Principal's Report
Return to School
With our Yr 3-6 students returning to school on Tuesday next week, it really feels like we are closing one chapter and opening another during this incredible year. The challenges throughout all areas of society have been immense and so many people in so many areas have approached these challenges with empathy, creativity and flexibility. As a school, I think we have done exceptionally well in coping with these changes, and for that I would like to once again thank our staff, our students and all of the parents in our community.
Our F-2 students seemed to have settled in very well upon their return to school and we expect it will be the same for our 3-6 students. Our focus is on wellbeing, engagement and connection. We view this as the beginning of Semester 2 and are keen to ensure we can support all of our students with any challenges they face and through maximising wellbeing, we are setting our students up for great academic success for the rest of the year.
Please see the details below regarding our staggered drop-off and pick-ups.
Return to School Plan
Please make sure you have a look at the Return to School Plan that was sent out via COMPASS a few weeks ago. Our aim is to maximise safety for our school community whilst also ensuring that school can be as normal as possible for all of our students.
One key part of the plan was staggered drop off and pick-up times. These staggered times were following the directions of the Department of Education and Training, particularly in terms of reducing the number of adults entering the school site.
Families with surnames beginning with A-K are to drop their children off at school at 9:00am and collect them at 3:10pm.
Families with surnames beginning with L-Z are to drop their children off at school at 9:20am and collect them at 3:30pm.
From the 9th June, when all F-6 students will be at school, only Foundation and Yr 1 parents are allowed to accompany their children on the school grounds. Everyone else is asked to drop or collect their children at one of our many school gates. Please contact me via kalinda.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au if you have an exceptional reason to accompany your child to their classroom and these allowances will be catered for.
Thank you so much to everyone with your understanding and patience with these new school routines.
Learning Specialists
Dani Thomas and Michelle Anderson have been doing an incredible job as Learning Specialists at Kalinda. A Learning Specialist is a role where exemplar teachers are able to combine a teaching role and a leadership role. Dani and Michelle have a focus on improving Teaching and Learning Practices across the entire school through supporting year level teams in planning, modelling teaching for these teams and through the organisation and delivery of Professional Learning for the staff.
On top of this, Dani and Michelle, are valuable members of our school leadership team and make valuable contributions to the overall operations and strategic decision making at Kalinda.
From this issue, we are including a Learning Specialists page on our Newsletter, where Dani and Michelle will be able to share their focus areas for learning at school, advice on how you can support learning at home and updates on any changes to teaching and learning approaches at Kalinda
Enrolments
Enrolments are now open for 2021 and it would be great to start receiving your enrolment forms for students beginning in Foundation (or at other levels next year). The sooner we receive enrolments, the sooner we can begin planning for next year. Please find the enrolment form below and it can be sent to the school via post (Kalinda Primary School, 39-49 Kalinda Rd, Ringwood 3134) or by email to kalinda.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
For any new families to the school please contact the school via email kalinda.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au or phone 9876-3289 and we will send you information about the school and organise a 1-on-1 video conference with you.
We are kind. We are resilient. We are respectful.