Principal’s Report
Term 4 continues to be busy with only 5 weeks to go until the end of the year. Last week we had a visit from Bravehearts and Ditto with some simple keep safe messages for our K – 3 students. Personal safety is an important skill for all our students and I hope that they left the sessions with understanding that, in particular knowing that:
- We all have a right to feel safe with people.
- Its OK to say No if you feel unsafe and unsure, and
- Nothing is so yucky you can’t tell someone about it.
As well as Ditto we had the pleasure of having around 20 students at our school graduate from Children’s University this year. Congratulations to these students on their achievement.
We have also seen some of our classes being able to participate in excursions. Travelling out into the community is an important experience for students that supports the learning that takes place at school. It is wonderful for our students to be able to participate in these types of opportunities again after a break caused by Covid 19.
Just a reminder that it is important that members of our school community regularly check the school calendar on either the newsletter or Facebook to keep abreast of what’s happening. Term 4 is a busy term, especially as it moves quickly towards its end. Some key dates to put in your diaries include:
- Tabloid Sports Day Thursday November 26
- Grade 6 transition day Tuesday December 1st
- End of year whole school picnic celebration at SPLASH, Friday December 4
- The Big Day Out - Year 6 End of Year Acknowledgement Excursion to Launceston Friday December 11
- Reports go home Friday Dec 11th
- Year 6 Graduation & End of Year Assembly on Wednesday December 16, from 11:30am.
- Term 4 is also the last opportunity we will have to enjoy our current year 6 students. During the course of their time at EDPS, these students have made significant contributions to school life in many different ways. We hope the remainder of this term also provides even more lasting memories of life at primary school for these students as they get ready to move onto high school.
Planning for 2021
Planning for the 2021 school year has begun as we organise our curriculum directions, staffing, specialists and support programs.
To plan effectively, it is important that we know the number of students who will be attending next year. Please inform Mrs Youd or the school office as soon as possible if you know your child will not be attending our school in 2021, and /or you have a child you are yet to enrol in Kinder for next year.
Bravehearts
Last week students in Grades Kinder to Grade 3 will have the opportunity to experience Bravehearts’ personal safety education program called Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show.
Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure show has been educating Australian children since 2006, providing them with personal safety tools and strategies while supporting positive self-esteem and resilience- building.
The Ditto show was a live, interactive 40 minute performance starring Bravehearts’ mascot ‘Ditto’. It included songs, dance, and easy-to-remember messages about personal safety for all our younger students. These songs and messages were written by Bravehearts’ professional educators and child psychologists to ensure they were developmentally appropriate for your child’s age group. The sessions were thoroughly enjoyed by all our students and many of them were excited to see Ditto again.
2021 Reece High School Enrolments
RHS has requested that any students who are intending to enrol at RHS for 2021, to return the completed enrolment forms as soon as possible. Our Grade 6 students were issued with the enrolment forms last term. If you have missed receiving one, please contact either our school office or the RHS Office to obtain another one. Once completed, please return the form to our school office for forwarding to RHS.
School Bus safety
Recently we have had members of the EDPS community inform us that students have been seen leaving the bus and then crossing the road in an unsafe manner. The NSW education department has published advice for parents of primary school students children who travel on a school bus to and from school. Each Bus family has received a copy of that advice. I have included below a summary of that advice.
Getting to and from the bus stop
- Families are responsible for getting their child to and from the bus stop safely.
- Always supervise your child until they are at least 10 and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop or interchange and when crossing the road.
- When waiting for the bus, hold hands and wait as far back from the passing traffic as possible.When travelling by bus, your child is most at risk in the minutes after they get off the bus.If you cannot meet your child, organise for a trusted adult to take your place.Crossing the road Together, choose the safest place to cross the road and talk about:
- Click here to view the Bus safety for school students Informationhttps://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/bus-safety-school-students.pdf
- STOP! one step back from the kerb
LOOK! continuously both ways
LISTEN! for the sounds of approaching traffic
THINK! whether it is safe to cross
Keep checking as you cross the road - Always wait until the bus has gone, then use a safe place to cross.
- Meet your child AT the bus stop or interchange after school. NEVER wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across.
- Getting off the bus
Talk and Play Survey
The Department of Education is working on a new campaign about the important role families play in teaching their children communications, talking and listening skills.
So if you have kids between the ages of 0 to 18, they want to hear from you!
Can you spare them 10 minutes of your time to fill in a survey and share what happens in your house?
