Principal's Message

Welcome to 2022

Despite everything still dragging on with COVID we have had a settled start to the school year, with students and staff very keen to focus on learning.  We have welcomed nine new Foundation students, a host of other students across multiple year levels, as well as six new staff members.   

New staff members include: 

Miss Amanda Campbell - Primary Leader Year 5/6,  Miss Laura Trembath - Year 3/4, Mrs Jenny Ritchie - Year 12 English, Mr Lewis Monaco - Business/Mathematics/Digital, Mrs Robyn Vella Careers/VCAL and Miss Morgan Ferguson Music.  We wish Mrs Annita Steel all the very best as she has commenced maternity leave. 

Swimming Sports

Next week we recommence the 'Jacka v Ansett Competition' with the Swimming Sports. 'Will the yellow dominance continue in 2022?  Mr Lockhart has made a few comments recently about my swimming ability so I have challenged him to a match race on Swimming Sports day. Will he be too scared and stay dry?' 

We are happy to have spectators in attendance however, spectators will need to be double vaccinated.  

Out of Hours Before & After School Care

As you may be aware we are going to be able to offer Before and After School Care this year. We recently had our facility approved for use, we now have our staff in place (see below) and are almost ready to go.  

We have a few parts of our formal documentation to complete before we can begin, including adding 21 new policies.   A short survey for Child Care will be distributed shortly. Over the next two weeks parents will receive an opportunity to apply for our new service and the structure or how it will be organised, including fees etc. We are aiming to open in early March at this stage, if not beforehand. 

Childcare Coordinator:  Reana Butterworth

Childcare Assistants: Melinda Springthorpe, Trina Vaughan, Annette Hunt. 

Childcare Administration:  Errin Leach.

Active After School Sport & Fitness

We have been successful in applying for an Active Schools Grant, as we have noticed over the past few years our students have missed out on opportunities to participate in organised activities. 

This grant can be used to: purchase sports equipment, up-skill physical education teachers or engage local organisations and clubs to deliver sporting programs. Through the grant we will be able to purchase uniforms and equipment as well.  Our application has allowed us to re-establish a Basketball Competition for students of a variety of ages.   If you have any experience or would like to be involved, please register your interest at the Front Office.  We are thinking we may offer an 'Aussie Hoops' program for beginners and a primary and a secondary aged competition, depending on numbers.  If you have any thoughts, as to what nights would be suitable, please let us know. 

Rapid Antigen Test(RAT) Kits and Distribution to Schools.

Free Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits will be distributed directly to schools for the first four weeks of Term 1. Tests will be distributed to all students as soon as they are delivered. As only a small number have arrived so far we have made the decision not to distribute tests until we have enough for everyone.  We are still waiting, sorry. Please note: 

• The recommended rapid antigen testing schedule for students and staff is twice weekly (on school days).
• Tests will be provided in packs of five individual tests 
• Students should complete the tests at home.

Confirmed positive case 

Where a student is identified as a positive case, parents/carers must:

• inform the school by calling Ph. (03) 5494 3011. 

• follow the latest advice at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests

• Students who report a positive result must isolate for 7 days and not attend school during that period. 

Household contact of a positive case 

A household contact is defined as having spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility. Where a student or staff member is a household contact of a positive case, parents/carers should inform the school and isolate for a period of 7 days. 

The use of QR code check-ins and verification of vaccination status is required for visitors to our School. However, in the short-term it is preferable that parents/carers refrain from entering the school unless a prior appointment has been arranged. 

Face masks: Face masks are compulsory and should be worn at all in times when indoors.  If you require an exemption for wearing a face mask, please send a request to Mr. Lockhart. Students who had exemptions in place at the end of last year have been automatically placed on the exemption list. 

Ventilation: We have been advised that the very best approach to minimise viral transmission in the warmer months is to open windows and doors to allow ventilation wherever possible. Measures have been put into place to allow for doors and windows to be open. Air Purifiers have been placed in high risk and moderate risk areas throughout the school.

On Site Visitors

A reminder to all visitors you are not able to go into classroom areas, please only access the front office foyer area however you must be double vaccinated to be inside the building.   We are still trying to limited visitor numbers.  

Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both inside and outdoors) are required to have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 25 February 2022 if they became fully vaccinated on or before 25 October 2021. For those who became fully vaccinated after 25 October 2021, the deadline is 15 March 2022, or have a valid medical exception. 

This requirement applies to:

• a person contracted to work at an education facility and who will or may be in close proximity to children, students or staff, whether or not engaged by the education operator including casual relief teachers, NDIS providers and auditors (but does not include delivery personnel).
• Department staff who attend an education facility (such as allied health personnel)
• Staff of any other entity who attends an education facility
• Volunteers that attend and education facility and that work in close proximity to children, students or staff (including parent helpers)
• Students on placements at an education facility.

Schools must advise visitors and volunteers that they must adhere to COVID Safe requirements: physical distancing, face mask requirements, cough etiquette, and good hand hygiene.

School Building Works

College Canteen/Café in Progress

Our secondary students will be using a variety of classrooms during Term 1 as we have lost the east end of our main building due to extended building works.  We are currently negotiating with the Education Department the completion of renovations for four classrooms and the secondary toilet block.  We will keep you updated in the school newsletter. The new school canteen/café is progressing nicely and hope to be completing the fit out of new equipment, floor coverings, installation of plumbing and electrical resources very shortly as the painting has been completed. 

If you have any questions, please contact the school office on 5494 3011.

Competition Time For Students

As I mentioned last week, in an announcement made to students on the 02/02/2022 @ 2:22 p.m. 'When are the other dates & times that have more 2's in them than 02/02/2022 @ 2:22 p.m.???? '

Hint.  There are two more longer possible days/times. Another clue is the possibility of using an extra number.

Hand in your answer with name (individuals only) and year level to the Front Office. *Please note no one has submitted a correct answer as yet the time is ticking.

Competition closes at 2:22 p.m. on Tuesday 22/02/2022.