Message from the Principal Team
Principals' Update
We have thoroughly enjoyed having our student back onsite over the past two weeks in a part time capacity. We finally welcomed the Year 3/4 student on Tuesday.
Staffing Update
On Monday 1 November I will be commencing an Acting SEIL (Senior Education Improvement Leader) role through to Monday 17 January. This is due to the need for many of our staff in Region stepping into new roles including COVID management teams. I have mixed emotions about leaving CNPS for the remainder of the school term as I am excited by the learning opportunity that this new role offers and yet love CNPS and am reluctant to leave. Having said that, I am completely confident with the plan that we have developed to replace me whilst I’m out of the school. (I am still a CNPS parent and will be around and will definitely be assisting with the Production!)
As the Acting Principal role is for longer than 6 weeks, an Expression of Interest has been advertised within the Region. This process will take about two weeks and during this time, Eoghan has agreed to step into the Acting Principal role. Due to their own work and personal commitments, Erin and Jane have chosen not to step into this acting role at this time. Eoghan has many years of experience as a School Principal in Ireland working at Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath, Greystones, Co. Wicklow and St. Kevin’s NS, Greystones, Co. Wicklow.
We as a leadership team are extremely confident that Eoghan’s experience as a Principal in Ireland will hold him in good stead to take on this role. He may also choose to submit an expression of interest.
Following on, Dina Kambardis will be teaching FE for the two week period whilst Eoghan steps into the Acting Principal role. The Foundation students are very familiar with Dina as she has worked with them as a CRT throughout the year and with the Foundation students attending onsite supervision during lockdown. Dina has many years of experience as a teacher and has worked at our school for many years.
I feel extremely confident that the school is in good hands particularly with Erin, Jane and Trish supporting Eoghan through the role. Erin, Jane, Trish and Maddi are a solid team and will keep the wheels turning.
I look forward to returning to school as Principal in January ready for the 2022 School year.
Warm Regards,
Rachel
Welcoming All Students Back Onsite Fulltime
Monday 1 November will be the first day that all of our students return onsite full time. With further easing of restrictions, we will return to normal school hours for all year levels 9:00am-3:30pm. We will continue to maintain the class bubbles when learning indoors, however, students will be able to mix across classes and year levels out in the playground.
World Teachers’ Day - Tomorrow
Tomorrow is World Teachers’ Day. This is a perfect opportunity for our community to celebrate our amazing teachers and thank them for all the hard work they have done over the past two years supporting our students in and out of remote learning.
Student Attendance
All students are expected to attend onsite, unless they are formally registered as being home-schooled. Parent preference is not an approved absence reason. Schools should work closely with families that may be concerned about the return to onsite learning with the support of regional staff. The Department has communicated very clearly to schools that schools are not required to provide work for students where parents and carers choose to keep their child at home.
New Date for Curriculum Day
Earlier this term, School Council approved the change of date for our curriculum day this term. We felt that the curriculum day scheduled for Monday 1 November was too close to welcoming our students back onsite. Monday will be a normal school day and the first day that all our students return onsite together and hopefully for good.
The new date for the curriculum day is Monday 6 December.
QR Codes for Schools
The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record keeping is now mandatory in all schools to enable the effective contact tracing of any COVID-19 cases.
Visitors to school grounds must comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene. The density limit of one person per four square metres should be applied to any spaces and activities being attended by parent/carers and other visitors. The density limit applies to all persons in the space, including students.
Vaccination Requirements for Visitors to School Facilities
Any visitor or volunteers performing work in schools (including parent helpers, NDIS providers, and other operators such as incursion providers and private music teachers) are required to either have had their first dose by the 18 October or, have a booking to receive a first dose by 25 October or, are fully vaccinated by 29 November (unless a medical exemption applies) to attend on site.
We are asking all parents and carers who wish to return as a parent helper or enter the school buildings to please email through confirmation of your vaccination status. We will add this record to the Working With Children Check register. Please be aware that as you check in with the school’s QR code, you will need to show staff your double vaccination status on your phone.
Hats
A reminder that we are a SunSmart School and that all students and staff are required to wear hats when outside. Please don’t forget to remind your child to put a hat in their school bag for next week. We require students and staff to wear a hat that protects the face, neck and ears such as a broad brimmed, legionnaire or bucket style hat. Peak caps do not offer enough protection and are not recommended by SunSmart.
Love, Lee Street - Our Cookbook
Over the past 12 months we have had a team of parents slowly marinating an idea for a school cookbook. This idea is now a reality and it is spectacular. There are delicious recipes from CNPS families, students, staff and local restaurants and bars. The cookbook is now ready to pre-order and will make the perfect gift for Christmas.
School Colour Fun Run Fundraiser
We are very excited to have set a date for our School Fun Run Fundraiser - Friday 19 November. This event is replacing our school walkathon. We’re four weeks out from our School Fun Run’s Crazy Colour Day so we hope students are working hard towards creating their personal profile page.
Currently, we have raised $4724 of our $10,000 goal, so there is a way to go and I hope you’ll keep supporting us!
You can sign up for online fundraising, pick your target prize, and even become a fundraising superstar!
Sending positive vibes from the Principal Team
Rachel Corben, Erin Brown & Jane Bilby