Messages

Live Love Learn

Dear Families,

We are writing in regard to a slight change that has been made to the Google Hangout TImetable occurring next week. Due to positive feedback from parents and teachers regarding the second Optional Whole Class Google Hangout that occurred this week, we have decided to add it to our Google Hangout Timetable for next week as well.

Everything that was communicated regarding the Google Hangout Timetable yesterday (attached), will still occur next week. We will still have a Whole Class Google Hangout in the morning for each class and we will still have a small English Focus Group for select students and a small Mathematics Focus Group for select students each day. In addition to this, we have decided to also include an Optional Google Hangout for students on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Google Hangout Timetable that will occur next week has been outlined below for Prep-Year 2 students and Year 3-6 students.

Google Hangouts for Prep-Year 2 to occur on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday:

9am - Whole Class Google Hangout

During this hangout, teachers will complete the roll, check in with students and explain the tasks for the day.

9.30am (or straight after the Whole Class Google Hangout) - English Focus Group

Please note that students will be notified by the classroom teacher about which day of the week their allocated English Focus group will occur.

12noon - Optional Google Hangout *This is the new addition to our timetable but continued from this week*

This optional session has been added for students who would like to attend, have a question or need clarification on the set learning tasks.

12.30pm (or straight after the Optional Google Hangout) - Mathematics Focus Group

Please note that students will be notified by the classroom teacher about which day of the week their allocated Mathematics Focus group will occur.

Google Hangouts for Year 3-6 to occur on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday:

10am - Whole Class Google Hangout

During this Google Hangout, teachers will complete the roll, check in with students and explain the tasks for the day.

10.30am (Or straight after the Whole Class Google Hangout) - English Focus Group

Please note that students will be notified by the classroom teacher about which day of the week their allocated English Focus group will occur.

1pm - Optional Google Hangout *This is the new addition to our timetable but continued from this week*

This optional Google Hangout has been added for students who want to attend, have a question or need clarification on the set learning tasks.

1:30pm (Or straight after the Optional Google Hangout) - Mathematics Focus Group

Please note that students will be notified by the classroom teacher about which day of the week their allocated Mathematics Focus group will occur.

Please note that other additional hangouts have been organised for some students by our Learning Diversity Leader, Jane Ferris.

Links to the morning Whole Class Google Hangout and the Optional Whole Class Google Hangout will be posted each morning on Dojo (Prep-Year 5) or Google Classroom (Year 6).

Links to the relevant English and Mathematics Focus groups will be shared by the classroom teacher.

We thank you for your continued support during this period of Remote Learning.

We hope you all have a safe and happy weekend and we look forward to seeing our students for Remote Learning on Monday 7th June.

Please see the attachment below that was sent home yesterday with adjusted times listed above.

Extension of Lockdown 4.0 and Changes to Remote Learning.pdf

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be rescheduled to early in Term Three.

At this stage we are waiting to hear of future Government restrictions and directions to know if these conferences will be onsite or online.

2020 Annual Report

In 2020, my role as Principal was full of rewards and challenges. Normal school life was interrupted by COVID-19. The dedicated staff at Galilee, myself included, found ourselves managing and navigating a new landscape in education. We were faced with the first pandemic in living memory, the ever-changing government directives, the first Melbourne extended school closure and a community who had been physically separated dealing with the challenges of home-schooling, job security and strict lockdown restrictions. Throughout the very turbulent 2020 school year, student learning and wellbeing remained our top priority. I am extremely proud of the care, professionalism and flexibility all staff showed towards our students and school community throughout 2020.

I worked in collaboration with the individual leaders in all areas, encompassing all aspects of home-schooling; including the needs of different students, staff members, families and year levels. I managed this by ensuring that our team at Galilee were kept up to date with information through daily Google Hangouts and that our support staff were in regular contact with students and families who needed extra support during this time. Just like all staff members at Galilee, I had to pivot in my role as Principal in 2020, managing the legalities of onsite operations, keeping abreast of government and education system directives, organising onsite student and staff limitations, communicating to our community and keeping them up to date with the latest information, whilst being ever mindful of the wellbeing of my staff as they embraced and adapted to each challenge. We sought many ways to support and communicate with each other and our connections remained positive and supportive.

Thank you to both Deputies, Carlo Martello and Danielle Gerecke for their support and leadership throughout 2020 and to Wendy and Tegan who were vital links between staff and families.

Thank you to the School Education Board for their tremendous support led by Darren Catherall as Chair and Athena Romic as Secretary. Their hard work, flexibility, expertise and support was greatly appreciated.

Thank you to the efforts of the Galilee Parents Association, led by Anastasia Kritikos and the Parent Reps who planned many events that could not proceed.

I would like to acknowledge and thank our Parish Priests, Father Hugh Brown and Father John Spiteri, for their ongoing support and for assisting with the changes that were made as the change of governance moved towards the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools.

For all its challenges, 2020 was a year where we embraced changes and developed our capacity to be resilient and flexible.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered adversity throughout 2020.

Click on the link below for the full 2020 Annual Report to the School Community also located on our school website:

2020 Annual Report to School Community.pdf

Wellbeing

How can I support my child during lockdown?

Talk with them about what’s going on, keeping communication as open as you can. Let them know that it’s okay to feel however they feel – whether that’s scared, worried, angry, sad or something else. You can find our tips on starting a conversation with your child here.

Try to answer your child's questions and reassure them in an age-appropriate manner. While you don’t need to know all the answers, talking things through can help them feel calmer.

Encourage your child to do the things that help them when they’re finding things difficult. This will be different for everyone – it could include things like doing exercise or going for a walk, watching a favourite film, reading a favourite book, cooking or baking, talking to friends, or drawing or writing.

Reassure them this will pass, you’re there for them, and you will get through this together. Having returned to some of their normal activities over the summer, going back into stricter measures might feel frustrating for your child. They may even be worried that things will never get better. Recognise how difficult this is, while also letting them know that the pandemic will not last forever.

Spend time doing a positive activity together. This can help them to feel calmer by giving them a short break from everything that’s going on. It’s also a great way of providing a space for them to talk through their concerns, without having a ‘big chat’. You can have a look at our activity ideas for younger children, and for teenagers, to help you.

Keep as many regular routines going as possible to help your child feel safe and secure. This can include things like having regular times for going to bed, waking up, eating meals and doing hobbies.