PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear families,

Welcome back to term 4.  How fantastic is it that we are all back onsite, 5 days per week! Regional Victoria is doing a great job with the COVID numbers and hopefully we will see further easing of restrictions. 

Staff were excited on Monday and were well prepared for the students to arrive on the Tuesday.

This is such a huge change for many of our children, who have predominantly been home since the end of term 1.  We totally acknowledge that this has been a huge challenge for students, families and the school, and that we have all coped in different ways at different times.

If your child is struggling a little at the moment with the return to school, please also remember this is a very normal response to big changes in their worlds.  You may find them not wanting to get up in the morning, belly aches, not feeling 100% comfortable at school or with their usual friendships or they could be totally the opposite.  All of this is very normal. Remember though if your child is experiencing any Covid symptoms please keep them at home.

Be supportive, and acknowledge their feelings, but help them get back into the school routines and trust that school is looking after their best interests. We are taking things slowly as we build their classroom routines and their learning stamina (the teachers included). Try and get to school between 8:30am and 8:45 each morning, as this supports them to set up their day with minimal stress.  Just a reminder for our families who are waiting for students at the end of the day to physical distance from each other and not congregate at the exit gates.

Please continue the great open communication that was developed during remote learning  with the classroom teachers, and keep them informed about how your child/ren are travelling, so they can support them when at school.

The DET priorities for this final term of the year is to assist the students with socialising with their peers again, beginning the ‘catch up’ of learning and supporting the transition programs with a particular focus on Kinder to Prep and years 6 to 7.

At Echuca East, we care for our students and our focus is to support them as best we can, as we move to something like a COVID-19 normal.

Kind regards

Lyn