From the Principal
We are so happy to have our students back at school and cannot wait to welcome our remaining students back on site on Monday 26th October.
Well done and thank you to our entire community for the way you have managed a very challenging year. We have all been on quite a learning journey and greatly appreciate everything that you have been doing at home.
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.
Best Wishes to our Year 12 2020 students
Our wonderful Year 12 students are about to commence their last week of classes prior to commencing their final exams. It has been a year like no other and I am so proud of this wonderfully resilient cohort of students.
Although this is a stressful period of time for students, it can also be stressful for families and the people that have supported the students, not just this year but throughout their schooling. I am confident that the preparation and support they have received over the past years will ensure that they are able to achieve the best results possible. Year 12 teachers are available to support students throughout their study period as is the wellbeing team, the Assistant Principals and myself. If you have any concerns or needs please contact me at the College.
World Teachers' Day
Australia will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day - Friday 30 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 30th 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 Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn: #thankteachers #brightfuture @aitsl
Year 7 Celebration Thursday 22nd October
Our Year 7 students showcased what they have been learning in each of their subjects to their parents via Google Meets. It has been an extraordinary year for their first year of high school and our Year 7s have been nothing short of amazing.
We will do the same for Year 8 and 9 when they return.
Early finish (12.38pm) for all students Tuesday 10th November
Glen Eira College is part of the SaGE (Stonington and Glen Eira) Network of Government Schools. The Network has engaged Andrew Fuller to provide a professional development seminar ‘Supporting Students Through Transition’ for Secondary School staff in the Network.
We will run 5 shortened lessons as below.
9.04 Period 1
9.40 Period 2
10.17 Recess
10.37 Locker bell
10.47 Period 3
11.24 Period 4
12.01 Period 5
12.38 End of day for students
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
- Year 7 students are to enter the school from the Arts wing entrance
- Year 8 and 10 through the library entrance
- Year 11 and 12 students are to enter the school from the middle doors adjacent to the stair well
- Year 9 students are to enter by the back gate adjacent to the carpark
- 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.
Access to the library during lunch and after school will be for book borrowing and photocopying only and limited to a maximum of 40 people at a time with a time limit of 15 minutes.
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.
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. 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.
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 Coordinator.
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