Important dates

Monday 4 May

First day of Microsoft Teams Check-ins

Sing-a-long

Many students have been joining the chorus with our sing-a-long activities each week this term. A big shout out to Vinnie for his terrific tech skills and production know-how. Old Markdonald was a big hit. You will notice images being used within the songs; these are Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display images or PODD for short. These images are used across our school as an additional communications tool for our students. We hope the whole family has enjoyed singing together!

Seesaw

Thank you to all students and families for the wonderful engagement across our online learning. We deliver 4 lessons each day, with additional activities and brain breaks to support student learning at home. Thank you for the supportive messages we have received so far. We understand that families are working hard to keep our students focused and in a routine. Please continue to reach out for support about the learning. The conversations and feedback you provide help us to continue adjusting lessons to meet student needs.

Please remember the best way to contact your child’s home room teacher is via the messaging tool on the SeeSaw Family App. These messages come directly to our inbox and provide most efficient communication during this period.

Raz-kids Home Readers!

We are very happy to announce that we have subscribed to Raz-Kids, a platform that is similar to Bug Club. Raz-Kids is a literacy program which offers levelled digital books in both English and Spanish. We believe it is a fantastic resource to help students improve their reading skills with exciting books and rewards. Students are already familiar with Raz-Kids, as they are the Spanish readers that they take home every week.

Students will need to log in with their home room teacher’s username and the password is their own student ID. Raz-Kids link. https://www.raz-kids.com

Note: your home room teacher’s username can be found in the message on the SeeSaw Family App, along with a user guide video. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the website.

Microsoft Teams

Next week, Newlands Primary School will move to Stage 2 of its Remote Learning Strategy. This means we will be introducing Microsoft Teams as an additional platform in the Foundation Level 1 area.

Students and teachers will communicate remotely twice a day. There will be a 9:15am whole class check-in. During this time, teachers will take a virtual role and discuss the learning for the day. The daily check-in may also include a mini activity, circle time or sharing some of the student learning. The morning check-in will run for approximately 15 minutes. The afternoon social group check-ins will be between the hours of 1:00 and 2:00pm. Students will be placed in groups (up to 8 students) for 15 minutes each day. This will allow students to interact with each other remotely and will be supported by the teacher.

Click on the Calendar Icon.

Teachers have sent out the timetable through the SeeSaw Family App and have scheduled the check-ins on your child’s Microsoft Teams Calendar. On specialist days, there will only be a morning check-in, there won’t be an afternoon social group check-in. The morning check-in will take place with one of the specialist teachers.

Joining the Microsoft Teams check-in is not mandatory, we understand that some family circumstances won’t have the opportunity to participate. Teachers will make note of students who are not attending the Microsoft Teams check-ins and will continue to make contact by phone.

‘No’ students in the Foundation Level 1 area are to use the chat/text option. However, we still encourage families to have daily virtual playdates with their friends from school.

If you have any other questions or if your child’s username/password is not working, please contact the school on 9354 2928 or by email newlands.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au.

The Newlands Times

Through relationships we build success.

Issue 6 · 02 May 2020

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