THIS YEAR

2020 was a year like no other. (Yes overused but true)

Reflecting with staff on the first day of this term- did we survive or did we thrive in 2020? Why? Teachers are not bullet proof and at times we were surviving but other times thriving, perhaps similar to your own family situation?

We agreed as a staff that the pandemic gave us permission to do things differently - Carols, parent teacher interviews via WebEx, collaborative planning, videoing our teaching practice, graduation, book week parade on the oval, live assemblies and so on.

I am confident that our school can weather storms that challenge us as 2020 did. I feel proud of our students and staff and importantly the role our parents played in remote learning and the return to school.

We begin this year with high expectations for our students’ learning and how they work and play together. The aim is for happy, resilient, healthy, active learners.

With the easing of restrictions, we are now able to offer many of the extra-curricular programs that is a strength of Rangeview. There are additional support programs led by the Teacher Tutors. This initiative has been partially funded by DET and partially by the school.

COVID UP DATES

I will continue to email families the updates from the Department of Education and Training (DET) in relation to the COVID 19. I encourage all families to be checking their emails sent via Sentral. The Rangeview Facebook page is another means of communication.

STUDENTS RETURNING

It was great to see students and families return to start the 2021 school year. This year we welcome 93 new Foundation students and 9 students from Level 1-6 to the school.

Staff returned to work on Wednesday, 27th January. We warmly welcome returning staff and new staff starting at Rangeview. We are currently updating the Meet the Teachers page with our 2021 teams on our school website.

PUPIL FREE DAYS

We will be using another pupil free day in term 1 on Wednesday, 17th March. Mathematics consultant, Alex Box will be working with teaching staff on aspects of the mathematical understandings. This is a follow up session to the work started last year while in remote learning.

Pupil free days are spread throughout the year, targeting different aspects of professional learning. The leadership team returned on Friday 22nd January to look at the 2021 directions in teaching and learning reflected in the School Strategic Plan and the draft AIP (Annual Implementation Plan).

The first pupil free day was Wednesday, 27th January which allowed for 2020 reflection, AIP time, student well-being, start up processes in schools and team meetings, and classroom preparation for the start of the term. It was an invaluable learning time together and also allowed a smooth transition for new and returning students over Thursday and Friday.

STUDENT LEADERS

At the first Monday assembly, the 2021 School Captains, Luke and Elise led their first school assembly. The 2021 student leaders were also presented with their badges. Grades and our school community viewed the assembly by WebEx and invited parents were able to see the badges presentation in person.

Student leaders will meet as a team regularly to develop a greater understanding of the role and set their own personal goals. There will be further opportunities for other grade 6 students to lead, such as the eagerly awaited Foundation Buddies or on the sporting field as we look at educating the whole child.

FOUNDATION 2021

Welcome to our foundation students who started their first day last Friday. It was a very rainy day but that did not dampen the spirits of our youngest members of the school.

Our ‘Cheers & Tears’ morning tea for Foundation parents and grandparents had to be cancelled because of COVID. However, most importantly family members were able to come into their child’s class and meet the teacher.

Congratulations to all of the parents as your child reaches another milestone- starting school. And there were more cheers than tears from the parents on Friday to celebrate the start of the year and the years ahead as members of our school community.

Reminder: Due to individual testing, Foundation students don’t attend school on the following dates: Wednesday 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th February & Wednesday 3rd, 10th March & 17th March (Pupil Free Day).

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS:

The ‘Getting to Know You Interviews’ will be held on Tuesday, 9th February from 3.40 to 8.00pm (final interview time 7.50 pm) with a 30 minute dinner break. Thursday, 13th February from 3.40 to 5.00 pm.

Families are required to book interviews online through the schools’ online system, Sentral. Information will be sent home with times and access information. New families to Rangeview will receive their unique access number to log onto the Sentral Parent Portal. ‘Getting to Know You Interviews’ are valued by parents, students and teachers. If you do not have Internet access at home, please ring the school office on 9874 6381 for alternative arrangements to be made.

Foundation Families - Please note: there will be no Foundation interviews due to the interviews undertaken at the beginning of the term.

CAR PARKING

Please be aware of the various parking restrictions and drop off zones around the school. The local council do enforce restrictions with infringement notices. The 5 minute drop off zone does not allow you to walk your child into the school please do not leave your car parked in this zone, it can cause traffic congestion.

The school car park off Churinga Ave, is for staff only, except for OSHClub usage before 8am and after 4pm. The boom gate has been installed for traffic management and as a safety measure as children and cars don’t mix.

CLASS AMBASSADORS

If you are interested in supporting your child’s classroom teacher, please complete the online form in the Parents & Friends page of this newsletter by Friday, 19th February 2020. The first class ambassadors meeting will be held later in February.

NUDE FOOD

There has been a collective effort to reduce the litter in our school yard and it is working because students are eating inside and only permitted to take nude food outside. There are grey plastic food bins for lunch boxes near classroom doors for the students who need more time to eat. How do we use our big rubbish bins if we don't need them for litter- our next dilemma?

School Council Elections - Notice of Elections and Call for Nominations 2021- 2022

Call for Nominations: Friday 12th February 2021
Closing date for Nominations: Friday 19th February 2020.

I am announcing the annual elections for our School Council. School council members are elected (or co-opted in the case of community members) for a two year term. Usually half the membership expires each year creating vacancies for the annual school council election. We have 6 Parent vacancies and 2 DET employee vacancies.

Process:

1. The principal arranges and conducts the election. The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations for parent and Department employee members in February or early March. The notice will include a nomination form or way to reply and the date to submit the nomination. The election process must be completed by the end of March.

2. Return the nomination form to the principal through the office within the time frame stated on the notice of election. Those who nominate will receive a receipt. Ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do.

3. If there are more nominations than there are vacant positions on council, a ballot (vote) will be conducted after the call for nominations has closed.

4. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you or you can nominate yourself in the appropriate category.

5. Forms are available at the office or can be emailed to you via the office.

Chess