Principal's Report

Dear Parents/Carers,

World Teachers Day

Today is World Teachers Day, one day of the year where the people responsible for educating the next generation are recognised for their tireless efforts and relentless support and advocacy for all their students.

Did you know that children spend 196 days at school each year? This is 1176 hours where they are in the care of teachers, learning and growing at their own individual pace.

At Armstrong Creek School we have approximately 120 staff members. Of these, 50 are teaching daily in our learning communities. A further 12 are teaching our specialist programs. We also have teachers leading teams and sections of the school. That is a lot of teachers and a significant amount of expertise.

We have teachers who are also trained physiotherapists, hairdressers, chefs, university lecturers, financial consultants, dancers, home organisers and much more. There are teachers with multiple university degrees, Masters and diplomas in the many varied aspects of education, all combining to make a formidable team at ACS!

Each week it is a privilege to listen and learn from these teachers who invest so much time in understanding each and every learner and seek to improve their own professional practice. No child is ever forgotten; teachers have rigorous tracking systems which means all students are continually monitored in their learning and social/emotional development.

Teachers know that each child has their own story and that these stories can change daily. By building trust and maintaining consistency, teachers are an extension of parents/carers, guiding our children in new and innovative ways and providing expert, evidence based instruction for all.

Thank you to all the teachers of ACS along with the teachers who got you to where you are today!

Email Communications

One thing people don't always appreciate about teachers is that the nature of our work means there is very little 'down time'. Full time teachers work a 38 hour week (well, in theory - I know many who go well beyond this!). Standard hours for full time teachers are 8:30am - 4:30pm (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) and 8:30am - 3:30pm (Thursday and Friday). About 70% of this time is spent face to face with the wonderful students we work so hard for, or completing planning and preparation in readiness for more instruction. The other times are spent on a lunch break or conducting the other many tasks required to keep a classroom running as well as maintaining professional standards in terms of their own learning and development.

We know that everyone is busy, regardless of the activities and work you complete each day. When operating to a strict timetable, teachers have limited flexibility to conduct work that deviates from the schedule. This means that they are not always available to take a phone call or respond to an email. It doesn't meant they don't care though!

To juggle the many competing demands, teachers must prioritise the supervision and instruction of every child in their care. Needs change daily and teachers must make judgements about how to best allocate their time to respond to this.

If you are communicate via email with your child/ren's teachers, you might notice in the coming weeks an auto-reply coming back instantly. This is simply to notify you that your message has been received and that the receiver will do their best to respond in the next 2-3 days, keeping in mind the limited opportunities they have to monitor emails.

In the case of emergency situations that need a response within 1-2 days, we would encourage you instead to leave a message at the reception.

No doubt we all agree that the time teachers spend at school with our students is precious. Thank you for your continued support in helping maintain this connection and focus - with understanding and care we really can balance it all!

Thunderstorm Asthma

There is an increased risk of seasonal asthma, hay fever and epidemic thunderstorm asthma during seasons with increased grass pollen levels. In Victoria, this is typically between October and December each year.

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are triggered by a combination of higher grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.

People with a history of asthma, undiagnosed asthma or hay fever are at an increased risk under these conditions. This risk is increased further for people who have poorly treated hay fever and asthma.

The best way to reduce and prevent symptoms of asthma or hay fever and reduce unnecessary absences from school is to follow an up-to-date asthma action plan or hay fever treatment plan, provided by a general practitioner (GP) or specialist.

If your child is affected, please ensure that the office has the most current management plan on file and current medication on hand.

Protecting against Mosquito-borne diseases

Victoria’s mosquito season started this month and will extend to late April 2024.

Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and increased risk of illnesses from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is low, some mosquitoes carry diseases that make people sick. The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.

Families can protect against mosquito bites by:

· covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing

· applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when leaving home

· limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active.

To reduce the risk of illness linked to mosquitos, such as Buruli ulcer, promptly wash any new scratches or cuts with soap and clean water and apply a topical antiseptic and dressing.

Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines

Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain. Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines are available to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus.

The Victorian Department of Health encourages eligible people who live or work in high-risk local government areas to get vaccinated ahead of summer, which brings an increased mosquito presence. For more information, including what is considered a high risk area and eligibility for a free vaccine, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage.

Find out more

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages: