Wecome to the school year for 2021!  It has been wonderful to see everyone back in this new year and to be able to welcome lots of new students and their families. 

We are fortunate to welcome a number of new staff members this year. 

      Miss Katy Abbott - 1/2A                             Miss Lauren Whitbread - 1/2W

                     

We currently have some works going on in the school, which you may notice outside the Science and Zone Rooms and Library. This is to install some handrails and ramps for easier access for our students and staff and is part of our ongoing monitoring and review of the school facilities.

A few reminders to ensure clear communication:

* we are still under directions from the Departments for Education and Health in regard to COVID-19, and parents and caregivers are not allowed access to classrooms.  If you need to communicate with a teacher, please liaise with them through Seesaw, allowing sufficient time for them to respond. If you have any issues of an urgent nature, please contact the Administration Office who can pass on a message.

* Pimpala Primary School has a Uniform Policy which exists to create consistency, safety and ease of access to all learning environments.  This was distributed last year and is included in all new student information packs.  It is also accessible via the link provided below.

Kind Regards

Penny Wilde             Belinda Finlay-Smith           Richard Kemp

Principal                   Deputy Principal                 Wellbeing Leader

My Name is Sarah Mewett, and I am very excited to be commencing my role as Pastoral Care Worker at Pimpala Primary School.

A little about me. I am an Aboriginal woman with my family coming from the Ceduna area. I am a mum to 3 children and have a cat named Zeuss. I love watching movies and playing board games with my family, UNO being my favourite card game. I grew up in the country and love hiking in the bush and swimming in waterholes or at the beach. The most unusual fact about me is that I had a pet emu when I was 3 years old. I am a pastry chef and love baking sweets for my kids birthdays. I am a qualified social worker with a strong passion for working with children and their families.

I will be at school on Mondays and Fridays. I will be involved in a range of activities including classroom activities, excursions, and lunchtime activities. I will also be available in the yard during recess and lunch for students to talk to. There will be a box in the front office for children to contact me and I will follow up with them at a suitable time.

If you would like to talk more about the role of Pastoral Care Worker or discuss how we can support your child and family, please contact me through the Administration Office and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I am looking forward to meeting all the students, families, and staff at Pimpala Primary School.

Kind regards

Sarah Mewett

Virtually all of our communication is now through electronic media.  The main modes of communication we use are:

• SZapp (Schoolzine)
• Facebook 
• Website - www.pimpalaps.sa.edu.au
• Email - dl.1059.info@schools.sa.edu.au
• Newsletter via the SZAPP

We share information, including urgent updates, upcoming events and important reminders using these platforms.

SZAPP

The Pimpala Schoolzine SZapp is used to remind our community of important dates and upcoming events and send out any urgent information.  It has useful information including our fortnightly newsletter and notices which are sent home.   

This app is available for both Apple and Android Phone devices - search for SZapp in the Apple App store or Google Play store to download the SZapp, then choose “Pimpala Primary School” from the list of schools available.

 We strongly recommend that every family in the school with a  smart phone or tablet device downloads this app.  It will help you to know what is happening and when. 

 Click here for instructions to get the SZapp 

FACEBOOK PAGE

Pimpala Primary School has an active Facebook page which is used to send reminders and update families about school activities. This page is not monitored for incoming messages. Please contact the Administration Office with any queries about school events or notifications, even if they have been published on the Facebook page.

 Pimpala Primary School Facebook Page

Last week we sent home three student permission forms.  We ask you to please complete and sign these forms and return them to school by Friday, 5 February, 2021.

If you have already completed two of these forms - the Student General Consent and the Consent Form to use an image, we ask you to revisit the forms and reconsider any permissions you may have previously denied. 

The COVID-19 restrictions have had and are still having impact on parents and caregivers coming onto school grounds to watch live events, so we must make sure if we need to continue or re-introduce tougher restrictions as deemed by the Chief Medical Officer or Police Commissioner through the Minister for Education, that you would have the opportunity to view photos or videos of your child/ren undertaking activities at school. Without these permissions this will not be possible and child/ren may miss out, or need to stand aside while others are photographed or recorded.

While things seems to be getting back to normal in South Australia, the Western Australia border closure over the weekend has highlighted that things can change in an instant.  Accordingly, can you please complete and return all three forms by Friday, 5^th February, 2021.

1. Student General Consent Form - please complete, sign and date the form and make sure you tick a yes or no box for each topic.
2. Consent Form – Child/Student – Permission to use image – please complete, sign and date the form and make sure you tick the highlighted box.
3. Consent Form for Chief Executive Approved Early Dismissals – please complete, sign and date the form to give permission. Pimpala Primary School has followed Education Department guidelines about early dismissal by 1 hour at the end of each term for many years.  This form formalises this arrangement.

Please note:  these permissions will stay in place until the student leaves the school or changes are advised in writing at any time.

If you have any questions about any of these forms, please contact the Administration Office.  A copy of each form is linked below.

The Canteen is open on Wednesday and Fridays for lunch orders and counter sales at lunch time.  There is no need to pre-order the day before.

Please find below a Menu for Term 1, 2021.

Would you like to become a member of Governing Council?  

Do you have ideas and or suggestions to support the school that you would like to share? 

Would you like to be involved in your child’s education? 

Do you have 2 Wednesday nights free per term?

Are you prepared to participate in some fundraising events and activities?

If so, please come along to the Governing Council Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 17 February, 2021 at 6:45pm in the Library (adults only please).

What does Governing Council do?

Governing Council involves the school community in the governance of the school by:
*providing a focus and a forum for parental and school community involvement and values
*identfying the educational needs of the local community and the attitude of the community to educational developments within the school ensuring that the cultural and social diversity of the school community is considered and the needs of all student groups are appropriately identified
*set the general directions of the school by developing broad policy statements such as the site learning plan, the budget, and student safety, welfare and discipline policies
*monitor and report on:
- the site learning plan
- finances (including governing council enterprises and programs such as OSHC and canteen)
- the council’s operations.
- raise money for school related purposes
- maintain property
- manage OSHC and canteen responsibilities.

Pimpala Primary School can have up to 20 parent members on Governing Council.

If you would like to nominate for a position on our 2021 Governing Council, please forward your nomination to dl.1059.info@schools.sa.edu.au

Acquaintance Night will look different this year so we can ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.

We are planning to have the Acquaintance Night over the course of Week 4 (February 15-18) with sessions held between 3:30pm and 5:30pm in small face to face groups with some limited options for communication over electronic platforms.

This is a great opportunity to have conversations with the teachers.  You will be able to share information about your child(ren) and seek clarification on any questions you may have.  Appointment times with further information about individual classrooms will be sent out this Friday February 5. 

Please note:  All school events are subject to change or cancellation due to COVID-19 restrictions.

We will be hosting a Principal Tour on Monday, 22nd February at 4:30pm.  Please ring the school on 8326 0900 to book in.  We look forward to meeting you.

We have scheduled school photos for Thursday, 4th March.  More information will sent home soon.

Please note:  All school events are subject to change/cancellation subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

We have scheduled Sports Day for Friday, 5 March,2021.  More information will be sent home as it becomes available.

Please note:  All school events are subject to change/cancellation subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

With lots of hard work and frequent watering over the Christmas holidays the vegetable garden is flourishing...I would say one of our most productive growing seasons yet!  As well as watering, staking tomato plants and maintaining the garden I have also been busy baking/cooking, testing and formatting some scrumptious new recipes for the year ahead.

We have had a fantastic amount of stone fruit such as cherries, apricots, peaches and Japanese plums on the trees. These fruits have been poached and snap frozen, ready to make into crumbles, muffins and fruit slushies. We have an abundance of fresh herbs, as well as colourful marigolds and nasturtiums.  Silver beet, zucchinis, cherry tomatoes and eggplants are also doing well and we have lots of pumpkin and watermelon seedlings popping up.  Composted soil from previous years has resulted in seedlings of all different varieties popping up in all areas of the garden. We have a few lemons, limes and figs on our young trees so hopefully we can look forward to more productive crops from them in the future. Unfortunately no koalas were spotted in or around the garden over the break.     

The Kitchen Garden Program will once again run as a whole school opportuntity this year. Each year level will participate in a block of both kitchen and garden lessons. We will need lots of helpers throughout the year – Covid 19 restrictions permitting. If you have completed the RAN-EC training and have a current Working with Children check we would love your help. Please ring or message me of your availability. If you would like to obtain your DHS Working with Children check or RAN-EC training please see the lovely staff in the Administration Office.

Term 1   Year 5/6 classes

Term 2   Reception classes - Weeks 1-3

               Year 6/7 classes - Weeks 4-9

Term 3   Year 1/2 classes - Weeks 3-5

               Year 3/4 classes - Weeks 6-10

Term 4    Year 4/5 classes - Weeks 2-7

Do you have excess fruit or vegetables from your own home garden? The Kitchen Garden Program is always happy to accept donations of produce which we incorporate into our weekly lessons. Donations can be dropped into the Administration Office or the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen, Monday – Thursday.

If you have any questions regarding the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program please don’t hesitate to ring or message me or you can often find me in either the school garden or the SAKGP kitchen.

Michele Smith

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program Coordinator

Volunteer Mobile 0408 637 850

Invoices for school fees were sent home with students last week. 

Please see the following information about School Fees and School Card.

We are excitedly planning for camp for the Years 3-7 students, but it is likely, the camp will take place later in the year.  We are still discussing the venue, dates and working out actual costs. Previously, two night camps have cost approximately $250 per student.

More information will be sent out as soon as it is available.

Please note:  This event is subject to change/cancellation due to COVID-19 regulations. 

For the first 4 weeks of term, the Uniform Shop will be selling Uniform Bundles.  If you purchase a jumper, 2 polos and a hat there is a significant discount. 

Bundles will only be available for a limited time, after which the cost of the items will return to the regular price.

We have scheduled the Colour Fun Run for Thursday, 1 April, 2021, the day before Good Friday.  More information will be sent home as soon as it is available.

Please note:  All school events are subject to change/cancellation subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

Please advise the school EVERY time you change any of your details including phone numbers, mobiles, address, and emergency contacts.

This information is critical if we need to contact you in an emergency.

Please also ensure we have your current email address.

Public/parent parking is not available on school grounds, however, disabled parking spaces are available. These parks are only for those people who have been issued a Disabled Parking Permit, and need to exit their vehicle onto school grounds.

POSHC parking is available for 10  minutes in the Loading Zone before 8:30am and after 4pm for those attending POSHC only. 

The Kiss and Drop Zone on Vanstone Avenue allows traffic to flow while students are entering and exiting the vehicles.  PLEASE do not park in the Kiss and Drop zone.

Please ensure you do not walk your child(ren) through the staff carpark, instead use the footpaths either side.

Please make sure students enter and exit their vehicle on the footpath side of your car. We have had near misses where students have walked into oncoming traffic or race to try to leave the school grounds while cars are trying to move. 

If you park within the Staff Car Park, you will be asked to move your vehicle and we expect that you follow requests from all staff members. Pimpala Primary School has more than 55 staff members who work a range of hours with both early and late starts, and they must have access to car parking spaces. It is unreasonable for staff to park int the surrounding streets because their parking space has been taken.

Term 1

27 January - 9 April

Term 2

27 April - 2 July

Term 3

19 July - 24 September

Term 4

11 October - 10 December