Dear Families,

As I write the newsletter this week it is hard to imagine we are moving into Week 7 next week. The remote and flexible learning is traveling really well and as a school, we feel we are seeing huge gains in learning with our students.

As a community, with little or no active cases of COVID19, we may at times get a little complacent and think we shouldn’t have any restrictions placed on us. I for one, want to be reunited with my family in Melbourne and see my nieces and nephews, and we all have our own personal stories like this.

Echuca Twin Rivers School community, has a responsibility to our wider Victorian friends, in helping to get the numbers down.

If we all 'sanitize, social distance, wear masks and stay home’ we are playing our part in helping to beat this virus.

While school is open, we are running on a skeleton staff, trying to keep as many staff at home working remotely with your children. To keep doing this we need your support. Please, if you are working, only complete the onsite attendance forms if there is no other way your children can be supervised at home.

We know this can be very challenging for you, but ‘We are all in this together’. We are trying to minimise the interactions of people, and the Chief Health Officer says the best way to do this is to stay at home. We don’t want to get to stage 4 like our Melbourne friends.

We appreciate all of our families' support with this.

Assembly

Next week we will post our virtual assembly! We hope you enjoy these and use it as a way to stay connected to ETRS.

Attitude to School Survey

Each year the Department of Education and Training surveys students in Year 5/6 to collect valuable data about their experiences at school.

The survey is not compulsory; however, we would encourage students in Year 5/6 this year to participate in the survey.

The survey includes some questions about student health and wellbeing and student perceptions of COVID-19. Understanding student health and wellbeing needs has always been important, but especially so this year, and DET is providing this survey to allow schools to capture this information to support students. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings regarding their school, family, friends, and health and wellbeing.

If you would like your child to participate in this survey please contact me at:

Brea.Terris@education.vic.gov.au

After I receive your expression of interest I will forward you the survey details.

Attendance during Remote Learning

In alignment with DET policy student attendance will continue to be documented during remote learning. All students will be expected to confirm daily attendance via joining a daily Webex check-in, notifying their teacher through a Dojo message or messaging on Google Classrooms.

If students are unwell, we ask that parents/carers notify staff of this so it can be added to our daily attendance. If we haven’t been notified by 9:30 am, it will be marked as an unexplained absence. If you have more than one child and only one device, students can be marked present by attending the eldest sibling’s morning roll call Webex.

Onsite Attendance

We understand that some families may require access to onsite attendance for children. There are a clear set of guidelines from the Department of Education and Training around this. It is still recommended if you can learn from home, you must learn from home. The purpose of this to stop people from moving around the community and ultimately to stop the spread of the virus.

If you require onsite attendance at school, we ask that you contact the office and speak to Anthea or me.

If your child is eligible for onsite attendance, a form needs to be submitted online.

If you are unable to complete the online form, please email a copy of the onsite attendance form to brea.terris@education.vic.gov.au

This form needs to be submitted by 12pm on a Thursday for the following week. Please note the change in time for these forms to be submitted.

Foundation 2021 Enrolments

All enrolment documents are available to download from our website. You may also contact the school and we can send the information to you via email or the post.

If you know of any families who are interested in enrolling, please ask them to contact the school. Thank you to our families who are getting the good word out in the community about our school, word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising.

Unfortunately, until the health advice changes, we are unable to do school tours.

School Wide Positive Behaviour

Next week's value is: Responsibility

Next week's behaviour focus is: I will use the High 5.

Wishing everyone an enjoyable and safe weekend.

Brea and Anthea

Happy Birthday