It’s been wonderful catching up with our existing students and families and hearing tales of relaxing fun-packed holidays. We extend a warm welcome to our 455 learners and their families to our wonderful school community. We also extend a very warm welcome to our 53 new Reception students, 4 new year 1 to 6 students and their families. Congratulations to all our students for the way they have settled back into school routines and learning so far this week.

Acquaintance Night – Tuesday 11^th February

We invite all students and families to join us for our annual Acquaintance Night –Tuesday 11th February.

The evening will commence at 5.30 pm with information-style booths available to visit in the library, with classrooms also open between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

Again, this year we will be conducting a more informal student-led style evening. We believe it is important for each student to participate in the evening, serving as an opportunity for them to lead and play a major role in acquainting their parents with their learning environment for 2025 and of course meeting their teachers, specialist teachers and other staff.

In preparing for, and participating in the evening, students will practice skills in communication, organisation, problem-solving, critical and creative thinking – as well as developing self-confidence.

This strongly aligns with our vision "Developing Global Learners in a Caring Community", facilitated through strong community support, active participation and a sense of belonging for all learners.

At the beginning of, and throughout the school year, teachers use a variety of media to share information and student learning – including newsletters, emails, Seesaw and more.

The evening also serves as a purpose for families to mingle and of course to chat with other community members and teachers.

Further information will be provided to families next week.

Annual General Meeting

Our school Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday, 11th February 2025 at 6.45pm in the Library. If you would like to join the Governing Council for a two year term you can nominate yourself via the nomination form by emailing to the school prior to the AGM. Please visit the school website for more details:

https://www.coromandps.sa.edu.au/governing-council

Bushfire Response Plan/Catastrophic Days

The bushfire response plan ensures what action we need to take on days of increased fire danger or in the event of a potential or actual bushfire threat. The bushfire response plan also assists the Department’s Security and Emergency Management (SEM) unit in providing emergency services key information regarding the location of students and staff during a bushfire emergency.

It is important that families are familiar with our school’s response in preparation of a bushfire emergency. You can help us prepare for the fire danger season by:

1. familiarising yourself with the following information relevant to our school, which is rated as a R2 site.
2. talking to your child/ren about what will happen if a bushfire occurs when they are at school.
3. making sure your emergency contact details are updated and made available to us before the start of the fire danger season.
4. having your own bushfire survival plan in place for days of catastrophic fire danger or in the event of a bushfire threat.

Our school’s procedures for Fire Danger Days rated as Catastrophic and Extreme

‘Catastrophic’ Fire Danger Days – declared in advance

In the event of the Country Fire Service (CFS) declaring in advance (the day before), a ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger rating for the Mt Lofty Ranges, the school will receive confirmation from relevant department personnel (Education Director / Department’s Emergency Management team) regarding the closure of the School and Out of School Hours Care Service.

If and when this situation arises, no staff, students, volunteers or contractors will be able to attend Coromandel Valley Primary School or OSHC service.

Parents and carers will be informed via SMS and email – as listed on our school’s database. The following forms of communication will also be used, and can be accessed:

• Letters handed out to all students on the days if the alert is received prior to school dismissal
• Information posted on the school website www.coromandps.sa.edu.au / Schoolzine email, Seesaw notification and the Coromandel Valley PS Facebook Page
• Department for Education – Emergency Information Hotline on 1800 000 279
• CFS Website: http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/
• Radio: tune into ABC Radio 89.7
• Information provided by the evening television and radio news services

****Reminder this is for the Mt Lofty Ranges District****

Parents/carers should make provision for the care of their child/ren on days declared in advance, as per their family’s bushfire survival plan.