Message from Principal Sarah

Welcome Back to Onsite Learning

Last week saw the return of all cohort levels to full-time onsite learning. Well done to all our students who have transitioned back to school calmly and positively. It has been fantastic to see everyone back at school.

We would once again like to thank all families who have assisted us throughout the year during the periods of remote learning and in the transition back to onsite learning. We hope we can see the year out at school, without any further disruptions to our learning. 

In saying this, we must be mindful that with the number of positive cases in the community, we may face further challenges ahead.  Being sensible about responding to symptoms will play a part in keeping classes operating onsite.  Therefore, we ask that if students are displaying any signs of illness that could be COVID related, please stay home, get tested and join us again when cleared.

Vaccination Requirements for Parents and Carers Attending Schools

As shared on Compass yesterday, the Department of Education has updated advice around the vaccination requirements for parents and carers attending schools. 

All parents and carers attending schools, including for drop off and pick up must adhere to physical distancing, density limits, face mask requirements and practice respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene. 

Parents and carers who enter school buildings must check in using the QR codes available around the school.

Parents and carers who enter school buildings must also have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and must have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine by 29th November 2021 or have a valid medical exception.

Parents and carers attending any event or activity inside a school building including but not limited to tours, graduations, kindergarten transition, whole of school events are required to show evidence of vaccination. Meetings and other discussions with parents and carers who do not meet vaccination requirements will be held virtually. 

Parents and carers attending school sites for drop off and pick up who do not enter school buildings do not need to comply with vaccination requirements.

Vaccination Requirements for Visitors and Volunteers 

Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both indoors and outdoors) must have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and must have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine by 29 November 2021 or have a valid medication exception. Visitors and volunteers are asked to adhere to our COVID Safety requirements.

Rapid Antigen Testing

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 statewide 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 statewide 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.

School Review – Community Forum

As shared on Compass last week, NMPS is undertaking a comprehensive School Review to reflect on the goals and targets set in the schools four year Strategic Plan. The purpose of the review is to celebrate the successes and achievements of our school and to identify areas for future development.

As part of the review process, schools consult with key stakeholders including students, staff, parents and carers. 

We would like to invite you to be part of our review. 

Please come along to our virtual community forum to engage in how the school has performed over the life of the School Strategic Plan and provide an opportunity for input into our future direction.

When: Tuesday 16th November; 5:30pm

Platform: WebEx link (to be shared closer to the date)

RSVP: Please send an email to: north.melbourne.ps@education.vic.gov.au to indicate your interest

2022 Prep Transition Program

This week sees the beginning of our 2022 Prep Transition Program. On Monday night our Prep team ran the first Story Time session via WebEx with 28 excited 2022 prep students. This Wednesday we are running our 2022 Prep Information Night via WebEx, followed by our first transition morning on Friday 12th November. We very much look forward to welcoming all 2022 preps to school on Friday morning.

Other School Events

With the easing of restrictions we can now confirm a number of other school events that will go ahead, aligned with our COVIDSafe plan:

• School Photos – Friday 12th November
• Swimming program – P-2 program begins Monday 22nd November
• Year 3 Camp to Forest Edge – week 8
• Year 6 End of Year Events

More information about these events has been, or will be, shared on Compass as the term progresses.

New Campus Update

This week we would like to share some information about the flexible design of our new campus and the opportunities for building community.

The campus is designed to support current teaching and learning approaches and to adapt to meet changing needs. All indoor and outdoor spaces are multipurpose. This will help us meet the varying student learning styles, abilities, interests, and personality types.

Flexible features

• The performance zone has a music room that can turn into a stage. Simply open the retractable walls to reveal a space with tiered seating.  Things like performances, meetings, and presentations will work well here
• We are building a landscaped outdoor space on the gymnasium rooftop next to level 1. It has a kitchen garden and is near the canteen. Some possible uses are outdoor learning, physical education, and active and age-group-based outdoor play
• Learning commons can host activities such as group meetings, storytime, and social interaction. Or if you’re looking for a space for quiet reflection, reading or small group activities, check out the breakout spaces. You’ll find all of these on levels 2, 3, and 4
• Spaces off the staircase on each level (welcome landings) perform many roles. Here students gather before and after class, view work displays, access their bag storage, and pass through to get to other places

Building Community

The new campus is located 350 metres from North Melbourne Primary School. Its unique, triangular site is bordered by Molesworth Street, Hardwicke Street, and a proposed tree-lined laneway along the southern boundary.

We are creating six entrances into the campus. This will help connect the campus with surrounding housing and the neighbourhood. We are building an undercover space on the campus’s Molesworth Street corner. It’s designed for the community to connect when dropping off or collecting students.

Our team will be planting over 80 trees and 3000 plants on the campus grounds. This will give children plenty of shade and enrich the environment.

The front wall of the campus on Molesworth Street will be made from the glazing, (a glazed curtain wall system), with integrated sun shading elements so the campus will get excellent natural light for learning. We are making the south and west facades from patterned brickwork and concrete panels with sculptural patterning and glazing inserts. 

There will be lots of spaces for the school community to come together for performances, assemblies, and events, both indoors and out. The gymnasium and ground-level outdoor play space have been designed to enable community use. This will be subject to school policy.