This year we are once again preparing to undertake the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) as an online, computer-based assessment. All assessments will be completed on laptops apart from the Year 3 writing component, which will be handwritten by those students.

On Thursday 24^th March, we will be conducting a NAPLAN Online National Practice Test with selected classes from Year 3 to 6. Students will participate in a 45 minute writing assessment or answer a set of numeracy, language convention and reading questions. The purpose of the practice test is to confirm our school's ICT capacity and the logistics of administering NAPLAN Online during Term 2. It will not be used as an assessment of children's literacy and numeracy skills.

The official NAPLAN Online assessments for all students in Years 3 and 5 will be held between 10th and 20th May, 2022.

Further information about NAPLAN online and the public demonstration site can be found at www.nap.edu.au . Participating classes will have an opportunity to become familiar with the public demonstration site prior to the practice test.

For more information about the NAPLAN online, visit nap.edu.au/online-assessment 

Other handy links:

• Frequently asked questions and answers about NAPLAN Online: https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/FAQs
• Public demonstration site for students to become familiar with the format of the online tests: https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site 

During the first 2-3 weeks of every year, classes focus on developing a collaborative, positive class culture as part of the Mitcham Primary School “Off to a Great Start” program. Students work together to build positive relationships for the development of safe, encouraging and productive classrooms. They participate in activities that promote the uniqueness of each individual and take time to reflect on strengths and set future goals.

Off to a Great Start helps students to develop positive dispositions for a new year of learning and promotes high achievement in all areas.

During this time, students consider ways to demonstrate leadership qualities and the school values in everyday actions and choices. We aim for our students to;

• Demonstrate positive relationships
• Embrace mistakes and pursue solutions
• Be resilient in work and social situations
• Show gratitude and optimism
• Accept responsibility for their own actions
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively
• Show persistence and understand the value of working towards a goal
• Use a range of strategies to problem solve

Cooperative team building activities are a crucial way for children to develop and practice these skills. This week, children have enjoyed participating in tasks such as team challenges and games, group brainstorming, voting on class names, role plays, developing agreements for learning, beginning a gratitude journal and learning about a growth mindset to name just a few! 

Please find below important dates and school events for Term 1 2022. Swimming dates may be subject to change at short notice if SA Health advice changes.

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Hello and welcome back everyone! A special hello and welcome to students and parents who are new to Mitcham this year. The library is located in the Tutt building at the end of the corridor.

The library is a welcoming place where students can read, borrow, play with puzzles, colour in or create a masterpiece of design with our Lego wall. We are closed during recess but open for the lunch break. We are closed before and after school. 

Borrowing Books 

Class teachers have booked a time to bring their classes in for weekly borrowing lessons and students may borrow at lunch time too. Reception to year 2 students may borrow up to four books and years 3-7 students may borrow up to six. Students can keep books for up to two weeks. After two weeks the books are overdue and will need to be returned before any more are borrowed. 

Overdue books 

We would much rather students be able to continue borrowing than be worrying about a book they can’t find. Parents, please, if you or your child are concerned about any books that are overdue or lost, contact Sophie in the library on Sophie.calvertsmith315@schools.sa.edu.au. While we expect students to treat our library books with care, we do understand all sorts of things can happen. Overdue notices will be sent directly to the parent email you have nominated for receiving notices. Years 3-7 students have a school email address to which we will also send overdue notices. 

Premier’s Reading Challenge 

Teachers will be distributing these forms in the classroom. When completed, reading challenge forms should be handed in person to Sophie or Vasi in the library. The library has spare forms if required. We have an excellent range of the Premier’s Reading Challenge books and we are always happy to help students locate them. The PRC website at https://premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/ has online lists you can check from home. In the Library these books can be identified by the coloured stickers on the books’ spine. Reception to Year 2 students have red stickers, Year 3-5 have green stickers and Year 6 books have yellow stickers. The Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes on 9 September.  

Book Club 

Our school is participating in Scholastic Book Club again this year. Once a term, during the school year, I will send home a Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages. You will find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our library, however there is never any obligation to order. 

It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school safe and sound and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child’s order at www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Only orders requested and paid for online via LOOP will be accepted. We are unable to accept cash, cheque or credit card payments to the school. The first catalogue will be sent home soon. 

Library Lovers Day

For the month of February, we are celebrating Library Lovers Day and we have created a space for students to tell us all the reasons why they love the library!

Some of our favourite reasons so far are:

• “I love the library because I can borrow so many amazing and wonderful books.”
• “I love the library because it is quiet and relaxing.”
• “I love the library because there are so many books to keep you interested and zone out!”
• “I like the library because the books take me to a different world.”  
•                

It’s great hearing what the students enjoy about our library and how we can continue to make it a relaxing space for them!

Yours in reading,

Sophie and Vasi

Invoices for materials & services fees will be sent home with all students in week 3.  Payment of this invoice is due by the end of Term 1. Excursions, camps, activities, aquatics, swimming lessons etc will be charged/invoiced individually prior to each event.  A letter and consent form will be sent home with details of the excursion and amount payable. The details will also be uploaded on our QKR! App. Excursions must be paid individually prior to attendance.

Have you downloaded the QKR! App yet? It’s our preferred method of payment! 

We encourage parents/caregivers to download the Qkr App which is a convenient way to pay for all school fees, excursions, uniform purchases and canteen lunch orders. Details of your order and payment will be forwarded securely to the school each day. This provides you with the convenience of being able to make payments at any time and will eliminate payments being left in school bags.  Itemised QKR! e-receipts provide you with a record of purchase and are a convenient way to keep track of your payments.

There is also the option of using Qkr! web page, a link to this is on the School website. EASY > SECURE > CONVENIENT

The following payment options are also available: 

Payments in a named envelope or zip lock bag, along with the invoice/consent form, can be placed in the payment box at the entrance to the office at any time and receipts will be forwarded to the classroom. Payments can be made by cash or cheque. Correct money is appreciated.

Payment can be made by regular instalments. Please make this arrangement with the Finance Office.

School Card Applications

The School Card Scheme offers financial assistance with school fees (materials & services charges) for students attending government schools in that year. To check your eligibility and to apply online go to the SA GOV website at www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme. 

Select the School Card application form that is most appropriate to your circumstances.

‣ Income Audit (Form A) – Applications can now be made via the online link.  If you have children attending different schools the application form will be sent to both schools.

‣ Hardship, Change of Circumstances or Self Employment (Form B) - Forms available from the school or online and must be sent directly to the School Card Section.

‣ Foster Parents & Guardians (Form F) – Forms available from the school or online and must be sent directly to the School Card Section.

‣ Migrants & New Arrivals (Form M) – Migrated or exited detention centre after 1 July 2017.  Forms available from the school or online and must be sent directly to the School Card Section.

‣ Veterans Affairs (Form V) - For applicants who receive Veteran’s Affairs benefits.

If you need help completing the form please contact the School Card section on 1800 672 758 (free call).

The School Card section will notify you of the outcome of your application, until then do not pay any money towards your Materials and Service charge.

School Card MUST BE APPLIED FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR and lodged at your earliest opportunity

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, after school sport will not be offered to students in term 1, 2022. This includes Chess, Cricket and Touch Football.

Sport registration forms will be distributed to the classrooms later in term 1, for term 2 and 3 sports which will be for Chess, Soccer, AFL Football, Basketball and Netball. 

Michelle Gabrisch - Sports Co-ordinator

The year is racing towards the end and it’s at this time of the year that we farewell those who are leaving us and welcome those who are joining us next year.

It was with great joy and sadness that we farewelled 184 Year 6 and 7 students yesterday. We wish them all the best as they move to high school in the New Year. I give thanks to Unley High School for enabling us to host our event in the George Cresswell Hall. We very much appreciated their flexibility and support which enabled us to celebrate our senior student’s achievements in style.

We look forward to welcoming over 100 new students next year, many in Reception, who have decided that Mitcham Primary is the best place to commence, or continue, their learning journey.

This year we also sadly farewelled Patrick Clarke, Angela Lydeamore, Stacey White, Josh Evans, Clare Deverson, Zoe Gower, Enza Maselli, Amanda Rugari, Linda Taeuber, Caleb Cook, Emily Hicks, Shivani Gandhi, Lara Tucker, Andja Savic, Sue Heywood, Tristan Clarke and Cheryl Medlan.

We thank these wonderful teachers and school support officers for all that they have done for our students over the time they have spent as part of our school community. We wish them well with their next new adventures and will miss them dearly.

Next year we will welcome Josh Fielder as our new Primary Performing Arts teacher for 2022. Josh has a wealth of musical, band and performing arts experience.

Looking back on the year a lot has been achieved even though we have experienced a few tricky events courtesy of COVID. Much of what has been achieved this year is due to the strong support our families provide to our staff and school – we truly appreciate working with you to ensure your children receive a quality learning experience in a safe and supportive environment. 

To all those who have supported Mitcham Primary School in some way during the year, thank you. Without your support much of what we do would not be possible.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a restful holiday. I look forward to welcoming your children and you back to school in the New Year.

Please note that the first day of school is Monday 31st January.

Warm regards, Scott

It was with great joy and sadness that we farewelled our final Link students at our fabulous graduation ceremony on Thursday.

The Link Program at Mitcham Primary was established in 1992 and was originally called the Southern Annexe of the Regency Park Centre School. At the time, there was a strong movement to transfer students from Special Schools into local mainstream schools.

A great deal of work was undertaken by staff of the Regency Park Centre School, the Department for Education, the Crippled Children’s Association and parents to locate a school in the south eastern suburbs that would be willing to host the program. Mitcham Primary was extremely excited to welcome the students as part of our community and this has continued on until the present day.

Since commencing at Mitcham Primary the program changed its name to ‘Link’ and came under the umbrella of the Adelaide West Education Centre. During its 29 years, the program has welcomed many students with physical disabilities and has assisted them to engage fully in their learning alongside their physically able peers.

Our school community has benefitted greatly from having this wonderful program which has provided an insight into what it is like to live and learn whilst having a physical disability.

The success of this program has always been due to the generosity and enthusiasm of our parents, staff and Principals who, over the years, have viewed Link as a valuable asset to Mitcham Primary School. However, 2021 sees the end of the program due to the decline in enrolments as many students with physical disabilities are now enrolling in their local schools.

Our final Link students, 2 in year 6 and 2 in year 7, are moving to Unley High School next year and will be part of the Unley High Link Program where they will continue their learning journey with their fellow Mitcham peers and many new friends who have joined from other sites.

We give thanks to the talented staff of the Link programme. Their professionalism and knowledge will be sorely missed however, we take heart that many of the staff are also moving to Unley High School next year to continue supporting our graduates with their learning.

We would like to say a big thank you to our library volunteers, your time helping us is greatly appreciated. This year has looked different to most with our ability to have volunteers being limited and some volunteers even taking home covering, so thank you for your understanding.

 We would love to welcome you all back, along with anyone interested in becoming a volunteer in the new year! If you would like to become a library volunteer please contact Sophie on Sophie.CalvertSmith314@schools.sa.edu.au.

Thank you, Sophie and Vasi-Marie