NEWSLETTEREmail: eglinton-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: www.eglinton-p.schools.nsw.gov.auPhone: 02 6337 1205

Term 4 Week 7 18 November 2021

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE - Mrs Vicki O'Rourke

To our Eglinton Families,

CONGRATULATIONSCongratulations to our students who sat the OC test last Wednesday. Placement outcome information will be mailed or emailed individually to each applicant in mid-January 2021. You can change school choices without explanation before 25 November 2020 using the Change of choice form. Changes of choice cannot be accepted after this date.

THANK YOUThank you to Bernadi’s IGA for their generous donation of $1700 to our school. We will be using this money to support our Kitchen Garden Program.

NEW PARENT AND CARER HUB: Inclusive Practice HubA new online hub has been launched for parents and carers featuring information about the support available for students with additional learning and support needs or disability.https://education.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/inclusive-practice-hub

YEAR SIX TRANSITIONWe are all wishing Year 6 a great experience as they cover the transition to high school program, as part of their final weeks at Egliton School. Thank you to Mrs Barnes and the Stage 3 teachers for preparing for this experience and for their commitments to support our Year 6 students.

COVID 19 UPDATEThe department has been working very closely with NSW Health to ease some restrictions for the rest of Term 4.

The summary below is a snapshot of some of the most recent changes:

• Scripture lessons will continue (except for Stage 3).• Presentation Day assembly will go ahead, but there will

be no parent audience. We will video (and hopefully live stream) the event.

• P&C meetings are now allowed onsite, must occur outside of school hours and are limited to a maximum of 20 people. All attendees must sign the visitor form upon arrival, physically distance and adhere to hygiene measures. Our next P&C meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 December in the Library at 6:00pm.

• Parents and carers are only allowed on the school site to purchase or pick up uniforms from the uniform shop in the hall, to volunteer in the canteen, for the purpose of picking up their sick child or for essential meetings with teachers and/or school executives.

• Year 6 Farewell will proceed, with guidelines, and a COVID-19 Safety Plan. (see separate note home).

COMMUNICATION This week saw frustration within our community as some members felt that their voice was not being heard, I would like to assure you, I am here to help you, but I am unable to do so unless you contact me.

Please phone or make an appointment to come and see me. I am always willing to listen and I am open to new ideas or suggestions to improve our school processes. We are committed to resolving complaints promptly, so it’s best if you let us know about your concerns as early as possible.

Communication is very important at Eglinton Public School.We have a variety of communication methods (list-ed below) to inform our parents/carers and community of what is happening in our school and about other activities.

If you require time to discuss your child please request an interview time or a call-back via the school email or School Stream or through the school office. The EPS guideline for communication with school requests you speak with your child’s teacher in the first instance, then the Assistant Principal, followed by the Principal.Please remember to refer to School Stream: https://www.schoolstream.com.au/download/ Eglinton Public School’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EglintonPublicSchool/?tn-str=k*FEglinton Public School’s website for the most up to date information: https://eglinton-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/Eglinton Public School email: eglinton-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

If you need assistance with accessing any of our communication channels or would like to talk to the Principal please speak to our lovely office staff.

Complaint Handling Policy - Making a complaint about NSW public schools - guide for parent & carers

We are committed to working with parents, carers, students and families to ensure all students are happy and thrive at school. If you have a question, issue, complaint, feedback or compliment about our schools, we’d like to know.

Quick reference guide – making a complaint about our schools (PDF 135.29KB)

SCHOOL COMMUNITY CHARTER Attached to this week’s newsletter is the Department of Education School Community Charter. It clearly identifies the type of school community commitment required from everyone to ensure a collaborative culture underpins all that we do. We all want the best possible environment for our students so that they can connect grow and thrive. This is very evident in our Eglinton Community making our school such a special place to work and learn each and every day.

The School Community Charter informs parents and carers on how to engage with NSW public schools. Read the School Community Charter (PDF 1.4 MB) to ensure you understand how important it is to create a positive learning environment for our students.

THANK YOU P&C

We would like to thank our P&C for the recent purchase of decodable texts for Home Reading.

Decodable texts contain a very large percentage of words that incorporate the letter-sound relationships that students have been taught. These books provide students with the opportunity to practise what has been taught during explicit, systematic phonics instruction in the classroom.

The P&C funded the purchase of over 170 books (to the value of $750.00) for our Home Reading library. The P&C have also agreed to further assist us with our reading and numeracy initiatives throughout next year. How wonderful to have their support to build strong literacy and numeracy foundations for our students.

Staying safe with strangers

Here are some tips you can give to young children to help them stay safe from strangers:

• Strangers are people you don’t know. Most strangers are good people. But you don’t have to always trust or believe an adult.

• If a stranger wants to talk to you, always check with your parents first.

• Strangers may make up stories or offer treats to make you go with them. Never go with a stranger — no matter what they say. Never, ever, get in a car with a stranger.

• If you are on your own, always stay somewhere busy and well-lit where other people can see you.

• Make sure your parents or carers always know where you are.

• Sometimes you might need to talk to a stranger for help, for example if you are lost. Look for a mum with children or go into a shop, police station, service sta-tion, library or school.

• If someone is following you or grabs you, scream for help as loud as you can. Shout ‘Go away, I don’t know you’ so other people will understand.

© NSW Department of Education

Collaborative. Respectful. Communication.

Positive environmentsIt is important that our NSW public schools are positive environments and that parents and carers are kept informed of students’ progress and school announcements.

Parents and carers can expect:

• To be welcomed into our schools to work in partnership to promote student learning.

• Communication from school staff will be timely, polite and informative.

• Professional relationships with school staff are based on transparency, honesty and mutual respect.

• To be treated fairly. Tolerance and understanding are promoted as we respect diversity.

What our schools provideNSW public schools work to create positive environments for students, staff and the entire school community that support student learning. We strive to ensure that every student is known, valued and cared for.

Ensuring respectful learning environments for all members of NSW Public Schools communities.

The best education happens when parents and schools work together.

The School Community Charter aligns with the NSW Department of Education Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022.

COLLABORATIVERESPECTFULCOMMUNICATION

The following School Community Charter outlines the responsibilities of parents, carers, educators and school staff in NSW public schools to ensure our learning environments are collaborative, supportive and cohesive.

Unsafebehaviouris not acceptablein our schools

We work together with theschool

We prioritisethe wellbeingof all studentsand staff

We treat each other with respect

School Community Charter

Communicating with our schoolsOur staff will find a time to talk to you when they can give you their full attention. Please remember that while our staff are in class or dealing with other matters, they may not be available to answer your questions immediately.

Our schools and communities will make sure that written communication is appropriate, fair and easy to read. We encourage you to use email and social media appropriately to connect with your school and stay up-to-date with up-coming events in the school community.

Our guide for parents, carers and students provides useful information about the complaints process: education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/rights-and-accountability/complaints-compliments-and-suggestions/guide-for-parents-carers-and-students

Respectful communication is a rightIn all workplaces people have the right to feel respected. Unacceptable and offensive behaviour has no place in our school communities.

To ensure the wellbeing of students, staff and the community in our schools, steps will be taken to address unacceptable behaviour. This may include restricting contact with the school community or, in more serious cases, referral to NSW Police.

We create collaborativelearningenvironments

education.nsw.gov.au

Collaborative. Respectful. Communication.

Unacceptable behaviour may include but is not limited to: • Aggressive or intimidating actions, such as violence, threatening gestures or physical proximity.• Aggressive or intimidating language, including the use of obscenities, making sexist, racist or derogatory comments or using a rude tone.• Treating members of the school community differently due to aspects such as their religion or disability.• Inappropriate and time wasting communication.

COMMUNICATION

COLLABORATIVE

RESPECTFUL

We work in partnershipto promotestudentlearning

School Community Charter

We all playour part

Collaborative. Respectful. Communication.