Getting to Know You Learning Conferences

Over the past week, I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of parents, children and staff to gauge their thoughts on the effectiveness of our transition into the new school year. We have spoken about all things COVID and how resilient and adaptive our children have been and how seamlessly they have returned to classroom life.

However, while only eight days into the new school year, it has become quite clear that the relationships which would naturally develop in the first weeks of school between home and school have not had the opportunity to grow due to the restrictions of school's Back-to-School Plan coupled with the COVID restrictions of the past 2 years.

Normally, we would welcome parents into the classroom to introduce ourselves, to make connections, to support the children in preparing for their day at school, to talk about the holidays or anything relevant and even just to share a story or a laugh together. And we would all begin the day together by joining in prayer, all of which develops that sense of trust.

I know teachers have sent home welcome letters, emails, made phone calls and have set up communication portals, yet nothing is the same as having the time to meet in person.

Therefore, it makes sense to bring forward our end of term Learning Conferences so that all families have an earlier opportunity to formally meet with teachers. This will mean an adjustment to our Year Prep Learning Conferences as communicated in last week's Newsletter.

So... our Year Prep-6 Learning Conferences will now be held face-to-face on Wednesday 23rd February between 2:00pm - 8:00pm.

The Learning Conferences will provide an opportunity for us to give you a brief insight into what we have been able to ascertain through various assessments to date but more importantly allow for the sharing of information between home and school. It is a 'meet and greet' with depth. A time for you to share with us those little things that we need to know to help your child experience success at school, socially and academically. And an opportunity to develop shared goals and aspirations.

As the child is at the heart of all we do, we encourage them to attend the meeting with you, at least for part thereof.

Families are to use School Interviews Online to manage bookings. Please go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and enter the event code of: r2e43 to book interviews for the times that suit your family.

Please note that all children in Years Prep to Year 6 will be dismissed at 1:00 pm this day.

Vaccination for 5–11-Year-Old Children

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement about the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.

Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so.

The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, reduce the spread of COVID-19, and ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

Vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 years old are delivered at two appointments, eight weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose three weeks after their first dose.

If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022.

To book an appointment

You can book an appointment at your local GP or pharmacy:

https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking.

You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

You can make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au.

Helping children to get their vaccination

Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options is available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

Google Classrooms

Google Classrooms have been activated for our Year 1-6 children to engage with while in forced isolation/quarantine due to COVID-19.

Each classroom contains activities to support continued learning for those children forced to remain home.

Should our Year Prep children be effected teachers will liaise with each family directly.

Obviously if children are sick we wouldn't expect them to be doing anything other than getting well.

Sports Uniform

Children are to wear their SPORTS uniform (2 days per week) on days where they are scheduled for Physical Education.

For Term 1, these days will be -

Year Prep: Thursday and Friday

Year 1/2: Tuesday and Wednesday

Year 3/4: Tuesday and Wednesday

Year 5/6: Thursday and Friday

Library Days

The children have Library sessions on the following days. Please ensure your child has their Library bag on the day so they can borrow books:

Mondays: All Year 3/4 classes

Tuesdays: Prep N and Year 1/2K

Wednesdays: Year 5/6 students borrow books with their class teachers

Thursdays: Prep L and Year 1/2 B and 1/2C

Assemblies

For the first part of term our weekly assemblies need to be conducted remotely. Assemblies are held on Monday mornings commencing at 9:00am sharp.

Families wishing to tune in, can do so by connecting to meet.google.com/wjy-dvcp-gcg

Sharing of Food

It is important to remind all children and families that at no time should children be sharing food with other children during eating times. We have a number of children with food allergies so, for the safety of all, we ask all families to reiterate the importance, with their children, of not sharing food with others.

Throughout the year, children may bring lolly bags to school to share with their classmates to celebrate their birthday; however we ask that these be distributed by the class teacher at home time and are only eaten with the permission of parents. Please do not bring cakes to school.

Toys and Valuables

A reminder to all families that toys and valuables should not be brought to school as we can't ensure the same level of supervision in the home would apply at school.

Exceptions occur if the item is needed to assist with 'show and tell' in which case it would be best to discuss with the class teacher.

Absences

Please note that it is a requirement that parents notify the school (preferably in writing) of all instances when their child may be absent for all or part of a day. This can be easily done via our school app. Alternatively you can contact the school office by phone to report an absence. Please notify us of absences prior to 9:30 am

School App

A reminder to everyone to download our school app!

Communications and updates are available via the app so it's definitely a 'must-have'.

Simply visit Google Play or the App Store and search for our school name.

School Closure Day

Please be advised that our first School Closure Day: Staff Professional Development Day for the year is scheduled for Monday 7th March. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on this day.

Have a wonderful week

God bless

Anthony Hyde

(Principal)

Prep L	All Children
Prep N	All Children
Year 1/2B	Alexander Berkis
Year 1/2C	Jacob Phan
Year 1/2K	Ivy Waterworth
Year 3/4S	Johnny Setka
Year 3/4K	George Berkis
Year 3/4R	Beau Trevethan
Year 5/6A	Isabelle Craig
Year 5/6S	Richard Stewart
Italiano	Lojan Kumar
Visual Art	-
Physical Education	-

Awards and Celebrations

February