Important Information

SENTRAL

This year will see a change to the way we provide permissions and payments for a range of areas from consent forms to fees to excursions and camps. We will run a parent seminar on 'how to' and provide as much detail as we possibly can to support parents in using this module and making the change from paper permissions to digital. 

PAYMENT OF SCHOOL ESSENTIAL ITEMS 

As we have moved to Sentral for all payments we are requesting that families use this as the preferred method for making School Essential Items & Voluntary Contribution payments. This will be available on Sentral by Wednesday 3rd February in both full and instalments. If you would like to discuss other payment options please get in contact with Reception. 

QKR

We will continue to use QKR for all uniform orders this year - if you haven't done so already please go in and update your students class and year level information as soon as possible. 

LUNCH ORDERS

Lunch orders will continue this year starting on Thursday 18th Feb. Please read through the consent form sheet that will go home Wednesday for more information.

Investigate, Create, Express Program

The Senior School is excited to begin the Investigate, Create, Express program starting on Friday the 19th of February and running from 2:30-3:30pm. 

Later this week parents/carers will receive our paperless permission form through Sentral, which will include all necessary information and outline the selection of activities available. Students will complete a Google Forms survey at school with their classroom teacher to select their top six preferences. 

Some of the activities will be free of charge and a handful will incur a small cost, so please make sure to discuss this with your child before they complete the selection process later this week. Student’s preferences will only be considered once permission by parents/carers has been given through Sentral. Activities are allocated by a ‘first in, first dressed’ basis therefore, students are not guaranteed their first preference. If you have any further questions feel free to contact Megan Campbell, Emily Richardson or Ally and Sue in the office. 

Annual Privacy Reminder

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website https://mtpleasantroadps.vic.edu.au/publications-%26-policies 

For more information about privacy, see: Schools’ Privacy Policy information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages.

Year 6 to 7 High School Transition 

Although the school year has only just commenced, it is important for parents and carers of current Year Six students to start considering their child’s High School placement for 2022. School Tours will again look different in Term 1. Parents can visit the High Schools website to find out more information about virtual tours and updated information regarding when onsite school tours may resume. I would also encourage current parents and carers of Year five students to start exploring their High School options for 2023. 

A more detailed transition timeline will be provided in the newsletter later in Term 1.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself.

Matt O'Hern

Acting Assistant Principal

SCHOOL BANKING ANNOUNCEMENT

From Term 1, 2021 the Victorian Government has ceased school banking programs in Victorian government schools. As a result, the CommBank School Banking program will no longer operate at our school after the end of this term. If you are unsure of other methods of depositing to your child’s account, please feel free to contact the Bank’s general enquiries hotline on 13 2221 or alternatively visit your local CommBank branch.

We would like to thank you for your participation and support throughout the School Banking program

COVID Safe Summer Measures at MPRPS&K 

Key behaviours required for reducing coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission risk include staying home when unwell, performing regular hand hygiene, and where possible pursuing strategies to support physical distancing. Face masks are recommended when 1.5 metres physical distancing cannot be maintained. 

Cleaning 

Additional cleaning arrangements will continue in Term 1. COVIDSafe routine cleaning will be in place, which involves daily end-of-school-day cleaning, with a particular focus on cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, and the inclusion of some elements that were not cleaned every day prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  

Face Masks 

As per the directions of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the following actions are required: 

• Face masks to be worn by individuals aged 12 years and older when on public transport and school buses – unless you have a lawful exemption.
• Individuals aged 12 years and older must always carry a face mask.
• Face masks are recommended for use by staff when physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained.

Practise good hygiene 

• All staff, students and visitors to schools should undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff will direct or supervise young students  where required.
• Sharing of food is not recommended. Where this occurs, individual portions should be encouraged alongside strict hand hygiene.
• Use non-contact greetings (not shaking hands, hugging or kissing).

Ensure physical distancing 

• Staff must practise physical distancing 1.5m between themselves and other staff members or adults to the extent that is reasonably practicable. Staff should physically distance themselves from students where appropriate and feasible.
• Density limits do not apply in classrooms and other spaces for the purposes of student use, including corridors and other shared areas.
• Density limits of one person per two square metres apply to staff areas such as staff lunchrooms and areas accessed by the public, such as reception areas.

Strategies that can be considered to support physical distancing include: 

• the careful management of movement of adults through school reception and staff rooms
• management of congestion within the school and at entry/exit points

Stay home when unwell  

The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), is to ensure that any unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms.  

Students with underlying conditions (such as hay fever or asthma) 

• If a student has persistent symptoms due to an underlying condition such as hay fever or asthma, the student should still be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) if they develop symptoms that are different to or worse than their usual symptoms.
• Parents/carers should also consider getting a medical certificate from the child’s treating GP to confirm that it is safe for them to attend school with persistent symptoms that may overlap with some of the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) such as cough or runny nose.

Young children with persistent mild symptoms 

• Younger children (pre-school up to Grade 2) may have prolonged post-viral symptoms such as a runny nose or cough and may return to school following a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test even if they are not completely free of symptoms. They will need a medical certificate from their GP to confirm they are otherwise well or have recovered from their acute illness.
• Any worsening of symptoms will require review and repeat coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, if considered appropriate by the doctor.

Students with a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test whose symptoms have completely resolved do not need a medical certificate to return to the school. 

Maintenance, construction and building upgrades 

Statewide school construction and maintenance works can continue in accordance with Victoria’s COVIDSafe Summer restrictions. We will be able to progress with the installation of our two new Junior School playgrounds and the Kinder playground renovations. 

Assemblies 

Due to adult density limits for internal spaces parents/carers will not attend assemblies but we are able to conduct our Junior and Senior assemblies with students and staff.