It's wonderful to see all our students back at school and reconnecting with their friends and teachers.

For the most part, students have settled back to the school daily routine very well. Having said that, it is apparent that many students are extremely tired as they adjust back to a full day in the classroom. The teachers continue to work hard at embedding wellbeing activities into their daily programs.

From the many chats I've had with parents, it's evident that many of us are feeling flat and exhausted with these recent lock downs followed by the school closure on Friday, followed by the Curriculum Day on Tuesday following a long weekend. Although you've been amazing, I know it's been a tough gig and has taken its toll. I look forward to the continued easing of restrictions and seeing smiles back on your faces.

This week I have had a number of students ask to talk to me privately. In most of these instances it was children sharing social conflict that has occurred online during lock down. Roblox seems to be a very popular app students are using. Although I don't really understand the game, it is in the chats that some students are having with each other and strangers where problems can and have arisen. Food for thought...Do you know who your children are talking to online and what messages your children are sending or receiving? Does your child share content with you? I encourage you to check in with your children re apps and social media.

Please see the latest Covid information to be released...

The Victorian Government has announced new arrangements for schools in Victoria from and including Friday 18 June.

From 11.59pm last night, schools in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will now operate under the same settings.

Key changes:

Secondary school students aged 12 or older across Victoria must wear face masks indoors at school and on public transport, and masks are recommended outdoors at school where physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained.
Visitors to school grounds must also observe face mask requirements.
Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) and work experience placements can recommence on-site throughout Victoria.
Camps and overnight stays can take place within Victoria, with no travel restrictions. Multiple schools can attend camps providing school groups remain separated and do not share common facilities at the same time.
Excursions and incursions are permitted throughout Victoria.
Indoor and outdoor interschool sport can proceed throughout Victoria, and outdoor and indoor contact and non-contact physical activity is permitted.

The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record keeping is mandatory for all workplaces to enable the effective contact tracing of any COVID-19 cases.

This now includes all education sector workplaces, including schools.

QR codes will now be required to be used by:

all parents who enter buildings when on the school site
all visitors, including contractors, external Department staff and building and maintenance staff

QR code check ins will not be required for staff or students.

All building entry and exit points will now display QR code posters.

If you are required to enter any building on school grounds, for whatever purpose, you are now required to use the provided QR code check-in.

If you are not able to check in using a smartphone or tablet, please complete the register outside your child’s classroom.

Using the QR code system does not replace the existing requirement for all visitors to school. We require all visitors to continue signing in the Visitors Book for emergency management purposes.

Thank you for your support and understanding of this important health direction.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or contact the school if you have any concerns.

School Reports

School reports will be coming home next Thursday 24 June.

Due to the recent lock downs the Student Learning Diary will now be sent home on Friday 30 July.

As a direct consequence of the 2020 Covid 19 year, this semester's report will not show your child’s achievement growth from 12 months ago on the Curriculum Ratings page, but will show a 6 month progression in Literacy and Numeracy. Your child’s achievement will continue to follow the same ratings scale as in previous years.

We are so proud of all the students who have worked in the Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) program. With the capable teaching of Terpsi M, all students have made pleasing growth in the areas of their learning that were compromised during the 2020 extended lock downs.

Have a happy and safe weekend...

Sue Dyos

Principal

Around Foundation (Prep)