RETURN TO SCHOOL NEW PRACTICES

I want to reassure parents that staff are being very diligent in ensuring students follow enhanced hygiene practices when entering the classroom, before eating or sharing of resources. We have two additional cleaners (funded by the Department) from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm cleaning high touch areas on a daily basis. To minimise cross contamination students play in separate areas, Preps on the terrace, Year ones in the courtyard and Year 2-6 on the netball courts. I am really impressed with how parents have embraced the different entry and exit points to the school and personally, I have enjoyed greeting the students and parents at the gate in the mornings and at the end of the day. The teachers have commented that ‘kiss and go at the gate’ has had a huge impact on the way students are settling in the mornings. The most notable difference is the increase of independence skills. For example, students are putting their own bikes or scooters in the bike shed without any assistance, they are carrying their own school bags and following early morning class routines independently. It has never been more settled. I can't ignore the impact this is having. This is really challenging my own beliefs of what a school should look like in the morning. Having never seen the morning from this point of view, I've always backed the idea that parents walking into the rooms is great for teacher and parent relationships. But is it the best thing for student independence, learning and development?

The last thing I want is to let go of our sense of community and strong social connections. If we decide to continue with this start to the day, we need to think differently about how we build community. There are things that will never change:

• parents at assembly

• parent helpers in the classroom

• parents at camps and excursions

• parents entering the grounds at the end of the day

Parents can easily call or email teachers with important messages for the day, but we need a plan for the end of the day. Here are a couple of ideas:

Teachers all come out at the end of the day to talk with parents in the yard.
The classrooms are open for the last five minutes of the day for parents to come in and see what has been happening for the day. This will help with the 'what have you been doing today' conversations and building the parent and teacher relationships.
Parents organise class coffee mornings to welcome and catch up with other parents.

I'm just putting this out there for comment and discussion. I want to stress; no decisions or formal plans have been made. I look forward to your opinions.

NEW INTERACTIVE SMART BOARDS

I am pleased to report that we have installed five new interactive SMART Boards into the classrooms. We have leased four of these boards and purchased one with funds we received from the Local Schools Community Fund ($10,000). We are very grateful to Josh Burns MP Federal Member for Macnamara for assisting us with this grant. The SMART Boards are an instructional tool that enable rich learning experiences for all students.

COMMUNITY GRANTS HUB-FAMILIES & FRIENDS-$1000

Yen Yvong, parent of Jacob (Prep) & Ethan (Year 2/3) successfully submitted a grant submission on behalf of Families & Friends for the purchase of a portable BBQ. Thank you so much Yen, we truly appreciate your support for the school.

SCHOOL PRIDE & SPORTS FUND-$16,000

We have received funds from our Minister of Education to install reversible basketball rings, post paddings, line marking and basketballs. I am pleased to report to our school community that this project is now completed. The students were very excited to return to school to see the new rings on the netball courts. We now have a set of netball rings that we no longer require, if anyone is interested in purchasing a set of netball rings please contact the office.

SHELTER IN PLACE DRILL – THURSDAY JUNE 25

Next Thursday we will be having a ‘shelter in place’ drill, the teachers will discuss the drill with students beforehand and explain how to practice. Teachers will present it as one of the several kinds of drills that we practice. They will be matter of fact about it and will speak in developmentally appropriate terms.

EARLY DISMISSAL- END OF TERM

Parents are reminded that students will be dismissed at 2:30 pm on Friday June 26.

ROSEMARY COSENTINO

Next newsletter Thursday 23 July

Next newsletter
Thursday 23 July