Principal's Message

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

There has been recent media reporting of widespread staff and student absences due to Covid – 19 and Influenza. Whilst we have had our own challenges at PSC, some schools have been severely affected with many staff and students absent.

It is timely that I remind families about the changes to the provision of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in our school for the remainder of Term 2. RATs will continue to be distributed to the students, as they have been throughout this school year, for the remainder of this term. However, from Monday 23 May 2022, staff and students will no longer be recommended to undertake twice weekly RATs on a Monday and Wednesday morning. From this date it is recommended RATs are used by students and staff when symptomatic.

If you display symptoms, then testing is required. RATs are also required to be used if a student or staff member is a close/household contact of a confirmed case and they are attending or working at a school. In both cases, 5 negative tests over a 7-day period is required.

The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.

Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts. Please see some details below:

If students receive a positive test result at any time, they must report this through the Department of Health system (Rapid antigen tests | Coronavirus Victoria) or via the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398. Students (or their parents) must also report a positive result to their school, either through the COVID Test portal or by phone or written notification; this is so the school can record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation, provide support and learning materials as needed, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms.

Students and staff who tested positive and completed their 7-day isolation period are not required to participate in the RAT screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. In addition, if a staff member or student has recovered from COVID-19, they are not required to get tested or isolate/quarantine if re-exposed to a case within 12 weeks of ending their isolation period.

Vaccination remains the best way to protect students and staff in school settings and your ongoing support in encouraging children aged 5 to 11 to get vaccinated and for 12–18 year-olds to get their third dose remains critical. The use of air purifiers and open windows/doors also continues to be an important step in ensuring the safety of our schools.

Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the coronavirus website. If you have any questions about the vaccines, I encourage you to speak to your GP or a health practitioner. Please see the Compass post issued last week outlining where Covid – 19 Vaccinations can be accessed. Furthermore, please seek medical advice on the suitability of the Influenza Vaccination that you may be able to access for your family.

Our College Community needs to continue to be vigilant in the face of Covid – 19 and Influenza and we thank families for your ongoing support.

Student Free Days, Term Two

We have two Student Free Days pending:

Professional Practice Day, Wednesday 1 6 22
Report Writing Day, Friday 10 6 22

The Department of Education and Training (DET) have approved a Professional Practice Day to be held in Term 2 for all staff state-wide. Pakenham SC will hold this day on Wednesday 1st of June, and students will not be required at school. This is a day set aside for teachers to have a common planning day working on, and further developing, curriculum.

The Report Writing Day on Friday 10th of June will allow teaching staff to develop and finalise student reports.

‘Be An Active Learner’

As reported in recent times, there has been a significant focus with our students across all year levels this term on Being An Active Learner.

In the last few weeks we have been concentrating on areas such as actively participating in class discussion, completing work to the best of your ability and being punctual and preparing well for lessons.

Our focus will soon turn to the importance of attendance, understanding that there is a clear link between attendance and further improving student outcomes. We thank families for their support in working with us to achieve strong levels of student attendance.

Part of our recognition of students will be to use the Green Chronicles on Compass, together with students who are recognised going into a draw to receive special prizes.

Curriculum Structure, 2023

Our work continues in discussing and considering what our Curriculum Structure for 2023 and beyond may be. The Senior School Certificate Reform has prompted us to review what we are doing to best support students at the senior end of the College. Furthermore, we also continuing our discussions with respect to what changes we might make from Year 7 to 10 inclusive for our students.

Student Focus Group feedback has been captured and if parents and carers would like to know more and / or provide some input on this important discussion, please contact the General Office (5945 1433).

Student Programs

We are very pleased to see our co-curricular program coming back to life in recent times. We have so many opportunities for our students to connect with, ranging from excursions to junior, intermediate and senior interschool sport.

The Year 7 Camp week is coming up (6 – 10 6 22), there are a range of other excursions and sporting opportunities for students to access, and the Victorian State School Spectacular Rehearsals for 2022 continue in earnest. Students are also encouraged to access the many lunch time clubs currently being offered across the school.

Also, we have the PSC Breakfast Club starting up on Tuesday 7 6 22 and thereafter every Tuesday and Thursday morning until the end of term. The PSC Breakfast Club will operate out of our Food Technology Department and all students are invited to attend from 8.15am.

We thank our staff for making all of these wonderful opportunities available to our students.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (or CSEF)

The Department of Education and Training (or DET) have the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (or CSEF) for eligible families to use in order to support their children access co-curricular activities.

Further information about the CSEF can be found at:

https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

Importantly, the General Office can be contacted on 5945 1433 to learn more about how eligible families can access the Fund.

In closing, we are very much moving towards the business end of the term with students expected to complete and submit assessments leading into our Report Writing Day (10 6 22). All students are encouraged to work as hard as they can to complete and submit all of their assessments across their various subjects. We wish our senior students all the very best as they move into the Exam Period commencing Friday 3 6 22.

Please continue to visit Compass on a regular basis for updates from the College, and please visit our social media platforms in Facebook and Instagram to catch up on what is happening around the College,

Regards

Aaron Smith

Acting College Principal – Pakenham Secondary College