A Word from the Principal

A Warm Welcome to our Weeden Heights Community

Hello Everyone,

Last week, we were surprised by the announcement that school will return next week. I hope that you are beginning to prepare your family for our staggered return. We are really looking forward to our prep, prep/1, 1/2 and grade 2/3 to join us on Tuesday. Grades 3/4, 5/6A and 5/6 M will continue working in the remote classroom at home and join us on site on Tuesday 9 June after the Queen's Birthday public holiday.

State-Wide Pupil Free Day – Monday 25 May 2020

Pupils are not required to attend school next Monday either on site or within the remote classroom. While we have just started to settle into the remote classroom, we are now returning to face to face teaching in two stages. Staff have spent time last term to prepare for a whole term of remote teaching and I am sure that you will be able to see the progress we are making in developing the remote learning space. As we are now returning to school, the staff need time to prepare and that will occur on Monday.

Staff will focus on planning for student wellbeing and re-establishing the classroom environment and learning space for the third time this year. Reconnecting with students and taking time for students to share their learning, thoughts and feelings while learning in a different context, will be a focus. We have a strong Bright Beginnings program that connects learners and expectations while nurturing relationships. Many of these activities and routines will be reintroduced.

The classroom routine will clearly look a little different for a while as the students have had a ‘flexible’ routine for well over half a term.

On the pupil free day staff will also begin to prepare for the writing of mid-year semester 1 student reports. These also will look very different from what they have in the past. I will send out more information as we get closer to reports heading out to you.

Parent Information - School Operations

Parents/guardians will clearly have many questions about how we are going to return to onsite learning. Tomorrow I will distribute a full guide to help our students and parents understand changes to school routines that will be in place as we return to onsite learning. I thought it would be useful to give parents a look at some of the major changes which will come into force. A full guide (including information on drop-offs and pick-ups) will be distributed via Flexibuzz.

Will the school have additional cleaning? Yes. From next week, our school will have cleaners on-site during school hours to provide progressive cleaning of toilets, door handles, playground equipment and other high touch areas.

Will we have staggered play times? No. We will run our regular lunch and recess timetable but we will have zoned areas for year levels. This will also continue also when we return to full onsite learning.

Will the students be observing social distancing during outside breaks? No. The advice from the Chief Medical Officer is that social distancing is not necessary for students at playtimes or class times. However, we will ensure that there is higher duty supervision ratios will operate until further notice. This will also support students settling back into school

How will lining up work? Social distancing does not apply to students so lining up, movement onsite and classroom setup will be as normal as possible. Students will be encouraged to promote the notion of no physical contact where possible.

Can my child bring toys from home? No toys can be brought from home but students can bring out door play equipment eg a named ball, skipping rope etc. Hand hygiene practices will be enforced before and after play times.

Does my child need to bring a drink bottle? Yes. Students need to bring individual drink bottles. Students are not permitted to drink directly from drinking taps but may refill bottles from the indoor sink areas in the classrooms at school.

Will there be provision for lunch orders? Students also need to be provided with their lunch that they can unwrap and manage themselves. Subway and Friday lunch orders will be unavailable. Parents are also not allowed to bring up lunches to school either.

Can I send my child if they have a cough, runny nose or sore throat? No. As these are symptoms of COVID-19, you cannot send your child to school if they have any of these symptoms.

Will children have their temperature taken on a daily basis? No. The Chief Medical Officer has advised that this measure is not required.

Can I enter the school site? No. The Chief Medical Officer advises that the greatest risk of transmission is from adult to adult contact. No parents will be allowed to access the site until this advice changes. If for any reason you do need to enter the site adults need to either phone or email school first as written on the signage at each school entrance.

What happens if I arrive late for school? The main office is locked at all times so you will not be able to walk in. Parents need to call or email the school prior to entering the school grounds. Schools have been directed to minimise the adults who enter the site so the only visitors that are able to attend are deliveries and essential services who will also call before entering the property.

How can I communicate with my child’s teacher? Teachers will be available through email and our office staff will cater for all general enquiries.

Further information can be found:

https://education.vic.gov.au/parents/Pages/coronavirus-advice-parents.aspx

Preparing Your Child to Return to School

It is particularly important that we continue to work together and ensure that there is a smooth transition when returning back to school. We need to minimise anxiety and be positive. Our new Wellbeing Officer, Kathryn has provided you with some great ideas on her section of the newsletter so I encourage you to take a look. Each child is different but you know your child best and the type of strategies that will work to support them on arriving to school.

Begin to return to your regular routine at home with bed times and wake up times
Reassure your child that school is safe and focus on the positives eg being with their friends, sharing their remote learning further with their teacher
Remind them of safe hygiene practices – washing hands and sanitising
Students need to know who will be picking them up or if they are to go to OSHC. This needs to be clear.
Remind students not to share food at school as well
Read them the social story that your class teacher will send out to you soon - these will familiarise them with the school again and include reminders about their classroom and classroom routines. It will also include some of the new routines that were introduced in the last few weeks of school eg washing hands. Social stories are great for anxious student

Please keep in contact with your classroom teacher or Kathryn our Wellbeing Officer, if your child is unsettled as we are here to support you.

Please look out for the information that I will send home tomorrow. Please take care everyone and have a lovely weekend!

Until next time……

Ms Kylie Campbell

Principal

Futures are Bright at Weeden Heights!