Hi Parent/Carers,

I’m not sure if you are all feeling like I am, but that was one very long term…saying that, we achieved a lot! Thanks to each and everyone one of you for your participation in the trials and tribulations of remote learning! Thanks for your engagement in our Remote assemblies, the BNW radio including special segments. I know you all favoured the flash (and to be honest hilarious) Faith and Audrie, over my more highbrow, Words with Wendy and Education hour – no problems at all! I’m still licking my wounds. Thanks for your participation in Wellbeing Wednesdays, the IsOlympics, the Spring Steps and now this week’s Expert Week. We hope we managed to provide something for everyone to help educate and engage, supporting you and your child’s continued CONNECTION to our incredible school and the children’s learning.

As outlined in the morning announcements, our three priorities for next term will continue to be:

1. Mental health and wellbeing

2. Learning

3. Transitions

While week 1, term 4 continues to be remote learning for all our children, following this there are some varying changes:

Our F-2 teachers are getting VERY EXCITED about your children returning to onsite learning in week 2. The Family Forums will provide you with information about how we will be meeting your children’s needs. (Pease see attached)

BNW Term 4, 3-6 Roadmap

No doubt like us, you and your children were disappointed that our 3-6 students aren’t returning to onsite learning when the F-2 children are. After picking ourselves up again, we’ve been reflecting on how we can make further adjustments to our Remote Learning Program.

During these past 2 weeks, while refining our revised Roadmap, we’ve:

Had discussions and read feedback from individual families,
Had discussions at Education Committee and team meetings,
Critically, reflected on individual children’s engagement and their wellbeing, and
Listened to our outstanding JSC Representatives, Zelda, Jane and Antonio at School Council who gave the following advice for our next grade 3-6 teachers:
- Support us getting our work done each day,
- Change things up a little bit
- More check-ins,
- More help with structure and routines.

There are some changes included in the roadmap, the most significant that we are going to implement are the daily morning meetings. The Middle students will all meet with their grades at 9.15am and the Senior grades at 9.45am. This morning meeting will provide your children with the opportunity to prepare for their day of learning, while also supporting their transition back into school and the early morning routines. We understand that for some children, this may take a bit of an adjustment, as such week 1 will be time to practise and hopefully help support more ‘school like’ routines. While the Roadmap will be sent out to each grade, with their specific details, please find a generic one attached here.

For families who may require more technology to support this, please contact the Office directly and we’ll provide ipads.

During this week, I was fortunate to have listened to Dr Michael Carr-Greg’s webinar, while I’ve already shared some of his recommended apps, the webinar reminded me so much of the importance of our role in supporting your children. While it is always important to acknowledge your children’s worries, it is up to us to provide the ‘realistic optimism’ essential for all of us to cope with the current challenges. This concept and other very practical strategies were also discussed at this week’s Education Hour. We were very fortunate to have two local GPs, Dr Jenny and Dr Step joining us, discussing the link between Health and Education. Thanks to Tanya Pittard and Anthony Atkinson for facilitating this very rich discussion. If you’d like to listen to the podcast go here.

Some other supports: Raising Learners podcast

The Department of Education and Training has funded a 10-episode podcast series through the Raising Children Network called ‘Raising Learners’. It features parenting experts from organisations including the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Career Education Association Victoria, as well as the Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant.

Raising Learners provides parents with practical advice, tips and ideas for supporting children’s health, wellbeing and engagement at school and at home. Topics include how to connect with your child’s school and community, how to best support your child’s learning, what to expect for VCE and VCAL students and how to keep your child safe online.

These topics were drawn from common questions that parents raised with the Department’s coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline and Parentline.

The first three episodes will be available on 1 September, and the rest throughout terms 3 and 4. Raising Learners can be accessed via podcast apps and Raising Children Network website.

A big thank you!

Thanks to Deb Robins, Flora Nixon, Chris Moed and Jenny Wheatcroft for all of their hard work, creatively and excellence when developing the Expert week program! A special thank you to our passionate JSC students who also helped make this a success. I hope that you agree with me that this was the perfect way to end the term. This was made especially difficult after the huge success of the IsOlympics and Spring Steps! Thanks to Jack Madin, Tom Nelson and the CET team for all your hard work with these events. Again, what a community!

A fond fairwell!

It is Flora’s last day today. I’d like to take this opportunity to publically thank her for all that she has contributed this term. While many families I’m sure haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Flora, I’m confident that most of you have seen or heard of the impact that she has made during this term. I hope that the Assistant Principal role at Concord School provides her with the professional opportunities that she so desires. They are very lucky to be gaining someone with such integrity and intellect to lead them into the future. Thanks Flora! We will miss you!

I hope that you all have some down time over the next two weeks! Stay safe and know that we are all getting excited about the return of our F-2 students and fingers crossed, the return of our 3-6 once the medical advice deems it safe.

Take care,

Wendy

The Nor'Wester

Issue 27 · 18 Sep 2020

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