2023 Term 1 Week 2 Newsletter
Principal's Message
Hello everyone and welcome back to 2023. It has been an absolute pleasure to walk through our classrooms and observe our students returning to school revised, energised and excited for the year ahead! Our school is buzzing!
This year we welcome a number of new families to Alyangula Area School. We trust that these new families have felt welcomed, supported, and are settling into the Groote Eylandt lifestyle. We welcome Eilis Smart (Ms A) and Haylee Malan (Ms Malan) to our staff as new teachers working in the 5/6 and 4/5 classes this year.
The beginning of the school year has seen all students engage in our Starting Right program. Starting Right at Alyangula Area School involves classes exploring and understanding our school values, school expectations, and learning dispositions to ensure all students have the best chance to success across all subject areas, throughout the entire school year. It provides consistency across the school, and sets high expectations for all.
We have also implemented our Mobile Phone in School Policy. I would like to commend all students for their unwavering support and adherence to the policy that was put in place by the Minister of Education towards the end of 2022. A copy of the Mobile Phones in School Policy was sent home earlier this week to the eldest member of the family and can also be found on our school website. This week families would also have received the Digital User Agreement. This agreement is to ensure safe and respectful use of electronic devices, online infrastructure, and when working and learning in online spaces. As we move to provide one to one devices for students across the school, adherence and understanding of the Digital User Agreement is imperative for the school to ensure that we can continue to incorporate contemporary and purposeful digital technologies to support and enhance the learning opportunities. We ask that families familiarise themselves with both the Mobile Phone in School Policy and the Digital User Agreement and have follow-up discussions with their children around these documents.
To celebrate the successful start to school we are throwing a ‘Wet and Wild Day’ on Wednesday the 22nd of February. This day will consist of water play, Slip’n’slides, face paint, music, slime and many more fun activities! A BBQ lunch will be provided for all students. Students are to wear water play clothing and bring a set of clothes to change into at the end of the day.
To support a strong connection between school and home families will have the opportunity to meet their child's classroom teacher during our Meet and Greet evening on Tuesday the 28th of February. Families will be allocated a time to meet the teacher and have a one-on-one conversation about their child. This could be used as a general catch up, to share information, or to set goals. More details will be provided next week.
As we embark on a new year, we are also excited to form new committees. A Fundraising Committee will be established to support and organise fundraising events for 2023. The initial meeting will be held in the multipurpose room on Monday the 20th of February at 3pm. If you are interested in being a part of this committee, but are unable to attend please register your interest at the admin office, or via email alyangula.admin@education.gov.au
We are also invited families to be part of the decision making of the school through involvement in the School Council. We will be hosting our AGM on Wednesday 22 February at 7pm in the Multipurpose Room. The agenda for the meeting includes the receiving of reports and the election of a School Council. Meetings are held monthly on a Wednesday at 7pm. All school and local community members are welcome to attend.
And finally, school photos! School photos will be held on Friday the 17th February. Please ensure school photo envelopes are returned to the school by Thursday the 16th February. Please note: all students are required to wear blue school shirts for photo day (no sports uniforms).
I'd like to thank all staff for their commitment and diligence to set classroom learning spaces up throughout prior to the beginning of the school year, to ensure our classrooms are conducive to learning and reflective of the learning needs of our students. The successes that our students have felt in the beginning weeks of school is testament to the organisation and effort you have provided to support our wonderful kids. Thank you!
Mel Dougherty
Principal
Award Winners
Congratulations to all our week 1 & 2 award winners!
2023 School Fees
Please find information below that outlines the annual Fee Structure for 2023.
Item | Cost per student |
Individual Student Contribution | $100 |
Student Curriculum Resources | $50 |
Student Book Packs | $100 |
Individual Student Contributions
Individual Student Contributions is a voluntary, yet necessary payment that contributes to the annual costs of providing our students with contemporary and engaging school-based programs, infrastructure, localised and well-maintained equipment. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Excursions / Incursions
- Sporting Programs
- ICT equipment (student iPads, student laptops)
- Digital subscriptions
- Outdoor play spaces
- School furniture
The Individual Student Contribution can be made in person at the Administration Office or online through our new portal (available in 2023). Payment is calculated as $2.50 per student, per school week. Payment can be made via the following options:
- Annually – one off payment of $100 per student
- Semesterly – two payments (term 1 and term 3) of $50 per student
- Termly – four payments (one payment per term) of $25 per student.
Student Book Pack and Student Curriculum Resources
Student Book Pack and Student Curriculum Resources is a compulsory payment for every student. At the beginning of the school year students will be provided with book packs and stationery that will be replenished throughout the year as needed. Book packs and stationery have been specifically designed to suit the needs of each year level from Preschool through to Distance Education, to ensure that students have the appropriate materials to support them in their learning.
Student Curriculum Resources provide materials and resources to ensure opportunities are provided to our students to engage in hands on learning experiences. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Cooking
- Technologies
- STEM
- Electives
- Art and craft
- Performing Art
- Sports equipment
- Science
Both the Student Book Packs and Student Curriculum Resource payments can be covered through the Northern Territory Back to School Payment Scheme. More information about the Back to School Payment Scheme can be found overleaf.
2023 Back to School Payment Scheme
What is the Back to School Payment Scheme?
Every student who is enrolled in a Northern Territory School is eligible for the Back to School Payment Scheme. The Back to School Payment Scheme provides financial assistance to the parents and guardians of children from Preschool through Year 12, to receive educational items in term one of each school year.
What is covered in the Back to School Payment Scheme?
You are entitled to receive $150 of educational goods and services for each child enrolled in a NT school or preschool.
- If your child is in transition to year 12, you will receive the entitlement in term one each year. The entitlement must be used by the end of term one.
- If your child is in preschool, the entitlement is available throughout the year, but is only valid to the end of the first term in which they first enrol.
How do you claim?
For 2023, you can claim your entitlement from the Admin Office at the school. The Back to School Payment Scheme can be applied to cover the costs of Student Book Packs and Student Curriculum Resources. Parents/Guardians must attend the Admin Office to sign a document to receive the Back to School Payment. Please see the office open hours to organise your visit. Families who have not claimed the Back to School Payment by Friday 31 March, 2023 will be invoiced for the student book pack and student curriculum resources ($150 per student).
School News
School Calendar
Stay up to date with events on the AAS Calendar.
Absentee Form
We encourage families to use the absentee form instead of the school phone number when advising the school that your child will be absent from school.
Arrival at School
No child should be at school before 7.45am. Children arriving before 7.45am will remain seated in the covered area until that time. A teacher commences playground duty at 7.45am each morning.
Appointments and Signing in/Out
It is preferred that all student’s appointments be made outside of school hours so as not to disturb their learning. However, if this is not possible then carers are asked to report to the office and sign out their child. The office will call the student to the office for collection.
At no time should a carer go directly to the class during school hours. Upon return the carer must return to the office to sign the student back in.
Emergency Contact Details
If your child/rens emergency contact has left the Eylandt. It is essential that the School Office maintains up-to-date records of your address, telephone numbers, email addresses and emergency contacts in case of illness or injury to you child. Please ensure you complete this form the below form and return it at your earliest convenience.
Whole School Assembly
Every second Friday we hold a whole school assembly and invite parents, families and school community members to join in the occasion. Our assemblies commence at 8:10am and always focus on celebrating student success. Classroom teachers nominate two students to receive a Merit Award at each assembly. Parents will be notified when their child is receiving an award to ensure that they can be present for the moment. In addition to this, our classes take turns in presenting a class performance at each assembly. Once again parents are notified of the class performance by their child’s teacher.
Vacancies
School Photos - Friday 17th February
School photos are happening on Friday 17th February. All students are required to wear blue school shirts for photo day (no sports uniforms). Sibling envelopes can be collected from the office. Please find link and online code below to order school photos.
Online code: X5059VT55A
Canteen
Alyangula Area School's canteen is managed by Fairway 19, they are committed to providing fresh, healthy foods at the canteen and are constantly assessing the quality and variety of food that we can provide. The menu may vary during the year to reflect these changes. Online orders can be placed at QuickCliq, orders close at 8am for that day.
Cash & EFTPOS sales over the counter are available - pre-packaged snack items
Insight
This week we have included insight on 'Emotion coaching your child'. Please keep an eye out each week for the Insights that are linked through our school newsletter. Insights can also be found on our website.
Community News!!
