Playford College NewsLetter Issue 1 - February 2023

A wonderful start to 2023

In this first newsletter for 2023, we want to wish you a Happy New Year and pray that you will have a year full of good health, happy family times and blessings. Playford College has enjoyed an excellent start to 2023 and we have much to celebrate.

Students

We have welcomed back our 2022 students whilst celebrating all of our new students and their families. New students appear to have settled in so well to Playford College, largely due to existing students making them feel welcome and delightful teachers going out of their way to check on them. We have over 580 students which is a wonderful story for a school which is 6 years old!

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

Mr Riemann and Mrs Makki visited Primary classes briefly last Tuesday, thrilled with the learning happening, as it is a great compliment to the planning and implementation of the teaching and learning program.

Here are some important points that we can implement to help our children settle into school smoothly:

1. Having daily routines is a significant and powerful way that can help students of all ages to have a peaceful day. Setting a morning routine and including the time to have breakfast will help kids start their day peacefully. Afternoon routines allow preparation for the next day to run smoothly, by completing homework on time, remembering to put their homework book, bottle, hat in their school bag and going to bed at an appropriate time.
2. Having daily check-ins with your children will help foster open communication. This will allow children to become comfortable in talking about their feelings and daily experiences, and thus, feel supported in their school journey.
3. Being involved in your child's school life by knowing their teachers, classrooms, attending school events such as parent/teacher interviews is significant. Furthermore, following the school newsletter and Class Dojo is important in keeping updated on your child's progress.
4. Managing and supervising kids' screen time is very essential for their learning progress, mental and physical wellbeing.
5. Avoiding over scheduling your child's day can be useful, as going back to school takes time to adjust, and may cause stress. Indeed, it is essential to invest children's time in educational and physical activities, such as soccer, language and religion lessons. Nevertheless, it may be beneficial to keep a light schedule until children settle into school.

With blessings,

Mardiya Jawad

Communication

Families are requested to:

• Download the School Stream App to see every official communication.
• Join the parent portal on Sentral.
• Join the Class Dojo App to receive classroom news in Primary.
• Check our Facebook page regularly.

If you need assistance with any of these communication tools, please contact the Front Office.

Student Arrival and Departure

Parents/caregivers are responsible for collecting or otherwise making appropriate arrangements for their child to depart the Playford College grounds at 3:25pm daily, or at a later time as determined by a school activity they are participating in. Therefore parents will either:

• Meet students at the classroom door at 3:25pm.
• Meet students at the gate at 3:25pm.
• Collect students from Kiss and Drop or Durrington Road by car.
• Register with the school bus service.
• Inform the Front Office by writing to enquires@playfordcollege.sa.edu.au if the student is leaving in a different way eg. bike or walking home.
• Should the child need to leave school prior to 3:25pm, parents/caregivers are responsible for signing the child out at the front Office before proceeding to the classroom to collect the child.
• For bus students, drivers can only leave Primary aged students at the drop off place if a parent/guardian is present or the student is with a Secondary aged sibling.

Late Students

The College expects all students to arrive around 8:30am and be ready to commence their learning at 8:40am. Teaching children to be punctual is an important part of parenting, while also setting up students for a successful day at school.

If students continue to be late, there will be consequences at school. The gate will be closed at 8:40am each morning.

With blessings and looking forward to a top year of teaching and learning,

Chris Riemann and Racha Hammoud Makki

canteen

Many families continue to access the services of our canteen. Zeinab Al Aaraji is coordinating the canteen in 2023 and she values the assistance of student volunteer helpers. Please enrol with the QKR App by accessing the following link.