Principal's report 

I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which Kalinda Primary school gathers, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. I would like to pay my respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to everyone for Term 2. I hope you have all had a nice break. We have a really exciting term ahead with lots of excursions, our Welcome BBQ, Open Night and a further return to normalcy at school.

Hopefully, you have all seen the changes to COVID protocols that are now in place. These allow for parents to more freely come on-site for events, cohorts of students to work together, and wearing masks is no longer a requirement (although students and staff who would like to continue wearing a mask are more than welcome to do so).

A few things I would like to clarify are that we have no vaccination requirements in place for parents to visit the school for events, meetings, interviews, etc. However, if parents are volunteering in a role working directly with staff and/or students (such as attending an excursion, helping in the Kitchen Garden program or helping with PMP) then they will have to be triple vaccinated according to DET guidelines. Parents who are keen to volunteer and contribute to the school who do not meet these requirements will have opportunities to be involved in events not directly working with students. We really value having members of our parent community involved with the school and we will definitely find ways to make this work.

Also, I just wanted to clarify the rules for staff and students who are Household Close Contacts. Close Contacts will still be able to attend school if symptom free, however you will need to notify the school that they are a close contact and they will be required to complete 5 RATs over the course of the 7 days (and wear a mask at school if they are 8 or older).

Teacher Professional Practice Day

School Council has endorsed that we will have a Teacher Professional Practice Day on Wednesday 25th May. This will be a student-free day. TheirCare will provide whole day care on the day for those families that require it (please contact them to book in).

Sorry for the late notice for this day. DET has recommended the following:

The department recently reached an in-principle agreement with unions, as bargaining representatives of employees in the Victorian Teaching Service, on a proposed replacement enterprise agreement that will apply to teaching service employees (eligible employees).

If approved, teachers will be entitled to 3 professional practice days in 2022, starting in Term 2, 2022.

For Term 2, 2022 only, the department recommends schools hold their first professional practice day on the same day for all staff. Schools are not required to do this, but, where this will support effective and efficient use of the day and alleviate any workforce pressures, schools can take up this option.

This Professional Practice Day (effectively a student-free day) will be in addition to the Student Free days that have already been scheduled for 2022. The remaining Student Free Days later in the year will be:

• Monday 11th July (Term 3)
• Friday 9th December (Term 4)

Upcoming events

We have a number events coming up this term where parents will have the opportunity to come to school.

Next Thursday 5th May we will be having our free Welcome BBQ and Open Classrooms. The sausage sizzle will be open from 3:30-5:00 and classrooms will be open from 3:45-4:45.

On Saturday 21st May the school will be a polling station for the Federal Election. We will have a sausage sizzle on during the election. Would love to see lots of families coming through to vote and buy a sausage.

On Tuesday 24th May we will have an Open Night. Please make a note of this date in your calendars. We will send further details of this event in the coming weeks.

Farewell Helen Thompson

Ms. Helen Thompson has left the school from the beginning of this term. Helen has made an incredible contribution to the school supporting students with literacy support and maths extension (amongst many other learning support roles she has been involved with).

I would like to thank Helen for all the work she has done and wish her all the best.

We are currently in the process of recruiting someone to take over Helen's multi-lit and maths extension roles.

Welcome to new staff

I would like to welcome the following staff members who have begun at Kalinda in Term 2.

Mrs Christina Patane: 4S classroom teacher

Mr Tim Huntington: 6D classroom teacher

Mr David Kight: PE Teacher

Ms Katinka Drake: Tutor Learning Initiative

Ms Kate Brooks: Tutor Learning Initiative

Ms Rachel Godwin: Education Support Staff

I would also like to wish Jess Oakley and Bianca Davies all the best as they both begin family leave this week.

2023 Enrolments

Enrolments are now open for 2023. It would be great to start receiving your enrolment forms for students beginning in Foundation (or at other levels next year). The sooner we receive enrolments, the sooner we can begin planning for next year. Please find the enrolment form below and it can be dropped in at the office, sent to the school via post (Kalinda Primary School, 39-49 Kalinda Rd, Ringwood 3134) or by email to kalinda.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

For any new families to the school, you are able to book a tour via the link below:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=878858&

Shaun McClare,

Principal 

Kalinda Primary School

We are kind. We are resilient. We are respectful.