From the Principal 

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week our school community continues to work through our remote learning program.  I hope the celebrations of Book Week last week provided a “change in the remote learning landscape” as we continue to find ways to keep our families' spirits in balance.

This Sunday 5th September is Father's Day, and whilst we won’t be able to treat dads with something from the Father’s Day stall at school this year, kids can come up with creative ways of “spending time” with their fathers or father-like people.

Just last week I had a great ‘dad moment’ with my two sons, building a refurbished basketball ring system from junk parts that we had found on the side of the road.  It was a wonderful time of being able to make something together whilst practising the fine motor skills required to thread nuts onto bolts using a spanner. Afterwards, we had a very competitive shooting game of “knock out”. 

We look forward to hearing about some of the thoughtful ways students are honouring and celebrating fathers and father-like figures.

Recent Health Advice: Face masks for children recommended (but not mandatory)

On Saturday 21 August 2021 from 12:59pm, advise was issued by Victorian Health Department in relation to face masks for children.  

Based on advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the following requirements for wearing a face mask apply to all schools.  It is now recommended primary-school-age children wear masks while indoors and outdoors, except when in the home or when an exception applies. However, it is not mandatory.

School staff and secondary school students aged 12 or older must always wear a face mask indoors and outdoors at school, including when attending an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program, unless a lawful exception applies. This includes while travelling to and from school on public transport and when in taxis or rideshare vehicles.

For communication purposes, teachers and education support staff are not required to wear face masks while teaching onsite, but it is recommended that they wear face masks while teaching onsite wherever practicable.

I would like to encourage parents and carers to talk through with their children how they will manage this advice for masks to be worn by children.  When we do eventually return to the onsite learning, this advice may still stand and will be something that families need to consider. 

As a part of our ongoing learning and practising of respect and care for one another, we will continue to work with students to understand that teasing or negatively drawing attention to a person wearing a mask or not, is not acceptable behaviour.

Wellbeing - Mental Health for Children

There are a number of resources for parents and carers below if you are looking for ways to support the mental health of children.  

How to support your child's mental health through the pandemic

 Royal Children’s Hospital

Access webinar recording here (presented Wed 25 August 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1DizMUOeng

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all of us, including our kids. So, we want to help! Our Facebook Live session on Wednesday 25 August 2021 brought together an expert panel to discuss this important topic, with lots of practical advice, and you can watch the replay here.

Hosted by Dr Anthea Rhodes (Paediatrician) with special guests Dr Ric Haslam (Director, Mental Health), Dr Alice Morgan (Clinical Psychologist) and Prof Harriet Hiscock (Paediatrician).

RCH Factsheet:

Supporting your child to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic

God bless

Tom Wursthorn

Principal