Principal's report
Dear Families of Moonee Ponds West PS,
Today we welcomed back to school our year Foundation to Grade two students after six weeks of Remote and Flexible learning both at home and onsite. Whilst a challenging time for all but especially the younger students, I think, we have learnt much about our children, their learning styles and ourselves. Onsite I have witnessed a growth in independence and resilience of the students each day. I must say what a new and growing level of confidence was demonstrated as they returned to school. Things like carrying their own bags, confidently walking from the parent turning, waving, and making their way directly to their class. Soooo impressive!!! Bonussssssses everywhere!
Staggered return for students
Next week on Friday June 5, the teachers of Grades 3-6 will access their Teacher’s Professional Practice Day (or TPPD). Students in 3-6 will continue to complete their Remote Learning tasks on this day without the contact of the teacher. There will be no daily check-in, small group learning, or feedback on June 5. This day is devoted to teachers learning more about their pedagogy, doing assessment and writing reports. Our 3-6 students return to school on June 9. We are all preparing for their return over the next weeks. Daily check-ins and small groups will continue for years 3-6 until June 4.
Completion of Remote Learning Tasks
Thank you for assisting your child to access their daily timetable, complete the tasks set and upload where required so to access feedback. If your child has slipped behind please email the teacher to have the expectation of completing these clarified. Just try to do the current ones and upload so that the teachers can view and provide feedback and so make a comment in the Semester 1 Report. I am including with this newsletter the current advice from The Department of Education and training re the adjusted Semester reporting guidelines. We will be following what they have recommended. The reporting recommendations have been discussed at Education Committee and have been ratified by the School Council. Please see the parent letter attached.
Returning to School
As you will have read in our Parents Guide to Returning to Face to Face Teaching, circulated last week, we will be running a timetable to accommodate split recess and lunch and outside times. Such a timetable will require a restricting of student movement around the school grounds. Such a restriction is quite different for our students as they have been able to ‘roam’ across the schoolyard in any direction. In our Social Story (circulated via COMPASS), it says that school will look different. It could be a good thing for families to talk to children about what could be changing and look different from what they are used too. Once children are ‘front loaded’ on such things, they can usually manage their disappointment. I will attach the link to the Social Story updated with voice by two of our students. Thank-you to David, Uaria and Addicus for making the story come to life.
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofMPW/videos/572873473421685/
Staffing News
We have a number of staff continuing to work from home because of health issues in this COVID 19 situation. Thank-you to those staff who have been able to support across the school. I welcome Ms Robyn Patrick in Rm 4, Ms Julie Lanyon supporting (Rm 21 and Rm 11) and Ms Raine Ryan in Creative Arts. Education Support Staff, Peter and Nick will be supporting classes in Rm 4 and in Rm 21. We are very positive about learning in the last five weeks.
Virtual Tour of Moonee Ponds West PS
We have developed a virtual tour of our school for prospective and interested parents. It is a showcase of our school buildings and learning environments. We plan to launch the Virtual Tour onto the School Website today. My thanks to Nick Boylan, with assistance from Nick Phelps and Paul Dolence as well as students Emily, Hunter, Archie and Jack for the terrific result. A true team effort. All parents who have made contact with the school will receive the link and an invitation to a Principal Q and A. We hope to have an Open Day session early in Term 3. For 2021, we will have vacancies in our Foundation class structure. We will be extending the acceptance date for enrolments until the end of Term 3 2020.
Maintaining Social Distancing
Remembering that adults must maintain 1.5 metres apart is one of the BIG three that will be important for continued good health and safety. The others are frequent washing /sanitising of hands and coughing and or sneezing into our elbow. Here at school the students will sanitise their hands before and after using communal items in the class or specialist rooms, leaving the class at recess and lunch and sanitise upon return to the class. The teachers have a process for this and will be implementing as agreed.
For children the social distancing is not so important but we will be mindful. Current advice from the Chief Health Officer is for classes not to be joining another class for learning, or Hall. The class can take our school institution of FAT. We are working collectively to ensure we are all safe and well.
I think that is about it from me. Until we meet in person, which could be at a gate over the next days and weeks, please stay safe and well.
Sincerely
Kerri Simpson
Principal