Principal's Message

Here we go again....

I am so sorry that we find ourselves in Remote Learning again.  

Friday we moved to our Check-Ins over Zoom and Google Meet with updated Choice Boards. Thank you to everyone for your messages of support, including to your class teachers, as they quickly adapt to Remote Learning. 

Today we start our full program of Check Ins, Small Group Literacy and Numeracy instruction with additional Set Tasks and Choice Boards to provide for some elements of non screen tasks.

Each Learning Centre has a day of Specialist classes, although these may be completed across the week, classroom teacher plan on this day with all Specialists planning on a Monday. There will still be check ins on these days.

We juggle supervision onsite for students from families where there is no supervision possible at home or those experiencing vulnerability. More details in Important Information.

If you need anything please reach out, a call through to the school can be helpful or contact teachers via email. 

Please see Important Information for Tips and Strategies for managing through this time.

I would also remind everyone that even though we definitely need your support of your children through Remote Learning, that you can be the coach, rather than the teacher and that there are days where students will struggle to bring their best efforts and other days where they will be great. I guess just like us!

There's no holding us down..

Dance troupe rehearsing their dance for the School Production Lion King Junior thank you Miss Kitteringham.

Remote Learning Schedules

These Remote Learning Schedules will apply from Monday August 9 until our return to site (tap/swipe across for schedules F-6). 

Classroom teachers and Specialist teachers will continue to differentiate instruction where possible, to meet the needs of all learners. Where appropriate, for students with disabilities and/or additional learning needs, teachers will be guided by and consider the student’s stage of learning and individual education plan. Families of children who are currently enrolled in intervention programs such as MiniLit or the Tutor Learning Initiative may be contacted by teachers/tutors.

ICAS

Please note, that both Writing and the Digital Technology ICAS assessments, originally scheduled for the 10th and 12th of August, this week have been postponed until Term 4. New dates will be communicated once they become available.   If you have any questions, please direct them to Matt O’Hern.

Matthew.O’Hern@education.vic.gov.au

Event Information

Although our last return to onsite schooling was a huge few days we are so grateful we went ahead with the 100 Days of Foundation, Indonesian Day, 5/6 Athletics and our Parent/Teacher Interviews because we are never sure what's ahead. In the same spirit of juggling our events we have decided to take our disco online again thanks to the Masked DJ we hope to distribute our glow sticks to all students before Friday 27th August. It's not the same as having it onsite but we hope it gives everyone something to look forward to as it was lots of fun last year. We will postpone the start of I.C.E. and Junior Rotations - please be patient with us as we try to get this happening.

Science Night again will be cancelled for our Kindergarten and Foundation students as will Family Night. We will postpone  our Senior Maths Night and replace with a Wellbeing Night showcasing to parents our Wellbeing programs across the school, via video conference, with more details to come.

Disco: online on the evening of Friday 27th August.

Parent Wellbeing Night: online for parents on Thursday 19th August 6-7pm

Student Representative Council Meetings

Where: Google Meet

When: Tuesday 1:30pm 

What: SRC Catch up

Families of SRC reps will receive an email from Miss Campbell and Miss Glen has posted the details to Seesaw for the Junior reps.

From the School Council President

When we last wrote a School Council update, I did not expect that we would be back in another lockdown again (number six!) so soon. Practice doesn't always make perfect! If you or your children are finding recent lockdowns harder than previous ones, know you're not alone. It's ok to not be ok at the moment. There are some great resources available including the Parenting Anxious Children forum posted about in last week's school newsletter. I'll also pop a link to a podcast on resilience that some parents (including me) found helpful on the Facebook page. I'd love to know what you've found helpful too!

School Council is continuing to meet via Zoom through this period. Although Council had approved a curriculum day for 13 August, this has now been deferred to enable it to (hopefully) be conducted without restrictions in a way that is most beneficial for staff professional development. A new date will be announced as soon as possible. The 1 November 2021 curriculum date is still in place. 

Even when we're not onsite, there's a lot happening at school including the finalisation of the Inclusive Playground and engagement of a project manager for the Kinder Playground. As a number of our community events have been deferred or adapted to allow for ongoing COVID restrictions, Council are keen to hear from you about how our community can stay connected in this time - if you have ideas big or small you can speak with any School Councillor directly or email me at rebecca.smith6@education.vic.gov.au. 

Rebecca Smith

School Council President