EMS
This term the school switched from EDSAS which is the administrative system that schools have been using for many, many years to a new electronic management system, known as EMS. It has been a lot of work particularly on the administrative side, but we are happy with the new system and know that it will be more efficient in the long run.
What changes will you see?
You may find that you are more readily receiving emails and/or SMS messages with our new system, particularly in relation to attendance, finances and behaviour development. Here's how:
Attendance
Please continue to inform us of absence via your preferred means – Audiri, e-mail or phone call. Should you forget, or be unable to inform us, an SMS will be automatically generated towards the end of the morning / around midday. Please ensure that you respond to this notification.
Finances
Should your child be participating in any special event, e.g. camp, SAPSASA, choir, excursions, you will receive an invoice via email for that event. This invoice is sent automatically to the first enrolling parent in the family. Should you need to alter any arrangements with this please contact Sue in Finance at your earliest convenience.
Payments can still be made via QKR, direct debit, EFTPOS/cash or by coming into school (Mon - Thursday 8:15 – 3:45). When making payments please ensure that your debtor number is included.
In addition, with EMS, statements for any outstanding debts will also be generated via email in the coming weeks. This includes current year school fees as well as fees from previous years. Again, we encourage you to make these payments promptly or contact Sue / Vicky to discuss.
Student Behaviour Development
The school takes a proactive and restorative approach to student behaviour development.
3 School Expectations underpin this approach alongside an explicit focus on individual and school values. The 3 expectations are:
♦ Everyone has the right to learn
♦ Come to class prepared to learn
♦ Everyone has the right to feel and be safe
There are clear and consistent consequences for inappropriate yard and classroom behaviour. In the classroom the starting point is a positive and proactive pedagogy, where high quality teaching practice leads to student engagement and reduced behaviour incidents. Where, despite these strategies, there is continued inappropriate behaviours students will receive a PASTORAL NOTE. This will be recorded on EMS.
Should a student receive 3 Pastoral Notes they then receive a REFOCUS whereby they are required to spend time in the Administration area. Parents/caregivers receive email notification of this. If a student reaches 6 Pastoral notes they are removed from class and yard and are required to spend time in the Administration area.
Of course, there are some cases where these steps are “jumped” and students may be removed from class and yard quicker or receive a refocus quicker. These are cases, for example, of violence, bullying and/ or serious class disruption. Fortunately, at Nuriootpa PS, these cases are few and far between. 😊
If you have any questions about this process don't hesitate to drop me an email.
BOOK WEEK
We had a fantastic week celebrating Book Week last week. This newsletter article is full of some pictures of the fun.
Book Week is all about reading and, although we always promote reading and read heaps throughout the year, we love the opportunity to focus more on books and reading.
There was such a range of books which meant students were engaging with such a variety of themes, cultures and vocabulary. As I have written before, reading underpins future success for students. Students who read regularly are more likely to perform well at school, developing a vast vocabulary, an ability to concentrate and fostering the wonderful intrapersonal characteristics of creativity, empathy and curiosity. Please continue to encourage your child to read, read with them and take a look at our Facebook page for the parent book videos to watch!!
Best, Vicky.
