The Talk Around ... TPS 

Thank you to all in our school community for your cooperation with alternate arrangements during the return to school.  With your support, the re-entry has gone incredibly well for most students.   

We are look forward to seeing all students return to site on the 9th June. 

Once a year level has returned, all students will be expected to attend school as normal. This means if you choose to keep your child/children home after their year level has returned to on-site schooling, we can no longer support their learning from home.

This does not apply to children who need to be absent for health or medical reasons. For those families, please contact us so we can make an appropriate plan at   trafalgar.ps@education.vic.gov.au . 

This same approach is being taken by all government schools in Victoria.

Public Holiday

We remind families that Monday the 8th June is a public holiday. 

Mitigating Covid 19 contagion risk at Trafalgar Primary School

All new arrangements in relation to hygiene and social distancing will remain in place until the end of Term, 2 including:

• Restrictions on access to the school site for anyone other than immediate school staff and students
• The way we conduct parent/teacher meetings and interviews
• No school canteen for term 2
• Drop off/pick up students without getting out of the car

These arrangements are included again below with updated information for students returning in Year 3 to 6.

We understand that some families may feel anxious about this move back to classroom teaching and learning. We can assure you that this decision has been taken on the basis of the best health advice available to our state.  More information about the return to school and coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the Department’s website, which will continue to be updated:

 https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx 

Thank you for your continued support and patience during this time. We look forward to welcoming our students back to the classroom.

Enhanced cleaning regime

Our progressive cleaning plan remains in place. These things, complemented by the continuation of our staff and community’s great work with social distancing rules, should see our community as well placed as possible in these unheralded times.

Deeper cleaning takes place each night as well as progressive cleaning during the school day.  Play equipment, taps, toilets and “high touch” shared use equipment/surfaces cleaned at least twice daily are new features of this plan.

For details please see “TPS Enhanced School Cleaning Guidelines”.

Hygiene – Classroom management

The school has sourced a consistent supply of high quality soaps and sanitisers for use by our staff and students. Each classroom will have at least 3 hand sanitiser dispensers, disinfectant wipes and where water is available, soap and paper towel.

Given the benefits of washing hands over hand sanitiser, we have reconnected water to 4 classrooms, with another 4 classrooms planned.  Further, we have installed hand dryers in all the student toilets.

Social distancing

It is important that parents understand that The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has advised that a ‘venue density rule’ of no more than one person per four square metres is not appropriate or practical in classrooms or corridors, nor is maintaining 1.5 metres between students during classroom activities. Therefore, the previously established ratio of 10 students per class is no longer required in schools.  This means that when students return to school they will be in their ‘normal’ classroom with their regular peers.  

Staff and community members have received previous strong advice from the school with relation to the need for continued respect for people’s space as we work our way through this health crisis.

In support of these needs we have added signage around the school reminding all, that students are back at school but the crisis is not over.

Most Important! If staff, students or indeed members of the community are unwell:        PLEASE STAY HOME.

While it is unlikely that a staff member or student who is unwell with flu-like symptoms will have coronavirus (COVID-19), any staff member or student who becomes unwell while at school will be isolated and returned home.

Contacting the school and collection of personal equipment

Adult carers should not enter the school grounds unless absolutely necessary.  The normal policy of reporting to the Administration Office applies. 

Under no circumstances should adult carers go directly to a student's classroom including to on-site supervision after the 22nd May. 

Carers that need to collect students from the school during the day need to call the Administration Office first to arrange pickup on 5633 1566.  

Dropping students at school

School Road is always a busy place during drop-offs and pickups.  Because the Department of Education has asked that parents drop students off without getting out of the car, we anticipate a bit more congestion than usual, especially as the weather gets cooler.

Before school supervision remains unchanged and commences at 8:45 am.  Classrooms will be open from 8:50 am, as usual.  

We encourage students to arrive as close to or after 8:50 as possible so they can head straight to class.  During this challenging time we will be understanding of students being a little late due to parking difficulties.  Teachers will structure the morning routines to accommodate this.  

In order to maximise parking spaces for parents of younger children we encourage older and more confident children to walk to school.  Alternatively, consider a drop-off and pick-up point at a location a short walk from the school instead.  

Arriving early

Students that arrive early need to head to the following areas:

• Foundation (Orange Area)
• Grade 1 and 5 (Green Area)
• Grade 2 and 6 (Blue Area)
• Grade 3 and 4 (Picnic table area between the gym and the main building)

We encourage families to revisit the whole-school assembly videos (22nd May and 8th June) to assist students in understanding what is required of them.  Staff and senior students will be available to assist our junior students to get to class as required.

Bus travellers

Arrangements for bus travellers remain unchanged.  These students finish at 3:25 pm then meet as normal in the blue area.

Additional things to bring to school when you return:

• Your own drink bottle.  Students may not drink directly from school drinking taps but can use these to fill their own drink bottle.  The bubblers have been removed from the troughs.
• Bring your own lunch each day.  Lunch orders are not available.
• Students may bring their own stationary however, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has advised that it is not appropriate or practical in classrooms to social distance students. Therefore, even with enhanced cleaning regime It will not be possible for teachers to stop the sharing of equipment
• Individual hand sanitizer
• Please begin to return any material you have borrowed from school, with the exception of Chromebooks, for which specific instructions can be found below.  We understand that it may not be possible to return all this equipment at once.

Chromebooks

Computers and other devices are ‘high contact areas’ and often a source of germs in schools.  As part of our enhanced hygiene measures we are taking steps to reduce the sharing of Chomebooks and other technology devices to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. 

When students return to site they will continue to use Chromebooks as part of their learning program.  We also hope to build on the IT skills developed while working remotely. 

Year 3 to 5 Students

Families who have enrolled at our school during the remote learning period are reminded that all students in year 3-5 are expected to have their own Chromebook, purchased through the school portal.  They need to bring this device to school, charged, each day.  

Any student in Year 3 to 5 that borrowed a Chromebook (due to repair etc.) should hold on to the device they have been allocated and bring the Chromebook to school, charged, every day.

Year 6 students

All students in Year 6 will be allocated a Chromebook for their personal use at school.  Students in Grade 6 that have borrowed a Chromebook already should return this device to their classroom teacher along with the charger.

Year Foundation to 2 Students

Parents of Students in Year Foundation to 2 that have borrowed a Chromebook should return this device and charger to the Administration Office.  (Adhering to social distancing guidelines.)

The school will sanitise and redistribute the returned devices to Foundation to 2 classroom spaces.  These devices will continue to be sanitised between uses. 

Dismissal time 

To assist to reduce the number of adults congregating outside the school at any one time, including parents and carers at peak times please note the following arrangements for pick-up:

• Staggered pickup times will be introduced for families based on student surname:
  • Surnames beginning with letters  A - H will be dismissed at 3:15 pm
  • Surnames beginning with letters I - Z will be dismissed at 3:25 pm
• Once students have been dismissed they are free to walk home or meet carers at an appropriate location.  Students not walking and unable to be collected need to remain in the grounds
• Arrangements for after school supervision remain unchanged
• Arrangements for bus travellers remain unchanged

Cameron Nicholls

Principal

Last Day of Term - Early Finish

Friday 26th June is the last day of Term 2.  School will finish early.

Staggered pickup times for the last day of term are:

• Surnames beginning with letters  A - H will be dismissed at 1:20 pm
• Surnames beginning with letters I - Z will be dismissed at 1:30 pm

   Departure time for buses is yet to be confirmed.

Whole School Photos - Wednesday 24th June 2020

Whole school photos have been rescheduled to take place on Wednesday 24th June.  Please note that if you have previously placed orders back in March with Leading Image, these orders are still valid.  If you need to place an order, please see attached flyer for the the online ordering process.  If you have any queries, please contact Leading Image directly.

Semester 1 Student Reports

The Department of Education and Training has adjusted the expectations of Student Reports for Semester 1 in recognition of the transition to remote and flexible learning during Term 2.  

While our school has continued to deliver its teaching and learning program and monitor the achievement and progress of each student, there have been some unprecedented changes to our usual program.   

At Trafalgar Primary School, we know it is vital to involve students and their parents/carers in learning. This process includes providing reports on student learning. 

In response to the latest education research and in line with contemporary community expectations regarding communication, Trafalgar Primary School has used an ‘ongoing assessment’ model for some time.  This ensures families receive more frequent and accurate information about student performance at school rather than wait until the end of Semester or for a traditional school report. 

Anecdotal community feedback suggests that this way of communicating has proved to be of significant benefit during remote learning.   Carers have been able to see the planning through Google classroom and watch what happens in the classroom and how their child learns.  Our school council is already exploring how some of these practices might continue in the future. 

In the interest of our students, once all our teachers return to site, we will be taking a little more time to validate the assessment data collected while learning remotely. 

Teachers will continue to provide updates for the parent/carer of each student enrolled at the school for Semester 1. The details of our ongoing reporting arrangements for Semester 1 2020 can be viewed on our school website here: https://www.trafps.vic.edu.au/communication/reporting-to-parents 

If you have queries regarding your child’s progress, parents/carers may contact their classroom teacher to arrange an appropriate time to discuss this further. 

Thank you for your continued support during remote and flexible learning.  

University of NSW - ICAS Competitions

Trafalgar Primary School is committed to providing opportunities for all students to be challenged and extended in their learning.  Students in Years 2 to 6 will have the opportunity to compete in the highly regarded International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (I.C.A.S.) through the University of New South Wales.  The competitions are not compulsory. 

I.C.A.S. Assessments will be completed online. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results.   Learn more about I.C.A.S. at unsw.global/ICAS

See attached flyer for sitting dates and cost of the tests.   Please note that online payments will close on Monday 10th August 2020.

Return to School - Foundation to Year 2

Calm Kid Central - For the Gippsland Victoria region – access from your home devices

Calm Kid Central is an online program run by Developing Minds child psychologists - which helps kids 4 to 11 years old feel calm, confident and co-operative.

It does this by providing an online website portal giving parents/carers and professionals (working with children) access to: 

1.  A panel of 6 Clinical Child Psychologists – who will answer unlimited questions (written form) from all parent/carers about child wellbeing/anxiety/frustration/development/how to help/respond to and support children to deal with challenging emotional/peer/learning/life situations. All questions are answered within 48 hours.

2.  A series of animated videos for children (which can be watched on their devices) which help them manage worry, learn to calm down when they are mad or anxious, get along better with their friends/siblings, relax their body, cooperate with adults, use calm words and much more. There are also activity sheets for children to complete and conversation guides for parents to use to help both kids and parents to talk about these topics.

3. Videos, articles and conversation guides for parents to help them feel more confident and calm in supporting kids. These videos and articles help adults know exactly *what to say and do* when dealing with kids who are anxious, frustrated, have meltdowns, don't listen and worry a lot. 

We aim to solve problems such as "What to ask children when they are frustrated/worried", "How to use praise in helping children manage big feelings", "Helping children fight less with their siblings" and much more. Each video includes a recording of a child and parent/carer talking about tricky problems so adults can hear exactly what to say to kids to help them learn.

This program is funded by Gippsland Primary Health Network and therefore available for FREE to families with children who are primary school aged and live in the Gippsland Region. Also FREE for professionals who work with primary school aged children in the Gippsland Region.

Parents/carers go to:  www.calmkidcentral.com and use access voucher code FIRSTYEAR

Professionals go to: www.calmkidpro.com and use access voucher code FIRSTYEAR