottle and uniform ready.

  • Allow more time than usual on the first morning back to calmly get ready. Take your child to school if that will help build a greater sense of security. Alternatively, encourage your child to meet up with a friend before school and travel in together.

Update the school
  • Let the school know of any concerns relating to your child that may impact their transition back to school. This will assist the school to work with you to plan and put in place appropriate support strategies.

At the end of the school day
  • Talk to your child about their day and what they are looking forward to tomorrow. If your child prefers, get them to write down or draw their feelings.

  • Provide opportunities for your child to play and relax at the end of the day. Returning to school may contribute to tired and emotional reactions at the end of the day.

  • Help re-establish after-school routines to review the day’s learning and complete homework tasks.

  • Consider having extra family time together as your child may have missed being at home with you.

Supporting your child
  • Returning to school routines may take some time. Reassure your child that this is normal. Encourage them to ask for help if they need it

  • Take care of your own wellbeing while supporting your child’s return to learning at school. You may have some children returning to school while others are continuing to learn from home. You can help your child by explaining that all children will be returning to school soon.

  • If they are finding things difficult, remind your child of times in the past when they were able to do things that were difficult and face situations that made them nervous or scared.

  • If you are concerned about your child, seek support by contacting the school.

How you can help your school community
  • If you are picking your child up from school, please be sure to follow the guidelines for your school.

  • Please practice physical distancing at pick up time.

If you need help and support
  • If you have specific questions about the return you can contact your school.

Opportunity Class Placement Test

Due to the ongoing COVID restrictions this year's Opportunity Class Placement Test has been rescheduled to Wednesday, 17 November 2021. It has been agreed by the Minister that the test will be administered as a computer-based test.

The change of date will require students attending NSW public schools to be tested at their own schools with teaching staff administering the test. This approach will ensure placement of students in opportunity classes on Day 1, Term 1, 2022.

Applications for Year 7 entry to selective high schools in 2023

Applications for Year 7 entry to selective high schools in 2023 open on 19 October 2021 and close on 17 November 2021 at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7

Enrolment for 2022 – Panania North PS

Link to form https://forms.gle/wqReyFvNsyLxMb5BA

We would like to request your assistance in helping us to complete as accurately as possible our anticipated enrolments for 2022. The school is required to provide reliable enrolment projections for 2022 to the Department of Education so that they can determine the appropriate staffing levels for our school for next year. Once this is done we have time to fill in any teacher vacancies that may result.

All current students are guaranteed a place but we need to know if you actually need that place. We are aware that things can change so your response is not binding, but it will give the school a good indication of possible changes to existing enrolments.

Please advise us of any issues you would like the school to consider for class placement in 2022.

Parents are invited to advise us of any special reasons they would like the school to take into consideration when placing their children in classes for 2022. Please be aware that this is not an invitation to request particular teachers or class structures, but it is an opportunity to advise us of any important concerns that you would like us to consider when placing your child. Parents can be confident their issues will receive full consideration when classes are being formed but the school reserves the right to make the final determination about class placement based on detailed knowledge of all related circumstances.

Please send a separate form for each child as forms are filed as class sets.

New Kindergarten students starting school in 2022                                              

If you have a child beginning Kindergarten next year, please follow the link to our online enrolments

Enrolment - Panania North Public School (nsw.gov.au).

If you know of other families with children starting Kindergarten in 2022 please let them know it is important they enrol now. We have very limited places available at this stage.

Link to form https://forms.gle/wqReyFvNsyLxMb5BA

School Visitor Check-in

A single School Visitor Check-in system for every school across the state is coming from 18 October!

The Department of Education has partnered with Service NSW to provide a streamlined, digital school sign-in system for visitors and contractors at every NSW government school. 

Parents dropping and picking up their Child/ren from school or OOSH do not require to check in.

Benefits of the new system include:

  • Accelerating your check-ins to as fast as 20 seconds!  

  • Linked to NSW Health’s COVID-19 contact tracing ensuring every school is compliant with the NSW COVID-19 mandate.External link

  • Giving every school greater access to streamlined NSW Government services. 

Watch our short parent videoExternal link to see how it works for parents or our contractor videoExternal link.

Who can use School Visitor check-in

  • Visitors such as parents and carers, contractors, service providers and volunteers.

Students or visitors under the age of 18 are not required to use School Visitor Check-in.

School Visitor Check-in will be ready from 18 October at all NSW Government schools.

Term 4 Staffing

Staff changes

  • Stage 1 Assistant Principals; Mrs Teresa Fletcher - Monday - Thursday, Mrs Samantha Bruno - Friday
  • Flamingos - Mrs Teresa Fletcher M-W, Mrs Tonia Peyton
  • Wombats - Mr Michael Polson M-T, Mrs Joey Hampton W-Th (Until xxx)

Additional Support Staff

Panania North has invested heavily in extra support staff to support our students return and to reduce any gaps in learning that may have occurred during learning at home

ES1 - Miss Alison Martyn M-F

S1 - Mrs Hannah Lombe M-F

S1 - Mrs Kellie Walz - Th

S1 - Mrs Mary Bruce M-F

S1 - Mrs Nuzhat Miner

S2 - Mr Mitchell Palmer M - F

S2 - Mr Luke Collins

S2 - Mrs Rosie Mcguire

S3 - Mrs Erin Howard M-W

S3 - Mrs Joey Hampton W-F


Farm Updadte

End of Year Events Update on Plans


  • Year 6 Farewell:

    Plan A At school, at night, in the Hall

    Plan B at school during the day

    Plan C via zoom

  • Fun Day:

    Plan A Students and staff only

    Plan B Stages attend

    Plan C Cancelled

  • Presentation day:

    Plan A In the hall K-2/3-6 assembly

    Plan B Online Presentation

  • Stage 3 Camp: Cancelled

  • 2022 Leadership team:

    Stage 3 to begin process. If it looks like we will return we will hold off voting to Week 6, if not,  voting will be held online.

  • Talent Quest: Students to submit videos for an online presentation

  • Whole School Celebration: Cancelled

    Please understand that these plans will be adjusted in response to guidelines

School Travel for 2022

Canteen Update

We are pleased to let you know that the canteen will be operational from Monday 18th October to serve recess and lunch, with our COVID safe plan in place.

At this stage we will not be serving hot breakfast but will have things on offer for any child that may be hungry in the morning. 

Our lunch menu has been reduced for Term 4. We encourage the use of online ordering on flexischools.com.au and we will happily accept over the counter orders as normal.

Looking forward to seeing the children and returning to some normality.

Di & Jackie

Healthy School Bites

Have you applied for the Free $100 Service NSW Creative Kids Voucher this year?

It has recently come to my attention that many  parents are not aware of the Free $100 Service NSW Creative Kids Voucher. The vouchers will expire at the end of the calendar year and due to Covid, many parents have not had the opportunity to use the vouchers this year.

School Club is an eligible supplier approved by Service NSW to accept the Creative Kids Vouchers.

Make sure to take advantage of the vouchers and get $100 worth of free art and craft materials this year.

Eligibility 

If you’re a parent, carer or guardian, the student will be eligible if they are:

  • a NSW resident
  • aged between 4.5 and 18 years
  • enrolled in school (from Kindergarten to Year 12, including those who are home-schooled or enrolled in secondary school education at TAFE NSW)
  • a current Medicare card holder
You can apply for a voucher for each eligible student.You can use the voucher with approved Creative Kids providers.

What you need

  • a MyServiceNSW account
  • one proof of identity document for the parent, carer or guardian
  • your child's Medicare card details.

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher

Bites - Online Ethics

Bites - online ethics Ethics lessons aren't able to be taught in school at the moment - but there is an online alternative based on the Primary Ethics curriculum.Bites are short stories that present ethical dilemmas designed to get children practising their skills of close listening and careful reasoning.There are Bites for K-2 and for Y3-6. They come with notes for parents/carers and are available to all children.A completely new series of Bites for Term 4 is now available: https://primaryethics.com.au/education/

Cancer Council Healthy Lunch box ides

Check out this site for some ideas for active kids - https://tinyurl.com/activerkidspnps

Click the above link to scroll through Panania North events/dates for the year ahead.

Please hold onto board game and uniform donations till after lockdown.

An online store for the purchase of all Panania North Public School students uniforms

Honesty in all things

At Panania North we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and friendly school with strong and valued community links.