Message from the Principal Issue 2 April 2017

April 20, 2017 0 comments

Good afternoon everyone,

It has a been a busy term and it seems surreal that term one is over. The tone throughout the school is generally positive and many  students are achieving extremely good academic results.

School Board:

The School Board conducted its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 29th March. This meeting was well attended and I would like to congratulate the members who were elected/nominated to this year’s Board. I’d like to congratulate Rebecca  Baker who was elected unopposed as the Board’s continuing Chair for 2017. All positions on the School Board have now been filled and this a wonderful result for our school community. The Board oversees the school’s transformational plan, financial management, policy  development, and performance and improvement.

Attendance:

Term 1 attendance is still well below expectations for many students.

Please ensure that:

1. Your child is at school EVERYDAY

2. You tell us why your child was absent from school

3. You respond to any SMS attendance notifications sent to your phone

We need all parents to make their children’s attendance at school their highest priority. This is a legal responsibility and DECD has begun prosecuting parents would deliberately allow their children to remain absent from school. If you need support with any attendance   matters, please contact our Student Engagement and Wellbeing team.

IT and BYOD Program:

Our staff and students are about to experience the first major update to the school’s curriculum network since it become wireless in 2008.  In effect, we are about to switch to the National Broad Band (NBN) network using fibre optic cabling as opposed to copper telephone network. This investment will cost our school more than $40,000 per year but we give staff and students lightning speed access to online learning and internet access. To date, approximately 550 students have purchased their own learning device and it is has been great to see these in use around the school. However, this still leaves approximately half of our students without access to their own electronic device such as a laptop. If your child still does not have their own laptop, it is now urgent that you work with the school to provide them with one. Brand new laptops for only $100 per year or 2nd hand laptops for only $50 per year are available through the school. Payment can be made using Centrepay. Please contact us about our student laptop program.

2016 Annual Report:

At the AGM, the school’s 2016 Annual Report was tabled and discussed. Both the standard DECD and a more extensive school version of the Annual Report are now accessible on the school’s website. www.playford.sa.edu.au

Crockerton Road Gates:

This term, we have had several unauthorised parents and community members enter the school grounds without permission. In some cases, teachers have even been confronted in classrooms whilst teaching.  Can I please remind all parents that you are not permitted to enter the school grounds without permission. If you wish to see a member of staff or your child, please report to the Client or School Services in the first instance. To further improve school security and safety, the Crockerton entrance gate will be closed during the school day from the start of Term 2. This gate will close at the start of Learning Block 1 (9.10am) and will be reopen at the end of the school day in time for students to exit the school grounds. Access to the school during the day is available through the front entrance via Philip Highway.

Quote of the Week:

“I praise loudly. I blame softly”

Catherine the Great

Regards

Rob Knight – Principal

 

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