To work or volunteer in education you must do mandatory notification training. The training is called Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education and Care. We call it RRHAN-EC for short. The training has recently been updated so please check the expiry date on your certificate. This training includes information about child protection in education.

Parents volunteering in their own child's class or assisting on excursions do not need to complete the RRHAN-EC training. However you must have a current certificate if you wish to help out in the canteen, library, coach or manage a sporting team, attend overnight camps or volunteer on the governing council. Grandparents and other members of the community require a RRHAN-EC to volunteer in all capacities.

You must keep your RRHAN-EC training current. Please complete or update your training via the online update in plink at www.plink.sa.edu.au before 31 December 2024. Training should be completed before your certificate expires to avoid any gap. Once you have completed the training, please hand or email your certificate to the school front office. Email: dl.0270.admin@schools.sa.edu.au 

City of Mitcham Council advise that with the commencement of another school term Council will continue with the monitoring of parking areas around schools, kindergartens and childcare centres.

The attached brochure informs drivers about public safety and provide for student safety around roadways at schools drop off and pick up times, any breaches of the Australian Road Rules observed by compliance officers may result in the issue of an expiation notice. Should you have any enquiries regarding parking control matters please do not hesitate to contact Joanne Salter, Senior Compliance Office on 8372 8870. 

Please see below the upcoming important dates and school events.

Harmony Week Celebrations

Each year, Harmony Day is an opportunity to honor and celebrate Australia's cultural diversity. Harmony Day is about including, respecting and appreciating the stories, traditions and cultures of all people who call Australia home.

During Harmony Week (Week 8) all the classes met up with their Buddy class to do some meaningful Harmony Day inspired art work. Students also engaged in a lunchtime activity creating a chalk mandala.

We had four beautiful art displays set up around the school for students to explore after our whole school assembly on Monday the 25^th of March. Each display had a special meaning that tied into the theme that “Everyone Belongs”.

The lotus flowers displayed words that are significant to the students when they are thinking of Harmony Day, cultural diversity and helping everyone belong. The lotus flower has positive meanings across many cultures and religions.

The Hands Display represents how we use our hands everyday; whether it be to build things, help others or write ideas and stories. Hands are important because they help express ourselves. The hands display demonstrates how we are all growing, learning and interacting together. Each hand is like a leaf on the tree that we all belong on.

The Fish art represent that the countries we are from are all connected by the ocean. The ocean display shows that we are all fish swimming in the same sea; we all belong and help each other out.

The Quilts represent strength, resilience, friendship and connectedness. Our quilt display demonstrates that like the stitching on a patchwork quilt, we may come from many cultures and backgrounds, but we are all connected through common threads.

The school captains along with some other students reflected on the values of Harmony Day and collaboratively created a Mitcham Primary School Harmony Day Pledge:

As members of Mitcham Primary school community,

we pledge to honour and uphold the values of Harmony Day.

We vow to embrace each other, celebrate our differences,

and treat everyone with respect and kindness.

We understand that by standing together in unity,

we can create a community where everyone feels safe and welcomed.

We pledge to stand up against discrimination and

 promote our uniqueness and fairness among all.

Together, we commit to building a more inclusive environment  

where every voice is heard and every individual is respected.

It was wonderful seeing our school community coming together in a sea of orange to celebrate our diversity.

Congratulations Selth!

On Thursday Week 8 our year 4-6 students travelled to Burnside swimming pool to compete for their house in our Mitcham Swimming Carnival. This was a special swimming carnival as this was the last time that the houses will be using their old names before changing for Sports Day in Term 4.

Congratulations to Selth for winning a very close race in this year’s carnival. The lead changed several times throughout the day and in the end, there was only 20-point difference between 1^st and 3^rd.

Final Results

Selth                   1031

Devonshire         1020

Dunks                 1011

Mellor                  854

I want to thank all the teachers, students, parents and pool staff for helping throughout the day. I would also like to offer a special thanks to our House Captains who did an amazing job all day. Without you all the carnival would not be possible.

Clint Rowland - PE Teacher 

NAPLAN testing for Year 3 and 5 students has concluded for another year. Thank you and well done to our students and teachers for their efforts during this time.

NAPLAN results for families will be forwarded to the school and sent home in Term 3, offering insights into your child's progress. 

The Lap-a-thon with a Splash of colour is almost here! On Friday 5^th April we will be holding our annual lap-a-thon fitness FUNdraising event with a splash of colour, raising funds to purchase playground equipment, outdoor seating and landscaping for a wonderful new outdoor area for students near the school oval. All students will have 30 minutes to complete as many laps of the oval and obstacle course as they can.

Family support is key to our fundraising success and we encourage everyone to get involved. Class teachers will be asking for parent volunteers on the day to record laps and help with obstacles. Volunteers will need to sign in at the School Office before making their way to the oval.

Students will need to come along to the event dressed in a white t-shirt, old shorts and sneakers for running in. If students would prefer not to be covered with water or colour, for any reason, they can bypass the water and colour stations and will not be squirted. We recommend children who do not wish to be squirted with colour wear a bright multi-coloured t-shirt (instead of a white one) as a way to still be colourful and bright on the day.

To add some extra fun on the day there will be water obstacles as well as some other exciting challenges around the oval. As with last year’s event, the colour powder used in the lap-a-thon is made of high-quality corn starch and permitted food colours. It’s non-toxic, biodegradable, skin-safe and environmentally friendly. Students may wish to bring in a pair of sunglasses or goggles from home to cover their eyes from the sun and the water. If you have specific concerns about your child’s health needs, please talk to your child’s class teacher.

This year prizes will be given to the top 10 individual fundraisers, with a special celebration lunch for the class that raises the greatest total amount. Please note, all donations need to be finalised on or before May 3rd.  Ice blocks will be provided to all students at the end of their laps. Student prizes and the class celebration lunch will be given out at the beginning of Term 2. 

Thank you in advance for your participation, and we look forward to seeing you at this FUN and COLOURFUL event!

Happy fundraising!

Below is a timetable of when classes are participating:

We are looking forward to Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Tuesday 9th April 2024. The morning tea and chat over a cuppa is always a highlight for our visitors. 

We appreciate your generosity in sending along food donations for the morning. Non—perishable biscuits can be brought in to the office at any time; our collection box is ready and waiting! Perishable items such as sandwiches, pinwheels and cakes can be handed to our volunteers on the day.

Please let us know if you are able to help set up the afternoon before or volunteer with serving on the day by email to Sue.Blight189@schools.sa.edu.au 

District Swimming

Thirteen Mitcham students competed at our City South District Swimming Carnival at Marion Outdoor Pool on Friday 1^st of March. This was the largest number of swimmers we have had compete in several years and they all did an amazing job with many finishing 1^st to 4^th in their races.

A special congratulations to Elijah K, Louis T, Sophie L, Antony S and Parker L for placing high or winning their events and now going on to represent the district at the Metropolitan State Championships on Tuesday April 9^th.

Cricket

On Wednesday March 20^th our Sapsasa boys cricket team hosted Highgate School in our first round T20 match. After winning the toss the boys bowled first and managed to keep Highgate to 93 runs after picking up 8 wickets.

The boys came out aggressive with the bat and showed some excellent running between wickets to end up reaching their total by the 17^th over. We continued to play out the match to allow for all our batters to have a chance in the middle and ended up getting over the century.

Final Score

Highgate 8/93

Mitcham 2/105

The boys will now play St Francis de Sales College in their next round match in Week 11.

Clint Rowland - PE Teacher

Materials & Services Payment Now Due

Thank you to the families that have paid their Materials & Services invoices, applied for School Card or arranged Direct Debits/Payment Plans.

Materials & Services invoices are due to be paid by the end of Term 1.

Any extension on this time can be arranged by setting up a Direct Debit or Payment Plan. Please email dl.0270.finance@schools.sa.edu.au for the authorisation form.

School Card

The School Card Scheme offers financial assistance with school fees (Materials & Services charges). To check your eligibility and to apply online go to the SA.GOV website via the link: www.sa.gov.au/education/schoolcard

If you are eligible for the School Card Scheme and have not yet applied, please do so as soon as possible.

Eligible families need to complete a new School Card application each school year.

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

You will be notified by the School Card Section of the outcome of your application, please do not pay any money towards your Materials and Services charge until you know the outcome.