It has been a wonderful start to Term 2.  On the Student Free Day last week, all staff were involved in Professional Learning sessions across the day. In the morning we worked with other staff from Reynella South and Coorara Primary Schools on Mathematics and the Australian Curriculum and then in the afternoon we worked with some of our support staff to update our training and skills in a number of areas.

We have a number of staff who are new to our site and few who are working in different roles for the next month.

Thea Sporne is our newly appointed Assistant Director in OSHC along with workers Cheyann Gatter, Jess McKinley, Yasmin Menaud, and Liam Schuster. Hazel Godfrey is on extended leave.

Mia Bliss and Jess Holder are new SSOs working in classrooms while Kate Turner is on extended leave. 

Our Wellbeing Leader Richard Kemp is on parenting leave for Weeks 2 - 5 of this term and Christine MacLean is acting in his vacancy. Our PE teacher Henry Carey is stepping in to lead Christine's 6/7 class and Troy Martinsen is working as our HPE teacher during this time.

We are very fortunate to have such skilled and flexible staff available and thank them for their willingness to work across the school in a variety of roles. Please welcome our new staff when you see them around our place.

                 

Kind Regards

Penny Wilde                  Belinda Finlay Smith               Christine MacLean

Principal                        Deputy Principal                     Wellbeing Leader (Acting)

Last year we introduced Aussie of the Month at Pimpala PS which recognises personal endeavour, achievement and contribution to the community and reflects some of the values we share as Australians, such as fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.

Aussie of the Month is a primary school recognition program, that's been running for more than 20 years and is delivered by the same network that presents the Australian of the Year Awards.

Aussie of the Month reflects school values and encourages:

• an appreciation of the diversity and depth of personal contribution
• achievement possible within your school
• concern and consideration for all members of the school community

Each month, staff nominate students as candidates Aussie of the Month and then a student is elected to receive this special award to celebrate their commitment to the values we embrace at our school. The student to receive this award for the month of March is Scott S from 3/4 Yates/Theodosi.

Scott received our Aussie of the Month award for:

being a respectful, friendly student who includes everyone. He is helpful to others and speaks respectfully to his peers and staff. Scott is a generous kind soul.

Don't forget, Mothers' Day is on Sunday, 9th May.  Please check out the Qkr! app to see what is available for sale at our on-line Mother's Day Stall. 

There is a display in the Administration Office if you would like to see what's available.

We are working hard to make assemblies accessible to our families.  We are currently looking to use an online booking system where 30 tickets will be released for each assembly. Anyone requiring a chair - including children - must have a ticket.  (Children in prams will not require a ticket). 

Preference will be given to parents of students in the classes running the assembly that fortnight, or performing at the assembly.

The booking system will work like the parent teacher interviews.

Please note: the booking system will not be available until Friday, 7th May.

We will put a message out on the Szapp and Facebook on Friday once the system is live.

If you would like assistance to make a booking please phone the Administration Office.

Assembly Roster

Please note - access to Assemblies is subject to change or cancellation due to COVID19 restrictions.  

Principal Tours are scheduled to be held on:

Monday, 10th May at 4:30pm 

Monday, 21st June at 4:30pm

Please book in for the tours by calling the school on 8326 0900.

Please note:  Principal Tours are subject to change or cancellation due to COVID19 restrictions.

Pimpala PS will be participating in the National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday 19th May. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.   This year the book is 'Give me some Space!' by Philip Bunting. 

This year will be extra special as the book will be read by Dr Shannon Walker from the International Space Station. How exciting!

Put this date in your diary and after school start a conversation with your children about the about the story! 

Nikki Gerrad will be at Pimpala Primary School to support families with Learning for Life Scholarship related queries, document return, concerns, community referrals, food assistance or just for a chat.  Nikki is the Family Partnership Co-ordinator.

If you would like to meet with Nikki for a coffee/tea,  she will be:

In the OSHC Dining room, from 2.00-3pm, Monday 3^rd May ongoing until end of term 2.

Nikki will then mingle in the courtyard area for 10-15 minutes at school pick up to support any parent queries.

It would be a great chance for Nikki to meet with you and answer any questions you may have.

Pimpala Primary School celebrated Anzac Day this year with a display in the Library.  The students all made poppies.  Classes talked about and learnt about the important role our Anzacs' played in Australia's history.

Karen Campbell our Library Technician has put together a fantastic display in the Library to celebrate Anzac Day.

Parents are invited to come in to the Library and peruse the display before school from 8:30am until 8:50am and after school from 3:30pm - 4:00pm (except for Wednesdays).

Wow!  Everyone had a blast at the Colour Fun Run last term.  It was so much fun and the weather was perfect.

The good news is we managed to raise in total $8,194.34 which is outstanding.  How the Colour Fun Run works is that there are incentive prizes for money raised which come out of that amount, so the grand total of money raised to go to the next Nature Play area is close to  $3700.00.  Thank you to our school community for your support with this fundraising endeavour.  We couldn't do it without you.

Incentive prizes should be available by the end of May.

Hi Everyone 

I am a third year uni student studying a Bachelor of Social Work at Flinders Uni and I am currently on my first placement here at Pimpala Primary School.  I am passionate about helping others and working alongside students to promote their social, emotional and mental wellbeing and supporting their overall learning and development. 

A bit about me; I have spent the better part of my professional life working in politics which is what lead me to Social Work. I have two children and we love going to the beach and listening to music. 

I have really enjoyed my first 8 weeks at Pimpala Primary School getting to know everyone and look forward to continuing to learn and develop. Over the next term I am really looking forward to providing extra support in classes throughout the school. 

Thank you to the wonderful Pimpala Leadership team, teachers, staff and students for their support and for being so welcoming! 

The Queen's Birthday public holiday is on Monday, 14 June, 2021.

If you are interested in playing netball, the Clarendon Netball Club need U11, U13 and Inter players.

If would like more information, please contact Mandy on 0402 690 618.

Pimpala Primary has four pre-service teachers on their 4^th year placement, from Flinders University, who are here for 6 weeks. This is their final placement, and they are eager to be teaching and working with the students.

Sam Helbig is in a Year 6/7 class with Nigel Branson as his mentor teacher.

Scarlett Arnold-Oakes is in a Year 6/7 class and her mentor teachers are Christine Maclean and Henry Carey.

Tahlisa Langham is in a Year 4/5 with Jo Power as her mentor teacher and the Auslan classes with Rose Knight as her mentor teacher.

Indah Suryatini is in a Year 1/2 class with Sandra Howlett as her mentor teacher.