We’ve been pleased to see so many people back in the school again. Home learning may have helped parents understand a teacher’s role better but having parent/carers back in the classroom has definitely emphasized how much we’ve missed your help and involvement. As they say “It takes a village to raise a child”, so it’s so good to have our Randwick Village back together again.
At this stage we had planned on opening the school up a little more, but we will need to keep on top of the emerging situation particularly in the Eastern Suburbs. Please be rigorous in your checking into the NSW Service app wherever you go, maintain social distance and emphasize hand washing.
Commencing Monday we will take another step in opening up the playground. Parents are invited into the main playground for pick up with Year 1 and 2 being picked up near the main building and on the silver seats. Gates on Frances Street, The Avenue and Cowper Street will only be opened at 3 pm and will continue to be closed at 3.15 pm for student security. The gate between the School Hall and Council Chambers will no longer be in use. If you need to touch base with teachers at this time please maintain physical distance. Continue to organise an interview if you need an extended conversation as this will require NSW Service checking for contact tracing or confine longer conversations to a phone call. We appreciate you maintaining the gate drop off in the mornings, it means that children can use the playground for active play without fear of running into adults or toddlers. It also means we are able to have a smooth and prompt start to the day’s lessons. If for any reason you remain in the playground you will need to check in via the Service NSW app .
It was marvellous to attend a solemn ANZAC service with both our band playing and children singing. While indoor numbers are still limited there was some semblance of former years.
We were very sad to hear that Bright Stars who have provided our instrumental programs for the past 3 years and string program for 6 years will finish operating in NSW from the end of Term 2. The Director of these programs Dean Kennedy who has so capably run the program has made this decision to dedicate time to his family, now residing in Queensland. We thank Dean for his work for our school over this time and wish him well. The school together with the P&C are looking at alternate providers with the goal of maintaining continuity of the programs from Term 3. We are happy to hear of any suggestions from parents going forward.
I am pleased to inform you that Trent Gardiner will join our school as Deputy Principal on Monday, replacing Lauren Sten who takes up her position as Principal at Double Bay. We are fortunate in gaining Trent, currently relieving as Deputy Principal at Lindfield PS . Trent has a great deal of experience in leading student wellbeing and engagement, learning support, teacher professional development and classroom innovations in his previous schools. We know you will welcome Trent to our school and community.
Our first P&C meeting for the term will be Monday 17th May. At this ZOOM meeting you will have the opportunity to meet our new Stage 3 Assistant Principal, Peter Lavender as well as Trent. There will also be a brief outline of the Accelerated Reader program which has been introduced this year to encourage students to remain engaged in reading. DID YOU KNOW our Library is open every morning and break time Monday to Thursday? Children can borrow books, do some quiet reading or complete homework from 8.30 each morning.
Finally we will all be keeping our fingers crossed that our our wonderful performances for which students are excitedly preparing can go ahead. We have been conservative in our approach and limited audience numbers to each performance and increased the number of these so that everyone has a chance to enjoy. Please see the poster for the dates for the year.
Susan Allen
Principal
Randwick Public School
"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams" Roald Dahl