From the Principal 

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is hard to believe that we are in October and have moved to daylight savings time. It is lovely to have what feels like more daylight hours after school days. The return to remote learning this term has begun smoothly as our students persist with their learning. Our wonderful teachers have provided both routine and novelty to learning online to combat the fatigue that some are feeling. We look forward to the return to onsite learning starting soon, the count down is on till the 5th of November when all of our students are back to on-site learning. As part of the Road Map, the return to school is as follows:

Next week our students will begin returning for onsite learning. There is a letter sent out today that outlined the arrangements for our students return.

 If you need any clarification or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the office. To enable social distancing at drop off and pick up times and minimise congregation of adults at entrances to the school, the Department of Education and Training has advised schools to implement staggered start and finish times from Monday 18th October as different year levels begin to resume onsite in classrooms. 

Parent understanding and cooperation will enable social distancing to safeguard everyone's health and  minimise disruption to normal school hours and teaching time. We have previously used this approach with great understanding  and support from our SPS families. It has worked well.

We ask our families to talk with their children about drop off and saying goodbye at the gate before leaving. Please talk to your children about this as a gentle reminder. Teachers will be at the gates to greet the children. Thank you for your support. From Monday the 18th, all students in years 3-6 must wear masks when inside as per the Chief Health Officers directive. Please see link for further information 

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks

As announced on Monday 4 October, the Victorian Government is investing an additional $230 million to extend the Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) for the 2022 school year. This means we will be able to maintain the tutor program and so continue the important work in providing identified students with the targeted learning support they need to address the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the last few weeks, we have had works continue on the Basketball Courts; the courts are expected to be finished by the cup weekend; we are sure all students will be very excited to share and use this amazing space.

The creation of 2022 classes and the placement of our students is a complex process requiring many factors to be taken into consideration. Parent information is one part of the process, along with the carefully considered information that teachers gather through their daily work with their students, including their detailed knowledge of their students as learners as well as the way they work and interact with others. Parents wishing to provide confidential information to assist us in the process of student placement should download a ‘Class Placement of Pupils’ form click to access the form or contact the office for a hard 

copy.

Parents are requested to only provide information that may assist their child’s learning and educational needs. Requests for individual teachers will not be considered.  If you have any educational requests related to your child’s class placement in 2022, please complete a form and return to the school email – Somerville.ps@education.vic.gov.au  by Monday 1st November, 2021. All requests must be completed on the Class Placement of Pupils 2022 Form.

We are also looking at the number of classes we will have in 2022, staffing and the location of our classes. There may be a change in location of some of our classes for 2022. I will be sure to keep you posted about this. Students will know their classes and where their grades will be by the State Wide Transition Day, which is on Tuesday the 7th of December. 

As in all school communities, some families relocate at the end of the year. Please advise the office as soon as possible if you will not be returning to SPS in 2022.  As you will understand, projected enrolments influence our workforce planning and class configurations. Thank you in advance for a prompt reply. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Kind Regards,

David Tapp