Principal's Report

Term 4 Week 1

Appreciations

We are all very pleased that the long grind is nearly over and we are keen to see all students back at school from Monday (more about that in a moment). After the return to school at the end of term 2, I don’t think anyone anticipated such a quick flip back to remote and flexible learning at home, so the management of the mighty challenging and unexpected barrier has been beyond expectation. The approach of our community of learners: students, staff, parents and carers will remain an abiding memory when I reflect in the fullness of time. In the meantime, there is much to do to make the transition back to school as smooth as we can.

Congratulations …

Parliament Prize

In Term 3, Grade 5-6 students were encouraged to participate in this year’s Parliament Prize Competition. Entrants were required to write and submit a 90-second video statement detailing an issue affecting our community. The panel were looking for participants who were persuasive, creative and engaging. It is my pleasure to announce that Clara Hall (5BC) has been awarded 3rd Place in the Year 5-6 category for her speech on Black Lives Matter, an issue close to her heart. Clara articulated her point of view clearly and passionately.

You can view her submission via the following link:

Black lives matterhttps://vimeo.com/466003362

Well done on your achievement, Clara.

Bre Chapman, 5BC class teacher.

Thanks to TheirCare’s Nelly and Luke for stepping in at a moment’s notice on Monday afternoon and again offering support tomorrow, to enable teaching and education staff rostered for direct student supervision to engage in important wellbeing professional learning Webex meetings. We are very fortunate to have such outstanding people in our wider staff community.

Congratulations to the Camp Champs (see list in Pupils of the Week awards) selected by the grade 5 and 6 teachers for their outstanding contributions during the highly engaging and very innovative virtual school camp held by our senior team during the last three days of term 3. I am sure the teachers had a hard time selecting the winning entries, as you will have seen by the standard displayed in this week’s assembly video. Well done to the successful students and all team members for the outstanding and positive attitude demonstrated at the end of a whole term of remote learning.

Next week … Return to onsite learning

However first a moment to focus on the priorities that the DET has stressed, priorities we fortunately are in full agreement with!

Priority 1 – Mental health and wellbeing

Priority 2 – Learning

Priority 3 - Transitions

Once again, a detailed School Operations Guide has been provided over the last few days for schools to plan approaches that work for each school’s local context.

If unwell

Please note that as with commercial businesses that are operating, no person should enter the school grounds if they are unwell. Should your child be exhibiting signs of any of the following symptoms; cold, flu, high temperature, sore throat, cough, or runny nose, they should not attend school. Please ensure family members receive a COVID-19 test and remain in isolation until cleared to return to school. Students who do develop symptoms will be isolated until parents are able to collect them. These are the same expectations we are applying for all staff and contractors onsite.

What’s different from last time?

What’s the same as last time?

Wearing of masks for all adults. They are not mandatory for any of the students (even grade 6 students who are 12), though students are welcome to use them.
In the afternoon no parking at the front of the school (see explanation below)
Exit time for Prep students (without siblings)will be at 3.15 pm
Students will exit gates in grade order (Ps, 1s, 2s, family groups, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, students with bikes/scooters).
Students using main and crossing gates to line up along fence line on footpath in pm to enable family ‘reunification’ easier.
Family groups using the Blandford St exit will now daily use the Vehicle Access gate for entry and exit.
It is recommended not to bring dogs or bikes with you, particularly if you are picking up younger students when congested.

Students will enter/exit the same gates * using the same alpha family order that they used the first time. These were planned around having a similar number of students enter/exit each of the 3 main areas.
Students will immediately make their way to class on entry to the grounds.
No parents, carers or volunteers onsite, other than enquiries at school office.

Morning entry

On Monday, all 6 external gates used on our initial return from remote learning will be open between 8.50 and 9.10 am daily.

During this time, students will make their way directly to their classrooms. There is currently no requirement for student temperatures to be taken. All students should use hand sanitiser as they enter the building or classroom. Members of our leadership team and class-based education support staff will supervise all gates. Class teachers and specialist teachers will be in classrooms waiting for the students to arrive.

Entering from Argyle Street Main gate should be all children with family surnames starting with letters A – G.

Students in grades P-2 and family groups will access the Main gate.
Students in 3-6 will enter the nearby Habitat Haven gate.

Entering from Argyle Street Crossing gate should be all children with family surnames starting with letters H – N.

Students in grades P-2 and family groups will access the nearest gate to the crossing.
Students in 3-6 will enter the nearby Fielding Way gate.

Entering from Blandford Street gates should be all children with family surnames starting with letters O – Z.

Students in grades 3-6 and family groups will enter the nearby vehicle access gate.
Students in P-2 will access the pedestrian gate at the northern end.

After 9.10 am, all but the main gate will be locked and any student arriving after that time will need to access school via the office. School rolls won’t be marked until 9.30 am daily.

Afternoon exit … Argyle St gates

Students in the Junior school, starting with the preps will leave their classes from 3.10 pm and make their way in classes to the playground.
They will move into the 3 alphabet gate groups in single file behind clearly marked traffic cones in the order that they will depart.
The 3 gate leaders, accompanied by class teachers and/or specialist teachers, will bring the prep students to the gate from 3.15 pm.
Students will then be aligned along the fence for parents and carers to quickly and safely ‘reunite’. We know from previous experience, it will be the first one or two occasions that this will be most challenging. Please remain patient and manage any anxiety you may be feeling, as we will ensure the safety of your child until you can take over.
In turn, the grade 1s will follow, moving to the opposite side as where the preps waited, next the grade 2s, then family groups. All these will leave via the Main and Crossing gates. Next will follow the 3s, then 4s, 5s, then 6s in quick succession using the Habitat Haven (A-G) and Fielding Way (H-N) gates. The final group to leave will be students with bikes and scooters. They will leave via the main and crossing gates.

Afternoon exit … Blandford St gates

For families entering/exiting Blandford Street, the plans will be much the same as first time around. It was always an easier fit due to the access path. On entry, parents will still be able to walk with their child to the school end of the path, or see them off at the gate. The only ‘pinch point’ is the width of the gate. So be mindful, take your time and wait. It is for this reason we will ask (unaccompanied) family groups with siblings to enter/exit via the Vehicle Access gate at the southern side of the oval.
Students will be accompanied to the collection gate in turn starting with Preps at 3.15 pm, followed by year 1s, 2s, family groups, then years 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s.

Notes

Students booked for Their Care will meet in the gazebo area where TheirCare staff will be waiting.
Students with bikes and scooters will be the last to leave.
Exit at the end of the day proved a little more challenging due to the requirement for parents to wait. It is not suitable to have different grade levels exit from different gates as this does not meet the need to keep families together.
For the families exiting at both Argyle Street gates, please note that with agreement of the Maribyrnong City Council Traffic Office, for a trial period of two weeks, we will be using traffic bollards to block all afternoon parking along the Argyle St frontage to the school. The reason for this is to effectively widen the path, so that the children can exit the main and crossing gates with the supervision of school staff in order to make daily ‘reuniting’ of families easier.
We ask that the parents now stand on the asphalt car parking area until their children can see them. I must stress that on collection of all children, families leave promptly. This is not the time for social conversation!

How can I help?

Dress your kids for the weather. If it is raining, or pouring we will be standing in it. And it is Melbourne!
Not parking illegally. Our neighbours have got used to quiet streets. It is not ok to double park, park in front of people’s driveways or do illegal U turns. The afternoon removal of parking at the front of the school is a trial. MCC parking officers will be in attendance. We will support decisions to fine members of our community who fail to obey the road rules. It is in our collective interest to keep our neighbours onside. Seriously consider not driving, or driving part of the way. Stay clear of Argyle St in your car. Avoid Blandford St if you can by parking at Shorten Reserve and walking 50 metres.
Families with older siblings can enter/exit school together and either walk home, or meet parents or carers close to school at a pre-arranged spot. This is not however something we can offer for families with younger students (P-2) who will need to be collected directly by a parent or care

Return of Loaned iPads

During the extended period of remote and flexible learning 2.0 many families benefitted from access to the over 100 iPads that were loaned to students to enable all students to fully engage in our remote learning program.

With the return to onsite learning on Monday, it is time for them all to be returned promptly to enable them to be returned to classrooms for daily learning,

Please return them with your children, who will be required to hand them into their class teachers for verification. We anticipate that they will be returned in the state that they were received. Please inform us in an accompanying note if there is any damage or technical issues.

TheirCare – After such an extended period governed by COVID-19 related access restrictions, we are pleased to have the green light to open up the TheirCare before and after school care for all students in attendance next week. For bookings or enquiries contact: 1300 072 410 / www.theircare.com.au.

News

Staffing change – I felt for the students of 5HL, as due to circumstances beyond our control, Rita who was due to replace Laure as 5HL class teacher on Thursdays and Fridays has unfortunately informed me that a recent health issue, while not serious, will restrict her capacity to physically attend school for a few weeks. As a consequence, she reluctantly relinquished this short-term position as 5HL class teacher on Thursdays and Fridays.

As we always endeavour to be solution focussed, I am pleased to report that Andrew Tudor, a highly experienced, regular relief teacher at FWPS, is available and will now be 5HL’s class teacher from the second week of term, the first that the students in our senior school will return to onsite learning.

Andrew has worked with Helena in the past and they have already communicated in order to ensure that planning is in place. During this last week of remote learning, Helena will teach the class for the entire week.

On Monday Anne-Marie will be joining, her now former class, for the last time to say good bye. Any good will notes or messages received will be shared with her on the day. Good luck Anne-Marie, your new school community is very fortunate!

Coming up …

Soundgarage will not be operating in the format we have been accustomed this term. Stay tuned for some information within the next fortnight about how a revised and no cost initiative will operate. Families who have paid for term 4 in advance will be credited next week.

All the best,

Brendan