Principal's Message
PARENT OPINION SURVEY REMINDER
We want your input! Tell us how you feel, and help to influence the future direction of our school.
The more families who respond to our survey, the greater the validity of the data we collect. We have already exceeded our 2019 response rate, with double the number of respondents thus far!
However, with only 46 out of 164 families having responded to date, we know there are more opinions out there. Let's lift our response rate so that everyone can have a voice!
Complete the survey now by going directly to the link:
Survey Link: https://research.orima.com.au/parent/
School Name: Upwey South Primary School
School Code: 984086
Please complete only one survey per family.
Please refer to the below Compass note which was posted on 12/10/2020:
In 2020, schools have been provided with the option to survey a randomly generated selection of parents/carers (which is the normal process), or seek input from the entire school community. Due to the nature of 2020, our school has made the decision to seek input from all parents/ carers for the 2020 Parent Opinion Survey. We have made this decision for two main reasons:
- Data validity- Surveys which have been distributed to families throughout 2020 have generated a huge response rate, therefore increasing the validity of the data collected.
- Informed decision making- In 2022, our school is scheduled to undertake a Strategic Review (this occurs each four/five years across government schools). Therefore, the data collated from this survey will help our school to acknowledge the positive work which has been done over the previous twelve months, as well as drive future improvements in 2021; which is the final year of our current School Strategic Plan.
In order for the entire parent/carer cohort to be provided with the opportunity to partake in the 2020 Parent Opinion Survey, we are providing families with a ‘generic’ log-in code. As this code is generic, we ask for your honesty in only completing a single survey for your family. Entering multiple survey results using this code will only result in skewed data, and may have a detrimental impact upon strategic planning for 2021. Therefore, it is unwise for your family to use the generic code more than once.
Traffic Safety Reminder
Unfortunately, we continue to see families parking and driving their cars in a manner which is presenting a danger to our students.
School Council are currently looking at options to address, and direct this type of behaviour (such as the image below). Obviously, a project of this size takes time to action, and also needs to go through the correct planning channels.
However, in the meantime we ask for you to be thoughtful of the expectations outlined below; and imagine that the image above represents the areas that you should not be parking.
With the return to on-site learning there has been a marked increase in the number of families who are driving a vehicle to school. This has created increased traffic congestion, and some very dangerous situations which can be addressed through considering how our actions can impact upon others.
Therefore, we ask parents/carers to observe the following:
- ONLY cross at the pedestrian crossings
- DO NOT use the Riley Road gravel bowl (intersecting with Morris Road) to park and collect children. This is an accident waiting to happen!
- If accessing the Riley Road carpark, DO NOT park your car along the fence-line where students enter/exit the playground. This blocks both the view of pedestrians, and causes a traffic-jam.
- OBSERVE signed speed limits. Remember that our little people are not necessarily looking for cars when travelling to and from school.
- REPORT any concerns with traffic management to the Yarra Ranges Council and/or the School Principal.
CovidSafe Guidelines and Community Expectations
With the easing restrictions being announced by the Victorian Government, we have begun to witness a 'creep' in behaviours, with some parents/carers congregating within the school grounds. We are also starting to see siblings accessing the playgrounds during school hours; both of these behaviours are not okay given the current restrictions placed on schools.
We remind you that our school worked hard to have our CovidSafe Guidelines approved by Region, and pushed hard to allow parents/carers to access the school grounds and promote the welfare of our students. However, for the current arrangements to remain in place we must all play our part.
Please note that until further notice:
- students are unable to bring food to school to share in celebrations (such as birthdays)
- there is to be no 'playing' within the school grounds either before or after school
- parents/siblings should not be congregating within the school grounds.
We ask for your continued vigilance in adhering to our school's CovidSafe Guidelines.
Please refer to the below communication as a reminder (posted via Compass on 02/10/2020).
Withdrawal of BYOD iPad Program from 2021
As previously communicated to families in mid-late 2019, this year the school began the phased withdrawal of the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) iPad Program across Year Three- Year Six.
From the commencement of the 2021 school year, students will no longer be permitted to bring their own iPad to school.
To continue the support of digital learning across the curriculum, the school has recently purchased 70 iPads at a heavily discounted rate which will be rolled out as class-sets across the middle and senior school.
More information regarding the above will be provided to families during Term Four, 2020.
Keeping Aware of Information Relating to School
As a school we work hard to keep our families informed of happenings across the school. We acknowledge that receiving information in a timely and consistent manner can help to alleviate the pressures which come from managing a busy family calendar.
Communicating via Compass
All of our school notifications are sent via the Newsfeed within the Compass app. There is also a calendar of events within the app, which sends push notifications to users to remind them of school events.
In 2020, we are also utilising Compass for families to consent and pay in order for their children to take part in school events. The uptake and comments from families thus far is that it is so easy to do, and helpful to be able to consent at the push of a button.
In order to filter notifications which are received, you will notice that we send out notifications which are year level specific. This means that sometimes not all notifications are sent to all year levels.
Communicating with the School Administration Team
We look forward to partnering with you in 2020, and welcome your input:
USPS Inbox:
upwey.south.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Damien Kitch (Principal)
Damien.Kitch@education.vic.gov.au
Clare Bennett (Business Manager)
Clare.Bennett2@education.vic.gov.au
Janette Clarke (Office Manager)