Newsletter Week 10 Term 1

From the Principal

Dear Families and Carers,

Welcome to the new 2025 format of Five Islands School Newsletter. Our Newsletter will now be sent automatically to the family’s email contact/s that we have on file for each student digitally, which means you will be able to read it anywhere, including on your mobile device.

Benefits of the new format include:

• Unlimited content – articles, photos, videos - plus article indexing
• Google translate – over 200 languages at the click of a button ensures families from culturally diverse backgrounds are catered for
• Custom Web Forms with digital signatures
• Dynamic calendar to track important events
• Integrate with social media, school portals, payment portals and more
• Responsive across mobile, tablet and desktop
• Ability to send quick messages or Newsflash important information to parents between newsletters

As we move forward with the Newsletters, we hope to bring you more photos and videos of our students in class and within the community. You will be able to check for important events and even translate the Newsletter into a different language for ease of reading.

Student Drop-off and Pick-up

With the commencement of the new school year, we have seen an increase in road congestion inside and outside of the school grounds. The local Council Ranger has been here on several occasions taking photos of vehicles parked illegally either on the road or blocking the driveway. This is increasingly dangerous as our driveway entrance is so close to the pedestrian crossing for students entering Booragul Public School.

We have had one severe accident and another near miss outside the entrance to our school in a very short period of time. To help alleviate any accidents and fines from the Ranger, we have put into place an Assisted School Travel (AST) timetable where three AST vehicles can park together in the driveway lane closest to the school to drop-off or pick-up students. We ask that parents do not park in this lane to ensure quick access for AST vehicles so they can adhere to their allocated time schedule.

Parents are asked to use the lane closest to Marmong Street. We ask that parents stop at the safety cones (these will be replaced with a painted line) so traffic can flow more fluidly by allowing the AST vehicles to exit in a timely manner. This does mean that not as many parents/carers can park in the driveway at once, however, we ask that you be patient and drive around the block, should the driveway be full upon arrival to collect or drop-off your child. We also ask that AST vehicles drive around the block should the driveway be full when you arrive at school.

School teaching time starts at 9am, and there is a 15-minute drop-off window from 8.45am. Spacing drop-off times between 8.45am and 9am, means less traffic congestion and a safer environment for our children. Unless you have made alternate arrangements, there is no reason why the driveway should be full prior to school hours or in the afternoon before the end of the school day. Of an afternoon, students exit from 2.40pm. Once again, there is no rush to be waiting in line at or before 2.40pm as we will keep your child safe until room in the driveway becomes available for collecting your child. In fact, the quickest collections are those that occur after 2.40pm and drop-offs after 8.45am. The school driveway entry gate will be locked until 2.30pm each afternoon so we have a clear thoroughfare should we require emergency services access. Please do not block the driveway, instead waiting till 2.40pm or afterwards before entering school grounds.

New School Uniform update

The beginning of Term 1 saw the start of our new School Uniform. Our students look amazing, and we have had so many positive comments from students, parents and staff who love how well the uniforms suit our students. During Winter and the cooler months, both boy and girl students can wear plain Black Tracksuit pants (no logos or stipes please). Girls may wish to wear Black Opaque Tights under a Black Skort or Black Skirt, however, Black Trackpants are quite suitable and can be purchased through outlets such as Big W, Kmart, Target or Best and Less.

The school have established a small self-run Uniform Shop and hold in stock Polos, Shorts and Hoodies in several different sizes to try on and make the purchase process easier for parents. Parents and carers who need financial assistance to purchase the new uniform should contact me directly. Uniform orders can be made through the School Bytes Parent Portal or by contacting Office staff. We have a nice surprise for our Year 6 and Year 12 graduating students, which we will share with them at the Easter Hat Parade, Thursday 10th April.

Intensive Swimming Program

This year our school will be offering an Intensive Swimming Program to a limited number of students. As numbers are so limited, an expression of interest form went home last week to find out how many students would be interested in the program. Qualified swimming instructors will be supported by school staff over a 10-day period for 40-minute daily sessions. Should you be interested, please return the expression of interest form, or contact the Office.

School Holidays

It won’t be long until the next School Holidays. The last day of school this term will be Friday 11th April (the day after the Easter Hat Parade). Students return to school Wednesday 30th April. Staff will be at school on Monday 28th April and Tuesday 29th April should you need to contact us. On these two days, staff will be undertaking Staff mandatory and student needs-based development including CPR and Anaphylaxis training, Verbal Interventions and Safety Interventions (VISI), and a session with Dr Lee Sturgeon - Consultant Senior Clinical & Developmental Psychologist. Dr Sturgeon presented to staff in Term 1, and staff found his presentation insightful and relevant to our student and family needs. As a result, Dr Sturgeon has been asked to return to school to complete a further session with staff.

Anzac Day

Each year on 25th April we remember all Australians who have served, and continue to serve our nation, in war, conflict and peacekeeping operations. This year we remember the 110th anniversary of the day that Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula during World War 1. We also recognise the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during World War 2, the 75th anniversary of Australian service in the Korean War and in the Malayan Emergency. Anzac Day is a time for solemn reflection and to express gratitude for this service. Our thoughts are with you all.

Attendance

Please remember to notify the Office staff should your child be absent from school – same day notification would be appreciated to save further follow-up. Following Department of Education guidelines, same day text messages will be sent to parents/carers should a student be absent from school.

Administering Medication at School

The Department of Education (DoE) require any staff member who administers medication to a student to complete official DoE training. Parents are required to send the medication to school in a Webster Pack to ensure the correct medication is administered. Along with the Webster Pack, the school requires a Medication Summary letter from the prescribing doctor detailing the drug name, strength, dosage, and route. A new doctor letter will be required each time medication changes are made, new medication is prescribed, or dosages changed. We appreciate parents support in this process.

Warmest Regards

Clare Fleming
Principal

Dental Van Visit

In the Week from Monday 19th May, Oral on the Go will provide a Dental Van and a basic dental service to interested students. They will park their Dental Van within School grounds and consenting students will be supervised to visit the van for a dental check-up. One of the reasons they use portable equipment is to make it easier for those with physical disabilities to seek dental care and to allow those who are anxious to see what they do and how they do it. The Oral on the Go flyer provides details of what services are offered to our students. They will provide a report on each child they see, which they send via the school to the families.

One month before their visit we will receive physical copies of consent forms which we will send home for parents should they be interested in this service. We will need these consent forms returned to school at least 10 days before their visit. This way the student’s eligibility can be verified.

From the Assistant Principals

Welcome to an Exciting New School Year!

What a fabulous start to the new school year! We extend a warm welcome to our new families joining our school community. We encourage everyone to engage with us and actively participate in supporting our P&C association, which plays a vital role in enriching our students' experiences. This year, we are thrilled to introduce some new and exciting programs, including a vibrant drumming program and work placement taster visits for post-school opportunities. Of course, we will continue our successful wellbeing programs to ensure our students thrive. We can’t wait to see many of you at our upcoming Easter Hat/Crazy Hair parade – it promises to be a fun-filled event! Thank you for being part of our school community!

Kind Regards

Ali, Meg & Emma

Easter News

Easter Hat Parade/Crazy Hair Day 10th April – 9:15 to 10:15am

Notes have gone home for the Easter Hat Parade/Crazy Hair Day. After the Easter Hat Parade, we believe the Easter Bunny has scheduled a stop at Five Islands School to visit our students. This year we have made a slight change to the Easter Hat Parade agenda to meet the needs of our students and will draw only the first three main prizes in the P& C Easter Raffle throughout the Parade. This will allow students to go back to class sooner as many find it overwhelming to sit for long periods through such events. The remaining Easter Raffle prizes will be drawn following the Parade in the Bowan Room where parents are invited to Morning Tea and to enjoy a Hot Cross Bun. A note asking for details of attendees for catering purposes went home recently. Please return with details as soon as you can.

Lorikeet Class

This Semester, Lorikeet class have been learning all about Celebrations. We enjoyed celebrating Harmony Day by learning about the Japanese culture, dressing up, creating art and trying new foods. 

Kookaburra Class

A great start to the year in Kookaburra Class! 

Our class have been busy creating amazing art works, participating in Yoga, social play and cooking.

We love weekly sport and music lessons. They are always lots of fun and very noisy

Office Display

These colourful works of art were created by Lorikeet & Kookaburra classes. Pop in and have a look when you come in for the Easter Hat Parade.

Weekly Events:

Student Birthdays

School Mural

Holiday Activities

Zones of Regulation Check In