Appreciations and News

Events have occurred at such a surprising speed over the last week or so. With our students going on holidays earlier than anticipated, as well as our staff managing the challenge of preparing for more comprehensive measures, it has been a very unusual end to term 1.

Over the last couple of weeks as our community has dealt with the CV-19 on a micro level and wondered and feared the macro effect, we have also seen our community come together with kindness, care and understanding.

Thanks to the generous parents who dropped in with lunch for staff who were onsite on Tuesday and for all the kind and inspiring messages of support.

We are also cognisant that this week has been like no other week in living memory. Many parents have been placed in difficult financial positions due to the contraction of so many businesses. Certainty has been replaced by uncertainty and confidence with confusion and indecision. For any family whose circumstances have changed, we of course hope that this is for the short term, but let’s face it, we simply don’t know. Should there be circumstances that will affect your capacity to meet school financial obligations please contact me, or a member of the leadership team.

The Department of Education has deemed it important that despite concerns with students maintaining social or physical distancing, child care will be provided onsite for children whose parents are engaged in essential services and for vulnerable children. Available places will be reduced to make physical distancing more manageable. Please contact TheirCare if you wish to enquire about booking.

While there has been communication relating to an anticipated return to school on Wed. 15th April (after a recently called curriculum day on Tues 14th April), it would be naïve to assume the children will be attending their classrooms. We do anticipate that students of parents deemed to be working in essential services may be able to attend an amended school program, however remote and flexible learning will likely be the default delivery model.

Parents of preps, 1s and 2s who haven’t picked up the learning pack and instructions for remote learning do not need to worry. The packs were set up for students to complete at home if parents had chosen to isolate, or the children were ill during the last couple of weeks of term 1. This morning a Flexibuzz message was sent to parents of Prep, 1 and 2 students. This information provides generic information relating to preparation for online learning next term. For parents who did not have the opportunity to collect the packs, they will be able to email the Prep coordinator, Karri, or 1/2 coordinator Anne-Marie to obtain their child’s specific logon information. As the teacher’s holidays will start from today, this information will be relayed at the beginning of term 2.

Metro grants – A big appreciation to parent and Metro employee Sarat Jilla (mum of Arnav 2BD) who was successful in obtaining a grant of $1500 for the Orchard to Plate program. Money that will be appreciated and well used. This is the second grant that Sarat has pursued for the school. Persistence and a growth mindset in action. Thankyou Sarat.

Term 2 Considerations

Dear Parents and carers,

As we move to the possibility of remote and flexible learning we would like to ensure that each student is able to access their learning. To enable them to do this they will need use of a desktop computer, laptop, iPad or android tablet.

Please note that not all learning will be done in front of a screen, and a shared family device is suitable, however the daily program for each student will be accessed through their google classroom.

We are aware, however that there may be some families in our community that do not have a device at home that students can access.

The school has a limited number of devices that it can loan to families, and we ask that you contact us asap via the school email with your name, the name and grade of your child/ren, so that we can ascertain the demand and make arrangements for the start of term 2.

Anne Reciszen

Leading Teacher

Soundgarage management has determined that due to the likelihood that the user pay program will not proceed in term 2, no payments will be taken early next term as originally planned.

Camps – We remain hopeful that the 5/6 and 3/4 camps will be held, however should the COVID-19 crisis cause the cancellation, all payments (including non-refundable deposits) will be returned or credited for future school costs.

My best wishes for a safe and peaceful holiday

Regards,

Brendan

The West Weekly

Issue 8 · 27 Mar 2020

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