Henley Beach Primary School Newsletter

Welcome back to term 2! It has been great to see students commence the term with so much enthusiasm and productively settling back into their learning and class routines. This term we have many activities and events to look forward to, including the Port Power Community Youth Program (yr 5 and 6 students), Reconciliation Week, Year 4 Zoo Snooze and several sporting opportunities for students. Last week the school's girls and boys cricket teams played in the knockout competition. The boys team was narrowly defeated whilst the girls have progressed to the next round. All players are to be commended on their excellent behaviour and sportsmanship on the day and thank you to the many parents who assisted with coaching and transport.

On Friday we are also looking forward to hosting the school’s Mothers Day breakfast, thank you in advance to the organising committee and canteen team for planning and preparing this event.

A further highlight for our school will be the transition visits planned for later this term in readiness for the mid year intake of Reception students from the start of term 3. We currently have 14 students enrolled and this group will form their own class in the junior primary building.

In regards to enrolments, if you have a child starting school in 2025, please contact the Front Office (if you have not already done so) as this information helps inform our planning. Complementary to this, our school has the capacity to accept enrolments, at most grade levels, from families who are living outside the school zone; please let your family and friends know about this and encourage them to make contact with the school if they are interested.

Teaching and Learning

Our pupil free day held at the beginning of this term focused on problem solving in Mathematics. The day was facilitated by Kate Quane, a UniSA lecturer and researcher in Mathematics teaching and learning. Since the beginning of the year a key focus of staff’s work has been to reflect on the teaching of problem solving in Mathematics. Teachers have undertaken excellent work in this area, a feature being the collaboration in their year level teams to develop problem solving tasks for students to work on. Our SSO staff, who also have an integral role in supporting student learning, have completed a series of professional learning sessions to build their knowledge of Mathematics so that they are well positioned for their classroom roles.

Wellbeing and Engagement Survey

This term our students in Years 4-6 will be participating in the Department for Education’s Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. The wellbeing and engagement collection survey asks young people how they think and feel about their experiences, both inside and outside of school. The 2024 WEC will be held in the coming weeks for students in years 4 to 6 and takes between 25-45min to complete. The survey is split into 4 key areas with questions relating to: emotional wellbeing, engagement with school, engagement in learning and health and wellbeing out of school. The WEC provides the government and schools with information to support and maintaining students’ health, happiness, wellbeing and relationships; once the results of the survey, which are de-identified, are made available, staff will spend time reviewing this information and developing potential responses.

Australian Early Developmental Index

From May 2024, our school, along with other schools across the country, will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children, who are currently in reception, have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school. The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and is completed nationally every three years.

Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information. The data collected through the AEDC is used by schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need. AEDC data is reported at a school, community, state/territory and national level. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary, however the AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.

To find out more about the AEDC and how it is being used to help children and families visit: www.aedc.gov.au.

If you have any questions, please contact the Front Office.

Facilities Update

During the holiday break, a number of projects were either commenced or completed:

· New flooring being installed in the activity room in the R-2 class.

· The ramp and doorway area of the OSHC and Performing Arts Room being completed.

· General tidying up of other areas of the grounds, including redefining the edging around the garden beds and the oval/playground area.

Start of term reminders:

Assembly:

Our first assembly of the term will be held on Thursday 16 May, starting at 2.20pm. Family members are welcome to attend. Other assemblies are scheduled for Thursday 6 June and Thursday 27 June.

Crossing Areas:

With the cooler and wet weather upon us all motorists are encouraged to be extra vigilant around drop off and pick up times. All pedestrians are encouraged to use the designated crossings to support everyone’s safety. As a community we have a shared responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone.

Playground Supervision:

Please be aware that our playground area is supervised before school from 8.30-8.50am and after school between 3-3.10pm. Due to departmental policy regarding duty of care, children cannot be on school grounds prior to 8.30am or after 3.10 pm without appropriate parent/carer supervision. Children who are waiting to be collected after 3.10pm will be brought to the office/STEM area and if deemed necessary, sent to our OSHC service (which will incur a payment fee).

Vaping and Smoking Legislation:

In South Australia, smoking, including vaping, is banned in all enclosed or indoor public places, shared areas and workplaces. Enclosed public areas are smoke-free under the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997. From 1 March 2024, new smoke-free and vape-free laws ban smoking and vaping in a number of public outdoor areas in South Australia. This includes early childhood services premises, education and children’s services facilities (including schools), and within ten (10) metres of their boundaries.

In term 1 week 11, we hosted a morning tea for the First Nations families and students at our school. It was great to meet and connect with some parents and carers and students from our community. The students enjoyed the arts and crafts that were available during the morning tea with connections to culture. We had a range of refreshments and flower arrangements that were donated by our community. A special thanks to Henley Beach Foodland for supplying the tasty spread of refreshments and a special thanks to Henley Flower Bar for the beautiful flower displays.

We look forward to hosting more morning teas soon and connecting with families.

The Wellbeing Team, Marina (Wellbeing SSO), Natasha (Social Work Student) and Alecia (Wellbeing and Inclusion Leader)

What a fantastic time we had with the JAM band during our recent school incursion! This lively group of musicians brought a burst of energy to our school, involving many students in their dynamic performance. Our students had a blast dressing up in fun and fancy costumes, and they showcased their talents while covering hits like "Blue," "The Heat Is On," "I Need a Hero," and even a hilarious parody of "Addicted to Love" featuring everyone's favorite furry friends—pugs! The auditorium was alive with music, laughter, and a whole lot of dancing. It was a memorable concert where both students and teachers came together for an engaging, fun-filled experience. Can't wait to have them back in 2026!

It is Department for Education policy that the guidelines below are followed:

If your child has flu like symptoms or is sick, please keep them at home.

If your child has/had vomited and/or diarrhea they must not come to school for 24 hrs.

If a child presents to class with these symptoms you will be called to pick your child up and take them home.

Sick Certificate

If your child is absent for 3 days you must provide the school with a sick certificate from a doctor.

Welcome to term 2! I hope that you all had an enjoyable school holiday break. This term, we have some exciting things happening.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club will commence here at HBPS this Thursday. Breakfast will be served in the STEM area from 8am, thanks to volunteers from the Christian Family Centre. This will occur regularly on a Thursday morning.

Mothers Day Breakfast

This Friday 10th May is a community breakfast for Mother’s Day, from 7.45am in the gym. We look forward to seeing as many families there as possible!

Lunchtime activities

This term, we are continuing all of the great lunchtime clubs throughout the week. At the end of term 1, students were surveyed across the school to determine additional activities that they would like. Over the coming weeks, we will be rolling out additional activities in the yard during play times. These will be toys that can be set up then packed away at the end of break times. We are seeking community donations for the following items. These items can be dropped off to the Wellbeing Room any morning between 8.30am-9am or at 3pm.

We are seeking donations of:

-toy cars

-dolls

-duplo (large blocks such as mega blocks)

Thank you in advance!

I look forward to working alongside you and continuing to support our community this term.

Over the last 12 months, our staff have engaged in professional development with the Self-Regulation Service. This term, we are fortunate to have them run a parent workshop with us! The workshop will be held at 5:30pm Wednesday 12th June, in the gym. The session is described as:

A 45-minute workshop with an Occupational Therapist, to learn more about the developing brain and how to respond positively to your child’s big emotions. We will learn more about the brain through the ‘hand model of the brain’ and we will discuss how you can develop your child’s regulation skills in the way that you respond to and notice their emotions.

Please register using the Eventbrite link. Reminders will be sent out closer to the session.

Our Student Executive Committee were invited to the local dawn service on ANZAC Day. 7 of our 8 SEC were able to attend, and they represented the school with pride. The group placed a tribute during the service which was a book that we donated to the RSL.

Thank you to the families who came to support our students and braved the rain and cold.

National walk safely to school day is now in it’s 25th year. This is an annual campaign and event which encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers to walk safely and regularly to school. Physical activity has many social, emotional, physical and mental health benefits. Walking to school is a great way to incorporate physical activity into a daily routine to support healthy development.

This year, walk safely to school day also falls on Friday 10th May. To minimise disruption to our community breakfast, students who walk to school on this day will be provided with stickers during the day (rather than upon arriving at school).

Everyone loves their birthday and the usual family celebrations, presents, birthday cake and candles.

Imagine a cake with 100 candles on it – well this year is 100 years since the school opened in 1924.

100 years ago this school was surrounded by paddocks reaching back and beyond Tapleys Hill Road.

Cows grazed the paddocks and there were about 200 cows being milked at the dairy only 100 metres from the school, close to the tennis courts.

Most of the residents of Henley Beach lived between Henley Beach Road and Grange Road. The children had to go to Grange Primary School by train and to Lockleys Primary School by tram.

At that time Henley Beach South only had a few residents living between the beach and the school on the Esplanade, Seaview Road, Military Road and Hazel Terrace.

There was no ‘Break Out’ creek (River Torrens - man made in 1937). The River Torrens often flooded from Lockleys to the sand hills at Henley Beach and at times the paddocks immediately to the east of the school were flooded.

A viaduct allowed trams to run from Henley Beach across the flood plains at Henley Beach South to access Lockley’s school and Adelaide.

Pupil Free Days

Term 3:    Fri 6 Sept (wk 7, term 3)

Term 4:    Mon 28 Oct (wk 3) + Fri 22 Nov (wk 6).

Below are some important dates for families to be aware of. Please refer to the school calendar available on our website for the full overview of the term)

Assembly

Our next assembly is planned for 16 May, commencing at 2.20pm. Families are welcome to attend. Other assemblies are planned for 6 June and 27 June

Year 4 Zoo Snooze

Thursday/ Friday  30 & 31 May  - Year 4 Camp (invoices out next Monday)

The Department for Education has mandated expectations regarding volunteering in schools and we are committed to doing our upmost to keep our children and school community safe.  All volunteers need to complete a Volunteer Application Form. As a volunteer you will also require a Working with Children Check (WWCC) screening clearance and need to complete an online Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect (RRHAN-EC) course. Volunteering cannot commence unless these aspects have been completed.

We can help you with all of these requirments.

It is the responsibility of the volunteer to keep these documents up to date so please check expiry dates on clearances once issued.

Another successful Vacation Care has passed. Big days, new places, lots of children, and a lot of fun had. It is hard to look past some of our favourites such as Inflatable World and Movie Day, but visiting SA Base Camp for the first time was a whole lot of challenging fun. The Ninja Warrior TV show certainly inspired some of us. The children were largely successful with most of the movements, the staff not so much... Here are some of pictures of our experience. We will be seeing this one on our plan in holidays to come. 

Welcome back, everyone! We hope you had a fantastic break and are ready for another exciting term ahead. With the chillier weather creeping in, it's time to switch to our winter menu. We have some old favourites back such as butter chicken and fried rice, and take a look at our delicious new additions too!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 10 May. Tickets are on sale now via Qkr. Cut off is Wednesday 8 May.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates and events happening at the school canteen. We can't wait to see you all enjoying our winter menu and celebrating Mother’s Day together!