Term 1 Week 3

9th February 2026

At Russell Vale Public School, we are deeply committed to fostering a strong partnership between home and school. Recent feedback from our parents, teachers, and the broader community highlighted a common theme: a desire for a clearer "window into the classroom" and a more streamlined approach to our digital platforms.

We have listened to your concerns regarding a "fragmented digital landscape." We understand that navigating multiple apps can be challenging. To address this, we have clarified the purpose of each platform to ensure you know exactly where to go for the information you need.

Our Digital Communication Hub

To help clarify the use of each platform, here is a breakdown of how we communicate:

• School Bytes: Our primary portal for finance and operations. This is where you track attendance, sign digital permission notes, make payments and receive bulk emails from the school.
• Enews App: Our "Notice Board." This provides push notifications for urgent updates and integrates with our school website and P&C initiatives (Canteen, Uniform Shop etc.).
  Note: We have heard your feedback regarding permission notes "disappearing" once signed. Moving forward, all event details will be mirrored on Enews so they remain accessible to you even after the School Bytes form is completed.
• Seesaw: Our "Learning Gallery." This is the space where we celebrate student work and share the "learning journey" happening inside the classroom.

The Reintroduction of Seesaw

After careful consideration, we are pleased to reintroduce Seesaw. To ensure this tool remains sustainable for our staff and effective for families, the following guidelines will apply:

Purpose of Seesaw

Seesaw is a digital portfolio used to share teaching and learning and celebrate student achievements.

• A Window, Not a Chatroom: Seesaw is a "view-only" window. To ensure our teachers remain focused on instruction, the private messaging feature will remain disabled.
• Formal Enquiries: All personal or specific concerns must continue to be directed to the school office via email or phone call. 

For Teachers

• Professional Discretion: Teachers will share updates and student work as it aligns with their classroom programs and the NSW K–6 Syllabus. Frequency may vary across stages.
• Right to Disconnect: In line with Department of Education policy, teachers will post during normal working hours, unless they choose to work outside of these hours. They are not expected to monitor the platform or respond to notifications outside of school hours.
• Administrative Clarity: Teachers will not use Seesaw for administrative reminders (e.g., "don't forget the swimming carnival tomorrow"). These details will remain on the school calendar and Enews.

For Parents and Carers

• Celebrate Learning: We encourage you to use Seesaw as a conversation starter with your child about their day.
• Respectful Communication: We expect the same level of courtesy on our digital platforms as we do during face-to-face interactions.
• Direct Channels: Please respect the "Right to Disconnect" by using the official school email for all teacher communication, which will be attended to during business hours.

For Students

• Digital Citizenship: Students may engage with Seesaw as directed by their teacher, with all posts moderated to maintain a safe, positive, and educational environment.

Privacy and Security

All users must respect the privacy of our students and staff. No personal information or private conversations should be shared via Seesaw or copied from Seesaw to other platforms. The school reserves the right to manage access to the platform to ensure these standards are upheld in line with Departmental policy.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to make Russell Vale Public School a transparent, connected, and informed learning community.

Department guidelines limit all meetings outside of classroom hours to one hour per week. Whole-school staff meetings will take place on Thursday afternoons at 3:10pm. Please be mindful that teachers will not be available during this time. Additionally, whole-school communication meetings will take place on Wednesday mornings on a fortnightly basis beginning at 8:30am.

Our first meeting of the year is scheduled for Monday 16th February, 7:00pm at Woonona Bulli RSL. As always, new members are welcome to attend. I’m looking forward to catching up with our very dedicated group of parent and carer volunteers.

Parents and carers are invited to attend information afternoons in week 5, at which you will hear about class procedures, units of work being taught, timetables, reward systems, discipline procedures and many other pieces of information about your child’s class. Times and dates differ as certain teachers have various commitments around which to work. Please note that child care is not provided during these sessions.

The schedule is as follows:

Monday 23rd February
3:30pm    5/6B - Mr Batley
4:00pm    KB - Miss Beckingham

Tuesday 24th February
3:30pm    2LC - Mrs Logue and Mrs Cleall
4:00pm    2/3N - Mrs Nelson
4:30pm    5/6R - Mrs Rafferty and Mrs Rejske

Wednesday 25th February
3:30pm    3/4L - Mrs LaVanda
4:00pm    2RJ - Mrs Rann and Ms Johnston
4:30pm   4/5E  - Mr Elsley

Thursday 26th February
3:30pm    3/4QC - Ms Quince and Mr Crane
4:00pm    1JW - Mrs James and Mrs Wrice

Friday 27th February
3:30pm    KH - Mrs Hoyn

As always, I am available at most times to discuss any aspect of your child’s education that may be of concern. Please take that opportunity to speak with me if you need to do so.

Three years ago was our final year for transition between school uniforms, meaning that it is our preference that any of our previous shirts not be worn. As the school year begins, there will be regular reminders to our students regarding the rest of our uniform and the importance of wearing it. This includes a school hat (wide brim), white socks (without large branding or advertising), green shorts, black shoes (except for sport on Fridays). Grey shorts and socks have been phased out and should not be worn moving forward. Any regional or district hoodies that have been purchased at NSW PSSA sanctioned events can only be worn with the sports uniform on Fridays. I thank parents and carers in advance for their support in this and in purchasing appropriately for the new school year. 

Thank you to Jessica Jones and Bec Emmett for their time in getting our uniform shop organised for opening this year. It will be open each Monday morning by appointment for purchasing or you may make orders online and have these delivered to your child’s classroom. Uniforms can be ordered through Flexischools.

The ordering portal for our optional Indigenous sports shirt is now open. This shirt is an optional Friday ONLY sports shirt for those that wish to purchase. Please note that this shirt is not carried in stock by the uniform shop. Orders can only be placed once per year at the start of each school year. 

Orders must be placed by Friday 27th February (end of Week 5) with delivery expected towards the end of this term.

To purchase, please click the following link: Indigenous Sports Shirt Order

School Photos were scheduled to be held on Tuesday 24th February, however the District Swimming Carnival was booked for the same day. School photos will now take place next term on Tuesday 26th May. More information will come next term. 

Our Swimming Carnival was held last Friday. Thank you to Mr Shepherd for organsing and to all of the parent volunteers to help make this such a successful day. A successful swimming carnival can not be run without your help.

Our SRC and House Captain Induction Assembly will take place Friday 27th February (Week 5) at 2:00pm. Parents and carers will receive an invitation sometime this week or early next.

Due to another successful grant application via Sporting Schools Australia, Fit Futures will return once again this term to deliver their gymnastics program to our Years 3-6 students on Fridays. Due to this, any scheduled school assemblies will take place at 2:00pm. 

I am delighted to share information about a local initiative called Dad Gather, founded by Paul Liddell, a parent in our local region.

As many of you know, parenting is a rewarding yet often demanding role. Paul started Dad Gather after reflecting on his own experiences as a new father, recognising that while "dadding" can be incredible, it can also be "brutal," and none of us are meant to do it alone. His simple idea—to build a community of dads one coffee at a time—has quickly grown into a vital support network for fathers in the Woonona and wider Illawarra area.

Dad Gather provides a relaxed, low-pressure way for dads, grandfathers, and male caregivers to connect through:

• Coffee & Park Meetups: Informal Saturday morning gatherings where dads can chat while the kids play.
• Honest Conversations: A safe space for dads to share the challenges of parenting and realise they aren't alone in their struggles.
• Local Support: Building a grassroots network of mateship that strengthens our local community.

The initiative was recently featured in The Illawarra Flame, which highlighted how this group is filling a significant need for social connection among local fathers.

Upcoming Event

For those interested in joining, the next Dad Gather event is scheduled for:

• Date: Saturday 14th February
• Time: 7:30am
• Location: Thirroul Beach

We encourage our dads and male caregivers to consider joining the Dad Gather Private Facebook Group to stay updated on future meetups. You can also read more about Paul’s story in the full article by The Illawarra Flame here.

Paul Cuthbertson
Principal

• 16th      P&C Meeting 7:00pm at Woonona Bulli RSL
• 23rd      Meet the Teacher - 5/6B & KB
• 24th      North Wollongong District Swimming Carnival
• 24th      Meet the Teacher - 2LC, 2/3N & 5/6R
• 25th      Woonona High School CoS Day
• 25th      Meet the Teacher - 3/4L,  2RJ & 4/5E
• 26th      Meet the Teacher - 3/4QC & 1JW
• 27th      SRC & House Captain Induction Assembly (including presentation of Swimming Ribbons and Age Champion Trophies) at 2:00pm
• 27th      Meet the Teacher - KH
• 27th      Last day for Indigenous Sport Shirt Orders

• 11th      Woonona High School HPGE Program start date
• 17th      South Coast Swimming Carnival

• 2nd      Last Day of Term 1

Disclaimer: Russell Vale Public School advertises in this column as a service to parents. Russell Vale Public School does not endorse, sponsor or accept responsibility for the management or organisation of the advertised events or services.