Two Wells Primary School News Letter - Term 1, Week 4, 2021.
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."
Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr.
Welcome to Parents and Caregivers,
We sincerely hope that your child's time at Two Wells Primary School is happy, fulfilling and rich in learning. Our Teachers, SSOs and other staff are committed to working with you to build upon what is taught at school and expected at home.
During the last few weeks our staff have worked collaboratively to ensure the best possible learner outcomes for every child, in every class, on every day. Our staff have recently revisited Jolly Phonics training with Mallala Primary School Staff and all our Junior Primary students have recently experienced the Phonics Screening check. It was fabulous to see that the majority of students have retained their scores from Term 4. This is significant, given how challenging it can be for our learners to move their learning into their long term memory without constant repetition.
Across the school, all our staff are training using Accelerated Reader and over the next few weeks our students will be sharing this with you. We are particularly excited because we will be able to provide an extensive library of digital texts to compliment our existing well stocked library.
In Mathematics, staff are looking at learner dispositions and we know that our attitude towards an area of learning can really make a difference to how we feel when challenged. While we have already made significant progress towards this goal, we are still refining our practice to ensure that learners and their caregivers can answer the following questions:
- Where am I on the learning journey?
- Where do I go next?
- What is the best way to get there?
While we will update you throughout the year on the changes we are making to achieve this goal, the real test will be whether our learners know both the questions and the answers.
Kind Regards
Rosie Gilsenan-Reed
CARS AND SAFETY
In the last newsletter, I respectfully reminded parents about the rules for using our disabled car parking spaces. Despite this, several cars are coming into the car park in the mornings and this creates additional hazards. Only 1 parent has spoken with Cindie (Front Office) for an exemption.
I am also alarmed by the speed of cars approaching the school crossing and the number of parents engaging in U-turns. It is clear that traffic has increased since last term, much of the traffic relates to building works on the new estate and additional traffic for Xavier College. Please respect the road rules and remember the flashing lights require all traffic to slow, whether students are crossing or not.
GOVERNING COUNCIL
Two Wells Primary School’s Governing Council is responsible for the governance of all decisions based on the future directions of the site.
The foundation of Two Wells Primary School’s governance is that of the local community - Parents, Teachers, Principal and members of the local community best equipped to determine the needs of their children, and therefore, the policies and strategic direction of the school. Jointly the Governing Council monitor and report progress to continually enhance the performance of the school and the achievements of its students.
A Governing Council meets regularly to talk about the direction for the site. The timing of meetings can be different for each site, but it’s usually twice a term.
In your role on a Governing Council, you work with the site leader to:
- Involve the local community
- Develop and approve local policies such as uniform
- Set the broad direction and vision of the site
- Monitor and review the site improvement plan
- Be the employing authority of some services, including OSHC and canteen
Site leaders work with Governing Councils to:
- Give educational leadership
- Carry out the site’s policies
- Carry out the site improvement plan
Our AGM will take place on Tuesday 2nd March 2021 at 7:oo pm. We have two vacancies, one of which is a Secretary. Therefore, if you have skills in this area, please chat to me between now and the AGM. We look forward to your attendance.
COVID- 19 UPDATES
While there’s currently no community transmission of COVID-19 in South Australia, it’s important we remain prepared to respond to the fast changing nature of the pandemic.
We will continue to follow the advice from SA Health and Directions set by SAPOL.
QR Codes
Since the start of term all adults entering our school must check-in by scanning a QR code or by completing a paper recording log. QR codes are available at our entrance site. The paper recording system is only available at the Front Office.
Please note the COVID Safe Check-in is purely for SA Health contact tracing purposes only and doesn’t replace your normal visitor sign-in process. All guest must continue to sign in at the front office on arrival.
Requirements that remain in place:
- It’s important that students and staff stay home if they are unwell. A number of students are presenting to school when they are unwell
- Adults, including parents must continue to physically distance wherever possible, including at school pick up and drop off. Please do not enter the classrooms & foyers at these times unless you have arranged to meet with your child’s teacher beforehand.
BAKERY
EXCITING NEWS!!
Two Wells Primary School have partnered with the Two Wells Bakery and Tuesday the 16th February is the first day of our new lunch orders through the QKR app.
Lunch order arrival time is expected from the Bakery at approximately 12.35 pm which will coincide with the school lunch time of 12:45 pm.
The lunches must be ordered by 8.30am on each chosen day and through the QKR app only. Please note, Parents/Caregivers can place a recurring order or order any time before 8:30 am on the chosen day.
Orders through the school will not be accepted.
Lunch can be ordered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE
Once again Two Wells Primary School is participating in the South Australian Premier's Reading Challenge.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a literacy engagement program that was introduced by the Premier in 2004 to:
- Encourage students to read more books and enjoy reading
- Improve literacy levels.
The Challenge requires students to read 12 books between the beginning of the school year and early September. Students who complete the challenge receive an annual award.
Who can participate?
All students. The Premier’s Reading Challenge is open to all students from Reception to year 12 in South Australian government and non-government schools as well as home education students.
What must students do:
- Students are required to read 12 books from the start of the school year until the end of week 7, term 3.
- Students must record the titles and authors of the books they read on the relevant Student Reading Record for their year level.
- A teacher, librarian, parent or carer must sign each entry on the Student Reading Record to indicate that the student has read (or shared in the reading of) a book at an appropriate literacy level.
Free choice books:
Students in reception to year 7 will need to read 8 books from the Premier’s Reading Challenge booklist at an appropriate literacy level. They may read 4 books of their own choice at a similar standard to titles featured on the booklist.
Kind Regards,
Elaine Richardson - Librarian/Resource Centre Manager
COFFEE MORNING
Are you interested in joining the Parents and Friends committee to help deliver fun activities and support our school community? If so, please come along for a coffee and a chat on Thursday 25th February at 9:00am in the Two Wells Primary School – Resource Centre.
This is a relaxed opportunity to meet new parents and share ideas.
RSVP – Bianca Johnson on 0428 917 147