Dear Families,

Earlier this week, we sent a video message via Class Dojo, congratulating our whole community for the positive way we have commenced Remote Learning 2.0.

One important message given was the significance of staying connected with friends and family during this time. Aim to arrange some quality family time in your households to spend time together to either play board games, complete puzzles or go for a walk. It is also important for the students to connect with each other, even for a quick hello on FaceTime.

We reminded the students to make the time to go outside and get fresh air everyday and not to worry if they can't complete all the tasks. If you were unable to collect learning packs from school, call the office to arrange a time to pick it up.

Our staff and students onsite have been wearing their masks everyday. We have seen some bright, colourful patterned masks. Miss Evans and Tae Yoon show their masks below.

COVID-19

I'm sure you're all aware of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria today. Our prayers are with the many families of those impacted in recent weeks; we pray also that every member of our Galilee community remains safe and well. Please see below a prayer by Pope Francis and Maya, one of our students in 2E.

While we are yet to have anyone test positive to COVID-19 in our school community, we have had a number of staff test negative with symptoms.

Onsite Learning

Currently, we are providing Remote Learning for all of our students with some being onsite each day. We have a number of staff onsite each day to provide supervision for those who have parents unable to work from home or are considered vulnerable. I am proud of the staff who are willingly providing this generous level of support. We are encouraged to work from home if we can but schools have remained open alongside essential services.

Safety Protocols for Onsite Learning

Currently we are gathering all onsite students in the hall and separating them into year levels. With the safety of all students and staff at the forefront of our decision-making, as of Monday next week, (August 3) we will separate the children into three groups, dependent on year level. Each group will be allocated to a learning space, utilising two classrooms and the hall. This will reduce the number of students and staff working in a common area.

We cannot fully separate the children for the entire day. They will still play together during breaks and the afternoon session, either in the hall or in the playground. But all possible measures will be implemented to keep students and staff safe and well.

We are administering safety protocols for students and staff but social distancing is not always possible when supporting young children in their learning. Ensuring that we have the smallest number required onsite will provide a safer environment for all. Due to an increase in positive cases, we encourage you to consider all possible supervision alternatives to onsite learning for your children, for their own safety and for the safety of other students and staff.

Prayer Intentions

Please see the prayer that Maya has shared with her class this week sent in by Miss Evans:

Hello everyone,

These are prayer intentions from Pope Francis about our families, having compassion for others at this time. I trust these will bless you and your family.

https://clicktopray.org/pray-with-the-pope/

Helen Rochecouste

REL

Learning and Teaching in the Middle Levels

In English, the Year 3 students have been busy writing letters to their pen pals in New South Wales. They have focused on setting out their letter correctly and including detail to their letters.

Year 4's are learning about the different types of poetry. They wrote acrostic poems this week. An acrostic is a poem in which the first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase.

In Mathematics, the Year 3's have practised telling the time to the quarter hour using 'past' and 'to', on their very own handmade clocks.

In Art lessons this week, the Year 3 and 4 students listened to the story 'Where the Wild Things Are' and created their own wild thing. The students had to draw it first, trace it with a black marker and then colour it. Here are some examples:

Annual Report to the Community

Galilee recently published our Annual Report to the Community.

Our School Vision

At Galilee students, staff and parents:

 LIVE as faith-filled global citizens who purposefully contribute to the world

 LOVE by fostering a safe, inclusive, active and positive community

 LEARN and teach collaboratively, using evidence to empower inquiring minds.

History

Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School opened its doors in Bank Street, South Melbourne in 1994, as the first Regional Catholic Primary School in Victoria, bringing together four local Catholic primary schools to create one blended school community. The four schools were: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park; St Joseph’s, Port Melbourne; Sts. Peter and Paul, South Melbourne; and Sacred Heart, St Kilda West.

2019

In 2019, we continued to have two streams of each year level from Year 1 to Year 6, and enrolled three classes of Preps, with approximately 351 students. We have experienced a steady increase in enrolments over the past few years. The teaching and learning program at Galilee caters for each student through generous teacher/student ratios and Learning Support Officers employed to work in many classrooms, allowing teachers to differentiate the curriculum to cater for the individual learning needs of each student, while challenging and supporting each learner to reach their full potential.

Galilee’s major focus in 2019 was using data to improve student outcomes in the area of Writing, particularly in Spelling. Staff were trained in Learning Sprints (setting goals based upon student data) with the introduction of SMART Spelling as a school-wide program. Our dedicated teachers, with the support of our Learning Support Officers and other administration staff, continued to develop more effective teaching practices that further personalised the learning for the students. This led to outstanding academic outcomes evidenced by improved NAPLAN results in all areas.

Building

The Building Project continued to be the main focus in 2019 with members of the Building Committee meeting regularly to discuss the Masterplan and stages for development following the successful State Government pledge in 2018 for $5 million. Plans will be submitted in 2020 with building likely to proceed in 2021, providing unique and contemporary learning spaces. Consultation was held with students, staff and parents which has led to a Masterplan featuring a new Basketball Stadium (flexible space including Performance Arts facilities) and rooftop classrooms and playground.

Birthday

2019 was a milestone year for the community, celebrating 25 years of Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School. We welcomed back Galilee’s first principal, Rosemary Williamson, and Parish Priest, Fr Bob Maguire. New sporting Houses were established to reflect the history of Galilee, previously four schools.

Achievements

Naplan

The data indicates that there has been consistency in all areas of Year 3 NAPLAN results over the past three years. Year 5 have maintained consistency in results and there has been improvement made in Grammar & Punctuation, Numeracy and Writing since 2018. There has been a greater emphasis on explicit teaching in the school with good quality professional development in SMART Spelling and the implementation of Learning Sprints to develop pedagogical practices in Writing. We have identified a need for a more structured Writing program to be introduced.

Student Satisfaction

The Student CEMSIS data rates Learning disposition at 85% and School belonging at 80%. This indicates that the students have a positive mindset about themselves as learners and that they feel they are a valued member of the community. The data also shows that 75% of students feel that their teachers hold them to high expectations of their effort, understanding, persistence and performance (Rigorous expectations), and that 75% of students feel that the strength of the social connection between the teachers and students, within and beyond the school is high (Teacher-Student relationships).

Teacher Satisfaction

The Staff CEMSIS data rates School Climate at 84% indicating that there is a high perception of the overall social and learning climate of the school. Teachers’ perceptions that staff at Galilee have what it takes to improve instruction is evident in Collective efficacy at 82%. Staff also rate Collaboration around an improvement strategy at 76%, meaning there is a high perception amongst staff that there is coherence in the school’s improvement strategy.

Parent Satisfaction

The Parent CEMSIS data rated Barriers to engagement at 86%, indicating that parent perception of factors hindering a family’s interaction or involvement with their child’s school is low (a positive result). Families feel they are welcomed and believe that communication between Galilee and home is highly effective. School climate at 82% indicates that parents feel their child has a respectful relationship with their teacher and other staff at Galilee. Parents also feel that their child enjoys coming to school and that the staff at Galilee are approachable

Digital Technology

Technology Parent Support Line - 9998 6392

This general support for parents/guardians can be accessed by phoning 03 9998 6392 between the hours of 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding Public Holidays and will continue to operate throughout the remote learning period. The service will be active from Monday, 20th July, 2020. It is important to note that in the interests of child safety, the team at Centorrino will only be able to provide support to parents/guardians and not the child themselves.

Onsite Reminders

Please remember the following important points if your child attends onsite:

As of July 23, masks must be worn by all onsite staff and students, unless exempted due to a medical condition, e.g., the school has a copy of the child's asthma plan.
Parents must notify the school by emailing Wendy (wdalton@gsm.vic.edu.au) if your child is not attending school on a scheduled day. Staffing is allocated each morning for onsite staff, so your earliest notification is appreciated.
Children must arrive between 8.40am and 8.55am. Late-comers cannot be admitted to the school grounds.
Parents must read and agree to the Health Declaration before leaving children at school.
Children showing any symptoms of Coronavirus will be unable to enter the school grounds.
Children need to bring their workbooks and packs, writing utensils and headphones each day.

Book Club

Orders for Issue 5 are due by this Monday 3rd August.

School Closure Day

As per the parent calendar, Friday 14 August will be a school closure day and no Remote Learning tasks will be set for this day.

TheirCare

To begin the week, Annabelle and Evie were the only ones in Gosh so they made the most out of it and enjoyed having the toys all to themselves, but they did miss their friends. For arts and craft, the girls created and coloured in witches and wizards using pastels and got the WOW! factor when they smudged the colours together.

Amalie was super excited that she got all the delicious afternoon tea to herself, Gemma and Amalie did a timed word search activity to see who can find the words the fastest. Amalie and I realised how much we have in common by having a long discussion about The Voice.

Jacob, Jai and Amalie have loved participating in games of poison ball on the playground, they even made adjustments to the game and added in extra lives if you catch the ball.

I am so proud of how the children are following the policies and procedures by wearing their face masks to stop the spread of germs.

Simon Millar

Principal of Galilee

Community Links

Star of the Sea College

De La Salle Year 7, 2021