Dear Jamberoo Public School Community,
Student Well-being
The staff at Jamberoo Public School are committed to continuously improving our management practices and ensuring the well-being of all our students. The school staff work diligently and tirelessly to implement measures that foster a positive and healthy learning environment for all children at Jamberoo Public School. We welcome open communication and collaboration with our school community. Together, we can address the challenges we face and work towards creating an inclusive and safe environment for all students.
To address an escalation in negative behaviours in the school community this year and an increase in complex student needs, the school has undertaken the following student wellbeing initiatives in Semester One:
- Whole school staff training in the Department of Education coordinated Trauma Informed Practice Workshops.
- Five weekly reviews of student behaviour data. Tracking and reviewing behaviours: where they have occurred, when they have occurred, types of behaviours, trends.
- Teacher engagement with the school’s Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Instruction to provide feedback and advice on teacher’s classroom practice and management.
- Ongoing reviewing, analysing and evaluating of classroom management processes, including adapting classroom protocols in some classes to meet the needs of the students.
- Development and implementation of individual student support plans, response plans, education plans and risk management plans.
- Engaging with educational behavioural experts in the Shoalhaven Network. Including the Learning and Wellbeing Officer, Assistant Principal: Learning and Support and a Behaviour Specialist Officer.
- The school has applied for and been successful in achieving extra funding to support students with complex needs.
- Whole school focus on positive behaviours and behavioural expectations.
- The implementation of the Grow Your Mind initiative with particular focus on character traits and emotional literacy.
Where to next?
- The school has applied for a chaplain/well-being officer to support the well-being needs of students and to assist teachers working with students who have welfare concerns.
- The school will continue to conduct five weekly reviews of student behaviour data. Tracking and reviewing behaviours: where they have occurred, when they have occurred, types of behaviours, trends. Adjust behaviour management processes if required.
- The Jamberoo staff will continue to undertake training and professional learning around meeting the needs of students via the Trauma Informed Practice workshops.
- The school’s Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Instruction to provide individualised feedback, mentoring and advice to teachers on their classroom practice and management.
- The Grow Your Mind program to be embedded into all classrooms. Parent workshops to be provided for Jamberoo parents and carers.
Please know that we are committed to providing a safe and nurturing educational experience for all students at Jamberoo Public School. Moving forward, we look forward to working with the Jamberoo community to ensure the wellbeing of all our students.
Jamberoo Public School Student Report Survey
Semester One student reports were sent home late last term. Jamberoo Public School is always wanting to improve how we report to you about your child’s progress and always appreciate parent/carer input. The survey questions are designed to provide the school feedback on our current reporting methods and should only take 5 mins to complete. Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback. Your responses will be considered as we evaluate our reporting practices and formats. Please use the link below to access the survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYjlPss32njLZJTNVa11aNAUWmrGpfmhHt60g XluyZ5hmutg/viewform?usp=sf_link
The results will guide the school in improving our reporting methods into Semester Two. Thank you to everyone in advance. The survey will be open until 4pm on Friday 4th August.
Peak Sports and Learning
Earlier this week, Peak Sports and Learning commenced before and after school care at Jamberoo Public School. It was exciting to finally have an external provider in the school, providing fun and exciting before and after school care activities for our students.
If you would like your child/children to participate in Peak Sports and Learning this term, please don’t hesitate to contact them on 1300 467 325 or if you require further information, you can access the website at: www.peaksportslearning.com.au
Premier’s Sporting Challenge
The NSW Premier's Sporting Challenge (PSC) encourages all students in public schools to be more active, more often by increasing their participation in sport and physical activity. This year, Jamberoo Public School students will be participating in the program throughout Term 3.
Students and staff will record and track their physical activity over a 10-week period as they aim to be more active, more often.
Award levels for the 10-week challenge reflect a daily activity time commitment - either as part of a class or team or as an individual. All types of moderate to vigorous physical activities can count toward an award. Activities may include time spent in a broad range of sports and recreational pursuits during lunchtime, in school sport programs, class time, before or after school and on weekends.
Award Level Daily Activity Time
Bronze 30 minutes per day
Silver 45 minutes per day
Gold 60 minutes per day
Diamond 80 minutes per day
If you require further information about the initiative, please click on the link below:
https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/sport/premiers-sporting-challenge/10wC-launch
ICAS Assessments
In 2023, Jamberoo Public School will again be providing opportunities for students in Years 2 to 6 to participate in the annual ICAS Assessments. Please find a break down below of the assessments available to students and the cost:
Mathematics (Years 2 to 6) English (Years 2 to 6)
$19.25 $19.25
Science (Years 2 to 6) Writing (Years 3 to 6)
$19.25 $23.65
Spelling Bee (Years 2 to 6) Digital Technologies (Years 2 to 6)
$19.25 $19.25
To register your child for the ICAS assessments and to purchase the tests online, parents/carers will need to access the Parent Payment System.
To access the Parent Portal, use the link below: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
Then enter the school code: OPQ104
You will then need to register your child, select the assessment(s) you wish for them to participate in and make payment.
NB no payments are made to the school. Payments are made via the ICAS website.
If you wish for your child to participate in one or more of the assessments, please ensure that you register them and make payment on or before Friday 28th July.
The school will coordinate the assessments during August and September. All testing dates will be communicated to families in advance via Class Dojo and the school newsletter.
Education Week
Education Week for all schools is Week 3 of next term: Monday 31st July-Friday 4th August. Jamberoo Public School will be conducting an Open Day on Friday 4th August. The school will be opening up classrooms from 10:30am which will be followed by a sausage sizzle at 11am. Parents and Jamberoo families are invited to stay for a picnic lunch with their children. This will then be followed by a whole school assembly at 12pm.
Also, there will be the first running of the Kiama Community of Schools Showcase which be held on Wednesday 2nd August. This will involve students from our School Production performing at Kiama High School as well as other students from the Kiama Community of Schools. More information about Education Week will be advertised next week.
Staffing
This term, the school is excited to announce that an extra staff member will be joining the JPS team. Mrs Sivannah Brooks will take on the role of Bump It Up teacher and will be supporting students in Wonga Wonga, Walabi and Nanga Mai to help reach their expected academic outcomes in literacy and numeracy. Mrs Brooks will also take over the enrichment role, currently filled by Mrs Milligan, when she takes maternity leave halfway through Term Three.
In the Wonga Wonga classroom, Mr Ross will remain on leave for the first two weeks of Term Three. Mrs Peade and Mrs Green will continue to teach the class until Mr Ross returns. Please find the Wonga Wonga teaching timetable below:
- Monday – Mrs Green
- Tuesday – Mrs Peade
- Wednesday - Mrs Peade
- Thursday – Mrs Peade & Mrs Green
- Friday – Mrs Peade
Mrs Cathy van Zanden will take over the library/RFF role on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Mrs Peade will continue as the library/RFF teacher on Mondays. This is the plan for the two weeks of Term Three. If there are any changes after Week Two, the school will inform Jamberoo parents/carers in a timely manner.
Respect
As you all know, the whole school focus for this year has been on celebrating and acknowledging individuals who consistently care for others and demonstrate kindness. It has been fantastic to reward and commend our wonderful students who always put the needs of others before their own.
During Term Three, the school will particularly concentrate on promoting and highlighting students being respectful to their peers, teachers, SLSOs, casual teachers and any adults who work/volunteer in the school. This is something that the majority of Jamberoo students do very well.
Whilst being respectful is something many students do well, it is something I believe we can improve upon. Please encourage your child/children to be respectful to all members of the school community. Working together will ensure Jamberoo children have the social and life skills of being able to get along with others, empathy and respect for everyone.
2024 Enrolments
If you, or anyone else you know, is planning on enrolling a child at Jamberoo Public School next year please get in contact with the school at your earliest convenience to organise enrolment forms.
5 Tips to Get Your Child Ready for School Each Morning
Getting your child ready for school in the morning can be stressful – school lunches, forgotten permission slips, packing schoolbags – but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 5 tips to help you and your child get a great start to the day!
Early to bed, ready to rise
When your child gets enough sleep, they are more likely to wake up cheerful, energetic and ready to learn at school. If you have to drag your child out of bed in the morning, they might not be getting enough sleep. Check out the Raising Children Network’s great information about sleep for children.
Helping hands
Encourage your child to get themselves ready as much as possible. Instead of doing everything yourself, teach your child to do tasks like brushing their teeth and hair, packing their bag and making their bed. They may not be as fast or as good as you at the beginning but keep encouraging their independence and responsibility – it will free up time for you to do other things!
Be prepared
Take the pressure out of the morning routine by getting prepared the night before. Anything that doesn’t need to be done in the morning can be done the night before – for example, making lunches, packing bags and reading/signing notes. Remember to encourage your kids to do some of these tasks independently too, such as packing their schoolbag and getting their clothes and shoes ready before they go to bed.
Keep it simple
Try to keep your morning routine as simple as possible on school days. Save non-essential tasks and chores for evenings and weekends when you have more time – folding the laundry and mopping the floor can wait! Try to keep breakfast simple too – quick nutritious options like wholegrain cereals, fruit and yoghurt are great. If the breakfast things are in easy reach, you can encourage your kids to make their own breakfast (and even clean up afterwards!).
Make a plan
Some families find it helpful to develop a morning schedule that puts all these ideas together. It often works well if you involve your children in making the schedule –making a list of the morning tasks, who needs to do what, and what time things need to be done.
Turning your schedule into a chart can help keep your child focused on the things they need to do and encourage them to feel responsible for getting to school on time. You can make your own chart together or download one from the internet. Once your child gets into the swing of things, you should find you’ll need to remind less, and praise a lot more – a much more pleasant start to the school day!
Mr Chris Speirs
Principal
