Messages
Dear Families,
As we near the end of the second week of our Prep-2 students back at school, it has been wonderful to hear them learning, playing and laughing. I have enjoyed visiting the classrooms and seeing the happy, smiling faces. The children seem very happy to have returned and be with their friends and enjoy the interaction with one another. We now wait for our Year 3-6 students to return to make our school complete. Their return is also eagerly anticipated and I am certain that these students are excited to meet up with their classmates and teachers. Schools are happy, vibrant communities only when we have our students and staff on premises. However, due to current guidelines we are missing the daily presence of parents. We will feel complete when we are together again and we can return to normality.
Tomorrow, Friday 5 June: Year 3-6 teachers (planning and preparation for return to school).
There will be no online class hangouts with optional activities set for this day. Please note that teachers will not be available and feedback won't be provided.
Next week on Tuesday 9th June, we will welcome back all Year 3-6 students.
Please see below for the letter sent home yesterday with all of the details.
Please remember to call the school, 96992928, and leave a message on the line to report an absence if your child won't be attending school or online learning. Do not email as the staff member may be away and therefore the message won't be received.
Public Holiday
Monday is the Queen's birthday public holiday, therefore, the school will be closed for all students.
New Drop Off and Dismissal Times
As we welcome the return of our Year 3-6 students, please take note of the new times and protocols for Drop off and Pickup beginning Tuesday 9 June:
MORNING DROP OFF
- 8:35am Siblings (family groups) arrive
Prep siblings are to enter via Learning St gate and go straight to their classroom
Years 1-6 siblings enter via main gate and line up on the basketball court with their teacher - 8:40am - 8:50am All non siblings arrive. Preps entervia Learning St gate and go straight to their classroom Year 1-6 enter via main gate and line up on the basketball court with their teacher
AFTERNOON PICK UP
- 3:00pm - All family groups (siblings) from Prep-Year 6 (including twins, triplets etc)
- 3:10pm - Non-siblings Prep/Year 1
- 3:15pm - Non-siblings Year 2 and 3
- 3:20pm - Non-siblings Year 4-6
Temporary changes to Specialist Timetable and Break times
There have been some changes to the Specialist Timetable until the end of term. Students are to wear their sport uniform on the following days for PE lessons:
Monday - Year 4
Tuesday - 3L, 6B, Year 2, Prep M
Wednesday - Year 5, Year 1
Thursday - 3M, Prep S, 6F
Staggered Breaks
Beginning next Tuesday, we will be implementing different break times for various year levels. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Year 3/4 will have Morning Break from 10:20-11:00am and Afternoon Break from 1:00-1:40pm. This will be the same for Year 5/6 on Thursday and Friday.
This change will only be temporary as recommended by the Chief Health Officer as it impacts the school in the following ways:
- interruptions to both Literacy and Numeracy blocks of learning;
- disconnect between students and staff, ie, buddies will have limited time together;
- outside noise level will interfere with inside learning;
- timetabling of Specialist classes and Instrumental lessons;
- difficulties coordinating whole school events e.g masses, incursions (when allowed).
If your child will be going outside for the Afternoon Break at 1:00pm OR if they have a specialist class finishing at lunch time, it is strongly recommended that they do not order hot lunches. It is important that students have sufficient time to eat shortly after it arrives. I understand that this will be complicated but if you are unsure, you can message your child's teacher.
Please note that it is not compulsory for schools to implement staggered breaks. The staggered breaks will only occur until the end of Term 2.
IMPORTANT Musical Update
Unfortunately due to COVID-19, we have had to postpone our school musical - Mary Poppins Jr - that was scheduled for Thursday 6th August.
We have tentatively scheduled in a musical week for Term 4, Week 8, Monday 23rd to Friday 26th November. The new venue and format of the musical will depend on Government restrictions at the time. Unfortunately, Firbank is unavailable for the remainder of the year.
The main cast have continued rehearsals throughout the Home Learning period. Musical rehearsals for all classes will resume in Term 3.
We look forward to bringing Mary Poppins to life and presenting this magical show.
Ms Carnovale
Learning and Teaching
Mary Poppins Rehearsal
This week we had a whole cast Mary Poppins Rehearsal. Throughout our Home Learning the cast have had online rehearsals and have worked very hard to complete the show online! What an experience that was! Well done everyone.
The Year 2s have been learning about fractions of a shape and set. We wrote out pizza orders and made the pizzas using our knowledge of fractions.
We have been learning and writing different types of poetry. We are creating poetry anthology.
Borrowing from the school library will begin on Friday June 12th.
Children need to bring back books from last term and a library bag to borrow on their library day:
Monday - Prep S, Year 1, Year 3, Year 5, Year 6
Friday - Prep M, Year 2, Year 4
Lunch Orders
Lunch orders can be ordered online daily via www.flexischools.com.au. If your child has a specialist subject before lunch, we recommend you don't order lunch on that day.
Student Pilates
Year 3-6 student pilates session will be on again tomorrow at 1.30pm. The link can be found in the parent calendar. Prep-Year 2 have the opportunity to participate with their class if the teacher has the time to fit it in.
Cyber Safety - TikTok
You might remember an old app called ‘Musical.ly’, well TikTok is its rebrand. The app allows users to create and share music videos. Some of the problems associated with Musical.ly have been solved, you can delete TikTok accounts and making them private is much easier. However, there are still many things for parents to watch out for and be concerned about.
Firstly, new accounts are public by default. This means that until you change the privacy settings other users can see your videos, message you directly and even use your location information. This is easily fixed, but needs to be done so that you can control the amount of information you are sharing and with whom. Whilst the age limit is 13+ a separate section has been set up for younger users which allows them access to ‘clean’ version and more age appropriate videos. Another benefit is that they can’t comment or post their own videos.
Unfortunately bypassing these features is only a falsified birth date away. TikTok can be a lot of fun, but if you allow your child to use it, it will require active supervision on your part to ensure that it is a positive experience and does not expose your child to unwanted attention from people they don’t know in the real world.
How can you make your child’s TikTok account private?
To make your child’s TikTok account private:
1. Go to your profile page and select the three-dot icon in the top-right corner
2. Select Privacy and Safety
3. There, toggle the switch for "Private Account."
4. You can also select who can send you comments and direct messages, and who can do a duet with you. Using the "Friends" setting or turning those features off completely limits contact with strangers.
D.O.G.S. Social Night
Thursday 18th June at 7:30 - The Montague Hotel, 355 Park St South Melbourne.
Due to restrictions, this event is RSVP only.
Please RSVP as soon as possible, so that I can work out numbers with the venue -dogs@gsm.vic.edu.au.
All attendees must order a meal on the night.
Richmond v Hawthorn will be playing on TV.
Would be great to see you there.
Responsible social distancing to be practised on the night.
James
Kiss and Go
The trial of our Kiss and Go
along the Bank Street frontage of the school has proved to be a success in the mornings. It is important to note that this area is now a 2 minute drop off only and replaces the 5 minute parking between 8:35am-9:00am Monday to Friday.
For Child Safety, children must stay as close as possible to your vehicle as they make their way to the footpath. It is suggested that bags be kept inside the car to avoid having to access the car boot. Parents must remain inside the vehicle.
Joke of the Week!
Q. Why shouldn't you write with a broken pencil?
A. Because it's pointless
Simon Millar
Principal