Macquarie Memo Issue 17 2023

News from the Deputy Principal

Next week we have our School Review panel here for the week. This is a really positive and exciting process for us to go through as a school. Throughout the week the panel will look at pieces of evidence we have collected documenting our journey in the 9 domains over the past 5 years, speak to staff, students and parents, and walk through classrooms. At the end of the week, the panel will provide some feedback to staff including their initial affirmations and recommendations. This will all be compiled into a final report which informs the next goals on our new School Plan. If you see visitors around the school next week, this is likely who they are. Feel free to say hello and welcome them to our school. The lead reviewer is from Queensland and 2 other 2 panel members are Principals in ACT primary schools.

 Last Friday all families in kindergarten to year 6 should have received a test email from our School Administration System ahead of semester one academic reports being emailed out on Thursday 22 June. I am sorry that many people could not open the attachment. That appeared to be a system-wide email error beyond my control, however I am glad everyone received the email. Thank you to those who have requested changes to email addresses so I can make sure the academic reports go to the right place.

Next week you will receive information about parent teacher interviews coming up in the last week of term. Interviews will be held Monday 26 to Thursday 29 June. Some classes will be having their interviews earlier due to staff changes. You will be informed if this impacts you or your child. I encourage everyone to book an interview time as this opportunity replaces our written comments on reports this semester. Teachers will give you detailed information about your child’s academic, social and emotional engagement and progress.

Next term we will be trialling fortnightly newsletters. As we get closer to the end of term, we will share information about how this will look in terms of continuing our high level of communication with parents, carers and community.

Please remember that next Monday 12 June is a public holiday for the Sovereign’s Birthday. We will see everyone back on Tuesday.

Have a great week,

 Stacey

Managing Staff Absences

As the colder weather sets in, we expect to see a higher number of staff away at times due to seasonal illness and COVID-19.

To ensure that we continue to provide all students with quality learning with minimal disruption, we may be implementing temporary changes to our learning programs. 

The school may also take the opportunity to temporarily modify timetables or work with external providers to deliver some programs. There may also be a need to postpone excursions and other extra-curricular activities until there is enough staff to support them.  
Every school will implement these measures differently and has the flexibility to make choices that best meet the needs of their school community. 

If changes are required at our school at any time, we will write to you to let you know. We will also ensure we keep you up to date on how long we expect any changes to be in place.

As always, we remain committed to providing our students with high quality learning experiences in a safe and welcoming school environment.

Thank you for your understanding.

Library News

Book Club issue 4 orders are due in by Sunday, June 11.

Place online orders here: https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

Stranger awareness safety message

This is a reminder to ensure your children and young people understand the importance of stranger awareness safety and information has been included on how to report an incident.

Please support us to keep our children safe by having conversations about moving safely around the community. You may wish to visit the Australian Federal Police website section on Child Safety for tips. In addition, the Safety4Kids is a non-government website that has useful information and links. The Constable Kenny website also has a number of tips for parents for younger children.

If you become aware of an incident or notice anyone acting suspiciously around a school or student, contact police immediately on 131 444 or in the case of an emergency call 000. If you witness an incident or if you have any information that could assist police, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously. We would also ask that you notify the school so we can also support the wider school community to be aware of incidents.

Have Your Say: Education Legislation Reform

As our education system continues to grow and evolve the ACT Government is considering a range of legislation improvements to ensure our systems and supports remain contemporary, and reflect the needs of students, families and teaching staff now and into the future.  

Reforms are being considered to:

• clarify school enrolment requirements
• modernise participation and attendance requirements to reflect the different methods of education delivery
• strengthen enrolment, attendance, and participation provisions to minimise the risk of children and young people disappearing from the education system, and
• outline requirements for distance education.

To have Your Say, head to the Your Say conversations website to read the discussion papers, take the survey, leave a comment or make a submission: http://www.yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/education-legislation-reform

Feedback will close at 11:59pm on 6 June 2023.

Apply now for the Future of Education Equity Fund 2023

Apply now for the Future of Education Equity Fund for the 2023 school year. Eligible low-income ACT families can receive one-off payments for financial aid to help cover the costs of their children’s educational costs, such as sport equipment and activities, music lessons, school uniforms and excursions.

The Fund is open to eligible students enrolled in preschools that are attached to an ACT government school, through to Year 12 in the ACT. Further information and the online application form is available at https://www.education.act.gov.au/support-for-our-students/financial-and-resource-assistance-for-families

Staying COVID Smart in 2023

As you may be aware, there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases across ACT public schools in recent weeks.

To help stop the further spread of COVID-19 in our school, we are encouraging and implementing the following measures:

• Students who are COVID-19 positive or displaying symptoms (including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever) should test and must not attend school while unwell.
• Parents and carers must inform schools if their child is COVID-positive.
• Keep up to date with vaccinations.
• Families can access a free rapid antigen test (RAT) from the front office of their school. Nasal and saliva tests are available. Test when symptomatic or as a precaution.
• Practise good hand and respiratory hygiene.
• Distance where possible.

For the latest COVID-19 advice please visit the ACT’s COVID-19 website.

Evaluation - Active travel programs

TCCS has engaged First Person Consulting (FPC) – a Melbourne-based evaluation consultancy – to manage the evaluation and the surveys. We will not be collecting any identifiable information from anyone completing the survey and all responses will be kept confidential and anonymous. FPC will collect and analyse all responses and provide key results to TCCS in aggregate.

Parents/Carers:

https://fpc.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zU82MwDxaxYEwS

News from the P&C

Uniform Shop

The volunteer run P&C Uniform shop is open 8:45am – 9:15am Mondays and Fridays; and 3:00pm – 3:30pm every second Wednesday (even weeks).

A volunteer is needed once a fortnight on Wednesday afternoons so the shop can re-open every week. If you have half an hour to spare, please get in touch with the shop coordinators Liz and Julie uniforms.mps@gmail.com .

Orders for new uniform items can be placed via www.flexischoolscom.au and will be sent home with students – no need to collect from the shop.

Donations of pre-loved uniform items are gratefully accepted during open times.

Working Bee Wrap-Up

The P&C would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out last Sunday. We focussed on building a garden bed in the greenhouse, moved a tonne (literally!) of soil to garden areas around the school, other small jobs, and of course a BBQ to finish off the morning. It would be great to see more parents and community members at our next working bee next term, so keep an eye out for the date in term three.

Notes / Reminders

All notes are available on our school website.

Community Notices

Does your child ski or snowboard?

If they would like to represent Macquarie Primary School at the Interschools Snow Sports Regional Championships held at Perisher from 18-21 July get in touch with Liz Watterson lizwatterson@hotmail.com by Friday 2 June.

The emphasis is on fun and participation at the regional level, however all competitors must be able to execute link turns and ride a chairlift/T-bar confidently to compete.

Contact Details