Dear Families,

This week I think we are all eagerly awaiting the announcement on Sunday from the State Government around restrictions moving forward from the 13th September.

We are hoping that this announcement or one in the coming days will provide some information for schools and what it will look like for Week 10 of this term and the start of Term 4. At this stage our staff are planning for remote/flexible learning in Week 10.

We often find information out about schools through the media briefings like you do. Once we have the information from the Department of Education and Training we will always update you on the plans via email and Facebook.

I know I feel like I say this each week, but we are very proud of the way our community is going about remote/flexible learning. It has its challenges, but we have also taken many learnings from it. We thank you for all the work you are doing to ensure students are succeeding and achieving during this time.

Professional Practice Days

Next week our staff will engage in Professional Practice Days. Each teacher is entitled to one day per term (four days per year) release from their scheduled duties, including teaching, to focus on the improved delivery of high quality teaching and learning. On these days staff will run their morning roll call, but will not be available after this time. If you need support on this day please contact the office. Staff will provide an alternate program on these days and they are looking at activities that may not involve the screen and can be hands on.

The following days are when staff will be involved in their Professional Practice days:

Monday 7th September - Prep

Wednesday 9th September - 3/4 team

Thursday 10th September - 5/6 team

Friday 11th September - 1/2 team

Crazy Hair Day

It was great to see so many students involved in Crazy Hair day today. We look forward to sharing some photos with you in next week's newsletter. It makes morning Webex meetings much more interesting with lots of crazy hair dos!! Thank you to the Student Action Group for organising this.

Echuca Specialist School Co-Location

We are very excited to announce that the formal sign off for Echuca Specialist School has been completed. The ESS will move across at the start of Term 4.

ESS has also been granted permission to change the school name to Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School. It is a momentous occasion and one to celebrate.

Car Park Works

If you have driven past the school lately, you may have noticed the two car parks being asphalted. We are very excited to have these works completed as part of the build.

Assembly

We have had some technical difficulties uploading assembly this past week. We are going to try it a different way next Friday to present lots of Student of the Week awards and Terrific Kids awards.

Onsite Attendance

We understand that some families may require access to onsite attendance for children. There is a clear set of guidelines from the Department of Education and Training around this.

The most recent advice around students who can attend onsite attendance from DET states:

-Where there are two parents/ carers, both must be working outside the home for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.

-Single parents/ carers must be working outside the home for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.

-Children deemed vulnerable by the school, a government agency, funded family or family violence service. These students are assessed as requiring education and care outside the family home.

While school is open, we are running on a skeleton staff, trying to keep as many staff at home working remotely with your children. To keep doing this we need your support. Please, if you are working, only complete the onsite attendance forms if there is no other way your children can be supervised at home.

If you require onsite attendance at school, we ask that you contact the office and speak to Anthea or myself.

If your child is eligible for onsite attendance, a form needs to be submitted online.

If you are unable to complete the online form, please email a copy of the onsite attendance form to brea.terris@education.vic.gov.au

This form needs to be submitted by 12pm on a Thursday for the following week. If the form is submitted after this time, it may not be accepted.

Please continue to remember that Echuca Twin Rivers School community has a responsibility to our wider Victorian friends, in helping to get the numbers down. If we all 'sanitize, social distance, wear masks, and stay home’ we are playing our part in helping to beat this virus.

We know this can be very challenging for you, but ‘We are all in this together’. We are trying to minimise the interactions of people, and it is still recommended if you can learn from home, you must learn from home. The purpose of this is to stop people from moving around the community and ultimately to stop the spread of the virus. The Chief Health Officer says the best way to do this is to stay at home.

Foundation 2021 Enrolments

All enrolment documents are available to download from our website. You may also contact the school and we can send the information to you via email or the post.

We are looking forward to running some activities/events for our 20201 Prep students early next term.

If you know of any families who are interested in enrolling, please ask them to contact the school. Thank you to our families who are getting the good word out in the community about our school, word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising.

Unfortunately, until the health advice changes, we are unable to do school tours.

School Wide Positive Behaviour

See our dedicated page later in the newsletter which includes updates, videos, and of course features Wally.

Wishing everyone an enjoyable and safe weekend. Lets hope the sunshine remains around.

Brea and Anthea

Happy Birthday