Welcome back!

For families new to the school we have a fantastic wellbeing team with myself, Lily, Jeanette and Kristy. We can help with any parenting worries or support your family with home or family concerns. The wellbeing team are on before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have. We have had a great start back to school and we can see that parents have prepared their children well, setting them up for a successful year. Some students may feel a little nervous walking into school and we can help settle your child by walking them to their classroom or setting them up with a friend and informing their teacher.

It is a normal reaction for some parents to feel nervous about a new school year. Some children will experience separation anxiety and so will parents. Speak to them about their worries and listen with empathy. Always acknowledge their feelings as this will give them a sense of control. Predictability is important for children to feel confident from the beginning so please be punctual at drop off and pick up time at the end of the day. Children pick up on what is being modelled so showing them that you are calm, supportive and positive will help your child feel confident and competent. Following a routine, getting plenty of sleep and eating healthily supports good physical and mental health and promote a successful school experience.

Support your child with schoolwork and school life. Show interest by asking what your child has done during the day, what homework they are working on, and whether they need any help.

Get involved in school life, through parent-teacher interviews and helping out in the classroom, or volunteering in the many projects/working bees and activities running at school.

Focus on your child’s strengths and the effort they put in. Praise your child for what they’re good at, and let them know you’re proud of them for trying things they find difficult. Talk with the teacher/staff to find out how your child is going. A good relationship between school and home will ensure the best outcomes for your child.

Attendance & Absences

We encourage parents and carers to refer to COMPASS for information happening at school. Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students. We encourage all parents to call the office when your child is going to be away and to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we are able to communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day.

Breakfast Club Monday & Tuesday 8:15am-8:45am in the German Room

Next Monday, breakfast club is back. The program is run by Jeanette, our school chaplain, Sandy Walter our German teacher and our wonderful team of volunteer parents.

Food Bank supply breakfast items including a range of cereals, bread, fresh fruit, tins of spaghetti and other staples. Parents are most welcome to walk their children down to check out the range of choices that will be offered. Please try to drop your child off by 8:30am to avoid disappointment, breakfast club must close at 8:45am in order for the classrooms to start.

Food Bank Cooking Classes Starting Mon 13th March

Food Bank are delivering free family cooking classes across Victoria and they aim to reach 100 schools before the end of June. For families who are interested, there are limited places starting on Monday March the 6th at 3:30pm until 5:30pm. There will be 4 weeks of classes however there will be no class on Monday March 13th as it is the Labour Day public holiday.

Where: The German room/cooking room at Woori Yallock Primary school.

Who: For 1 or 2 parents, all the children of the family. (Toys will be available in the art room for those who are too young to participate).

What happens on the night?

A qualified chef and an assistant from Foodbank Victoria will teach you cooking methods and help you to cook a meal to enjoy with your family.

What do you need to bring: You don’t need to bring anything, all the ingredients will be provided to cook with and each family will be provided with a hamper to take home containing all the ingredients (including fresh vegetables) to make the meal again or to try some of the recipes.

On the last night you will be given a recipe book to take home so you can do some more cooking together.

The recipes for the 4 weeks will be:

Week 1: Rice paper rolls

Week 2: Fried Rice

Week 3: Okonomiyaki Japanese pancakes

Week 4: Pizza

Please speak to Jeanette, Lily or myself for more details.

Community Pantry Mon & Tues-Hall Foyer

Food Bank generously supply our Breakfast Club program and they are continuing to supply our community pantry. On Monday and Tuesday afternoons from 2:30pm-3:30pm, parents and carers can come along and meet Jeanette, our chaplain to pick up some food items. We have a variety of breakfast staples including long life milk, cereals, soups, rice dishes and fruit. All families will need to do is bring their own bags. If you know someone going through a rough patch please reach out and let the Wellbeing Team know. There is no charge and we are thrilled that we can extend this support to our Woori community.

Fruit Available

Fruit are available in the classrooms for students to eat. Every week, Food Bank supply the school with a variety of fresh fruit including apples, oranges, pears and carrots.

Glasses for Kids Program: Students in Preps-Grade 3

Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 March

Currently, the glasses for kids program is being rolled out to schools across Victoria. All students in Prep through to Grade 3 will have the opportunity to have their eyes tested. Students are eligible to receive a free (bulk-billed to Medicare) comprehensive eye examination, which will be conducted at here at school. The program is a mobile optometry service and for the students identified who need glasses, they will be able to pick their frames on the day. A qualified optometrist from student eye care will undertake the eye examinations and if needed, glasses will be dispensed for free (paid by State School Relief). The glasses will be sent directly to the school. Parental consent will be required for students to participate in the program.

An information sheet for parents which outlines the key details about the program will be sent home shortly. A consent form and a brief eye health questionnaire will also be sent home and these should be returned to school, completed and signed, to enable children to been screened. Please watch out for this information and please speak to me if you have any questions.

Health

I encourage parents to please investigate any potential sickness complaints. Please encourage your child to practise good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly. It isn’t fun to be sick at school and there are exclusion periods for some health conditions. Don’t forget to tell us of any phone or emergency contact changes so we can reduce your child’s concern if they need to be picked up. In case of a toileting accident please supply a change of underwear in your child’s bag.

For some people getting over their mild COVID-19 symptoms, they may experience lingering fatigue, breathlessness and generally not feeling 100%. I encourage parents to check in with their children and talk through any health complaints or worries.

This term, we also expect to have some hot days so freezing cold drinks and adding them to your child’s school bag will help keep lunchboxes fresh longer. A reminder that school hats are compulsory and I would like parents to be active with encouraging children to wear sunscreen.

Head lice will be a problem from time to time at Woori Yallock Primary School and it is important to work together as a school community to minimise the frustration caused by the problem. I ask all parents/carers to regularly screen your child and please tell us in order to minimise the concern in the school.

Health Alert-Impetigo “School Sores”

A student in grade 1/2 has been diagnosed with Impetigo which is commonly known as school sores. If you have not heard of it, Impetigo is a contagious skin infection seen mostly in children, but it may occur at any age. The infection may present with mild irritating blisters that become pustular and erode rapidly, leaving a honey-coloured crust. Cases are treated with an appropriate antibiotic.

For primary schools and children’s services centre exclusions do apply. Children must stay home until 24 hours after starting medical treatment. After this time, they can be around other children again, but cover up their sores completely with dressings. For more information please go to-

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Impetigo_school_sores/

Infectious Diseases

To help prevent and control the transmission of infectious diseases in schools, a child must be excluded from school if he or she has any of the following:

Gastro/Diarrhoea - until there has not been a loose bowel motion or any symptoms for 48 hours
Chicken Pox - until fully recovered and blisters have dried
Measles - at least 7 days
German Measles - until fully recovered and at least 4 days from the onset of rash
Whooping Cough - four weeks
Hand, foot and mouth - until all blisters have dried
Hepatitis - medical certificate needed
Impetigo “School Sores” - until treatment has commenced and sores are healed
Ringworm - until treatment has commenced. Medical certificate may be required.
Mumps - until fully recovered
Scabies - medical certificate needed

Importantly, children who have been vomiting should not attend school until 48 hours after the vomiting ceases.

While these are some common diseases, please refer to the Better Health School Excursion Table* for a comprehensive list and updated information. Please contact the office if your child contracts any of these. Please refer to the Dept of Health for further information-https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion/school-exclusion-table

Wellbeing Supports

We promote many opportunities for families and students to be an active part of our local community and encourage parents to be a part of our extra-curricular activities. Our welfare team are available to support families in times of need as we have established partnerships with a number of services. We would love to meet you so see myself, Lily, Jeanette or Kristy for further information.

State School Relief-school uniforms including underwear and school shoes/runners.
Second hand uniform
Students can be referred to DET psychologist or speech therapist.
Strong Mind Psychology-Provisional Psychologist Jackie Stewen Wednesdays
Term 1 Preps-DET school nurse for general health checks including vision and hearing.
Student counselling-students can access counselling via a mental health care plan referral from a GP. Shine Bright Psychology-counselling service for students & clinical psychologist Simone Turner. Simone works at the school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
For approved students with NDIS or Allied Health Services-Speech Pathology and OT services can provide therapy at school.
Service-Uniting Family Wellbeing. Uniting offer families individual help for NDIS, linkage to other services, group based and individual support. The team are at school every Wednesday. Please contact the Wellbeing Team for a referral form and we will take you through the steps.
Eastern Health-Nutrition and Health support
School Chaplain-Jeanette Nortcliffe (Monday & Tuesdays)
Pre-COVID 19-Inspiro Dental Program
Pre-COVID 19-Shire of Yarra Ranges Head Lice Program-whole school screening once per term screened by the Shire nurse.

Programs-

Breakfast club (Monday & Tuesdays 8:15am onwards)
Free community pantry open Monday and Tuesdays.
Food hampers
Pre-COVID EACH/Inspiro Health Promotion programs
Parent Forums-Healthy Lunchboxes & strengthening families
Health & Gender programs including:
3/4 Body Education
5/6 Sexuality Program
Social skills programs to small groups
Activities at lunchtimes-LEGO Club, Craft Club & Hairstyle Club
Holiday camps for students
Gift a bike program-Lions Club

Service Supports & Agencies

There are many organisations across Yarra Ranges offering support and assistance. For community relief and support agencies, click on the link at-

https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Community/Health-and-Wellbeing/Community-relief-and-support-agencies

For people looking for food relief, CIRE at the Yarra Junction hub, have food parcels and they have free bread on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Yarra Junction hub is open food relief and they are a Centrelink Access Point. This service can be accessed by appointment where the school Welfare Team can refer families. If you are interested or know of any one you would like to recommend please speak to the Wellbeing Team. You can find CIRE Yarra Junction Hub next to the Yarra Junction Post Office and they are open Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm.

FoodWorks

Proudly sponsoring Woori Yallock Primary School