Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Carers,
As Phase Three of the WA Roadmap unfolds and we hear about the easing of restrictions ahead, we continue to be cautious but adaptable.
I have read about many schools reflecting on what they do and processes that they, like us, put in place to promote the safety and positive outcomes for students.
The drop off at the gate arrangements have been one that has been noted. Students arriving after 8:30am have adapted to, getting themselves to class for 8:45am, unpacking their belongings and being ready for the siren at 8:50am.
The quieter atmosphere, time for staff to prepare, meet students and get ready for the day has been widely noticed amongst schools.
Older students looking out for brothers and sisters as well as other students has been great to see here at White Gum Valley as well.
Staff have found that they are able to make more personal connections and greetings each morning.
Afternoons have enabled many staff to come out to the gates to greet parents and farewell students.
Dropping off and picking up at the gate is something we as a staff would like to promote and positively encourage but we do understand that some parents may prefer to collect their children from the school grounds. As of Monday this is possible.
The exit points for the various age groups have worked well.
To enable the school to fulfil the Health Department requirements it is important that all adults maintain a minimum 2 square metre social distancing arriving at 2:55pm and not congregating in high movement areas like verandahs/Centennial garden. We would ask that on picking up your child that the area outside of rooms be cleared by 3:15pm to assist our cleaner to undertake external cleaning.
In the mornings students [1-6] arriving at about 8:30am are to come to the Covered Assembly area. The playground is not to be accessed. At 8:45am students will be directed to classrooms. There isn’t any supervision before 8:30am.
Pre Primary students can access the classrooms at 8:45am with parents dropping off at the door. Due to space issues parent assistance with shared puzzles will be put on hold.
Meetings with teachers can be arranged and we would encourage this with prior notice, but access to classrooms will be restricted at this point in time.
The canteen will again open on Wednesdays and Fridays. Whilst the weather is fine orders will for the time being be taken at the Hope Street gate. If the weather is wet ordering will revert to the canteen, however, as students collect here before school, parents are requested to order before the siren and leave the area once an order has been placed observing the 2 square metre requirement. It is important that students get to class before the siren so they can get themselves ready for the day.
Our cleaning staff are doing a fantastic job.
The day cleaning of our school inside and out, commencing after our morning cleaners have finished is contributing to a lowering of general sickness, along with our hygiene processes being followed by students.
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate our way through Phase Three. It has been very much appreciated by our staff.
For those families that come past the school on weekends could I ask that you look out for any anti-social behaviour, especially in the evenings and if necessary ring Education Security on 1800 177 777.
Staff met recently to look at the Reporting format for the Semester One Reports.
We have taken on feedback from the Board.
The Education Department has recommended that we comment on Literacy, Numeracy, provide Learning Area efforts for other subjects, attitude/behaviour/effort overall and a concluding general comment.
Our Interview schedule couldn’t be put in place this term before the Reports go out but we have considered various options like Webex, phone calls, emails and interviews as possible alternatives. Please stay in contact with your class teacher and let them know if you would like to discuss the Report and how you would like to do this.
Semester Two will see a return to the standard Report template for December.
I spoke to students yesterday about our faction points competition. We will move to a whole school competition for the remaining 4 weeks of this term.
Our goal is to earn as a whole school, enough points for an ‘extra-long’ lunch break and a Free Dress day.
Other initiatives for the remainder of our term include: Friday lunch time Discos, bitumen chalk drawing, Friday Honour certificates and sporting gear for lunch times while we wait on our Basketball Courts to re-open.
With the current 100 indoor and 300 outdoor for groups we have decided to put school assemblies on hold until the end of term.
I am exploring with our Sporting Association schools, a possible modified Winter Sports carnival for Soccer, Netball and Football.
We can now go ahead with Friday 26 June for our School Photos day. Please return your form so it can be collected on the day. There will be class, individual and if requested, family photos.
Well done to Mrs French and the whole Pre-Primary to Year Two team for their efforts with the Old Fashioned Day run recently. The students had a brilliant time!
Students in rooms 5 and 6 were excited when a new supply of white sand arrived for the play areas.
Glenn Rondoni
PRINCIPAL