Mullum Matters

From the Principal

As we come to the end of at-home learning our staff would like to give a huge shout out to all of our parents and carers, to thank them for the amazing work they, as parents, have done over the last eight weeks.  There have been ups and downs and even a few tears along the way, but without your patience, perseverance and support our students could not have done as well as they have.  So...thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we will take over from here, you can hand over the reigns now, we will give you all a break.  

 

To all my staff I would personally like to give grateful shout out, to thank them for launching into the unknown with such commitment and persistence.  There have been ups and downs and even a few tears along the way, but all staff have come out of this, still standing, with a whole new skill set and so ready to have their students back at school.

 

We are back

On Tuesday 26 May we welcomed back our Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students. They have done an amazing job of settling right back in.  I snapped some action shots this week that I hope you enjoy.   We look forward to having all students back from 9 June.  

 

Whole School Assembly - Tomorrow Friday 5 June

At 9:30 tomorrow morning we will run our first whole school Webex assembly.  Families across the school can join us using the link sent out on Compass.  Students onsite will have the assembly live streamed into their classrooms.  We encourage you to join in the spirit of the meeting by standing for the national anthem and singing along to Happy Birthday.

 

From this week on, we will be running a whole school assembly each Friday via Webex, you are invited to join us remotely on these occasions.  We will send home the codes via Compass.

 

We are on the move

On Friday 22 May one of our double portables moved off site into storage for a few months.  It was decided that removing the building altogether, for the short term, would be the best option.  This has enabled the landscape company, City Living, to come in and commence work on the rear retaining wall.  Demolition of the rear retaining wall has commenced and I have included some photos of  this work.  These are the exciting first stages of our rebuild.  We are expecting demolition of the old buildings to begin during the upcoming school holidays, with the new, first stage buildings coming on site late August. It will take a few weeks then to connect up the new building and move everyone in.  We expect to commence teaching in the new classrooms from the beginning of Term 4.  It is all happening.

 

Enrolment Live Information sessions

 

Term 2 is usually a very active term for touring prospective families and taking enrolments ready for next year.  Due to restrictions in place for school visitors this is not possible.  We are instead presenting two live information sessions for any family wanting to enrol their child for Foundation 2021.  Check out this flier and pass on the information to friends and family at your local kindergarten and childcare centers.  Current families who have a child starting school next year can also join us for this information session, call Kelli at the office for more details of how to log in.  A link to our enrolment form is on the school's website for our current families who need to book their child in for 2021.  Enrolments due Friday 7 August, 2020.

 

Unwell Children (and staff)

Managing the health and wellbeing of our students and staff, is my number one priority during the return to school stage.  We have installed sanitising stations and routines in all classrooms; teachers are planning into the day, time to manage these routines; we have mid-day cleaning of door handles, light switches, toilets by our cleaning company; sports equipment is being cleaned after every session; to manage physical distancing of staff we have staggered recess and lunch breaks; restrictions of adults onsite are also in place.  

 

To further manage the health of our entire school community,  we are asking that children who are unwell,  do not attend school and that you seek medical advice before returning your child to school, advice that clears your child for returning to school.  If your child has flu-like symptoms: a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, we ask that you keep your child at home and seek medical advice.  My staff are working under these conditions as well. Staff are not allowed on site if they display any flu-like symptoms and they are seeking medical advice.  If your child arrives at school sick, or becomes sick at school, they will be isolated and we will call you to collect them.  

 

Arrival and Departure times to continue

Next week as we welcome our Grade 3 - Grade 6 students back on-site it is important to remember the new arrangements for arrival and departure times will continue until further notice.  As more families return next week I strongly recommend that you take care with the parking restrictions around the school gates and know that Maroondah City Council are being vigilant at the moment, fining people who are not following the rules. If you are able to walk to school, or park and walk, I would encourage you to do so. 

 

Key things to remember:

  • Please ensure children exit the cars on the curb side
  • Children walking to school, riding bikes or taking the bus, are to arrive at the gate that is closest to their home.
  • Siblings of Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students are to use Panfield Ave as their point of entry
  • Students will meet their Norwood Secondary College siblings on Mullum Mullum Rd, at 3:30, regardless of alphabetical ordering
  • Norwood Secondary College students will not be able to enter Mullum Primary School via Panfield Ave until further notice
  • If you need your child to arrive at school before 8:45, or be collected beyond 3:40 we strongly encourage you to use the Before and After school program for supervision
  • If you late arrivals (beyond 9:25) are to arrive at the Panfield Ave gate and call the school office for someone to come and collect your child
  • For all appointment collections, please use Panfield Ave and call the office and we will escort your child out to the car

Other important things Grade 3-6 children need to remember for next week:

  • Bring all school devices and chargers that have been borrowed from school.  These are to be packed in the school bag and children will bring it back to their classroom teacher
  • A drink bottle as we are not able to use the drink taps at school
  • All school books, pencil cases and work completed online to be returned to school
  • Full cold weather, school uniform.  Reminder that leggings, stockings and summer dresses are not part of the cold weather uniform
  • New rain jackets are not a replacement for jumpers worn in the classroom.  We will not be over heating classrooms and students are encouraged to dress appropriately.
  • Grade 5/6CN and Grade 5/6D are now operating out of the hall, until September when the new buildings arrive
  • Medications like ventolin and Epipens are to be returned to school and students to deliver them to the

Online Learning

Tomorrow, Friday 5 June, is the last day of online learning for all students.  Teachers will not be assigning learning tasks to complete at home.  Continuing to read will remain an important part of at home learning beyond this week.