From the Principal

We are so happy to have our students back at school and cannot wait to welcome everyone back on Monday 1st November. We will defer our curriculum day as a result of all students being able to be back on site.

 

Well done and thank you to our entire community for the way you have managed this challenging time. Thank you to those who responded to the remote learning parent survey. We very much appreciated hearing your feedback and are seeking to make some adjustments to our practice, especially in regards to the transition of students returning to on-site learning.

 

Australia will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day - Friday 29 October

 

Teachers and education support staff (with support from parents and carers) have ensured education continues across the country this year, despite major challenges. It’s reinforced the significant role teachers and education support staff play in the lives of students, their families and communities.

 

On Friday 29th October, say a big thank you to teachers and education support staff and celebrate the bright future of working in education. Post a photo in your sunglasses on social media, either on your own or with family or friends. Use these tags on TwitterFacebook or LinkedIn#thankteachers #brightfuture @aitsl 

 

It was wonderful to see our Year 12 students celebrate the end of classes last week.  It really was a joyous occasion led by our wonderful school captains.

Congratulations!

Science Talent Search – Year 8

  • Jamie Katic and Alex Tari won a Minor bursary for their Radiation video and will attend an award ceremony online Monday 8th November
  • Param Dave and Salil Gudup won a Merit award for the Fuel initiative model.

 

MAV Maths Games Day 

Two of our three teams came first and second in the Maths Games Day organised by Maths Association Victoria.  

Capital Works 

I’m excited to share with you that ARM Architecture has been appointed to work on the upcoming upgrade and modernisation project at Glen Eira College. 

 

The architects will work closely with our school and the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) to develop designs for our $6.577 million project. The project will add facilities that will allow our school to offer places to an extra 250 local students. This ensures students are learning in an environment designed for delivering modern education.

 

Once these designs are endorsed by the school and approved by the VSBA and Department of Education and Training, our project will then progress into the final stages of design development, which will see us share exciting designs of the project with our school community. 

 

The VSBA will work closely with our school to ensure our community continues to be updated as the project progresses.

 

I look forward to sharing more details with you soon. 

 

If you have any further questions about the works at Glen Eira College, you can phone the VSBA on 1800 896 950, email vsba@education.vic.gov.au or visit the website: https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/schools/Pages/GlenEiraCollege.aspx

 

Back To School Reminders

Arrival at school

Students should remain outside the building until the bell goes for the class to commence. 

 

Students with a study period at the:

  • Beginning of the day are to arrive at school 10 minutes before the start of their first timetabled lesson and not be at school during their study period
  • At the end of the day should leave school directly after their last timetabled period.

 

Entering the building

  • Students should enter the building using the door closest to their locker
  • Students should use the nearest stairwell and/or exit when leaving the building. This should help avoid congestion in the corridors.

Until further notice there will be no:

  • Homework Help
  • assemblies
  • inter-school sport
  • Camps, excursions and incursions
  • Students in the VCE study centre during recess and lunch – all students need to go outside.

The library is closed at recess and lunch.

 

Social Distancing 

Where practicable, all students are requested to undertake social distancing of 1.5m both in and out of the classroom.  Please discuss this with your son or daughter.

 

Attendance on school sites by visitors, contractors and parents/carers will be limited to essential services and scheduled meetings only. When dropping off and collecting students, parents need to wait outside the school grounds.

 

Hand Hygiene

All staff and students should undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. 

 

Wearing of masks

Wearing of face masks are compulsory at school. They need to be fitted face masks that are not scarves or bandanas. Face mask breaks are allowed for staff and students during the day, but they should be kept brief, when seated outdoors having lunch and physically distanced.

 

Ventilation

The vast majority of our classrooms have very good ventilation with open windows and doors. The government have committed to providing air purifiers. We have not yet been contacted regarding provision of these.

 

Safety and wellbeing of students and staff whilst at school 

Students are requested to bring to school each day: 

  • a small hand sanitiser for personal use at lockers and in bathrooms
  • their own clearly labelled large drink bottle with water only.  Students are not permitted to use the drinking fountains at school.
  • their own headphones to school. We will not be able to loan students headphones as they are difficult to clean.

 

Students should not share their own equipment or food with others.

 

When using shared school equipment such as school computers or equipment for practical classes students should use hand sanitiser before and after use of the equipment.

 

Student Health

If you child is ill or is feeling unwell at all, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice.  No students will be able to remain in the first aid room, parents will need to arrange for their child to be collected ASAP.  It is the parent/carer’s responsibility to collect their child when asked to do so by the school.  It is not suitable for an unwell student to travel home unsupervised.

 

Uniform

It is important students return to a routine at school as soon as possible and this includes wearing the correct uniform. Students should be in the appropriate school uniform as per the School Uniform Policy. Please support us by ensuring your child is not wearing jewellery other than a watch or at most two pairs of earrings (surgical sleepers or studs) in the ears only.  These must be plain gold or silver (no colours). Any other jewellery is not to be visible. Footwear should be traditional black leather lace up school shoes.

 

Mobile Phones

The DET Students Using Mobile Phones Policy remains in place. Students should clean their phones regularly. Phones can be turned on with the COVID SAFE app activated immediately before and after school. Schools are managed environments which include records of student, staff and visitor attendance, which can support contact tracing.

 

Transitioning back to GEC

When students begin to return to school there will be a period when some struggle to settle back at school. Some will be excited to see their friends and others will be distant. The social and emotional health of students will be given a high priority and we ask that you be alert; if you have a concern about your child please report this as soon as possible to your child’s Year Level Co-ordinator. 

 

If your child is reluctant to return to school please contact the school so we can provide support.

 

I hope you are all safe and well and managing in this challenging time.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

 

Sheereen Kindler 

Principal