Principal's News

Welcome to our new digital newsletter.

We are really looking forward to having the students and staff on site and back into the routines of school and our learning community even if it is staggered. Children may be slightly apprehensive, but we all need to be broadcasting a positive message and making sure the transition back to school is as smooth as we can possibly make it for everyone. As we have more information and confirmation of dates for programs, external providers resuming, protocols and directions we will communicate these to you as quickly as possible.

What if my child is unwell? 

Stay home when unwell and get tested. 

The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, is to ensure that any unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms. Everyone should consider their health before they attend school and ensure that they are free from coronavirus symptoms and have not had contact in the past 14 days with a person confirmed to have coronavirus or a person suspected to have coronavirus.

What will my child be doing when they are back at school?

One of the things the students have really missed while being away from school is the social connection with each other. This will be vital to their return – to have the opportunity to work and play together. What is equally as important is the quality of face-to-face teaching they have missed out on. It has been more difficult to differentiate tasks in the remote learning environment. Upon returning to school, teachers will be looking to balance wellbeing activities with face-to-face teaching. Students will experience some specialist classes when they come to school.

Does my child have to wear a mask when they return to school?

Following on from the communication directive by the Chief Health Officer, face masks are required for students in Year 3 to Year 6, only when indoors on school premises, unless an exception applies. We do not have any more information than this at the present time and we will be providing more detailed guidelines when we receive them. 

It is recommended that students at primary school wear face masks when at school, attending an OSHC program, or when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles. 

What is the vaccination status of staff and contractors at CEPS?

The Victorian Chief Health Officer has issued directions that require COVID-19 vaccinations for people who work in schools, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future outbreaks in our schools.  This means prior to 18 October 2021, people who work in schools (principals, teachers, integration aides, office staff, sub-contractors) need to have received a double dose COVID-19 vaccination (with supporting documentation); or received the first of two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (with supporting documentation); or have made an appointment to receive a first dose by 25 October 2021 (with supporting documentation); or inform DET that they are not required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination because of a medical exception (with supporting documentation).

Can my child continue with remote learning instead of returning to school?

As directed by the Department of Education, all students are expected to attend onsite as their year level returns to onsite learning, unless they are formally registered as being home-schooled. Parent preference is not an approved absence reason. Attendance, both onsite and remote, will be recorded daily.

Vulnerable children and children of people on the authorised provider and authorised worker list, can continue attending onsite, provided they have met all criteria and have approval from the principal.

Will there be staggered arrival and departure times?

Drop Off (Mornings)

To minimise interaction of students and adults within the school and at entry points we: will open entry points for students attending Cheltenham East Primary School. 

For the purpose of this return to school:

Foundation - Gate 1 (Main Entry) 

Grade 1 - Gate 2 (Carpark gate entry)

Grade 2 - Gate 3 – (BER)

Grade 3 - Gate 4 - (Garden entry)

Grade 4 - Gate 5 - (End of Avalon Court)

Grade 5 - Gate 6 - (Bottom of Oval)

Grade 6 - Gate 7 - (Crossing @ Silver St)

Remote Onsite Learners and Bike Riders- Bike Entry Gate

• Parents should not linger outside of the school grounds for longer than is necessary to say good bye to students.
• Student drop off should be between 8.40am and 9.00am.

All onsite supervision students are required to enter through the bike entry gate below Gate 3 on Coolac St they have been using and BER building main doors. 

All normal class students:

• Foundation students will be taken directly to their classroom.
• Gr 1/2 students will be taken directly to their classroom.
• Gr 3-6 students will go directly to their classroom.
• Parents should remain outside the gate at the entry points, teachers will meet the students and proceed with the children to their classroom areas.

Late Arrival to School 

Late arrival is strongly discouraged due to the need for careful measures at drop off time – however in the event that this does occur the following arrangement should be followed. 

• Parents/children should enter via Gate 1.
• Please note: Under no circumstances should children arrive to sign in without an adult present.

Pick Up

• Pick up will be the most difficult point of the school day in regard to social distancing and all members of the school community will need to be very careful at this time.
• Prep students will be dismissed at 3:20pm via the main entrance.
• All remaining students will be dismissed at 3:30pm and will exit via the pre-determined pick-up point
• To minimise interaction of students and adults within the school and at entry points we ask that parents use a regular and pre-arranged pick up routine for picking up children from school at the school gates.
• Where possible older siblings should collect younger siblings and proceed to the pre-arranged pick up point.
• Parents should wait on the nature strip (socially distancing) so children can locate and join them.
• Cheltenham East PS staff will be on duty at each entry/exit point to manage these arrangements.
• Parents who would like to contact teachers after school should do so by phoning the school or message via DoJo.

What steps is the school taking to be COVID safe?

Cheltenham East PS has a COVIDSafe plan and we receive a frequently updated Operations Guide which directs us to implement the up-to-date health and safety procedures. This also includes clear directions if we have a suspected COVID-19 case at school.

Your child will experience some changes to their learning environment when they return to school.  Some of these modifications include:

• Natural ventilation – We will increase fresh air flow into indoor spaces by keeping windows and doors open as much as possible. We recommend that students wear layers of clothing that can be removed as the day warms up.
• Outdoor learning – Teachers will move lessons outside where practicable.  We are lucky enough to have plenty of space available for students learning.  
  School hats are required for Term 4.
• Limit mixing and maintaining physical distancing - For the week commencing Monday 18 October our Prep, Grade 1-2 and onsite learners will all remain separated. They will essentially be in a year level bubble.  Physical distancing will be practised by staff at all times and attempted with students. As you would understand, this will almost be impossible between students.
• Practise good hygiene - All staff, students and visitors to schools should undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet.
• Limiting non-essential visitors – All non-essential visitors will not be allowed in the school grounds and buildings. Parents are not permitted to enter classrooms or school buildings.  All visitors to the school office must check in using the QR code and adhere to the density limit.
• Additional cleaning - Increased COVIDSafe cleaning arrangements will continue for all Victorian government schools. This will include additional cleaning in classrooms every night.

How will the staged return to the classroom work?

For two weeks beginning on Monday 18th October, Grade levels will begin making a staged return to the classroom. 

This means that for some days of the week, Grades will be learning at school as normal within their own classroom and for the rest of the week they will shift to continue with a remote learning program.  All students are expected to be back at school onsite in their regular classrooms on Friday 5th November. 

The following table outlines the days each Grade level will be at school. For the rest of the week, remote learning will operate for each Grade

How will Cheltenham East PS balance going back to the classroom and remote learning days?

When Grades come back to school for part of the week the program for the remote learning days will continue to be delivered via our current platforms. Google Classroom group work will operate on the days students are working remotely. 

Are there enough devices?

We understand this may be a little difficult for some families with the possibility of having to share a device at home, but we are trying to juggle having entire year levels here at school, some remote learning and some being supervised onsite for essential workers, all at the same time. 

School Hats & Drink Bottles

A reminder that CEPS hats are a required part of the school uniform in Term 4. Please ensure these hats are clearly and permanently labelled with student name. Any student not wearing the appropriate hat will be required to stay in the shade for the duration of their recess and lunch breaks.    

We recommend all students to bring and use their own drink bottles. 

Thought For The Week

Wayne Bach 

Principal