Welcome Back

Welcome back to all students, families, friends and staff for the 2022 school year. What a wonderful thing it is to warmly greet friendly faces and establish familiar routines again. After such upheaval in 2020/21, it’s timely to notice the things which we used to take for granted, which now give us most pleasure. I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful break after such a hard year. I had a great time with my family down at Gippsland Lakes (happy to report I did catch some fish for dinner) as well as swam in the surf and played beach cricket at Phillip Island.

At the present time due to COVID-safe practice, adults are not permitted in the school buildings unless they are double vaccinated. If you wish to see a teacher please make an appointment with them through Dojo. We are not in a position to have large groups of people meeting in indoor spaces at the moment. In the event you are required to meet with a teacher, all visitors must sign the entry and exit book at the main school office entrance. Please respect our health safety arrangements and co-operate with these measures, to ensure the safest conditions for all staff and students at our school. Please use Class Dojo to communicate with the teachers if you do not need to meet face to face with them.

We are following the Department’s guidelines to deal with Covid 19 and have air purifiers in each classroom, ventilation through open doors and windows, everyone using hand sanitiser and social distancing as much as possible.

Student drop off and pick-up arrangements remain at the designated signed year level gates. Adults are kindly reminded to observe social distancing as a health measure for our community. In addition, encourage students to use the pedestrian crossings rather than crossing the road elsewhere. Parents are children’s greatest role models – so YOU SHOULD ALSO DEMONSTRATE USING THE SCHOOL CROSSING. Our school is very congested with traffic in the mornings and afternoons. Using the pedestrian safe routes is strongly advised and encouraged. Remember to use the ‘Kiss-and go’ zones correctly for the benefit for all and to not cause traffic congestion.

It has been a very smooth start and I thank our fantastic staff for their wonderful contributions over the holidays. Many showed great commitment by giving up some of their holidays to set up rooms ensuring the year starts smoothly. I would like to welcome new families who have joined us this year and I am sure they will enjoy being a part of the CEPS school community.

On Tuesday we welcomed the Foundation children who have begun their first day at school. The teachers have created a lovely work area for our Foundation grades. I again thank the Foundation team, Chelsea Kubic, Kerrie Presnell & Amy Gridley for their preparation over the past couple of weeks.

Staff Welcome

We welcome new teacher Mairead Judge to Year 5 at CEPS as well as Paul Birnstihl an Integration Aide this year in the Year 1 area. We also welcome Rebecca Crawford who is teaching in the 3/4 area and was one of our tutors last year. We are also in the process of employing tutors and more integration aides.

Foundation Free Wednesdays

Moving forward the Foundation students will attend full school days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. They will not attend school on Wednesdays 9th, 16th, 23rd of February and the 2nd of March as these days will be used for specific academic assessments for each of the Foundation children individually. Notification of test times will be sent to Foundation families.

Monday March 7-14th will be the first week Foundation students attend all 5 school days.

Vaccinations

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around 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, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 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): https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022

To book an appointment

You can book 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 also 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 are available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations.

👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers

Classroom Dojo

Shortly, you will receive notification to accept connection to our in-school communication app Classroom Dojo. Please respond as soon as possible to this invitation, approving and permitting communication between your child’s classroom teacher and yourself regarding whole school briefings and individual messaging.

Toilet Grant

We have been successful in applying for a grant to refurbish our student toilets at the end of the main building. James Merlino (The deputy Premier) has sent a confirmation letter to the school and part of it confirms the funding as follows:

“I am delighted to approve funding of $499,127.00 for a ‘Refurbishment of student toilet block to improve amenity, cleanliness and hygiene’ at Cheltenham East Primary School through the Minor Capital Works Fund Round 2 – 2021.”

This project will be started at some stage this year and there will be more communications to come to keep everyone in the loop.

Parent Participation at CEPS

A feature of an effective school can be measured in part by parent participation and input. At CEPS we welcome and encourage parent participation as it supports everything we do. This year our participation will look somewhat different to past years as a result of COVID-safe practice. We are not in a position to invite our entire community onto the school site, as we cannot police the acceptable density limits for individuals in indoor spaces. It is our hope, that as the year progresses, parents will be given many opportunities to be involved in the school and I encourage all parents to offer their assistance where and when possible.

Please consider your involvement in the following:

Class Representative Program
Working Bees
Parents’ Committee
Dad’s Army
School Council
Excursions
Sporting Events
Classroom Programs (as negotiated with classroom teachers)
Concert costume support
C.H.A.T.S – Classroom Helper And Teacher Support (requires a Working With Children Check to be visible and worn whilst in the school)

School Uniform

Our students look amazing in their school uniform. School uniform is compulsory for all students. Please ensure that uniform is clearly marked with your child’s name, particularly hats and jumpers. Thank you so much to our many families who had their children in full school uniform for the start of our school year. Please discourage children from wearing additional clothing items which are not uniform attire – in particular girls’ coloured leggings/tights. This uniform item is grey. Brightly coloured socks are also discouraged.

Contact Details

Have your contact details changed? We have already tried to phone parents and emergency contacts only to find that the phone number is no longer valid. It is absolutely vital that we can contact parents/carers at all times.

Attendance/Punctuality

“It’s not okay to be away!” Every minute counts! When students stay away from school their learning and friendships are affected. When children arrive late, they interrupt the learning of other students as well as valuable teaching time.

All children who arrive after 9am must report to the office area first, prior to going to the classroom. This will avoid an “unexplained absence” SMS from the school. We really look forward to the support of our families in ensuring our students absolutely maximise their educational possibilities by being here ON TIME, EVERY TIME. Your commitment to and interest in your child’s education is absolutely vital to their success at school.

Sun Smart School

We are a Sun Smart school and as such children are required to wear a school approved legionnaires or a wide brimmed hat from mid-August to end of April when participating in any outdoor activity (eg lunch times, sporting activities, excursions etc). They are also encouraged to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the day. On extreme hot weather days the school will be running a Sweat Day timetable where children stay inside. This will be at the discretion of the Principal.

Works at School

Over the holiday period our new look eating area had some tables installed. It is a very nice area to eat lunch in and sit around and chat. The garden area has a drip system installed with a timer to water the plants. Unfortunately there were a couple of gum trees which have died over the Summer break. These will be replaced as soon as possible under the warranty we have with the company.

Our handyman Jon has been busy cleaning up and fixing issues around the school. He is going to add more seating around the music area by recycling some of the old seating removed from the eating area.

New mulch and sand will be put down in the playground areas and the annual check to the health and safety of all the trees on the school property will occur in the month of February.

Healthy Food

At CEPS, a whole school approach to building a school culture in which students actively choose nutritious foods and a healthy lifestyle is encouraged with parents, teachers and students working together. Our Canteen and Healthy Food Service Policy (available on the school website) details this further.

‘The healthy foods message will be maintained consistently in all parts of the school operation, including fundraising activities involving food products. Treats such as sweets or chocolate will not be used as rewards for good effort in the classroom.’

‘Cakes and sweets are not to be brought into the classroom to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays. Other avenues to provide recognition for birthdays or a job well done will be utilised.’

The external food provider Classroom Cuisine will continue to service our school in 2022 on the days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The first day of operation is Wednesday February 3rd.

Website to register/login and further details:

https://classroomcuisine.com.au/login

Please refrain from including nuts and nut products in lunchboxes, in support of those children at our school with life-threatening food allergies.

I thank you for working in partnership with the school to create a positive impact in the education of good health in the lives of our students.

Thought For the Week

Principal

Wayne Bach

Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO HAD THEIR JANUARY BIRTHDAY IN THE HOLIDAYS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR BIRTHDAY BACK AT SCHOOL!