Dear Parents, Carers and Students, At the start of this year I feel like we are “ready for anything.” Whatever comes our way I know that we will manage it by drawing on our experience and the precedent set of succeeding and learning through the unpredictable challenges of 2020. This week I know the staff will be busy fostering connections between the students and themselves, helping the students set goals and understand that their time at school is what they make it. Across the year I am hoping we will instil a sense of “sisu” - a Finnish concept described as stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery and resilience. Couple this with the fun and satisfaction that comes with learning and we have a great year ahead of us. It was wonderful to see everyone settled in classes on Friday. Many thanks to the teachers for settling first week nerves, to Deborah Deratz, Adam Hearne and our office stars for ensuring the roll over ran smoothly and to our community for keeping up with communication and for reassuring our students through the changes and the rain! We are very much looking forward to meeting our new Kinder students on Wednesday. Here they are meeting their teachers at “Best Start.” Included in this email is our staff for 2021 along with our school map. Welcome Baby Louie Rutter and Ruby Nicol Congratulations and best wishes to the Nicol and Rutter families on the safe arrival of their bundles of joy!

School Fees An outline and explanation of our school fee structure is included in the Natter. Invoices for Term 1 Accounts will be sent home via email. Please remember that should you be experiencing financial difficulties or have any questions about School Fees please contact Krys Ramalli or myself through the school office. Digital Citizenship Antibullying Program Over the next few weeks all classes will be focussing on our Digital Citizenship and Antibullying program. In order to stay safe and be safe online, the students benefit from revising and building on this teaching/learning program each year. The students will be bringing home a digital user contract to be reviewed together with parents. Please sign this together with your child before your child returns it to his/her teacher. For more information for children and parents on being safe online visit; https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids Pick Up and Drop Off Arrangements for the start of 2021 Thank you for supporting us in our drop off and pick up arrangements. Many parents and staff have commented that the morning kiss and drop at the gate which began last year makes for a much more settled start to the day. Morning Drop Off - Parents drop children at Kiss and Drop or at a school gate. During weeks 1 and 2, if there is a specific reason a parent needs to enter the school to drop a student in Kinder, Year 1 or Year 2 you may do so but please ensure a quick good bye. Pick Up Afternoons – K and Yr 1 students are walked to their nominated gates at 3.10 and 3.15pm respectively. Siblings of K and Yr 1 students can meet their younger siblings and parents at the gates at the respective K and Yr 1 times. All other students finish school at 3.25pm. Please ensure your child knows their pick up plan. Kinder (3.10pm) KMB and K/1TS - Queens Parade Kiss and Drop (Kinder at 3.10 and Year 1 at 3.15pm) KHC - Stuart Street Kindergarten Gate KED - Stuart Street Gate 2 Year 1 (3.15pm) 1FG - Queens Parade Kiss and Drop 1HC - Stuart Street Gate 2 1RB - Kindergarten Stuart Street Gate This is the plan for the mornings and afternoons until the Department of Education Guidelines change regarding parents coming on site. I will keep you updated when these arrangements change.

Known Valued and Cared For Interviews Year 5

Late Arrivals and Early Leavers We strongly encourage students to be on time to school as it sets them up for an organised and positive start to the day and reduces the disruptions to class learning. Should your child need to be picked up prior to the end of school, please inform your child’s teacher in writing and phone the office to let them know what time you will be arriving for pick up. The office staff can then ensure your child is waiting in the office. Parent Information “Meet and Greet” Afternoons Between Monday 8 and Thursday 11 February we are hosting “Meet and Greet” open classrooms. Between 3.25-4pm on any of these days, parents are invited to visit their child’s classroom, meet their teacher and collect the information pack outlining class routines and expectations for 2021. COVID safe procedures will be implemented (QR scan at the classroom to sign in, hand sanitizer and masks (optional). The meet and greet afternoons will be held in place of our parent information evenings with the purpose being to meet your child’s teacher, collect information about classroom/grade routines and ask specific class organization related questions. The meet and greet afternoons are not for interviews about individual students. If you do need to speak with your child’s teacher before this or to make an appointment at any time throughout the year, please arrange this by calling the office or emailing the school. Events Please check the School Calendar on the Newport School website which is regularly updated. https://newport-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Photos of your Child As you are aware, we have a “Permission to Publish” policy that is completed at your child’s time of enrolment and gives yes/or no permission for his/her photo to be published on any of our publications or communication channels. If you have answered no, it is helpful to tell your child also. It is becoming more common practice for us to ask, “Are you allowed to have your photo shared?” Fostering independence and responsibility in this way, promotes student voice. Has your child achieved something notable in their sporting, academic, or cultural endeavours? We often hear from students and parents about their “out of school” achievements and we would like to celebrate and share these with our community. If your child has achieved something notable in their sporting, academic, or cultural endeavours please email your article to newport-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au along with a photo which you are happy to share, so we can include your story. Communication If you haven’t already, please download our new “School Stream” app (which replaces the Skoolbag app) to ensure that you receive important alerts and reminders from the school eg; bus or sport cancellation. https://www.schoolstream.com.au/download/?profile=School%20Stream In addition, please ensure through the office, that your contact details are up to date so that our emails can reach you. We regularly email, take and return phone calls, use Class Dojo to communicate photos of student achievements and have social media channels; https://twitter.com/NewportPSNSW https://www.facebook.com/NewportPSNSW

If you have an issue or concern to raise with the school, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us, through either your child’s teacher, the grade coordinator or the school office who will be able to assist with your inquiry. Newport Public School and Class Parent Emails The purpose of this form of communication is to communicate necessary organizational information, promote school events, arrange school and class activities, arrange meetings and inform parents of relevant, school related news and information. Parent Contact Lists are collated by parents at the start of the year for the purpose of supporting families to connect with each other for the above-mentioned reasons. Sharing your contact details is optional. As we would all expect in any relationship all communications via email, phone and other communication/social media channels (E.g Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Class Dojo) should be polite and respectful, adhering to the Department of Education’s School Community Charter. In addition, all social media platforms have specific rules of engagement which are underpinned by values of respect and responsibility. Your child’s classroom teacher is always your first port of call with classroom questions but if they are unable to assist please contact the school office and your query/message will be forwarded to the most appropriate staff member. Thank you as always for your support in getting the year off to a smooth and positive start. Kind regards, Natalie Baldi Principal Known Valued and Cared

For Interviews Year 6