Principal's Report
29 May 2020
Students Return Onsite
It was great to have our staff and senior students back onsite this week. We spent the curriculum day inducting staff in the measures that have been put into place for the return of everyone onsite. We also spent time reflecting on the successes and challenges of remote learning. While there is no doubt that remote learning has presented challenges to everyone, overall staff have been impressed by the persistence and commitment of our students during remote learning and are excited about the future. They are also excited about the positive changes in their own practice that they will be able to continue into the future to support student learning.
We now eagerly wait for the return the rest of the school on Tuesday 9 June.
Student Newsletters
This week we produced the last of the remote learning student newsletters for each year level. Next week we will publish a combined newsletter. It has been great to platform for students to showcase their experiences and work during remote learning. We will seek feedback from our Student Representative Council to see whether they would like to continue the student newsletters once all students are back onsite (e.g. monthly student newsletter).
This week's newsletters:
I would like to thank the school community for taking the time to understand our operational changes to prepare for the return of students onsite. The below information is a repeat of the information from last week's newsletter for those who wish to review it.
Key Dates
Monday 25 May: Pupil free day and staff return.
Tuesday 26 May: VCE and VCAL students return, including Year 10 students completing a VCE subject.
Monday 8 June: Queen's Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 9 June: Year 7-10 students return
November 9 – 2 December: Unit 4 Exams
Health & Wellbeing
The Chief Health Officer continues to advise that schools remain at low risk of COVID-19 outbreaks and that both infection and transmission of the virus between children is very low. To further reduce this low risk, we have put in a range of new processes and practices to ensure the health and safety of all members of our school community.
Cleaning
We have made a range of changes to our cleaning and hygiene arrangements. These include:
- Increased cleaning frequency
- Cleaning of high touch points during the day
- Reduction in the use of shared equipment
- Strict hand washing practices
- Hand sanitizer stations placed in locations around the school
- Each staff member has been provided with a hand sanitizer bottle. Students will be expected to sanitize their hands upon entering class and when exiting for recess and lunch.
Physical Distancing
The Chief Health Officer has advised that students will not be required to maintain physical distancing at school. Changes have been made to reduce the interaction of students beyond their immediate class and year level. These include:
- Room changes to some timetables to minimise the total number of different students and adults using each classroom
- Modifications to sport and physical education activities to minimise physical contact and the sharing of equipment
- Minimise gatherings of students beyond their normal class (e.g. level assemblies)
- Encourage students to maintain distance and avoid physical contact
- Restrict access to the school site for anyone other than immediate school staff and students
- Year 7-9 students will begin lunch at 12.20pm (10 minutes early) to reduce congestion in bathrooms and the canteen areas
- Library closed until further notice
- Students are encouraged to not interact with students from other year levels during recess and lunch.
Unwell Staff and Students
Any member of our school community who is unwell or displaying symptoms must not attend. If you child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice. Any students who attend school who are ill or presenting with symptoms will be asked to collect them or approve their departure ASAP.
Transportation
Buses
All school buses, including Nuline charters will resume on Tuesday 26 May. For the Nuline buses, families will be charged pro-rata of their child’s expected attendance at school. Whilst the Chief Medical Officer has determined that physical distancing is not required for students and that it is safe for students to travel together on buses, we have liaised with both bus companies to ensure that there is strict cleaning practices. We have also sought for all buses to arrive prior to 3pm to avoid the congestion of students that occurs when waiting for buses to arrive.
Attendance
Once a year level has returned, all students will be expected to attend school as normal. This means if you choose to keep your child/children home after their year level has returned to on-site schooling, we can no longer support their learning from home. This does not apply to children who need to be absent for health or medical reasons. For those families, please contact your child's level coordinator so we can make an appropriate plan. This same approach is being taken by all government schools in Victoria.
General office
The general office will be closed to visitors. Parents and carers can continue to phone the general office on 8770 6700 or email patterson.river.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au. All payments are to be made via telephone or Compass Pay.
Late Students
Parents can sign their students in late (e.g. following a medical appointment) via Compass (attendance) or calling the school 8770 6700 and dialling the relevant sub school. Students need to report to the relevant sub school office before heading to class.
Approving Early Departures
Parents and carers can call the school or place a note in their child’s planner to inform us that their child has approval to depart early. Students must sign out via the relevant sub school office. If your child does not have a note please ensure that you call at least 1 hour before the planned departure so that we can inform the classroom teacher and approve the absence on Compass.
Student Drop Off / Pick Up
Parents and carers will need to remain in their vehicles when dropping off and picking up students.
Uniform
All students will be expected to be in full school uniform upon their return to onsite learning. PSW has now reopened Wednesday, Thursday, Fridays 9am-5pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.
Canteen
The canteen will be open each day. Students are encouraged to order their lunch before school to reduce queues. Students will line up in designated year level lines.
Teaching & Learning
Semester 1 Reporting
A revision will be made to semester two reports to provide a snapshot of how students have performed during remote learning. VCE & VCAL reports will remain the same as usual. Parents have access to review remote learning tasks along with Term 1 CATs on Compass.
VCE Validation Week 1 – 5 June
In line with the VCAA remote assessment guidelines, we will be holding validation activities for classes that completed remote SACs. These will occur 1-5 June.
Unit 4 Exams
The VCAA has announced that Year 12 exams will be held 9 November to 2 December. This is great news for our Year 12 students who will be able to complete their studies and obtain their ATAR this year. Now that these dates have been set we will be able to reschedule other key dates such as Year 10 and 11 end of year exams.
Student Free Day
Students are encouraged to have a screen free day on Monday 25 May. Learning Tasks will be posted on Compass Tuesday morning.
More information about the return to school and coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the Department’s website, which will continue to be updated:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
Student Newsletters
It has been great to see the level of contributions from students towards this week's newsletters.
Check them out here:
Student Work
While we can't wait to return onsite, I continue to be impressed with the work that our our students continue to produce in isolation. Make sure you check out the student work page to see just a small snapshot of what's been going on.
Careers
VET/Pathways Coordinator - Karen Talbot will continue to be active and available in supporting students remotely via Microsoft teams: tal@prsc.vic.edu.au
Check out the PRSC Careers website https://www.pattersonriversccareers.com/ It will become a hub of up-to-date information regarding pathways and career choices. It will be updated regularly, including the addition of upcoming virtual University open days, events and VTAC news.
Also, feel free to email: Karen.talbot@education.vic.gov.au
Grade 6-7 Transition Update
Applications for Year 7 enrolment for 2021 have been extended to Friday 29 May 2020 due to COVID-19. Parents will need to return their preference form to their primary school by this date.
Primary schools are in the process of distributing these forms to Grade 6 families. The form can also be found via: bit.ly/DETtransition
Due to the impact of current restrictions on planned transition events, Patterson River Secondary College is making a number of changes to planned events to support grade 6 families this term. These include:
EXCEL (ACADEMIC & SPORTS) TESTING
• Registrations extended
• Testing postponed until later this term/early next term due to the dynamic nature of our programs.
SPEAK TO THE PRINCIPAL OR TRANSITION TEAM
• Arrange a 1:1 or phone or video call
• Arrange a group video call with friends
• To organise call (03) 8770 6700
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Interview process postponed
Further Information:
Mr Daniel Dew
College Principal