PRINCIPALNEWS JUNE16TH2022 - SANDRINGHAM EAST PRIMARY SCHOOL

School Purpose – Our Vision
To build an inclusive community where our children are active learners, critical thinkers, and creative
explorers. Think… Imagine… Become

School Values
1. Care - Care for self and others as well as our physical environment and learning spaces
2. Aspiration - Seek to accomplish something worthy and admirable, try hard, pursue excellence
3. Respect - Treat all others with consideration and regard, respect another person’s point of view
“Always our best”

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we are gathered here
today and we pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the
memories, the culture and dreams of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

 Principal News June 16th 2022

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,
Wow the icy blast is certainly here. I hope that you are all getting through and keeping
warm and cosy.
Staff news.
 Wendy Franks will be taking some leave from the last week of term and returning July
 25th
 Russell Watson returns next term
 Mr Marco is returning to SEPS next term after his leave.
 Julie Van Etten will be on leave for 2 days with a reduced time fraction for term 3 & 4.
 This 2-day art position has been advertised.
 Ms Gau, Ms Harris Tudor and Mrs Laurent will all be on leave from July 11 th – 15th
 July 27th will see the return of Eileen Thompson after her family leave.

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“Reminder” checklist for this coming week
 ✓ Parking - NOT permitted on Sandringham College grounds - no parents
 may enter the circular driveway EXCEPT for Stop and Go in the mornings.
 ✓ Library books need to be returned please before end of term – 200
 books outstanding – have a hunt and bring all library books back to
 school library.
 ✓ No assembly June 20th this morning but final assembly at 2.15pm on
 Friday 24th
 ✓ Friday 17th all reports to parents on Compass
 ✓ Tuesday 21st Parent / teacher 10-minute interviews on Webex
 ✓ Are there any baristas out there that could be available on a paid basis –
 each morning 8-10am?
 ✓ Wednesday 22nd June for CASEA Parent Information – 7pm for all
 Foundation to Level 3 families.
Join from the meeting link

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m9b03d2f3b7683fdcb97bb16187f688f9

Join by meeting number

Meeting number (access code): 2653 791 1746

Meeting password: SEPS

For Foundation to Level 3 - Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). This can be completed
online by parents via this link:
https://redcap.alfredhealth.org.au/redcap/surveys/?s=FPM4TR3EKNDYMX3P
 ✓ Any other discussions contact Laureen 0409 598 185

Minister’s Visit
I have been waiting for the communication / photos from the Ministers Visit so can share
these photos which have just arrived.

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Tommy dog performing beautifully for the minister.
Again, I commend Kaitlyn and Jackson who were magnificent advocates for the school,
showing their pride and amazing communication with the Minister.

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Excited faces and smiles at the announcement of funding of $3.848 million for our
Stage 2 – internal refurbishment of the 1931 brick building for classrooms and
administration.
The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) have contacted me and the
appointment process for architects has commenced already.

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Minister Merlino was interested in the Foundation students explaining what they can
do with their Bluebots.

Sandringham East Primary School - CASEA program:
Terms 3 and 4, for students and families in years foundation to 3
As part of our Wellbeing Program at Sandringham East Primary School, we will host some extra staff
in terms 3 and 4 this year. CASEA stands for CYMHS And Schools Early Action and is part of the Alfred
Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

What is the CASEA program?
CASEA is a free Victoria-wide program, which provides mental health services in primary schools.
The CASEA team work together with school staff, parents and carers to help support children’s social
and emotional development. The CASEA team also aims to increase mental health awareness and
understanding in school communities and facilitate relationships between schools and mental health
services.

The CASEA program hopes to offer, at no cost to families or the school:

 - Professional learning opportunities for school staff to support the school’s understanding of
 emotional, behavioural and social development in children
 - A screening questionnaire to understand each Foundation to Grade 3 child’s feelings,
 behaviours and friendship skills. Further assessment for children who are having some
 difficulties in these areas will involve meeting with parents and teachers.
 - An 8 week group for parents/carers of children in the group to learn different ways of
 understanding and managing their child’s behaviour.

How to become involved?
Parents/guardians who would like their child to be considered for involvement in the program are
asked to complete the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). This can be completed online
via this link: https://redcap.alfredhealth.org.au/redcap/surveys/?s=FPM4TR3EKNDYMX3P

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When you click on this link, you will be asked to consent to the following:
 - your child’s teacher completing a questionnaire about your child
 - your family being considered for the CASEA program
 - the CASEA team contacting you
Teachers will also be asked to complete the questionnaire. If a concern has been identified about
your child from the questionnaires received, the CASEA team will contact you to discuss this further.

If you do not hear from the CASEA team by the end of Term 3 this means no concerns were
identified for your child. However, if you would like to receive some feedback about the
questionnaires, please contact Laureen Walton who will liaise with the CASEA team to contact you.

How will the questionnaire information be used?
The information will be used to help identify children that may benefit from support thorough the
CASEA program. The information will be securely stored by Alfred Health for 7 years and accessible
to the team for research purposes. This information will remain anonymous for any research
purposes – no child will be able to be identified in any research reports arising from this project.

If you would like further information or have questions about the program or questionnaire, please
attend the Parent information night next Wednesday 22nd June at 7:30pm via WebEx.

It is Mid-Year Report Time.
It has been a pleasure to read the reports of students and to see positive efforts and attitude
to learning. We all know that there have been encumbrances though this semester with some
students experiencing many days absent, whilst others may have missed only 1 or none!
Everyone has their own situations to manage.

Staff also have experienced similarly with so many absences when of course we need
Emergency Teachers and sometimes need to split classes which works because of smaller
class sizes. As well there has been a lot to attend to this short 9 week term such as Naplan,
Camps, Excursions and events for 90th birthday.

HOWEVER overall, we at Sandy East are doing very well with our student and staff absences,
compared to other schools that we hear about. So, let us count our chickens as the saying
goes!

It is important though to acknowledge that we cannot see students making growth if they
are not at school to teach. Some teachers have found that there were not enough
assessments completed to grade students, because of absences.

Daily school attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in
education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally.

Your child’s record of attendance is recorded as the number of days absent in this June
school report. The information below details the importance of regular attendance:

 • 100 - 92% is within normal range and equates to approximately 0-7 days absent in
 Semester One. A child with this attendance rate can take full advantage of the
 teaching and learning opportunities available to them.

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• 91 - 88% attendance rate is below average and equates to approximately 8-11 days
 absent in Semester One. A child with this attendance rate could miss over one year
 of schooling between Foundation and Level 10.
 • 87 - 75% is a poor attendance rate and equates to approximately 12-21 days absent
 in Semester One. A child with this attendance rate could miss out on up to two years
 of schooling between Foundation and Level 10.
 • Less than 75% is a very poor attendance rate and equates to 22 or more days absent
 in Semester One. A child with this attendance rate could miss out on up to two and a
 half years of schooling between Foundation and Level 10.

Remember:

 • Students need to attend school regularly to make the most of all educational
 opportunities.
 • There is a direct link between school attendance and achievement later in life.
 • Poor patterns of attendance in the early years lead to poor attendance throughout
 the school years.
 • Poor attendance makes it difficult for children to form positive relationships with
 their peers.
 • Learning commences promptly on Mondays at 8.50am for our Assembly and at
 9.00am on Tuesdays to Fridays. Students who are late must sign in at the office.

Help – is there a parent or secondary home economics student barista out there?
We would love to start our coffee van service again next term so please contact Laureen if
you can help every morning from 8am – 10am – a payment will be provided to the barista.
Thanks, I do have a volunteer but need more. We need qualified baristas as the Bayside
Council health regulations must be followed.
We are looking forward to assemblies starting again at 8.50 am in term 3. Parents enter
via the driveway so that Stop & Go students have access through the library door please.
Final assembly on the last day of term will commence at 2.15pm and parents are invited to
the stadium if they wish to attend.
2023 enrolments
We are looking forward to meeting new 2023 students and families after they have
enrolled. NOTE all enrolments are due by end of term for all our local Government schools.

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Flu Season
If your child is displaying symptoms of being unwell (fever - above 37.9, sore throat, cough,
runny or stuffy nose, stomach-ache, nausea), please consider if they are well enough to
come to school. Please consider the health and wellbeing of other students and staff. Let’s
work together to stay safe and healthy.

 History of SEPS available on USB from the office for $12

Green light for construction of the Bayside Netball Centre 

This of course has implications for our SEPS community regarding parking. Staff can no
longer park in the Sandy College car park so understandably neighbouring streets for our
staff and Sandringham College staff will be at a premium putting pressure on our parent
community. Please be understanding as the community was when we were in our building
project, thanks everyone.

Latest news - Construction of the Bayside Netball Centre on the Sandringham College Holloway Road
campus can now proceed as planned following the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
(VCAT)’s dismissal of an application regarding the use of the centre.

 More on Bayside Netball
 Centre

Parenting News

 Information only – no endorsement by the school.

 While you may have device access sorted in your classroom, control over your devices
 at home may well be another story! You don't need to be a tech wizard to get back
 control. All you need is the right tools and information. Check out the latest blog,

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How to Take Back Control of Your Kids’ Devices to maintain discipline, keep your kids
safe, and restore your sanity!

 HOW TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR KIDS' DEVICES

This blog will show you how you can regain control through the set up and use of:
A Family Sharing account on your Apple iPad or iPhone, Internet control apps,
Messenger Kids

Quote of the Week:

We look forward to students enjoying another lovely week of fun and learning at Sandy
East. Everyone in our community please look after yourselves.

Regards, Laureen

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