Surfside Primary School Newsletter

Out and about with Mr Walsh

Welcome to Surfside Alison

On Tuesday you may have seen a new face at the front desk. We would like to welcome Alison Giuricin to the Surfside staff. Alison was the successful applicant for our recently advertised Administration position (this is to replace Sarah who was successful in picking up a Business Manager position at Mandama PS at the end of 2019). Alison comes to us from Montpellier PS and has a wealth of school administrative  expertise. Please feel free to drop in and say hello to Alison and introduce yourself if you get a chance.

COVID-19 (Corona Virus) Department of Health and Human Services Update

On Tuesday the Premier, Minister for Health and Victorian Chief Health Officer announced that preparations are well underway to manage the growing risk of an emerging COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Victoria.

Victoria is well-prepared to deal with an outbreak, and the Department of Education and Training is working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to plan for and respond to the likely impact on our schools.

Hygiene

Good hygiene practices are the most effective means of minimising the spread of Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Schools have a responsibility to help stop the spread of infection by providing soap and other hygiene consumables to support good hand hygiene. Staff, students and families  can protect against infections by practising good hand and respiratory hygiene.

Here are some tips that everyone at our school can follow:

Prevention – advice to students and families

At home:

  • If you feel unwell or have any flu like symptoms do not come to school. Phone your GP.
  • If you or a member of your family test positive to COVID 19 please notify the school immediately by phoning the administration team on 5256 1411

At school:

  • If you need to cough or sneeze please do so into your elbow, not your hand.
  • If blowing your nose please use tissues and dispose of them in a bin or toilet after use.
  • Wash your hands regularly using soap and running water for 20 seconds. Dry them with paper towel or using a hand dryer. Put the towel in a bin.
  • Wash your hands regularly, using soap and water, including after using the toilet, and before eating. Alcohol-based sanitiser (greater than 60 per cent alcohol) is a good back-up if soap and water is not readily accessible.

Any updates that are required for our school community will be communicated via compass and email if required.

School Council Representatives - 2020

We would like to congratulate the following members who have been nominated as school council representatives for 2020 and look forward to them attending our school council meeting on Tuesday 17th March following our AGM:

  • Rose Roberts
  • Ricky Davis
  • Georgina McCowan
  • Andrea Hickey
  • Linda Giggins

A good news story - Teamwork

I just wanted to highlight a good news story that landed in my inbox regarding some Surfside students in the local community.

A family was riding their bikes home through Kingston Park at the end of the school day. They came across a group of Surfside students. One of the students was experiencing some handle bar issues which greatly slowed his journey home. The group he was travelling with just waited patiently for him. 

They were sticking together as a group!  No intention of leaving without him! - “No kid left behind!” 

This was a great example of our school value - TEAMWORK - and that as a group they supported, helped and cared for each other to ensure that each child got home safely. Well done to all of these students and a great example of community spirit - keep up the great work!

Privacy Information for Parents and Carers of Surfside Primary School

During the ordinary course of your child’s attendance at our school, school staff will collect your child’s personal and health information when necessary to educate your child, or to support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing or health in the school context. Such information will also be collected when required to fulfil a legal obligation, including duty of care, anti-discrimination law and occupational health and safety law. If that information is not collected, the school may not be unable to provide optimal education or support to your child, or fulfil those legal obligations.

For example, health information may be collected through the school nurse, primary welfare officer or wellbeing staff member. If your child is referred to a specific health service at school, such as a Student Support Services officer, the required consent will be obtained. Our school also collects information provided by parents and carers through the School Entrance Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) and the Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) Transition Form.

Our school may use online tools, such as apps and other software, to effectively collect and manage information about your child for teaching and learning purposes, parent communication and engagement; student administration; and school management purposes. When our school uses these online tools, we take steps to ensure that your child’s information is secure. If you have any concerns about the use of these online tools, please contact us.

School staff will only share your child’s personal or health information with other staff who need to know to enable the school to educate or support your child, or fulfill a legal obligation.

When our students transfer to another Victorian government school, personal and health information about that student will be transferred to that next school. Transferring this information is in the best interests of our students and assists that next school to provide optimal education and support to students.

In some limited circumstances, information may be disclosed outside of the school (and outside of the Department of Education and Training). The school will seek your consent for such disclosures unless the disclosure is allowed or mandated by law.

Our school values the privacy of every person. When collecting and managing personal and health information, all school staff must comply with Victorian privacy law. For more information about privacy including about how to access personal and health information held by the school about you or your child, see our school’s privacy policy: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/schoolsprivacypolicy.aspx

Throughout this notice, ‘staff’ includes principals, teachers, student support service officers, youth workers, social workers, nurses and any other allied health practitioners and all other staff at our school. This includes employees, agents and service providers (contractors) of the Department, whether paid or unpaid.