Principal's Report

Dear Families,

COVID UPDATE

This week we will welcome our Grade 1 students and staff back from their quarantine period. It will be lovely to have them here. Over the past two weeks we have had two Grade 1 students who tested positive and were at school during their infectious period, hence the need for quarantine. We have also had two Grade 2 students who tested positive however, they were not at school during their infectious period. Thank you everyone for your cooperation and patience over this time. With the introduction of the Rapid Antigen Testing Program from Monday 15th, the interruption to schooling may not be so prolonged. 

MASKS

If your child is in Grade 3-6, they are required to wear a mask every day. Please ensure that they have at least one spare mask in their bag. We have had several children who have forgotten them each day or damage them and require a new one. Our supplies are very quickly diminishing. 

CRAZY COLOUR WEEK

Next week students will need two white t-shirts, one for the Colour Run and one to tie dye. They can be purchased at K-Mart or Big W for under $5. 

Monday students will spend time designing their tie-dye t-shirt which they will then create on Wednesday. On Friday they will be able to wear these wonderful creations to school. 

Tuesday we will have the Colour Fun. Unfortunately, at this stage parents are not permitted onsite. Students are to wear their normal school uniform to school and then change into their white t-shirts and alternative shorts. This will ensure that they have clean clothes to put back on as after the run as they will be covered in coloured powder which is not great for bus or car travel. Families have been doing a fantastic job in supporting this event. Our school will benefit for years to come with the books that the children will be able to purchase. 

COLOUR RUN PRIZE ORDERING

Just a reminder that the prize ordering window will open this Friday 12th November and closes on the 17th. This is to ensure that prizes arrive before the end of the year. 

STAFFING

Last Friday was Shareena Pearce's last day assisting us in the Office. We have been very grateful for her flexibility and skills. Congratulations to Bree Giles who has been appointed to the Short Term Assisted Vacancy until the end of the year. As you can imagine, with Jenny on sick leave, we have had big shoes to fill. Bree will be working Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We are very thankful to have someone with her expertise and knowledge of the school  in the Office. 

SUPPORT FOR YOUR KIDS TO GET ACTIVE

Does your child love sport and being active? Does your family have a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card? You may be eligible for up to $200 to put towards the cost of your child’s participation in physical activities.

As children return to sport over the coming months, the Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation activities.

Under the program, children may be eligible to receive up to $200 to help with the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms, and equipment.

The program also provides a special consideration stream to support children residing in care services as well as temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants or international students.

Applications for vouchers in round three of the program close at 5pm Tuesday 30 November. For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit the Get Active Victoria website. 

THE THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION (TGA) APPROVED THE USE OF RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING FOR HOME USE FROM MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER

The Department of Education and Training is currently working with the Department of Health to roll-out a state-wide program for any new COVID-19 exposures on school sites from Monday 15 November. This program will help unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students to return to school as quickly as possible after being identified as a primary close contact (PCC) after a seven-day quarantine, instead of a 14-day quarantine.

We will have more information for parents and carers ahead of the state-wide roll-out, including factsheets, web copy, video content and other materials to assist with the program.

HOW THE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING PROGRAM WILL WORK

The at-home rapid antigen testing program is an opt-in program for unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, students. Our school will provide you with rapid antigen test kits. You do not need to buy these test kits.

Following an exposure at our school, you will be notified that your child (who is unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated) has been identified as primary close contact (PCC) of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

If you want to take part in the at-home rapid antigen testing program, your child must quarantine at home for seven days. On day six of quarantine, your child must get a standard (PCR) test at your local COVID-19 testing site. If the test is negative, you must provide the results to your child’s school, and your child can then return to school on day eight.

Students will then be required to return a negative rapid antigen test result each morning from days eight to 14 on school days, which must be reported to the school by 8:30am before they arrive at school.

Parents should continue to follow current school policy and public health advice. If your child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home and get tested for COVID-19 with a standard (PCR) test, regardless of a negative rapid antigen test result.

Our school will communicate with you as soon as we are aware that we have a confirmed COVID-19 case, including with instructions on how to conduct these tests, how to report the results, and support available if needed.

This pilot, and later state-wide roll-out of rapid antigen testing is one of many strategies currently in place to support schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information about what strategies are in place, please visit the department's website or call the department’s COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663.

How exciting that camp is going ahead. Students from Grade 3-6  will attend Camp Toolangi from Wednesday 24th-26th November. The camp is a Yarra Valley school camp set on 12 acres of natural bushland adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. The purpose-built camp can accommodate up to 147 people and is fully accredited with the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program of Victoria. 

The list of activities we could choose from included: 

Instructor Lead Activities: 

• Flying Fox – Our 160 metre long and 5-metre-high zip line is sure to excite all ages.
• High Ropes – Our ropes course offers both a 5 metre and 13-metre-high section to really challenge your comfort zone. Race your friends up our play pen or take your time and enjoy the view.
• Possum Glider – Work as a team to haul your friends and family to fly through the air on our 14-metre-high possum glider.
• Mountain Biking – Take a ride through the Toolangi State Forest and experience the local environment while getting your heart rate pumping.

Group Leader Activities Include

• Low Ropes – The ultimate test of balance; our low ropes course is a great team building activity.
• Initiatives – Challenge your group’s problem solving and teamwork skills by completing our initiative activities of varying difficulty.
• Bush Hut Building – Get creative and work in teams to create a shelter that can withstand Mother Nature. Using materials, you find in the bush; this is a great activity for thinking outside the square and working in small groups.
• Obstacle Course – Challenge the clock and yourself and be named master of our obstacle course. Consisting of 11 obstacles of varying difficulty.
• Damper Making – Learn the art of bush cooking with our tasty damper recipe. Experience cooking on an open fire and enjoy creating food from scratch.
• Orienteering – Get back to basics and learn the skills of orienteering and map reading. Use a compass to navigate your way and crack the camp code.
• Blind Fold Walk – The ultimate test of trust and teamwork. Our blind fold walk has participants working in pairs to complete our bush track. Communication is the key to completing this activity.

ASSESSMENT

Currently teachers are collecting and administering a range of assessment tasks for the students. This data will then be used to inform teaching and the report writing process. Reports will go out in the last week of Term. 

TERM DATES

Please note the last day of school for 2021 is Thursday 16th December. It has been a few years since we have had so many days off before Christmas. 

CHOOKS

Sadly, over the weekend the door to the hen house was left open and we lost all our lovely chooks. Thank you to the families who notified me of this and Joshua Hodgkisson who disposed of the remains. Whilst we welcome people using our school grounds out of hours, we do ask that they show respect for our school property. We plan to replace the chooks early in 2022 when we are back onsite to care for them. 

FLAGS

Thank you to Josh Atkinson for arranging new Aboriginal and Torres Straight islander flags. They looked fantastic at our Remembrance Day ceremony today.

Have a great weekend,

Regards Heather