Welcome back to our existing families and welcome to our new families. Our gardener Mr Hughes has worked hard over the holiday break to get our gardens looking beautiful. I think you will agree from the photo above that the roses are looking splendid.

School Survey

Part of our reporting process required by the Department of Education is to survey parents/guardians using the National School Opinion Survey (NSOS) at least every two years. Our parent survey will close next Friday 23rd October 2020. Thank you to the 51 families who have already responded. I urge parents/carers who are yet to respond to do so as soon as possible. A reminder email will be sent with a link to the survey this week. Any queries or assistance needed can be obtained by contacting Mrs Scaramella at Reception.

The last time we did our parent survey, in 2018, we had 147 responses. The Board is keen to increase our response rate to 200. The information gained from this survey helps in future planning.

COVID-19 update

We have commenced Term 4 with our current processes as we are still in Phase 4 for at least another week. These processes include staff greeting/farewelling students at the current gates. Parents/carers are still able to come into classrooms after school without an appointment and open classes will continue each fortnight. Access during the day is still through the Crosswalk gate and the Main gate. Our increased cleaning will continue in Term 4 with cleaners at school during the day.

Once we are informed by the Department of Education on which COVID-19 phase we will be operating under in the coming weeks, we will be able to clarify any changes to our current school processes.

One change we will be putting in place for next week only will be Burrendah PS students meeting their high school siblings at a gate from 2:50pm. This will be a trial from Tuesday 20th October to Friday 23rd October.

Students with siblings will continue to meet their family at a gate at 2:50pm. Students with no siblings will leave school as usual at 3:00pm.

Evacuation

Each year we are required to complete a school evacuation. This year we will have the whole school practice evacuation to our oval. This will take place on Thursday 29th October just before noon. The evacuation will commence with 2 short bursts of the siren followed by 1 long burst. Any parents/carers or visitors in the school at this time will need to accompany staff and students to the oval.

Class Placement Policy

The School Board is currently updating our Class Placement Policy. Following our Board Meeting in Week 4, I will send out through Connect, a copy of this policy. Parent/Carer input for 2021 class placements will be called for at the same time.

Staffing update

Congratulations to Miss Chung who was married in the October holidays. Miss Chung will continue to use her current name. Thank you to Mrs Watters who taught full time in Year 5, Room 7 in the last few weeks of Term 3. Mrs Watters returns to her Thursday and Friday teaching with Miss Chung teaching this class the first three days of the week for Term 4. (Miss Chung will continue to teach later in the week in Room 25).

Mrs Crouch will be on long service leave each Tuesday. Mrs Jacob will teach Science in the Science room on this day. Mrs McGrath will be on long service leave each Friday with Ms Turner taking the Kindergarten class.

Ms Turvey has had a baby boy. His name is Hunter. Mother and baby are doing really well.

Term planners

Year level term planners will be loaded onto Connect tomorrow. The planners show what content is planned to be taught this term and what is revision. These planners are developed with the input of all teachers of the year level to provide consistency between like year level classrooms.

Chaplain's Corner

Louise Lathbury