Messages

Dear Families,

On Sunday, the Victorian Premier provided information on his upcoming plans for managing COVID-19 with relevant details for school communities listed later in this communication.

At Galilee, like all Victorian schools, we are governed by strict rules and guidelines, particularly with regards to students attending onsite. We understand that the current situation is challenging for many, if not all of us.

Myself and the staff have our own challenges but we are very focused on assisting families to provide a stable and supportive environment for our students. I am aware that many are finding it difficult being separated from friends and family and not being able to do daily activities that are important to the wellbeing of the children.

The timeline released means that Remote Learning will continue next week and the first

week of Term 4, 5-9 October, for all students.

Onsite supervision for children of permitted workers and vulnerable students will continue to be provided consistent with existing guidelines.

Students in Prep to Year 2 will return to full-time onsite schooling on October 12. The existing remote learning program will not

continue for these year levels. Remote and flexible learning will continue for all students in Year 3 to Year 6 other than for children of

permitted workers and vulnerable students.

Years 3-6 Students will continue with remote and flexible learning. A date for the return of these year levels to face-to-face learning will be subject to further health advice. No specific date for Year 3-6 students has been set by the Victorian Government.

During the staged return, outside school hours care will be available to students attending for on-site supervision, students of permitted workers who are eligible for childcare and progressively for the relevant year levels returning to on-site learning.

Vacation care (TheirCare) may operate during the school holidays but only for students who have been eligible for on-site supervision at school and have been eligible to access Childcare in Term 3.

In Term 4, School staff will be required to attend school at times when they are delivering onsite learning or supervision, including the allocation of additional classes as required consistent with the current agreement. At all other

times, they should continue to work remotely where possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support of all of our students and staff.

Learning and Teaching in the Middle Years

Year Three

In writing, the Year 3 students have been learning how to write haiku poems. A haiku is an unrhymed three-line poem. It is based on a traditional Japanese poetic form. Though there are different ways to write haiku, the traditional pattern in English is to write the first and last lines with five syllables each, and the middle line with seven syllables. In other words, the pattern of syllables looks like this:

Line 1: 5 syllables

Line 2: 7 syllables

Line 3: 5 syllables

Most haiku poems are about seasons or nature. The students were asked to write a haiku poem about nature. Here are some examples:

The students have been learning about the Parable of the Sower. Throughout the term, they have engaged in a Science experiment to investigate the rate of growth of a seed placed in a cupboard and placed on a windowsill. The students compared the results.

Harry M explains the changes to the seeds in detail below.

Henry L and Claire G show what their seeds look like on different days.

Year Four

In Reading, the students have been comparing and analysing two different texts presenting the same idea. Here are some of the comparisons.

In Science, the students conducted an experiment to investigate which bag would hold the most items and which material was the strongest to support the weight.

Art

In Art lessons, the Year 3/4 students created colourful images of a ‘Big Bird’ focusing on using fine brush strokes for the feathers.

The students also experimented with blending colours to achieve a vibrant sunset

scene with silhouettes in the foreground.

Performing Arts

Thalia R in Year 1 demonstrates locomotor and non-locomotor moves in the video below.

The Year 3/4 students have been learning about Baranjuk, Aboriginal dance.

Cooper S responds to the Baranjuk Dance video.

Premiers' Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge ends on September 19. Congratulations to the 33 students who entered and completed the challenge.  

End of Term Three

A reminder that Friday 18 September is the end of term 3. School will finish at 1:30pm for all students. The day will be a day for students to complete any unfinished work or projects, and Specialist teachers will upload optional activities.

Students Returning

Please see below an excerpt of article recently published: 

A leading Berwick primary school principal says preps shouldn’t have to repeat a year of school following months of remote learning as it would have negative impacts.

Henry Grossek, who has been principal at Berwick Lodge Primary School for 31 years, said remote learning “shouldn’t be a reason” to repeat children, which may contribute to issues of low self-esteem, as well as emotional or social difficulties.

While Mr Grossek acknowledged the pandemic had presented challenges and that some children and parents were coping with remote learning better than others, he did not anticipate more children repeating in 2021.

“Our starting point in the classes is to keep children as best as you can with their age-group peers,” he said.

“The other issue that we sometimes forget is that whilst adults make decisions quite rightly on behalf of children, it is the children in this case who would have to repeat and deal with the potential consequences. In this case it more than likely be negative.”

This was a sentiment also echoed by Julie Sonnemann, a school education fellow at the Grattan Institute, who said “research clearly shows that repeating a year has a negative effect on students’ learning given the stigma surrounding it”.

She said schools should invest in “catch-up efforts” in term four and early next year, with small group tutoring and targeted literacy and numeracy interventions.

A spokesperson for the Education Department said it did not expect an increase in the number of prep students repeating in 2021.

“Our teachers and schools are doing an outstanding job identifying students who may need additional support and put in place targeted learning strategies for those who need it,” the spokesperson said.

School Fees

We are currently reconciling the fees and charges that have been paid by families and what is outstanding from 2020. The

final instalment of school fees was due on August 21 unless a prior agreement had been made with the school Principal. 

As a school, we realise that our fees include anticipated (or agreed costs) in relation to extra-curricular items such as camps and swimming lessons. For some events that did not occur (or will not occur in Term 4) we will be offering a rebate to our families who have paid the school fees in full by 18 September 2020. The rebate (if available) will be balanced against additional costs such as cleaning and digital technology and carried forward and applied against 2021 fees for our continuing families. 

For our families not at Galilee in 2021, alternative arrangements will be made. However, before the school can make a decision on the amount of the rebate, the Victorian Government needs to

confirm the status of education in Term 4. Until this is announced, we are unable to list any potential rebates as we have events set down in the calendar for the remainder of the year with the status yet to be confirmed. 

We have also deferred the $200 late fee to allow those families not on an approved payment plan, sufficient time to bring

their accounts up to date. The late fee will apply to accounts not settled by 18 September 2020. 

As stated in our 2020 Schedule of Fees and Charges on the school website: If parents fail to communicate or adhere to agreed payment plans after the above attempts have been made, the following actions may occur:

• Camps/excursions/incursions/Grad impacted;
• Semester Reports withheld;
• Debt Collection agency engaged, and as a last resort: enrolment status may be impacted.

Please contact Wendy Dalton if you are unable to reconcile school fees (and are not on an agreed payment plan) by September 18.

Tic Tok Blocked

Over the last few weeks, the app Tic Tok has been in the news for a number of different reason. This week, many videos were uploaded to this site that are not appropriate for children. 

We have mentioned in previous newsletters that students should not be using this app. For safety, we have decided to block access to Tic Tok from all Galilee student accounts. 

TheirCare

Let the Challenges begin!

The children couldn't wait for 'I Challenge You Week'.

Annabelle, Evie, Jacob, Jai, Roger, Matteo, Jack, Leonardo, Sebastian, Dieo, Matilda, Charles and Lachlan competed in various challenges to earn points for their team. Gemma even joined in on the fun and to make the teams even. 

These were the challenges the children participated in:

• Fast Wheelbarrow race
• Sardines
• Number basketball
• Long jump
• Musical statues and knockout
• Running races
• Monkey bar strengthening
• House of cards
• Football- Jacob and Charles have been playing football. Annabelle, Evie, and Gemma joined in on a game of Jack in the Pack which showed how good our kicking skills were.

The children's highlights of the week were:

Lachlan and Jacob said they loved competing in all the running races.

Jai became a master in the house of cards construction challenge and showed off his creative side.

Charles' highlight was improving on his distance when kicking the footy into the goals.

Deio's highlight was taking part in the house of cards challenge where he had to investigate ideas that represent his thinking and problem-solving. 

Jack became socially involved in all the challenges and did his very best.

Annabelle and Evie also really enjoyed participating in the house of cards challenge.

Friendly Reminder

For care next week (last week of term) and the school holidays, permits will continue to be required for care provided. The Holiday Program is now only available to those children who have been attending home schooling at school and then coming to Gosh. This decision has been made by Simon Millar our School Principal.

If you are attending Gosh, the children will need their hat and own water bottle. The 'No hat, no play' rule will be in place.

I hope you're all keeping well and staying safe!

Gemma

Scripture of the Week

Simon Millar

Principal of Galilee