From the Principal 

Education Week Celebrations

Last night, the school was alive with activity, as the community were finally able to come together to celebrate Education Week. The focus was Literacy, which started with B1 and B2 spotted on car park duty, a whole School Book Parade, and a day of activities to prepare for Open Night.

Our families were treated to experiences such as visiting Dahlmania where Matilda was charged with taking chocolate from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and dropping into Seussville with Thing 1,2,3 and 4. 

 Blabeytopia was popular with a roomful of sparkling unicorns suspiciously all claiming to be Thelma, and the Koala Who Could, reported that Pig the Pug was seen trying to tug on the unicorns’ tails. 

 Harry Potter World was a hoot, with the promise of magic spells and the creation of wands, and you were not hallucinating if you thought you saw some Oompah Loompas running amok with green hair. 

There was glitz and glamour and all things wonderful about books, topped off with an opportunity to showcase all the changes to the school with the official opening of our School Library.

It has been fantastic this term to have families on-site for school and community events with the Election BBQ, Athletics Sports, Cross Country, and Open Night. There were a few tight hamstrings after the teacher, parent relay race at the Athletics Day, and there were some rumours that the teachers took the blue ribbon after a scandalous false start.

 Families coming together, having fun, and learning together are so important for student engagement and well-being. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and to all our wonderful staff who spent many hours preparing for the events. 

We are so fortunate to be able to come to school safely every day, and our thoughts and prayers go out the families in Texas who are dealing with such a tragic event.

Forever grateful that I can call Australia home. 

Influenza

I wanted to make you aware of Influenza (flu) among our school community and measures we can all take to reduce the spread of flu as we enter into the colder months.

I want to reassure you that we are taking this very seriously and continue to follow the expert advice of the Department of Education and Training and Department of Health, to help ensure that our school continues to run effectively.

To help protect our school and the wider community, we ask that unwell students stay home, given the impacts of flu and colds on our school community.

To help reduce the spread of flu, colds and COVID-19, students are being encouraged to;

* wash and sanitise their hands regularly

* avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

* cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze * get tested for COVID-19 if they feel unwell and follow the current Department of Health isolation requirements if a positive result is shown

* if unwell, stay at home until their symptoms pass.

Face masks are available in all schools and can be worn by any staff or students who wish to do so, including those who are medically at risk.

Vaccination remains the best protection against both COVID-19 and flu, and we encourage you to get your child vaccinated. Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Please see the letter from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Victoria Faculty Council Chair, about the importance of protecting your children and family.

If your child does become sick while at school, please also ensure that we have correct emergency contact details for yourself. This is so we can get hold of you as quickly as possible.

I am aware that this is a challenging situation and we thank you for your understanding and support at this time.

RAT Testing 

RATs will continue to be distributed to you as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this term.

However, students will no longer be recommended to undertake either twice weekly RATs in mainstream schools or 5 days a week in specialist schools.

RATs however will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative tests over a 7-day period) or who have symptoms.

The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.

Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts.

Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation and support during this time.

Take Care 

Principal Karen Rouda (Aka B1or B2)