Principal's Report
Welcome Back
Welcome back to a term where we can have our fantastic school filled with laughter, joy, relief, and excitement!
As we go back into face-to-face teaching, we look forward to transitioning our students back to structured focussed learning, with a strong focus on a positive mindset, reconnecting with friends and giving students the time to re-establish connections with their teacher and classmates.
Although this lockdown has taken a big toll on all of us, it will be happy days when we once again hear laughter in classes and outside, see our students enjoying the new outdoor facilities and students getting back in a routine that we all understand is so crucial.
Next week (Week 3) we welcome back our beautiful Preps on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and then our energetic Year 1 and 2 students on Thursday and Friday. When your child is not rostered at school, remote learning will continue on those days. From next week there will be no more Well-Being Wednesdays, as all specialist teachers are returning to full time face-to-face teaching.
In Weeks 4 and 5 (25th October – 5th November) we see the return of our Year 5 and 6 students on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, with the Preps and our Year 3 and 4 students on Thursday and Friday, with the Years 1 and 2 students. Once again when your child is not at school they will continue with their remote learning. We then look forward to welcoming back all our students on Friday 5th November.
Next week our Prep staff will be ready to welcome you and your child at the Prep Gate on Landscape Drive at 8:45am. We understand that some students will run into the school and feel right at home and that other students will have some nervousness about returning. We are prepared and ready to give support and guidance to all students. We are strongly urging all parents to wave their child goodbye at the gate, but if there is a need for you to enter the grounds for a short time to help with transitioning back your child we understand, and we ask that you do this as quickly as you can.
The same applies to our lovely Year 1 and 2 students. Year one students can be greeted by their teachers at the OSCHClub gate and the Year 2 students down at the Lockwood’s gate at 8:45am.
In the following week when we welcome back our Year 5 and 6 students on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and our Year 3 and 4 students on Thursday and Friday. Year 5 and 6 students can enter through the OSCHClub, Year 3 through the second gate near the Prep gate on Landscape and Year 4 through the front gate on the corner of Phipps and Landscape. Remote learners will enter through front gate as well.
We are all extremely excited to give all our students the opportunity to utilise and celebrate all our new facilities that have been installed during last term. Including our amazing new shade sail next to the Prep Playground will allow all our students shade to play in as well as provide an additional outside learning area.
Thank you, parents, for your continued resilience and support throughout this year. I know remote and flexible learning has not always been easy, but through our collective efforts, our students have continued to make valuable progress in their learning.
Term 4 is important for every student, and our teachers will strive to deliver high-quality learning for everyone. Our focus for Term 4 is on making sure that every student is supported in their wellbeing, learning and transition needs.
Returning to School Transition to School in Prep
The information below is regarding an online webinar session coming up soon about positive transition to school.
Supporting your child to start school in 2022 – free online information session for parents/carers in Outer East
Starting school at any time can be exciting but also challenging for children and parents. Some children may have experienced disruptions to their kindergarten attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as restrictions to normal life. As a result, parents/carers may be feeling concerned about whether your child is ready for school. This webinar seeks to support parents and carers to understand what is involved in a positive transition to school and how this can be supported at home, as well as through strong links with children’s kindergarten and school.
It will provide information and answers to the following questions:
· What is a positive transition to school?
· What does school readiness mean?
· What can I do to support my child prepare for school?
· What if my child has missed a lot of kindergarten?
· What if my child is feeling anxious about going to school?
· Where can I find more information?
Presented by: Louise Dorrat and Debbie Cole, who have extensive experience in early childhood education, including supporting parents and advising teachers about the transition to school.
When: Wednesday 10 November, 7pm – 8pm
Register: Supporting your child to start school in 2022 - Outer East Tickets, Wed 10/11/2021 at 7:00 pm | Eventbrite
Term 4 Foci
Mental Health and Well-Being
Our highest priority will be the wellbeing, particularly the mental health, of every student and member of staff. This means effectively mobilising all
available resources to support our most vulnerable students and enabling staff to access the relevant support services.
Learning Excellence
Some of our students have thrived in the remote and flexible learning environment, others have maintained their learning progress, and some have fallen behind, despite their best efforts and those of their families and teachers. Our priority will be supporting both those who need to catch up and those who have progressed, to continue to extend their learning.
Transitions
We will make every effort to ensure successful transitions for children moving from kindergarten into Prep, the Grade 6s moving into Year 7, and in fact transition for students to their class in 2022.
Term 4 Hats required
Please be aware that all students are required to be wearing a school hat outside in Term 4 (PLEASE make sure your child’s hat is named). The office has hats for sale for $11.
Masks
Schools have been directed that all Year 3-6 students will be required to wear a mask on the return to face-to-face teaching. We understand this may be an issue for your child. Please be assured that teachers will be modelling the correct and positive mask wearing and supporting and guiding students and reinforcing key messages about the importance of face masks. If your child has a disability, medical or mental health issues around wearing masks, then they will not need to wear a mask (Please make sure you communicate this information to your child’s classroom teacher). Staff understand students will require motivation, praise and support and we will work with our students to work with sensory and discomfort issues. Please make sure you model and provide masks for your child to use while in class. Talk with your child about the mask wearing requirements and communicate why we are having to wear masks now so we can provide a safe and positive environment for all students. Students will not be required to wear face mask while playing outside at recess and lunchtime. Please be conscious that mask wearing is a sensitive issue with many parents feeling positive with mask wearing and others hesitant. We are here to provide the safest learning environment possible.
2022 Enrolments
With planning and preparation well underway for 2022, it is vital that we are aware of enrolment changes for next year. If you know that your child/children will not be attending Boronia Heights Primary School in 2022, it would be appreciated if you would inform teachers and the office staff as soon as possible. Your attention to this will assist us greatly with forward planning.
Class Placements for 2022
Over the coming weeks our teaching staff start to meet to place students in classes for 2022. A great deal of consideration and thought goes into this process. Teachers analyse academic data to ensure an even spread of students, discuss social relationships and individual student needs to ensure that we provide the best learning opportunities for all our students.
If you have any information about your child’s academic, behavioural, physical, or social factors which you would like us to consider when deciding class placements please put any requests in writing to me. All letters must be received by Monday 31st October.
Please note that it is not appropriate to include requests relating to particular teachers. Your requests will be shared with the teachers to assist them to develop the class lists. If you do have confidential, concerns that you do not wish to be shared with the teachers, please contact me.
Thank you in anticipation of working with us and for your understanding as we set our school up for more high-quality teaching and learning next year.
It is anticipated that the final school structure will be in place and published during December, with children having the opportunity of meeting their teacher for next year before the end of the school year.
COVID Safety Measures
Parents and carers are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher to discuss any concerns or areas of need regarding their child’s learning, health, wellbeing, or access to teaching and learning resources.
· Wherever possible, we will increase fresh air into indoor spaces and maximise the use of outdoor learning areas and environments.
· PE will be conducted outside with Health lessons held in the hall (if inclement weather).
· Hand sanitiser will be available at entry points to classrooms and students will be re-educated on the importance of this health and safety measure.
· All students on school grounds must undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet.
· Where shared equipment is necessary, students will be required to exercise strict hand hygiene before and after use.
· Students must bring their own water bottle for use and refilling at school.
· Students must not share their food.
Canteen
Our school canteen is open for this term from Monday 25th October and will operate with the highest hygiene practices. Each grade will collect lunches at staggered times so as not to mix with other grade levels.
School Assemblies
School assemblies will not take place face-to-face this term, but instead will occur virtually every week and be sent out to the community for you to enjoy.
Curriculum Days for 2022
- Friday 28th January- Berry Street Model/Respectful Relationships
- Tuesday 15th March – Student Voice
- Wednesday 4th May - Numeracy
- Monday 31st October – Report Writing
We are looking forward to returning to school, thank you for working with us to ensure our transition back to school is a very happy and positive one.
I'm so proud to end this newsletter on a good news story. As mentioned in last weeks assembly, Charlotte Taylor in Year 4 made the shortlist for the RSPCA CEO Award out of 345 stories. Unfortunately she didn't win the prize but we would like to congratulate her on this achievement. Charlotte, I can't wait to congratulate you in person when you return.
Take Care,
Leanne Jennings
Principal