Welcome back to Term 2. The holidays came and went but I hope you all got a chance to spend time together as a family over Easter. Once again, the students have settled back into a learning routine from day one. Our wonderful Prep students also transitioned back well, which can sometimes be hard for them after spending 2 weeks back home with their parents. We had some students who were feeling this separation on Monday but by today they have adapted back into their school routines.

There are a couple of new things happening this term that we hope will continue to improve and build upon our practices, resources and community.

Parent Helpers weekly roster

Last term we introduced the weekly classroom schedule being sent out to all our families each week as part of our commitment to improving communication between school and home. The feedback related to this new practice has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents have been very grateful to be able to talk with their child/ren about what is coming up or even to be able to see what’s in store for their child/ren and support them with any changes.

We are now implementing stage two of this process by adding an element to these weekly posts. From Friday you will continue to receive your weekly class schedule, but this message will now also contain a link to a google document that will allow you to sign your name against times that have been highlighted in a roster to come into the classroom and be a parent helper in a range of activities and lessons.

As you know during Covid all contact in the classrooms ceased so we are very pleased to be able to now reintroduce parent helpers. The roster you sign up on will look like the sample below each week this roster may change to reflect the schedule. You do not need to commit to a full term but rather add your name each week. Every week you can opt to put your name forward if the time suits you. Our Specialists will continue to email our community via Compass as they require assistance for specific projects or activities (eg: SSS Dance, Art projects).

This new process will be undertaken by all classes from Foundation – Grade 6. The types of things that can be asked to support your child’s class might include reading one-on-one with students, practising sight words, practising times tables, assisting in a small group lesson during Literacy or Numeracy lessons, assisting with computers or IT during ICT lessons particular projects, science experiments or outdoor activities.

You will require a Working with Children’s Check, which can be applied for at the Post Office or online. Any details of this can be found on the link below.

Working with Children Check (service.vic.gov.au)

You will only need to show the office your Check the once and Cherise will take a copy of it for our files. You will need to check in at the office via Compass and with each visit. The Emergency Management of the school requires us to know how many people are onsite at any given time.

Senior Building interior refurbishment

I am also really pleased to be able to say that we were successful in obtaining a grant from Bendigo Bank to begin refurbishment and updating of the interior of the senior school building. We will begin works as soon as possible but prior to commencement there are some behind the scene preparations that need to happen, including the assessment of the walls we intend to open up. We may be able to start soon after that, but it will be dependent on the availability of the builder and his tradespeople. As you know, there is a shortage of trades. I am so pleased to be able to begin upgrading this area of the school, that is looking very dated and tired. The space no longer provides for the style of teaching we are promoting and I also strongly believe that our students deserve the best of what we can provide them, which includes a comfortable and fit for purpose space to learn.

I will keep you up to date and provide details as we move through the process. I would like to thank the Bendigo Bank for supporting this project, they have been very generous to pledge $45,000. I am also meeting formally with the Donvale and Warrandyte Rotary club in June. The are very keen to assist and value add to this project and I thank them also for reaching out to our school and taking the time to consider what our community as a school and beyond needs.

Science Workshops

For Term 2, we will be running a Science lunchtime club on Friday afternoons for students to attend workshops run by a highly trained teacher, Greg Stewart. Greg is running a 'Stones, bones and Stars' program that provides students with hands-on access to fossils, rocks and other collections that Greg has accumulated as part of his passion for Science. Greg has worked as a teacher for over 30 years which has included work at the Austin Health, CYMS behaviour school. He is a highly engaging and confident teacher who has very kindly offered to do free Workshops every Friday afternoon this term as a donation to the local community and our school. These sessions will start Friday 5th of May in the Library during lunchtime. We will see what the interest is in the first session and determine if we need to run 1 or 2 sessions. All ages welcome.

We will be running a pupil free day on Monday 29th May. As part of the new Australian Education Union Agreement we are required to give teachers 2 Professional Practice Days (PPD) in 2023. On these days teachers can work on agreed tasks or administrative duties. In a bid to support school through the teacher shortage schools have been permitted to run 1 additional pupil free day. The teachers have all agreed that they will use this day to support report writing and moderation of assessment within their teams. These PPD days are being phased out and in 2024 they will no longer occur. OurPatch will be offering a day program to support families.

Finally, we are running a Working Bee on Sunday 7th May from 9am. We will be doing the general work around gardening but we will also begin to clear some of the things that are not essential in the senior building as we prepare to conduct renovations. All help is greatly appreciated and we are usually all done by 11am. The more hands-on deck the better.

Have a great weekend and take care.

Nieta

Dates to Remember