Newsletter - Gulfview Heights Primary School

Gulfview Heights Primary School
“Working Together to reach New Heights”
Newsletter
Principal: Chris Zunis
Deputy Principal: Narelle Kusabs
Telephone: 8258 9959
Fax: 8281 5839
Email: [email protected]
www.ghps.sa.edu.au
Thursday, 21st May 2015
 Monday 25th May
SAPSASA Boys Football
 Tues 26th May - Fri 29th May
Scholastic Book Fair
 Wednesday 27th May
School Tour & Open Morning
 Friday 29th May
Walk-a-thon Day
 Friday 5th June
Community Assembly 2.40pm
 Monday 8th June
Queen’s Birthday Holiday
 Tuesday 9th June
Pupil Free Day
 Friday 26th June
Community Assembly 2.40pm
 Friday 3rd July
Last Day of Term
Casual Day
Early Dismissal 2.10pm
Issue 06
From The Leadership Team
Australian Curriculum
Teachers at Gulfview Heights Primary
School are implementing the new
Australian Curriculum - Science,
Mathematics, English, History, Geography,
Civics and Citizenship from Year 3,
Economics from Year 5 and The Arts areas
of study in 2015. Teachers will be planning,
teaching, assessing and reporting to families
using both SACSA (South Australian
Curriculum Framework Standards and
Accountability) and the Australian Curriculum
as it is phased in over the coming years in
the remaining Areas of study. Teachers use
the Australian Curriculum to:
As teachers at Gulfview Heights Primary are
planning, teaching and assessing using the
Australian Curriculum, our Mid Year Reports
will report against SACSA standards in 3
areas of study and the Australian Curriculum
Standards in Mathematics, Science, English,
Humanities and The Arts. All schools are
expected to report against Australian
Curriculum achievement standards in 2015.
The process of gradual transition from the
SACSA framework to the Australian
Curriculum will have implications for our
teaching and learning programs in the future,
and more significantly assessment and reporting against achievement standards

Plan student learning.
across all areas of study. The remaining

Monitor and assess student progress.
subject areas will be implemented next year

Report student progress to parents.
including Technologies, Health & PE and
Languages.

Support student well being.
All staff continue to engage throughout the We encourage you to obtain further
year in relevant professional learning activi- information on the Australian Curriculum by
ties that will support them in implementing a c c e s s i n g t h e A C A R A w e b s i t e
the new Australian Curriculum, specifically in www.acara.edu.au, speaking with your child’s
teacher and attending future school
the above mentioned areas.
information sessions held for families.
So what does this mean for Reporting to
Families at Gulfview Heights Primary
School in 2015?
All primary schools will continue to report
against the SACSA standards and outcomes
and Australian Curriculum Achievement
standards using existing processes in 2015.
Parent Complaint Policy/Grievance Procedure
SA Excellence in Public Education Awards
In March 2012 DECD released a New Parent Complaint Policy outlining procedures for managing concerns and complaints made by Parents/Carers.
Share Celebrate Reward
As a result our school has reviewed and updated our
Grievance Procedures to incorporate the new Parent
Complaint Policy procedures for responding to issues of
concern.
A copy of this policy is available on our school website
www.ghps.sa.edu.au by following the links: General Information > Policies/Documents > Parent Complaint Policy.
It is important to remember that we endeavour to resolve all
issues of concern at the school level. In the first instance, we
ask you to speak to your child’s teacher or the principal if you
would like further information or follow up regarding any
concerns. Alternatively, write a note via your child’s
communication book or a letter marked confidential and
addressed to the Principal.
Thanking you for your willingness to work co-operatively in
the best interest of our students, staff and families.
Attendance Improvement
We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that
when children are away for whatever reason, you must
contact the school to inform us of their absence. Please write
a note and give it to the classroom teacher upon your child’s
return to school. Alternatively use the absentee note under Parent eForms on the school ap. or inform the class
teacher or front office staff in person. The school requires
a reason for each absence in order to update our records.
Did you realise…




Late arrival at school through the primary years is
often related to non-attendance during secondary
school.
Missing 1 day a week of school from Reception to
year 10 means missing 2 years and 1 term of
schooling.
Being half an hour late to school each day from
Reception to Year 10 equals missing 1 year and one
and a half terms of schooling.
Being absent 5 days a term from Reception to Year 10
adds up to more than one year of missed schooling.
Nominations are now open for the 2015 SA Excellence in
Public Education Awards.
The Awards recognise and reward the outstanding
contributions made by teachers, leaders and support staff
from across the state.
Don’t miss your chance to nominate an outstanding
education professional within DECD to recognise and
reward their dedicated and inspirational contribution to
young South Australians.
For more information and to nominate an employee at your
school or preschool go to: www.decd.sa.gov.au/awards.
Like us on facebook and follow the progress of the Awards:
www.facebook.com/SATeachingAwards.
Nominations close 5pm, 3 July 2015
OSHC Payments
It is recommended that families paying OSHC or Vac Care
fees do so at the OSHC office when picking up or dropping
off students.
Payments made to the front office can not be receipted
immediately and families may experience a delay in
payments being allocated to their accounts.
School Fees
Families are reminded that school fees are now
overdue. If you have not paid or contacted the front office to
organise a payment plan please do so as soon as possible.
If you are experiencing difficulty with fee payments please
contact us or speak to your child’s class teacher. We are
happy to negotiate instalment plans to help ease any
potential financial burden on families.
SAPSASA
Last week our school participated in both the SAPSASA
Girls’ Netball knockout competition and the Boys’ Soccer
knockout competition. Unfortunately despite their best effort
neither team progressed to the next round.
Both teams would like to thank al the staff and volunteers
who helped with training, transport and support for the
games.
Our next SAPSASA event will be the Boys’ Football
knockout game held on Monday 25th May.
Canteen News
This term the canteen will be offering the following specials:
Monday: Pizza of your choice & 1/2 garlic bread $3
Tuesday: Twista or Mac & Cheese
& 10 potato gems $4
Wednesday: Ham Burger or Cheese Burger & 10 potato
gems $4
As always the canteen requires volunteers to be able to
continue offering this service to students and their families 5
days a week. Please see Sonya Solly (our Canteen
Manger) or office staff if you are able to help out.
Year 7 Snippets
Smoking is banned in cars when children are present.
Section 48 of the Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997
(opens in a new window) states:
Our highlights of this term so far:

Mrs Thames returning from maternity leave and
working with us on Mondays.

Surviving NAPLAN testing.

Drawing scale diagrams of our classroom seating
design. Whose will we use first?

Studying chemical science and doing investigations
about mixtures – are they homogenous or
heterogeneous?

Learning about ancient Greece in History.

Doing colour tone art with Mrs Mondello.

Acting in performing arts with Miss Emily.

12 First Year student teachers working with all
classes on Thursday for 5 weeks.

Lots of SAPSASA activities including knock out boys’
and girls’ netball, boys’ and girls’ soccer and boys’
aussie rules.

Well done to Jade for being selected to represent
our district at the State Cross County Run at
Oakbank and well done to Georgia for being
selected to represent our district at the soccer
competition at West Beach in week 9.
1. A person must not smoke in a motor vehicle if a child is
All in four weeks!! No wonder we are all exhausted! :o)
Smoking in Proximity of School Grounds
Families are reminded that, in line with the DECD smoke
free policy, all areas on school grounds are smoke free at all
times. Please also note that in the interest of student and
staff safety, smoking is prohibited within 10 metres of school
boundaries (including the school crossing).
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind families
of the following legislation:
also present in the motor vehicle. Maximum Penalty
$200. Expiation fee $75.
2. In proceedings for an offence against this section an
allegation in the complaint that a child was present in a
motor vehicle at a specified time will be accepted as
proved in the absence of proof to the contrary.
In this section – child means a person under 16 years of age,
motor vehicle has the same meaning as in the Motor
Vehicles Act 1959.
Well Done Year 7s!
Well done to all the year 7 students and their families who
all returned their high school enrolment forms on time. The
next stage of the transition program will get underway this
week and all families state wide will be informed of their
child’s high school placement on Friday 14th August–
please note that placement information is not available
before this date.
Community
Noticeboard
For Sale
Half sized violin for sale. Good Condition. $70
Please see Julie in the office for seller contact details.