In response to the increasingly evolving Covid-19 situation, the Education Department has called a week of student free days in Week 11 from 6th to 9th April, 2020. At this stage, POSCH will be available for working parents should you need children cared for. Hazel has re-adapted her program to ensure all children attending POSCH will have a range of social distancing fun!

Teachers in Week 11 will be on site and re-imagining ways to deliver the Australian Curriculum. In just 4 days, our teachers will band together to create a model of teaching that will suit our school community. We will see an adaptation from face-to-face teaching to include online learning. Teachers have already gone out of their way to develop learning packs for students who have begun their learning journey from home. Teachers will now learn to deliver individual lessons and units of learning with technology. What this looks like exactly, is currently unknown. What I do know, is that our teachers and SSOs will rise to the challenge to ensure learning continuity for every child.  

The teachers and SSOs at Pimpala have amazing practices. One of the things that the Covid-19 situation has provided us, is an opportunity to demonstrate what a teacher does that makes a difference in the lives of children and young people. I am very excited to share the practice of our teachers into students’ homes. Parents will have the opportunity to observe lessons and see exactly how our teachers skilfully change tack based on student responses to ensure all students understand skills and concepts. Parents will be able to share the pride that teachers have when children make a learning breakthrough.

Moving into the technology age will be a challenge for some. We will need to embrace technology. I am sure some people will find this uncomfortable. What our students could tell you though, true learning only happens when you feel uncomfortable and are seriously challenged. We have recently surveyed all families at Pimpala regarding their ability to access online learning and appreciate your prompt response in order to for us to plan accordingly.

As we come to terms with coping with a global event that has had an impact on homes in our community, it is important that we look after everybody’s mental health. Beyond Blue have resources to support adults, children and teenagers who are struggling to adjust to the sudden changes in our lives. If you or someone you know is struggling to adjust to the sudden change, please visit Beyond Blue or similar organisations.

I wish you and your family a safe school holiday. I urge you to spend quality time with your family and to make positive memories. I personally look forward to a game of Monopoly with my children that will last several days. This time, I hope to win! I hope you are able to find activities that are helpful to your wellbeing while keeping you and your loved ones safe.

Richard Kemp

Acting Principal

As a result of ensuring families have access to learning materials while at home, we have had to move the date for distribution of the 1 page summary of progress of your child/ren. It will now be communicated by Friday, 3rd April. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Due to the COVID-19 situation all fundraising for 2020 has been paused until further notice. 

This includes the Mother's Day stall which has now been CANCELLED.

The Starting Secondary School process for 2021 will commence in the first week of Term 2.  Parents of Year 7 students will be sent an email which links to the application form, which must be completed by 22nd May, 2020.

If you are not sure which high school you would like to send your child to next year or are intending to apply for enrolment for a Special Interest Course, please contact the high school directly.  There has been changes to some Open Nights and Principal Tours at a number of schools.  

If you would like more information about the process, please speak to Barb in the Administration Office.

The process for Year 6 students who plan to attend Wirreanda Secondary School in 2021 is separate from this process and families will be contacted directly.

Due to the COVID-19 situation NAPLAN has been cancelled for this year.

Due to the COVID-19 situation group Principal tours have been cancelled until further notice.  

Please contact the school if you are considering enrolling so we can identify a safe time for you to visit. 

SA Power Networks will be cutting the power at Pimpala PS from 8:00am - 3:00pm on Tuesday, 14th April, the day after Easter Monday to replace a power pole on Bains Road.  The power outage will affect approximately 800 households.

As a consequence Vacation Care will be closed on Tuesday, 14th April, 2020.  Thank you for your understanding.

Due to the COvID-19 situation, the canteen service has been suspended until further notice.

Vacation Care will be open for the April school holidays (excluding Tuesday, 14th April, 2020)  however, preference will be given to working families.  If you are intending to use Vacation Care and have not already booked in can you please contact Hazel Godfrey, POSHC Director as soon as possible on 0413 482 521 or email on Hazel.Godfrey850@schools.sa.edu.au

Developing Minds are offering a free 6 week course for parents using video teleconferencing to support with children and teenagers to help them feel calm, confident, cooperative and able to cope with challenges.  Please follow the instructions from the flier or visit www.developingminds.net.au if you wish to participate in the course. 

If you are ever concerned for the immediate well-being of a young person please consider contacting your GP or one of these services:

 - Lifeline - 13 11 14 (24 Hour telephone counselling)

- Mental Health Triage Service - 13 14 65 (for mental health emergency)

- Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 (for telephone or online counselling for teens and children)

- call 000 (for medical emergency). 

Do you work with or have children aged 5-11 who struggle with anxiety, worry, coping with friendships at school, managing frustration, attention or following instructions?  Would you like support, supervision, ideas and help online?  Learn more at www.calmkidcentral.com

Due to the COVID-19 situation and resulting loss of jobs, schools have been advised that some families may need to defer any payments to the school. If this is the case, please contact Helen Clark, Finance Officer at the school.

Please note this is a deferral of payment and any outstanding debt is still expected to be paid.

At this time we are planning to accept payments and reinstate any instalment plans from Monday, 1st June, 2020. More information will be sent home when it is available.

A reminder that the carparks on site are for staff and official visitors only. Not all of our staff work full days and it is incredibly frustrating for them to arrive and find there are no parks available, when there are sufficient spaces provided. 

The disabled parking spaces are available for those with a Disability Parking Permit.  Please only use these spaces if you plan to get out of the car to collect or drop off your child.  These parks are meant to lessen the amount of walking you do when picking up or dropping off.  They are not meant to provide your own personal parking space.  Please make sure you use the Disability Parking Permit for the purpose for which it was issued.

Families utilising POSHC are able to come into the car park to the loading zone by the Administration Office to drop off or pick up their children attending POSHC before 8:30am and after 4:00pm.  

Some families come into the car park to drop off their children.  Please do not do this.

We ask that if for any reason you come into the staff carpark that you limit your speed to walking pace at all times.    

As you would be aware we were planning to hold a pupil free day on Monday, 27th April, 2020, the first day of Term 2 as part of Tri-Schools moderation program for teachers.  

We will still go ahead with this pupil free day. Instead of using it for this purpose, given our immediate focus on remote learning, we will utilise the time finalising our  adaptation to on-line learning.

Due to the COVID-19 situation and the recommendations to limit our contact with others, people are going out into the fresh air and walking their dogs more often and sometimes bringing them to school when dropping off or picking up their children. 

However, we ask that you do not bring your dog onto school grounds. Even though we have less children on site at the moment, there are still some children and adults who are very afraid of dogs while others may be allergic.  In the interests of all of the students and parents in our community, please do not bring dogs onto school grounds.

The entrance gates make a great drop off and pick up meeting point but please do not leave your dog unattended.  Some people find it intimidating to walk past unattended dogs, particularly children.

We understand that you may not consider your dog a threat and therefore, the request does not apply to your dog.  However, this does apply to ALL dogs, no matter how cute or cuddly and is in line with Department for Education policy.