Messages

Dear Families,

In anticipation of the extended lockdown, we have been reviewing our remote learning model throughout this week. Each lockdown has been communicated at short notice and we are conscious of having a model that more closely replicates the daily routines of when students are at school.

Starting on Monday 16th August, the Remote Learning Program at Galilee is going to change.

For Galilee’s new Remote Learning Program, every student will need access to a device. Devices will be available for collection at the front office on Friday 13th August from 11am and 2 pm and on Monday 16th August between 9am and 2pm. If you need to make a time outside of this window to collect a device, please ring the front office so that it can be arranged. Student Resource Packs are also available for collection at the above times.

The change to Galilee’s Remote Learning Program is based on a need to: 

• Increase the ‘face-to-face’ teaching time that students are receiving during remote learning.
• Increase student access to teachers during remote learning.
• Focus more on the core subjects of Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
• Ensure continuity between onsite learning and remote learning programs.
• Establish a model that can be used at short notice for any potential future lockdowns.
• Ensure students are receiving a program where teachers support student learning in real time.

From Monday 16th August, classroom teachers at Galilee will:

• Facilitate daily Morning Google Meets with their students (prayer, roll, go over daily schedule and expectations).
• Explicitly teach students as a whole class and in small focus groups each day in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. There is flexibility with how the teacher structures their lesson and focus groups, as it depends on the content being taught, the learning needs of the students and the year level of the students. Our classroom teachers make their own professional judgements with this.
• Be available in a Google Meet for student support/questions between 9am - 12:50pm (except if teaching a focus group or during break times).
• Additional staff will be working online with each year level, supporting children in Reading, Writing and Maths.
• All Specialist teachers and Education Support will be fully utilised for online and onsite support.
• On Friday, the structure of the day will be different from the structure from Monday - Thursday:

1. Classroom Teachers will run a Friday Morning Google Meet and then students will independently complete Specialist Tasks for the day.
2. Specialist Teachers will provide instructional videos and lessons for P - 6 and be available via email to answer any questions on a Friday.
3. Students will need to complete and submit (via email) Specialist Tasks by Sunday at 6pm.

• Classroom teachers will be providing more live/verbal feedback during their extensive online sessions. Reduced written feedback will be required as a result of greater face-to-face time.pt if teaching a focus group or during break times).

We know that this model of Remote Learning will give students at Galilee greater access to their teacher and increased opportunities to learn the core subjects of Reading, Writing and Mathematics. We anticipate that there may be some issues around adjusting to this new structure and thank you for your patience as we navigate this new way of operating.  We look forward to seeing all students in all year levels at the 9.00am Google Meet on Monday 16th August.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work, flexibility and dedication of the Galilee Staff who have worked tirelessly this week to produce a revised model in the best interests of our students.

We wish you and your families every blessing as we enter into a further seven days of Lockdown.  We look forward to seeing the whole community on Friday 20th August when we are all hopefully able to return back to school.

For all details, please read the attachment below.

Wellbeing

Asking for help

By asking for help when you have problems that are too hard for you to solve on your own, you will protect your state of wellbeing. These types of problems don't go away on their own. Knowing the right people to ask for different problems is the most important thing in solving them. People who are always there for you include family, friends, teachers and counsellors. Act on problems immediately before they grow too big. 

Book Week - August 23-27 

Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds

Book Week 2021 is going to be lots of fun.

Dress up day Thursday 26th August. Come to school dressed up as your favourite book character. 

Competition Time 

Read all about it Galilee! 

For your chance to win you need to write and illustrate a book review on your favourite book.

Draw pictures, summarise your favourite parts and make it look eye-catching to your reader.

See the list below so you know what to include in your review. 

The competition is open to all year levels. 

All entries must include your full name and class name.

Prize: A book voucher for the Book Fair. 

Prize for junior and senior winners. 

How to enter: Entries to be submitted by email to:  galileebookreviewcompetition21@gmail.com. 

Please take a photo of your handwritten book review. 

We would absolutely love you to get a recording of yourself reading out your review - Think book reporter style! 

Try this: Use the TeleStory app and broadcast your review. It’s lots of fun. 

Send both in. We can’t wait to see them! 

Deadline: All entries must be submitted by Wednesday 25th August. 

Entries must be submitted to the 

email: 

galileebookreviewcompetition21@gmail.com

The Best Book Reviews Include: 

• The title, the authors and illustrators name.
• A rating.
• A strong summary - Include the theme, but don’t spoil the ending!
• A Personal Opinion - How do you feel about this book? Why? Your favourite part from the book.
• Evidence from the text - Give specific examples to support your opinion.
• A recommendation - Who else might like this book? Why?
• Strong Conventions - Double check your punctuation, capitalisation, paragraphs, and spelling!
• A recommendation - who else would enjoy the book and why?

Leave the reader wanting more!

Book Club Orders

Issue 6 of Scholastic Book Club is now live. Clickhere to view the catalogue.  Place your order via the Loop App before Wednesday 1st September.

Year 3 Letter Writing

Students in Year 3 have been working on using Formal Language in our writing and wrote letters to our Olympic Hero. This is Lola's:

Dear Ariarne Titmas,

My name is Lola from Galilee Primary School.

I am proud of your achievement. Congratulations on getting four medals in the Tokyo Olympic games. You are an inspiration to everyone in our country. You make me proud to be an Australian. Your achievement made me more confident in swimming and trying my best in everything. I hope one day I will represent Australia in the Olympic games. I am looking forward to seeing you win more Olympic medals in your swimming career.

Kind regards,

Lola 

COVID-19 Restrictions

As you would be aware we are operating under COVID-19 restrictions as directed by the Department of Health and Melbourne Archdioceses of Catholic Schools. Under the current restrictions we have had to cancel or postpone a number of events:

• Hoop Time has been postponed and will now take place in Term 4.
• Seeds and Sprouts Sessions have been cancelled until further notice.
• Our first 2022 Prep Transition Session has been cancelled.
• Assemblies will be live-streamed until further notice.
• Open Mornings have been cancelled until further notice.
• Winter Warmers have been cancelled until further notice.

Grandparent’s Day Mass

At this stage we are planning to go ahead with the Grandparent’s Day Mass on Friday, 20th August for students only if lockdown ends and restrictions will allow. Parents and Grandparents will be able watch the Mass using a live stream link that will be on the Parent Calendar. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we anticipate that Grandparents will not be able to come into our classrooms this year. On Friday 20th August, we would like to encourage Grandparents to collect students at the end of the day so that they can spend the afternoon together. We are sad that our usual Grandparent's Day Celebrations have been interrupted again this year. We hope to be able to welcome all of our Grandparent's at our 2022 Grandparent's Day.

Sacramental Dates 2021

Eucharist 

*First Eucharist at StsPP & OLMC - TBC when restrictions are lifted for greater numbers to attend churches.

Sacrament of Reconciliation  

OLMC - Wednesday 25th  August 7pm

Confirmation

StsPP and OLMC TBC when restrictions are lifted for greater numbers to attend churches.

A reminder to check the Parent Calendar (http://www.gsmelbournesth.catholic.edu.au/page/179/Calendar) often for important dates like our school closure day on Friday 27th August.

Best wishes,

Simon Millar (Principal)