The Terrace Times

Good afternoon Parents / Caregivers,

Welcome to this edition of the Terrace Times

NAPLAN
Congratulations to all students who took part in NAPLAN testing last week.  NAPLAN can be a very anxious time, but all students who participated overcame their nerves and gave their best efforts.  All Year 3 and 5 students deserve a HUGE pat on the back.  My thanks to all classes that were inconvenienced by the testing regime and happily moved classes or timetable to assist.  This year Anzac Terrace was one of 276 schools using the NAPLAN Online program.  My thanks to Mr Neil Strachan who did an absolutely amazing job coordinating these classes and our IT infrastructure to ensure a very smooth program for all students.

In-Term Swimming
In-Term Swimming for Years 3 – 6 started this week.  If you haven’t done so already, it is imperative all swimming monies are paid to the office.  In-Term Swimming is a part of the Department of Education’s curriculum and as such is a compulsory event for all students (Pre-Primary to Year 6) to participate in.  Please contact me to make arrangements for payment.
Pre-Primary to Year 2 swimming lessons will be in weeks 5/6 of Term 3.

Onyas !!
Based on your ONYA Award Nominations, the School Council Sub-Committee has met and decided on two very deserving staff members to be nominated for WA Education Awards in 2018 (Check out the School Council article later in this newsletter to find out who).
But please, don’t stop the nominations.  We are very lucky to have such a wonderful staff at Anzac Terrace who all deserve acknowledgement for the fantastic job they do educating our students. All staff go above and beyond their role and help to make Anzac Terrace such a great Primary School.
So if you would like to acknowledge one (or more) staff member for doing such a great job or going that extra mile, come into the School Office and fill out an Onya !!  All staff will receive these recommendations from you plus go into the weekly draw to receive a “get out of duty free” card from me. So please, keep nominating.

Student Safety
Over the last two weeks after school I have been going to the playground at the front of school and speaking with students who are playing in that area.  It was extremely alarming the amount of students who were there without adult supervision.  Some students told me they ‘always wait for Mum here … she gets to school about 3:30’ or ‘Mum picks me up from the playground.  I have to wait and play here until 4pm’.                                 This is not safe !!               There is no one looking out for your child in this situation; anything could happen within this time period.  Please make other arrangements for your child.  We have After School Care on our school site who can provide 100% supervision by qualified staff.  Alternatively, make arrangements with your friends or family to have them go to their house after school instead of waiting at the playground.   We love that our playground gets used after hours, but not by students who are not being supervised by an adult.

End of Semester Reports
The end of semester reports will be going home to families on Friday 29 June.  Student reports will only be available via Connect.  This will mean all students’ reports from 2016 onwards will be stored on your child’s Connect page.  If you are unsure how to access Connect or your child’s report, come and see us in the School Office and we would be very happy to assist.

School Development Day
Don’t forget Friday 1 June is a School Development Day.  Students do not attend on this day.  This day was chosen by the School Council as it leads into the WA Day long weekend.

Have a great week,

Stuart Blackwood
Principal