Newsletter Week 2 Term 1 2024

Principal's Message

Dear parents and carers

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all back for the 2024 school year.

The start of the year is a great opportunity to remind us of our purpose and vision.

During our teacher professional learning period our teachers reflected on our mission and vision and how it is reflected in the teaching and learning in their classrooms.  These statements underpin every aspect of what we do at Forrest Primary School.

Forrest Primary School Mission Statement

Forrest Primary School helps all our students reach their full potential in a safe, loving, inspiring and challenging learning environment.

We strive to develop confident, compassionate, responsible children who are lifelong learners and can make the world a better place.

Our community is culturally diverse, and we value and celebrate the perspectives, knowledge, skills and abilities that this diversity brings to our school.

Forrest Vision

We are a collaborative learning community who bring hearts and minds together to make the world a better place.

Underpinning everything we do is the concept of lifelong learning and collaboration.

THE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME (PYP)

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 - 12 nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

The PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It is a student-centred approach to education for children aged 3-12. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership and experience derived from IB World Schools.

The PYP has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education. The PYP is an example of best educational practice globally, responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young students in our rapidly changing world.

The preschool to year 6 programme at Forrest Primary School uses an inquiry model in which students question, research, think and reach their own conclusions, showing their understanding in a variety of ways. We celebrate students who take action to make a difference in our world. The programme uses Australian Curriculum outcomes to explore big concepts, driving deep-thinking and helping students make connections.

This year we look forward to continuing to partner with you to help our students reach their full potential.

In Week 3 teachers will be available for 10 minute ‘Getting to Know You' Parent-Teacher Interviews. This is an opportunity for you to share any important information that you would like your child’s teacher to know.

To facilitate a smooth and convenient scheduling process for our upcoming 'Getting to Know You' Parent-Teacher Interviews. We encourage you to use the provided link to create an account with Schoolzine, our new online booking system.

https://forrestps.schoolzineplus.com/gettingtoknowyouinterviews

This platform allows you to easily select and book interview times that best suit your schedule. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to insightful conversations about your child's educational journey.

I look forward to catching up with you over the next few weeks.

Kind Regards

Laurel Rodrigues

Principal

Forrest Staff 2024

Parent Representatives 2024

Talking with our School

Our teachers and school staff work hard every day to provide the best outcomes for every student.

Preparing for great teaching takes time. It is important that our teachers and school staff have time outside their core hours to rest and reset.

Communication with parents and carers is important to us and our staff will always work to get back to your enquiries within a reasonable timeframe. We aim to do this within three workings days. If your matter is urgent we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

There is no expectation that teachers respond to queries from families during their personal and family time.

Every student and every family is important to us. By respecting the time of our teachers, you are helping to make time for great teaching.

We want to continue to work closely with you on your child’s learning at school and do our best to respond to you in a timely manner.

We update families on what is happening at our school in a number of ways from emails, notes, newsletters, and social media. We encourage you to stay in touch with our school through these channels.

Mobile Phone Policy in Schools

You are reminded that the new Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools Policy will commence from the beginning of term 1, 2024.

For students at Forrest Primary School this means:

Students in years P-10 at ACT public schools may not use or access personal communications devices at school, including recess and lunch, or during school authorised events.

All students must leave any personal communication devices at the front office.  This includes all SMART watches or similar devices.  Devices should be dropped at the front office and can be picked up at the end of the day.

Special considerations and exemptions
Exemptions can be requested if a student needs their device/assistive technology:

• to manage or monitor a medical condition
• to help meet caring or family responsibilities
• to support adjustments for students with disability as part of an agreed individual learning plan.

If you would like to apply for an exemption please speak with our front office. A transition period up to the end of term 1, 2024 is in place for families working through the exemption process.

You can read more about the policy including frequently asked questions on the Education Directorate website. 

Whatsapp Codes

Welcome Back BBQ

We extend our sincerest gratitude to all parents, carers, and community members who joined us on Thursday, December 8, for our Welcome Back BBQ. Your presence made the event truly special and marked the beginning of another exciting school year.

A special appreciation goes out to our hardworking Parents and Citizens (P&C) Committee for their outstanding efforts in organising the event. Of course, a special mention is in order for the delicious food provided.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the dedicated teachers who opened their classrooms, allowing families to get a glimpse of the exciting learning environments awaiting our students.

For those who may have missed the chance to attend, we want to remind you that our Term Overviews were emailed out on Thursday. These documents provide valuable insights into the exciting academic journey our students will embark on this term. If you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to our dedicated teaching staff or the school office.

Once again, thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the Welcome Back BBQ. We look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, and continued collaboration.

Wishing you all a fantastic school year ahead!

Library News

All classes have had an opportunity to borrow library books this week, which is wonderful for the start of the 2024 Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge. More details to come in the next newsletter.

We encourage interested parents and carers to come to the library to enjoy reading a story before or after school with their child. The library is open before school from 8:40 – 8.55 and after school from 3:00 – 3:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.

Book Borrowing

Parents and carers can borrow up to four books to take home for two weeks at a time. Preschool – Year 2 students are encouraged to bring a library bag for their library session and can borrow up to two books for one week, and Year 3 – 6 students can borrow up to four books for two weeks.

Here are Kindergarten students coming to the library for the first time to listen to a story, have a quiet browse and borrow a book to take home for the week….so exciting!

Did you know February is Library Lover’s Month, with the 14^th being Library Lover’s Day? It is the perfect time to grow your child’s love of books and reading and share with them your love of reading. Why not read them your favourite book? If you don’t already have it on your own bookshelf, see if you can find it in our library or at the ACT Library closest to you.

ACT Libraries News

Check out what your local library has to offer – plenty of online and in print resources for free. Apart from print and online resources, ACT Libraries have some great activities for families. Check out their website: www.library.act.gov.au

School Volunteers:                        

We look forward to welcoming back parent and community volunteers this year. It is a requirement in ACT Schools for all adults who work with children to have a Working with Vulnerable People Card (WWVP). The WWVP scheme aims to reduce the risk of harm or neglect to vulnerable people in the ACT.  It requires those who work or volunteer with vulnerable people to have a background check to determine an applicant’s suitability to be registered under the scheme.

More information on volunteering in schools can be found at the following website - https://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/School-and-Corporate-Policies/wellbeing/child-protection/volunteers-and-visitors-in-schools-policy/volunteers-and-visitors-in-schools-policy

You can apply for free as a volunteer through AccessCanberra@act.gov.au

Further details will come out in the next newsletter about opportunities available through the school or P&C, though any queries can be directed to molly.pierra@ed.act.edu.au.

Scholastic Book Club     

Issue 1 of the Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to students with orders being accepted until Friday the 16^th of February. Online ordering is preferred, through the LOOP website www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP , however cash orders will be accepted at the front office.

We are looking for a volunteer to assist the school with organising the Scholastic Book Club distribution in 2024. This role includes collating the catalogues into class sets, monitoring the orders and distributing the orders once they arrive at the school. The Book Club is a very important opportunity to collect rewards for our school, meaning we can purchase a larger variety of books for our library. Please let us know if you are able to assist us with this role.

Christian Education

Any parent wishing for their child continuing attendance with Christian Education in 2024, please be 
advised that permission will automatically be rolled over to the new Christian Education Roll for 
2024.
If you have previously given permission for your child to attend and no longer wish them to do so 
this year, please email erika.alling@ed.act.edu.au so that the roll may be amended.
Any parents of new students to the Forrest Primary School may complete the attached form and 
return it to school please and your child’s name will be added to the 2024 attendance roll.

Sign up forms can be collected from the Front Office

Supporting School Safety - Mobile Speed and Parking Vans

As school re-commences for term 1, we are reminding parents and carers to please drive and park safely and legally, at and around school grounds.

Access Canberra has notified us that mobile speed and parking vans will be in operation. These enforcement teams play a critical role in supporting our students when getting to and from school safely and we thank them for their ongoing support.

In addition to sticking to the speed limit, please remember to park safely – including not parking across pedestrian crossings, in no stopping zones, on corners, verges and double parking. Unsafe and illegal parking prevents students and drivers from seeing each other and creates a significant hazard when students navigate carparks and roads.

We all have an important role to play in supporting road safety. Let’s work together to keep our kids safe.

SC-ORE Orienteering

AusKick

Lantern Making Workshop

Little Explorers' Day Questacon