I can’t believe it is Week 8 of Term 4. Time really does fly when you are having fun. Congratulations to all of the students who have settled back into school life so well since the end of lockdown. I don’t know that they would agree with me, but it does prove that they really like school.
This is the final newsletter for 2021. What a year it has been. It is a little surreal to look back and comprehend the year we have had.
Thank you to our parents and community. It has been a tricky year for us all. Thank you for your continued support and understanding – with your cooperation and assistance we navigated our way through a lot of changes.
Thank you to the staff. The support and care that you showed for each other and the students was amazing. I am constantly reminded of the team work and effort this year as at times it felt like we were just making it through. A well deserved holiday is just ahead of you. Thank you for the support, hard work and commitment to the team, the students and the families.
Year 6 students - I wish you the very best of luck in high school. You have shown resilience throughout this year despite missing out on many ‘normal’ opportunities. High school is a big pond and you are the little fish. Stay true to yourself and continue to do yourself and your family proud. We are all proud of you.
Please stay safe over the Christmas and school holidays. Enjoy time with family and loved ones.
School finishes Thursday 16 December 2021.
School returns for teachers only for 2 staff development days - Friday 28 January and Monday 31 January 2022.
Students return to school Tuesday 1 February Kindergarten to Year 6.
Preschool - Bathu Bila – start on Tuesday 1 February.
Preschool – Garuwa – start on Thursday 3 February.
KINDERGARTEN AND PRESCHOOL 2022 OREIENTATION SESSIONS
It was so lovely to be able to have all of our new friends and families come and visit yesterday for the first time. We are very grateful that COVID restrictions lifted some and we were able to plan and hold face to face sessions for the youngest people in our school. We know how vital a good transition is to a successful start to school and we are so glad we could go ahead with our plans.
We look forward to seeing these students again next Wednesday 1/12 and for their last session on Wednesday 8/12 before they join the Stockton Public School community.
2022 ORGANISATION
As we move towards the end of the year, my focus has turned to many organisational aspects to prepare our school for 2022.
As a NSW government primary school, we are staffed on the total number of students enrolled. Public schools in NSW are staffed on average class sizes of 20 in Kindergarten, 22 in Year 1, 24 in Year 2 and 30 in Years 3-6. When I am confident of student numbers, I will be able to proceed with plans for how the school will be structured and how our classes will be formed.
If you know anyone, a neighbour, a work colleague, a friend that has a student ready to start Kindergarten but has not enrolled can you please ask them to do so as soon as possible. Our enrolment numbers K-6 determine our staffing and therefore how many classes we can operate next year.
If anyone knows they are leaving Stockton Public School and has not notified the office or a class teacher, could you also do this as soon as possible.
Our school’s Enrolment Policy is located, with the map of the school’s intake zone, on the School’s Website under “About our School – Enrolment”. The enrolment ceiling is currently based on 11 permanent classes. If a non-local child is enrolled at Stockton Public School, parents need to understand siblings will only be enrolled if enrolment capacity allows at the time of an enrolment application. If this is a future kindergarten enrolment, this may not be able to be determined until the out of area enrolment panel meets, in Week 3 and Week 8 of each term. If your family’s current residential address is in the current intake zone, and you move outside the school’s intake zone, younger siblings cannot be offered enrolment unless there are spaces available for non-locals. Please be aware that High Schools also have an intake zone. Regardless of the primary school your son or daughter attended, nonlocal students can only be considered for enrolment at a high school if spaces are available.
CLASS PLACEMENT 2022
The allocation of students to classes is the professional responsibility of the teachers and the school leadership team.
A great deal of time and care is taken on the placement of each individual child with our ultimate goal being the placement of each child in a class where she/he will be given optimal chance for success and happiness. We feel positive that the extensive time and care that we give to this process, together with the talent and commitment our staff puts into forming the classes, means that we are able to produce the best possible class combinations to benefit each and every child. Once formed, I am reluctant to make changes due to the large impact that one move can make. Your trust in our decision making, your appreciation of the time and care that goes into this process, and your respect for the competence and dedication of our staff, are greatly appreciated.
SCHOOL REPORTS
Semester 2 reports will be coming home Monday 13 December (Term 4 Week 11) for students K-6. They will be a modified report consistent with Department of Education guidelines due to learning at home during COVID19 restrictions and the consequent disruptions to class learning and assessments. The report will include a comment on your child’s progress in English and Mathematics. As well as future learning goals. We have also included Commitment to Learning, Wellbeing and Social Development markers. There will be no grades this semester.
KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE AND HEALTHY
We have a number of students enrolled in our school who have severe, life threatening allergic reactions to some foods particularly kiwi fruit, tree nuts and peanuts. We would ask for the co-operation of our school community in helping to minimise the risk to these students by not including peanut butter, Nutella or nut based food in their children’s lunches. Please talk to your child about not sharing or swapping lunches or other food. Your efforts will help make our school a safer place for all our students.
P&C
The P&C Committee makes a huge difference to our school. Our current P&C are enthusiastic and committed to improving our school. I would like to ask other members of the community to please consider joining the P&C Committee next year so that responsibilities and efforts can be continued and shared ensuring that the students at Stockton Public School continue to reap the benefits
END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES
Current Department of Education COVID-19 guidelines restrict who comes onto our school grounds each day. This includes the guideline that parents and carers are not able to come onto school grounds. This is our current reality and given we like to see every challenge as an opportunity, we are looking forward to our community working together on other ways to connect.
We have Presentation Day assemblies next week. Invitations have been sent to all parents and carers registered through enrolment. We have also sent special letters to families if your child is receiving an award just so you don’t miss out. Technology is a wonderful thing and we will be hosting the events via Zoom. The link will be sent out on the morning of your child’s assembly. Please do not share the link or record the event – it is a breach of privacy laws and our social media guidelines and can put our children at risk of serious harm. I apologise that this may mean that relatives will not see the event, however I make no apologies for protecting the safety and wellbeing of my students.
There will be news to come about the final weeks of school events.
CELEBRATIONS
End of year celebrations look and feel a little different to the ones we are used to but we are committed to ensuring we end the year with celebration events for all students. More information will come home soon regarding these events
Coming up –
Presentation Day assemblies
Leadership 2022 assembly
Bathu Bila Graduation ceremony and party day
Garuwa Graduation ceremony and party day
Year 6 farewell
Party day for all classes K-6
Yr 6 BBQ after school
Yr 6 graduation assembly
Yr 6 clap out
A lot to do in a little amount of time.
In regards to COVID19 restrictions for next year, at this point in time and considering the start of school 2022 is 10 weeks away, it is uncertain what school life will look like. I will be in touch late in the Christmas holidays, when I know more.
Ms Jodie Holt
Principal
