Welcome back to the 2024 school year with an especially warm welcome to all our new students and their families who are commencing their partnership with us at Orange East. It is always great to be back after a restful holiday and I look forward to working with all families to support the education of our students.

Last week staff took part in professional development on Tuesday and Wednesday engaging in learning around student wellbeing, behaviour management and our new school management system. It was a busy two days!

Beyond the normal excitement of returning to school, this week it has been wonderful to see our Kindergarten students commence their journey through school. They have done a great job! Thank you to staff and parents for supporting them through these first big steps.

Last year, the school crossed to a new event management and parental payment system – School Bytes. This initial step was part of a bigger move to take place in 2024.

To commence this year, we are now using School Bytes as our total school management system. School Bytes now manages:

• Attendance
• Communication (School Bytes App)
• Calendars
• Event Management/Parent Payments
• Forms/Permission Notes
• Meetings
• Medical
• School Resources
• Wellbeing
• Academic Reports

What has gone?

• We are no longer using the Sentral School Management system.
• We will stop using the Skoolbag (Audiri) App at the end of next week – Friday, 16th February.
• Class Dojo is no longer being used for parent communication.

Why change?

• Simpler, more efficient management system for parents to use.
• Elimination of multiple, individual management systems.
• Efficient school administration – system integration, meaning information flows automatically between modules where relevant.
• A management system designed specifically for 21st Century, NSW schools.

So what does it mean for parents?

• Most parents are already using the School Bytes Parental Portal. Keep using it but with even more functions!
• Download the School Bytes App – this will make it even easier to use and will replace Skoolbag (Audiri). Make sure you turn app notifications on if you want to be alerted to school messages, newsletters, events, attendance information, etc.

Want to know more – check out a few key user guides we’ve included below:

• Set up your parent portal account
• How to access School Bytes
• Turn on School Bytes parent app notifications
• View or download the school Newsletter or School/Student documents
• Manage student absences
• Syncing the calendar to your phone or device

Need help?

• Please give the office a call, we will do our best to support parents with this change.

A reminder that we are also learning a new system and may need a little patience. 

Don’t forget to complete the consent and payment for our upcoming Snake Tails performance on Monday, 12th February. The school has subsidised half the cost of the show, bringing the price to parents down to just $5. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn about reptiles and in particular, how to stay safe when they encounter these scaley creatures!

Simply go to the 'Activities' section on the  School Bytes App or Parent Portal to give consent and make payment.

Snake Tails is a multi-award winning, interactive learning experience, proudly featuring only Australian reptiles. Bob Withey, owner and senior presenter, was five when he got his first diamond python.

Snake Tails aims to deliver an insight into our Australian reptiles through a safe, interactive and fun performance that will create a greater understanding of the role of our reptiles in the environment today.

More information: https://www.snaketails.com.au/

Our canteen reopened for 2024 last Friday. As per previous years, it is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Please note canteen lunch orders can be purchased via the QuickCliq website which can be found on the new School Bytes app or by following the link below. The website will only allow purchases up until 9:30am on the day of the order.

https://www.quickcliq.com.au/

Where can I find the QuickCliq link on the new School Bytes app?

1.       At the bottom of the 'Home' page click on the 'News' tab. Once open, the link is pinned at the top of the page.

2.       It can also be found by opening the ‘Resources’ tile on the 'Home' page. Once open, scroll down and the link is sitting under 'School Resources'.  

Cash Purchase Menu

A reminder that certain cold drinks, ice products and snacks can also be purchased with cash at either recess or lunch.

A reminder in regards school procedures to support students diagnosed with severe/anaphylactic allergies. Basically we ask that parents label all student belongings (particularly lunch boxes and drink bottles), discourage children from sharing food and, where possible, to pack an alternative sandwich spread to peanut butter. I would like to thank the school community for their support and understanding in following these procedures over the past few years, which have assisted in making our school a safer environment for these students. You may have noticed around the school some signage about ‘Being an Allergy M.A.T.E.’. These signs are designed so that children recognise some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction and understand that if this occurs they are to seek adult help immediately. We are also promoting five key messages to students through the signs:

1. Take food allergy seriously. Don’t make jokes about them.

2. Never share food with friends.

3. Always wash your hands before and after eating.

4. Ask what your friend is allergic to and help them avoid it.

5. Get help immediately if a friend with a food allergy gets sick after eating.

In 2024 we will continue with our regular alternating Friday Assembly with parents and carers invited to attend. The assembly commences at 2pm on Friday in the School Hall. Each week the assembly will alternate between Primary (Yr 3-6) and Infants (K-2).

On Friday mornings from 8:40am, either Infants or Primary students (corresponding with the assembly weeks listed below) are invited to bring their lots of 10 Blue Merit Awards to the office for stamping. During the day, we will also process Principal Awards and Homereading Awards. These awards and the Safe Respectful Learner Awards will be presented at the assembly after lunch.

Parents will receive a notification early in the week via the School Bytes app if your child is receiving a Principal’s Award.

Photos of the award recipients will continue be included in the newsletter the following week.

Please note the roster below:

• Week 2 - Friday, 9th Feb (Primary) THIS WEEK
• Week 3 - Friday, 16th Feb (Infants)
• Week 4 - Friday, 23rd Feb (Primary)
• Week 5 - Friday, 1st March (Infants)
• Week 6 - Friday, 8th March (Primary)
• Week 7 - Friday, 15th March (Infants)
• Week 8 - Friday, 22nd March (Primary) 
• Week 9 – NO ASSEMBLY GOOD FRIDAY (29th March)
• Week 10 - Friday, 5th April (Infants)
• Week 11 – Friday, 12th April (PBL Assemblies)

CLOTHING POOL

The Clothing Pool is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:40 - 9:10am. Afternoons are by appointment only.

A reminder that the Clothing Pool also welcomes donations of any clothing. Please drop off to the office or clothing pool on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

TERM 1 P&C MEETINGS 2024

• Week 3 - Tuesday, 13th February @ 6:30pm
• Week 8 - Tuesday, 19th March @ 6:30pm

 Meetings are held between 6:30 - 7:30pm in the Staffroom with access from the Spring Street entrance (see map below). Meeting length is strictly limited to one hour or less if possible! New members are warmly welcomed. Do not hesitate to contact the school office if you would like further information.

Parents and carers can also opt to join via Zoom. Zoom participants will need to create a registered account and use the details below:

https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/63652201858?pwd=ZUVKSFdidzErNkZ0OWVMT2hQM3NMUT09

Meeting ID: 636 5220 1858

Passcode: OEPS