Appreciations

Today I would like to start with an appreciation for the work of our teaching and education support staff. They have prepared with great professionalism for a scenario none of us imagined we would ever be faced with.

David Howes, the Deputy Secretary of Education stated:

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for the outstanding work today, as we launched our first day of remote and flexible learning across the state.

The overwhelming feedback is that today went as well as could possibly be expected.

The vast majority of our students were engaged in remote and flexible learning when just three weeks ago they were all on-site in classrooms. It’s an extraordinary achievement that was only possible because of all the work that’s gone on over the past few weeks.

While things went well overall, I know not everything was perfect, and that there were IT platform issues experienced by some schools. We expect these to be resolved.

Thank you particularly for your work in communicating with parents about the Victorian Government’s directive that all students who can learn from home must learn from home.

The reason for this was reiterated today by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Brett Sutton, who stated:

“My advice to the Victorian Government was and continues to be that to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), schools should undertake remote learning for term two.

This is because having around a million children and their parents in closer contact with teachers and other support staff has the potential to increase cases of coronavirus not just in schools but across the community.

By having remote learning, it can contribute to physical distancing and therefore supports efforts to drive transmission down.”

The transition into Term 2 has not been easy work for anyone, but we should be reassured – there is a very good reason to be taking this significant step.

Thank you for the huge role you have played in making this happen.

At home

A very sincere appreciation for the wonderful attitude and growth mindset being demonstrated by so many of our mums and dads. We know that families have experienced a variety of challenges and successes on the first two days of our new and unprecedented remote and flexible learning model. A huge thank you for taking on these challenges, often with trepidation, but generally with a ‘can do attitude.’ We are pleased that only families that really have no other recourse, or who are in a vulnerable situation, have attended school where they have been ably supported by our teachers and education support personnel who are only allowed onsite by volunteering to do so.

While Google Classrooms remained operable throughout the first day, I am aware that some systems in other schools may not have fared as well. We also understand that there have been challenges in most homes. Some big, some transitionary. We ask that you communicate when you need teaching and learning support. All teachers have shared their gmail email accounts; they will be checked on multiple occasions throughout the school day. Teachers also may choose to phone parents directly. If you are having difficulty managing,please feel free to email us or contact the office. As our office staff are being encouraged to work from home, please understand that at times you may experience some delay. At all times, a principal class member will be onsite.

Our staff have very much appreciated the positive feedback that they received on Wednesday. I have included a couple of those messages:

Message: Absolutely amazing!!!!!!

Congratulations on the extraordinary online platform you have provided our kids at such short notice.

Message: Dear FWPS staff

Thank-you for all your work and dedication to learning from home! The hard copy packs are great and the girls are loving having contact with their teachers and friends through google classroom. I feel very confident in your abilities to support families during this time.

And a word from Joanna – one of our class teachers who is teaching from home, as well as supporting her own two boys’ learning as well.

We have been crazy busy online, chatting to students, commenting on their work and even chatting to parents. Everyone is enthusiastic and on task. I love the initiative from the students, they are all over it (the technology). There have been a couple teething problems with some links not working for parents, but the support from my team is amazing.

Despite the circumstances, what a unique experience!

Thanks again.

Joanna

Access - May I reiterate the message I sent out last week – onsite school supervision will only be available for those families that have no other alternative than to supervise their own children at home.

In the words of the Premier, Mr Daniel Andrews:

‘All children who can learn from home, must learn from home’.

Schools do not individually decide to be open or to be closed. It is a State government directive and we are managed and funded by state government, not the Federal government. The lack of clarity demonstrated by the Prime Minister has not assisted with ensuring a consistent message.

Their Care will only be available for those families who have been approved to attend school and only on those days that they are attending school. Their Care will not be available as respite care, for play dates, or for regular users who currently are learning from home.

All students who attend the limited program onsite will have their temperature checked before attending the classroom. Any child presenting with a temperature of 38 degrees or higher will be immediately provided a medical mask and placed in isolation until their parent or carer can collect them. In such cases it is recommended that parents observe their child for any additional signs of fever. Any child who is feeling unwell, coughing, has a headache, or sore throat, should also not attend school.

Learning online

Over 50 iPads have been loaned to students over the first two days of school term. A big thank you to Anne Reciszen for her organisation in enabling this to occur in such a short time. Any additional requests will be supported in priority order. This will not occur until next week when Quang our IT technician is next available. If your child needs to access a school iPad, please send a message to the school email address footscraywest.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au or via Flexibuzz.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully

Brendan

Letter from DET