NAPLAN

Our Year 3, 5 and 7 students have participated in NAPLAN testing last week and this week.

We have been impressed by the effort and the engagement of all of the students who have participated. We have had some small technical issues and the students resilience to cope with these challenges was commendable.

NAPLAN provides the school with valuble feedback around our teaching and learning programs. Families should receive the results for their individual child's assessments in August.

Please scroll down for more information regarding NAPLAN.

Mother's Day Stall

We had a very successful Mother's Day Stall this year. Students purchased items for the special people in their lives and we loved having the conversations with the students about the people they were buying gifts for. 

Thank you to the community members who were able donate items to our stall. We really appreciate your support.

Student Mentors Visit to Pimpala Kindergarten

Today some of our Student Mentors visited Pimpala Kindergarten to establish relationships with the students.

Our Student Mentors will be visiting the Kindergarten on Mondays and Thursdays for the remainder of this term.

From the Leadership Team at Pimpala

Pimpala Primary School has a recognised school uniform and a clear Uniform Policy which has been endorsed by the Governing Council.  A school uniform promotes student safety and recognition, is practical and inexpensive and discourages fashion competition amongst students.   

It is an expectation at Pimpala Primary School that all students wear full uniform each day and we seek your assistance to ensure this is consistent. 

The Uniform Shop is open on Wednesday mornings and you are able to order uniforms at anytime through the Qkr app. Items ordered online are delivered to students the same or next day, depending on what time the order is placed.

If your child is not following Pimpala Primary School's Uniform Policy, parents/caregivers will be notified and asked to resolve this as a priority.  Any students who are repeatedly non-compliant will be asked to remove nailpolish, makeup and jewellery (including earrings) and may be provided with second hand uniform items to wear temporarily.  

We understand that there are occasions when there are exceptional circumstances.  If this is the case, please communicate with the class teacher. If you have legitimate difficulty in accessing a school uniform we will endeavour to provide support. 

We thank you for your ongoing support in this area.

Please note:  the Assembly has moved to a new time slot and  now commences at 10:00am every second week.  The Assembly schedule for Term 2 is listed below.

Date               Classes Hosting the Assembly

28 May            Pullman / Rigney

11 June            Whitbread / MacLean

25 June            Yates / Abbot

Tickets will be made available through a link which will be released later this week.

The closing date for expressions of interest  for year 6 and 7 students to attend high school is Friday, 21st May, 2021.  Please make sure you follow the link and instructions on the individual email which was sent during the first week of Term 2.

The Department for Education requires a form to be completed for every student going to high school so if you don't complete a form, your child will automatically get a place at their local school.  If you wish to be considered for enrolment at any other school, you must complete this form.  

If your child has been accepted into a Special Interest course at a high school, you still need to complete the form for the school which your child will now be attending.

If you need any help with the form or woud like further information, please contact Barb in the Administration Office.

The next Principal Tour is scheduled to be held on:

Monday, 21st June at 4:30pm

Further dates will be added soon.  If this time is not suitable please call our Administration Office to make an alternate time. 

If you would like to come on this tour please ensure you book in by calling the school on 8326 0900.

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

Reconcilation Week

Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

To our new supporters, please remember the importance of privileging and amplifying First Nations’ voices as you add your voice to calls for reconciliation and justice.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

Sorry Day

On 26th May 1998, the first National Sorry Day was held to commemorate the anniversary of the report and remember the grief, suffering and injustice experienced by the stolen generations.

In our Assembly on Friday 28th May we will acknowledge Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week.

In Weeks 4 and 8 of every term on a Wednesday night we hold our Governing Council Meetings.

They are at the school from 7:00 pm.

All of our parents and caregivers are welcome to attend but are not eligible to vote on any matters unless they are a member.

If you are unsure if you would like to join the Governing Council in the future coming to a meeting may help you to make that decision.

Our next meeting is this Wednesday 19 May at 7:00 pm.

Why do students do NAPLAN?

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.
NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for and students are not expected to do so. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and by reminding them on the day to simply do their best.

To try it out for yourself and experience some examples of NAPLAN questions, follow this link: Public demonstration site (nap.edu.au)

Pimpala Primary School 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 for an after school conversation with your children about the story! 

www.alia.org.au/nss

Nikki Gerrad from The Smith Family will be at Pimpala Primary School to support families with Learning for Life Scholarship related queries, document return, concerns, community referrals and food assistance or just for a chat.  Nikki is our 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 starting Monday 3^rd May ongoing until end of term 2.

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

The Balfours Special Lunch will be held on Wednesday, 16th June, 2021.  Students can choose from a number of options for both recess and lunch.  Gluten free options have also been included. Each order includes one bakery good - served at recess time and one hot pastry item (with optional sauce) - served at lunch time.  Please see the order form for details.

Orders are due by 9:00am on Monday, 7th June.

Payment options include:

Pay on the Qkr! app and complete the form online.

Pay at the Finance Window Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 9:15am 

Phone payments are accepted between 9:15am - 3:00pm

Does anyone have an 88 key - keyboard with stand and sustain pedal in great condition that they no longer require and would like to donate to the school music program?  

Our music teacher, Anna Theodosi is looking for a keyboard to set up in the hall for choir performances, at assemblies and special events.

If you think you may have one, or know someone who has, please contact Barb in the Administration Office in the first instance.

Thank you for your support.

Our Garden Club is run by Michele Smith and Alyssa Rigney on Wednesday lunch times.  Students love to come into the garden and potter about, sometime planting, helping to tidy and often just to enjoy the peace and serenity.

All students are welcome.