COVID LOCKDOWN

Thank you to parents/carers, staff and students for the manner in which you handled this latest lockdown. It was apparent across the city that a Stage 4 lockdown had a significantly greater impact than our 2020 lockdowns; the streets were quieter and more businesses closed.

It is with great anticipation that we welcome students and staff back to school tomorrow. Drop off and pick up arrangements will continue under the structure in place from the start of the year (see below). It is expected that parents wear masks if walking their children to the gate at the beginning of the day or to the car at the end of the day.

Please be mindful at the end of day pick up, that local businesses still need to operate and this can prove problematic if parking spaces in front of their business are held for long periods of time while parents are waiting.

Beginning and end of day arrangements:

The beginning of the day arrangements will remain in place as they were prior to the latest lockdown, with staggered arrival times continuing.

Those families with a surname starting with A – H are asked to arrive between 8:30 and 8:40am.

Those families with a surname starting with I – P are asked to arrive between 8:40 and 8:50am.

Those families with a surname starting with Q – Z are asked to arrive between 8:50 and 9:00am.

All students will finish their day at 3:20pm under the following conditions:

Prep 1 and Prep 2 classes AND THEIR OLDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS will exit via the northern most gate (closest to the Prep playground)
Year 3/4 students AND THEIR OLDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS will exit via the southern gate (next to the staff carpark)
All other students will exit via the main gate.
Parents and Guardians must continue to maintain social distancing while dropping off and picking up their children (footprints painted on the footpath are 1.5m apart)
Please wait at the gate where your youngest child will exit.

It is crucial that parents/guardians understand that congregating on the footpath for long periods (greater than 15mins) may necessitate in us returning to staggered finishing times so it is important that you arrive as close as possible to dismissal time (3:20pm) and then leave as quickly and orderly as possible.

SCHOOL COUNCIL NOMINATIONS

We are fortunate at Warrnambool Primary School to have a vibrant, diligent and hardworking School Council whose primary role is to plan and implement policies based upon our 4 Year Strategic Plan.

School Council is responsible for setting the key directions the school will take. Last year our major focus was on processes and procedures mandated during COVID restrictions. As it sets policy, the School Council was able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provided for students.

School Council has three categories of membership:

1) Parents (including DET [Department of Education & Training] employees who have students at other State schools)

2) DET employees

3) members co-opted for their expertise.

Currently there are seven parent members and three DET members making 11 in total. School Councillors are elected for a two year term. In addition, we will have a single one year term for 2021.

This year, four parent members (3 x two year term and one x 12 month term) and one DET member are up for re-election. Co-opted memberships are reviewed and renewed on an annual basis.

Any interested parent who wishes to nominate for a position on School Council should call into the office for the relevant forms.

Nominations will close at 4pm on Friday 19th February.

Where there are more nominations than the number of vacancies on the school council a ballot may be held. Voting will take place between Monday 22nd Feb and Friday 5th March.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about the operation of the council or the election process itself.

SOMERS CAMP

Students had a fabulous time at Somers Camp last week and I would like to thank Ms Hann for organising this experience and to staff for attending.

HATS

A reminder that all students and staff should be wearing broad brimmed hats this term. Please ensure that hats (and all items of clothing) are clearly named with Christian and Surname … a simple ‘John’ doesn’t help much when items are handed into lost property!

Student birthdays