Return to On-site Learning

With the conclusion of Lockdown 5.0 it was great to have all students and staff back at school from Wednesday. Well done to all students for the manner in which they completed the remote learning program over the eight days.

Covid 19 Precautions

For the next two weeks the Covid guidelines allow for the follow activities to proceed:

Excursions
Swimming
Interschool Sport
Camps
Instrumental Music
Robotics
Chess
Canteen lunch orders
Their Care Program

The following activities are not yet allowed:

Incursions

Advice to parents who are doing drop off or pick up:

Avoid crowding at gates
Drop offs can occur away from the school gate or within the school grounds
Adults should not congregate early or linger in the schoolgrounds – Limit this to 15 minutes maximum
Parents must not enter the school buildings except to attend the Front Office
Students with any illness should stay home, have symptoms monitored and have a Covid test if necessary

Masks are compulsory for all adults both indoors and outdoors

The Covid Safe Practices in Classrooms for the safety of students and adults now include:

Ventilation – Open a window or two in the classroom to promote cross ventilation and the spread of fresh air
Hygiene – Promote regular hand washing and sneeze into your elbow
Density limits – Adult staff members should observe the density limits signage displayed in common spaces – This does not apply in classrooms – Utilise the staff facilities that have been distributed around the school to minimise crowding
Masks – Adults must wear masks indoors and outdoors - This is optional if you a teaching or supervising students
No visitors – This means that there can be no incursions
Essential services – Trades, deliveries, instrumental music instructors, robotics, chess and parental helpers in the classrooms must sign in at the Office
QR Codes – Must be used by essential services and parent helpers

Swimming

The swimming program for Year 5 and Year 6 will begin next week. The Year 6 program will be the full ten days in order that all students complete the water safety requirements of the Victorian Curriculum.

Year 3 Camps

The two Year 3 Camps to Lake Dewar at Myrniong will take place next week. This is a great introductory camp for students and involves a wide range of stimulating and exciting activities and challenges.

Whole School Assembly

Next week’s Whole School Assembly will be held on Monday afternoon via Webex. All students will be in their classrooms in line with the Covid Guidelines.

Student Art Show

This year’s traditional Art Show has been cancelled due to the implications of the Covid Guidelines currently in place across Victoria. In place of the traditional Art Show, which has always involved professional artists, we will instead hold a Student Art Show which allows us to showcase the art works of our whole school group. The Student Art Show will be open to parents and families of the Mount View students. More details will follow.

Performing Arts News

Student performances are a highlight of the school year. So we are very pleased to announce that we have set the new dates for student performance events:

The Year 1 Concert will be held in the school gym on Tuesday, 10 August beginning at 6 pm. The Year 3 Concert will be held in the school gym on Thursday, 12 August beginning at 6 pm. We hope that Covid regulations permit a live audience for these events. If an audience is not permitted then we will explore other options such as livestreaming or recording and transmission via a link.

Twilight Carnival

The Twilight Carnival will be held at Mount View on Friday, 12 November. I know that current and past students of Mount View will be thrilled with this news. This year’s event will involve:

Rides
Food
Craft stalls

In a few weeks I will be calling for volunteers to work with the school leadership in various aspects of the Twilight Carnival.

Curriculum Day

Friday, 22 October will be a student free day/Curriculum Day. All staff will be involved in the ‘Seven Steps to Writing’.

Early Arrivals

Just a reminder to parents that the teachers begin Yard Duty at 8:35 am each school day. No students should be dropped at school before this time. Early arrivals should be attending the Their Care Program.

Long Service Leave

I will be taking two weeks of Long Service Leave from 9 – 23 August. During my absence Bianca Gatherum will be the Acting Principal.

Know what makes boys tick

By Michael Grose