Dear Parents/Caregivers

Welcome back to the 2021 school year.  We have four terms, term 1 (8 weeks) 2 (11 weeks) and terms 3 and 4 each 10 weeks long.  Our first day was very settled in spite of having to wear masks and having the first week at home.

Students were very keen to return after the extended break.  We thank everyone for wearing masks.  There have been some fabulous ones that I have seen.

SCHOOL TIMES FOR 2021

Below are the school times for school for students in Pre Primary to year 6.  We request that students do not arrive at school before 8.15 am.

8.30 am         Classes Open

8.40 am         School Day Commences

10.40 am       Recess

11.00 am       Recess Ends

1.00 pm         Lunch

1.40 pm         Lunch Ends

2.50 pm         School Day Ends

Note: Kindergarten students start at 8.30am and conclude at 2.40pm.

Students do not play before school as there are no staff to supervise them in the morning.  Students wait sensibly outside of their classrooms.

Staff Car Park

The staff car park is not a place for parents to park. Staff at the school, when arriving and departing, do not expect to have to negotiate students being dropped off and picked up in the staff car park.   Please, consider the safety of your children.

2021 School Dates for Students

Note

EASTER is the start of the term 2 break and the ANZAC Day holiday is in term 2. 

IT’S NOT OKAY TO STAY AWAY

Research tells us that in order to progress at school students need to attend 90% of the school year.  This provides continuity for learning.  Children stay home if they are sick.

SMS –ABSENCE MESSAGES

For the parents who would like to SMS to provide a reason for your child’s absence, the phone number is:

0418 948 875

Please use this number rather than email for daily or short absences including illness, appointments. the school as this system collects all of our information on absences.

PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG INTO THE SCHOOL GROUNDS

Dogs are not permitted on school grounds as some students are scared of dogs and dogs can be unpredictable when around large groups of children.

 We have many children who are frightened of dogs and become upset and anxious if dogs are in the school grounds before or after school.

We ask that parents leave their dogs at home or in the vehicle if it is not too hot or too long to leave them.

SIP 'N' CRUNCH

In the SIP N Crunch program years 1 to 6 students take a break from class work to drink water and crunch a fruit or vegetable snack

ALLOWED

Vegetables

All fresh vegetables are permitted (e.g. celery, carrot sticks, broccoli bits etc.) brought in a container already cut up.

Fruit

All fresh fruit (e.g. whole fruits, chopped melon etc.) brought in a container already cut up.

Fruit canned in water, juice or no added sugar (e.g. peach slices).  Don't forget a spoon!

Dried fruit (e.g. sultanas) is permitted, although fresh fruit or vegetables are the first choice as dried fruit contains high concentration of natural sugar and tends to cling to teeth, increasing risk of tooth decay.

Drinks

A clean, clear water bottle filled with plain water.  

Only plain water is to be consumed in the Classroom.

NOT ALLOWED

All other food and drinks are not permitted including:

Any drinks other than plain water including fruit or vegetable juice, fruit juice drink, fruit cordial, mineral waters, carbonated water, water with added vitamins and minerals

'Fruit' products (e.g. fruit leather, fruit roll-ups, fruit bars or similar)

Fruit jams, jellies, pies or cakes

Fruit canned in syrup or jelly or with artificial sweeteners

Dips, including those that are vegetable based

Canned or processed vegetables (e.g. olives)

Vegetable or potato crisps, hot potato chips

Vegetable pastries (pies, pasties, sausage rolls)

Vegetable cakes, fritters, quiches, breads or similar

Popcorn 

DON’T FORGET!

• Wash all fruit and vegetables before eating
• Easy-to-eat fruit and veg is best
• Buying fruit and vegetables in season is cheaper and tastes better
• Students should wash their hands before eating
• Wash water bottles daily

Don't share water bottles!

Ms Rhonda Spencer

Principal

Thank you to all those parents who have made their Voluntary Contributions through Ziggies and the school.  We have already collected 46% of contributions which is a great start to the year. 

Spelling Mastery sessions commenced on Tuesday for students in Years 3 to 6.  If you have not yet paid for the workbook, please contact the office, as only those who have paid will receive a book.  The book costs $23.70.

The Year 2 to 6 students will again be using the iMaths Tracker books which cost $7.35.  Please contact the office to make payment if you haven’t already done so.

We apologise for the error in the letter which went out for the Girls Multi-Sport taking place next week.  The cost of the transport to the event is $6.00. 

Students in Pre Primary to Year 4 will participate in In-term Swimming in Week 6 (8^th to 12^th March).  We have, once again, secured a week’s long booking which has reduced the costs dramatically.  The payment is due by Wednesday, 3 March.  When making payment, please include all the paperwork in the yellow envelope and return it to the school office.

Sarah Fawcett

Manager Corporate Services

DATES TO REMEMBER 2021

2021   PP to Year 4 Swimming Lessons

Term 1 Week 6

8^th March to 12th March 2021

Venue:  Fremantle Swim Pool

A note outlining payment, swimming level and permission has be sent home.

2021 Years 5 & 6 Beach Swimming Lessons

Term 1 Week 8

22^nd March to 26th March 2021

Venue:  Coogee Beach

A note outlining payment, swimming level and permission will be sent home soon.

Smoke Free School

Samson Primary School is a smoke free school, as are all government schools. If you wish to ‘light up’ you must make sure that you are not on school grounds. This includes verge areas, car parks and pathways. The pathway behind the gardeners shed is still within school grounds. 

Voluntary Contributions

School voluntary contributions are set in consultation with the School Council. It has been agreed that the voluntary contribution, per child, is $60.00 which will go towards the purchase of replacement library books, reading materials, computer consumables and photo copy paper. The more families who pay this voluntary contribution the more resources will be available to our students.

On Entry Assessment

Students in Pre Primary will start the on entry assessment in week 3 to conclude by the end of week 7. Staff will be busy testing and entering the data onto the computer and will have the Parent Summary Reports ready to be sent home in week 9.  Duplicate copies will be sent home for each family that requires a copy for Mum and Dad.  There are suggestions for activities to help your child develop further on the back.  Students receive two reports one for Literacy and one for Numeracy.  All students in Pre Primary from around the state complete these assessments.  The purpose is to provide some information to the class teacher and parents about what the students can do and need to learn.

K – Yr 6 Class Meetings for Parents

Beginning week 4 and continuing into week 5 class teachers will be holding meetings for parents to provide information to parents about the structure of the class and important class events.  A note will be sent home to parents indicating which night and time the meetings are to be held. All mainstream classes hold meetings from Year 1 to Year 6.  Pre Primary classes provide activities for parents and children to engage in together.

The Specialised Learning Program class teachers will hold individual meetings with parents to discuss the IEPs for your child at a later date. Parents will be notified of class meeting dates by the class teacher/s.

Behaviour Policy

The Behaviour Policy which staff reviewed on the first days at school.  Staff will give you further information at the Parent Class Meetings.

Student Council

Nominations for student council have been handed to the students in year 5 and 6.  Speeches were held after lunch on Friday 12th February in the undercover area.  

Playground Leadership

This year we are starting a new student leadership role for students in year 5.  The role is currently named Playground Leader however the inaugural group will have the opportunity to create a name for this role.

This role in open to all students and does not have a selection process.  Any student who is willing to give up some time at recess and lunch to assist younger students in the playground will become a Playground Leader.

Students will be mentored by Joel, Tash, Mrs Gardner and Ms Spencer.  They will develop the extent of the tasks of the group over time.

Applications closed on Friday 12^th February.

Faction Captain

Applications for faction captain have been called for and students will need to return their application for if they are interested in the positions of vice captain and captain for their Faction by Friday, 12^th February.  Speeches were held in the assembly area on Wednesday 17th February.

At the 24^th February assembly all leadership roles will be announced and badges presented. 

Third Party Service Consent Form

Consent forms for all students have been sent home. Please return to the front office as soon as possible.

All information is contained on the form.  This will determine what programs students use and how they use them, where the data is stored and what data the third party service receive.

Class Do Jo

The Department of Education is assessing the third party services used in schools. We are hopeful that DOJO will be up and running very soon.

We are very pleased to have Joel Candy back as our chaplin in 2021!!

I came across this article which may be helpful for parents, in these changing times of Covid 19:

How parents can support children through difficult times

https://education.abc.net.au/newsandarticles/blog/-/b/3840795/how-parents-can-support-children-through-difficult-times

There are a few different reputable sites that have great parenting articles.

If any parents would like to contact me, I can be found around the school or in my office in the middle block (the art room and music room are in this building) on Tuesday and Wednesday each week.  Otherwise you can ring the front office to set up an appointment time to chat.

All the best,

Joel Candy
Chaplain

A Note from our new Community Health Nurse – Kirsty Beach

School Entry Health Assessment program for Kindy Kids

VACCINATIONS

Is your child attending Kindergarten for the first time?

The National Health & Medical Research Council recommends that children who have turned 4 years of age have the following booster immunisations:

• DTPa-IPV (Vaccine against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping cough) and Polio)
• MMR (vaccine against Measles, Mumps & Rubella)
• And all other WA schedule vaccinations recommended, completed.

These vaccines should be given before starting Pre Primary.

If you need more information about these vaccines, please phone of the following:-

1. Immunisation Clinic – Hilton Community Health  93372528
   City of Melville 9364 0279

1. Central Immunisation clinic in Perth- 9321 1312

1. Australian Immunisation Register – 1800 635 809 or www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

Your Community Health Nurse

UNIFORM SHOP

The uniform shop is now open on Wednesday's to coincide with assembly days from 8:10am to 8:40am and is cash only. The dates are the same as the assembly dates throughout the year. Additionally, you can order any time using the online system - Quickcliq and pay using EFTpos. Your order will then be delivered to your child's class when ready. If you have any uniform shop enquiries, please send them through to samsonpsuniforms@gmail.com

The uniform shop is now open on Wednesday’s to coincide with assembly days from 8.15 am until the last customer. The dates are the same as the assembly dates throughout the year.  Please order using the on-line ordering system and pay by EFTPOS. Your order will be taken to your child’s class when ready.

CANTEEN - The Little Lunchbox

The canteen is open on Thursday and Friday each week.  Specials are changed each week and the usual items are always there. You can find the specials tab on quickcliq when you order.   Welcome back to our Canteen Manager Marcia Rae. 

If you have some time and would like to volunteer in the canteen, please contact Marcia and let her know what time you can spare.  This enables the many food options to be prepared.

Below is the link to take you to the quickcliq website. Once on the website you can create an account. Funds held on the app can be redeemed from the company if unused. Now with your newly created logon details get onto the section to order either a lunch order or use the above uniform tab to order uniforms for your child. 

https://quickcliq.com.au/

State  Election Voting day   Sat 13th March 2021

French’s Martial arts

Steele French (Head Instructor)

Little Nippers /Kids &

Adults Taekwondo

Beginners Classes

Teaching Self-esteem through Self Defence after school at

Samson Primary School

0406 491 576

Welcome back to a new year!!! Give Sammy French a call on 0406491576 and mention this newsletter ad and save.  Come and see what we are all about starting from 4 years old to adults.  Self esteem through self defence.

5^th Degree Master Instructor – Steele French.

WANSLEA

Afterschool care program on Samson school site.

Caring, fun environment

Contact us for more information

Enquiries: 0431 778 432

www.wanslea.asn.au