Pimpala Pod Learning Groups

Last week we started a new concept at Pimpala - Learning Pods.  These are vertical groups of students from Reception to Year 7, who will work together to:

• teach and learn new skills
• participate in games which support the sharing of social skills
• provide opportunities across the school for positive interactions
• build school wide vocabulary
• focus on embedding our school values

These groups will remain together for the year but will be led by different staff for periods of time throughout the year.  This creates opportunities for students and staff to learn more about each other and build relationships within the school.

During Learning Pod time, our student leadership groups are meeting with their mentor teacher to focus on their leadership skills and develop priorities for action in the school.

The feedback from all groups from our first session last week was very positive and created a lovely vibe in the school. We are looking forward to our next session this Friday where we will be focusing on some mathematical concepts through card games!

Farewell to Mr. Neil Lohmeyer

It with sadness that we announce the retirement of Mr. Neil Lohmeyer from Pimpala Primary School. His 36 years with the Department for Education has brought him much joy and he would like to thank everyone who has helped him during his time at Pimpala Primary School. We wish him well in his retirement.

Fortunately we have been able to employ Ms. Rachel Wickham from Monday to Thursday. Ms Wickham has already developed relationships with the students and the school and brings a wealth of experience and skills to the classroom.   She will continue to work closely with Elira Dixon, who will continue to teach the class on Fridays. 

Indonesian Day

Terima kasih banyak (thank you very much) to Mr. Collier for organising a wonderful Indonesian Day last week. Students and staff were engaged in a range of activities across the day like: shadow puppetry, mask making, batik fans, weaving, collages and angklung. Learning a second language not only contributes to our first language learning but provides opportunities to learn about other cultures in context.

         

Batik Fan Making - Wyatt L                                                             Shadow Puppetry

           

Mask Making - Paige G                                                           Fish Weaving - Kaelan H

With only three weeks of this term left, we are already working on preparations for big events next term including Book Week and Science Day.  Governing Council is currently putting the finishing touches on the arrangements for our Quiz Night this Saturday.  Looking forward to the night being a great fundraiser for the school and a fun event for our community.

Regards

Penny Wilde

Principal

All schools are required to collect information about the numbers of students that they provide adjustments to under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) and Disability Standards of Education (2005). This data is then used as the basis for national funding.

The NCCD involves the collection of;

• the number of students receiving adjustments to enable them to participate in education on the same basis as other students
• the level of adjustment provided to students
• student’s type of disability if known

Under the model the definition of disability is broad and includes learning difficulties, health and mental health conditions.

If your child is identified for inclusion in the Collection, the required information will be included in this year’s data collection.

If you have any questions about the data collection, please contact Erin Anear on 8326 0900.  Further information can be found at: http://www.education.gov.au/nationally-consistent-collection-data-school-students-disability.

In order to support whole school operational efficiency, all staff attend a morning briefing on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 8:20am and 8:30am.  During this time, the Front Office is closed and staff are not available.  We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding with this.

We are holding our Quiz Night on Saturday, 22nd June at Woodcroft College as a major fundraiser for the school and for a bit of fun at the same time.  There are a number of spots left so if you would like to come and are happy to share your knowledge with some new friends on a table of 10,  please contact the Front Office.  The cost is $10 per person.  Or if you can make your own table of 10 please let the Front Office staff know.

This is a great way to support the school and meet some new people from our school community.  All proceeds will go to the new Nature Play area.

It will be a fun night so please come along and help us achieve our fundraising goals to create this new nature play area for the students.

We are trying to get an accurate idea of numbers for next year so we can start planning our structure and staffing requirements.

If you are planning to change schools next year or know of someone who plans to enrol, can please let the class teacher or the Front Office know as soon as possible.

 We also need enrolment forms for each child who will come to Pimpala PS in the future.  If there are any siblings, please complete a form and bring it to the Front Office.  It is never too early to lodge the form.

Our Canteen Manager, Trish Mart has resigned effective 28th June and we have advertised for a new Canteen Manager to commence at the beginning of Term 3.  Consequently, the canteen will be closed during Week 10, the last week of term.  We apologise for any inconvenience.

PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT.

 It is a Department for Education requirement that all student absences and reasons for absence must be recorded by the school daily. 

If a child is absent, it is the parent’s responsibility to notify the school.  This can be done by: 

• Leaving a message on the school’s answering machine (land line - 83260900) which is operational after school office hours;
• Ringing the school on the day of absence;
• Sending an email to 1059.info@schools.sa.edu.au;
• Logging the absence on Schoolzine app Contact Us page;
• Reporting an absence on the website
• Sending a note with your child or write a note in your child’s diary the following day.

Please note: the absences mobile number is no longer in use.

 If the child is absent as part of a planned absence eg. family holiday, please notify the school before the absence. 

 If your child will be away from school for more than 2 days on a planned absence (not sickness) then an Exemption Form needs to be completed by the parent to advise the Principal of this absence.  The Exemption Form is available from the Front Office.

Pimpala will be hosting Principal Tours on 2 occasions each term for anyone interested in enrolling at our school.  The tours will be held at 10:00am and 4:30pm on the following dates, two tours per term.  Zoning will be discussed as part of the tour.  Please ring the school on 8326 0900 to book in for one of the tours.  We look forward to meeting you.

The Year 3-5 Swimming Program will take place during Week 10 of this term, Monday, 1st July  to Friday, 5th July at the Noarlunga Swimming Centre. Parents are welcome to go to the pool to watch.  Please note: only teachers may take photographs/videos at the swimming centre. This is to respect and protect the privacy rights of the children and the instructors.

 Full payment of $41.00 is required by Wednesday, 26th June. 

Swimming is part of the school curriculum, however, if your child will not be attending, can you please let the class teacher or the Front Office staff know as soon as possible.

Students will be attending lessons at various times and notes will be sent home indicating what time each class lesson is prgrammed.  Please ensure ALL items are labelled with your child’s name.  Any unclaimed items will be put in the lost property bins in the courtyard.

 Please ensure you have an up to date Health Care Plan for your child (they are only valid for 12 months). 

Any school based medication will be taken to the pool.  If you have ticked the box on the Swimming Consent Form for asthma and have not provided an Asthma Care Plan or any medication or spacer, you will need to provide it before swimming lessons commence. If you require any further information about Health Care Plans, please ask the Front Office staff.

Please contact Hazel Godfrey if you would like information about or to book in to the Pimpala Vacation Care Program for the July School holidays.

 Programs are available from POSHC.  Hazel can be contacted on 0413 482 521 or by email at Hazel.Godfrey850@schools.sa.edu.au

WHOSE JUMPER ARE YOU WEARING?

Can you please check the name in the jumper your child is currently wearing?  It is so easy to pick up a jumper belonging to someone else as they all look the same.

Please bring any incorrectly claimed jumpers to the Front Office to be returned to the rightful owner and also ensure that your child's clothing is clearly labelled with their name.   

An increased number of students are being dropped at school before 8.30am. Staff are on yard duty from 8.30am providing duty of care for students before the start of the school day at 8.50am. Prior to 8.30am there is no duty of care for your child and therefore we cannot ensure the safety of your child. Parents/caregivers of any children on school premises before 8.30am, will be contacted by phone.

If your child needs to be at school prior to 8.30am they must be at our POSHC service.   Please contact POSHC directly on 0413 482 521 and make a booking.

Some students are not being collected on time at the end of the school day, and are often quite late in picking them up. This causes issues for office staff who are required to attend after school meetings and training but are unable to do so, as they are supervising uncollected students and trying to contact parents/caregivers.

We seek your co-operation in making sure children are collected on time - 3:10pm - everyday (except for Early Departure).  For those occasional times when things don’t run to plan, teaching staff supervise children at the kiss and drop zone and adjacent to the courtyard until 3:25pm.

Children not collected by 3:30pm will be automatically taken to POSHC and fees will be payable.   If you know you will be late on a regular – or even semi-regular basis, please contact POSHC directly on 0413 482 521 and make a booking.  We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Father’s Day is on Sunday, 1st September.  Time is creeping up on us so we are seeking donations of new items for our Father’s Day Stall.  Please bring any donations of new items to the Front Office.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

The school Fathers’ Day Stall will be held on Wednesday, 28^th August where students will have the opportunity to purchase gifts on a class by class basis during the day.  The stall will also be open after school and both before and after school on Thursday, 29^th August.

Mrs Rigney chose the book "The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business" by Werner Holzwarth.

Mrs Rigney recommended it because it is humorous. The edition that she likes has 'plop-ups' and cool illustrations. Her favourite part of the story is the beginning. 

The story is about a mole who got a poop on his head and tried to find out who did it and whose "business" it was.

Mrs Rigney recommends this book for all ages.