Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Our teachers, students, parents and caregivers continue to implement our Covid Safe practices at LIS. This has led to to a safe environment for our children where the risk of Covid has been significantly reduced. Some parents have raised the possibility of having smart badges issued to children in the school. A meeting was held with Newcrest Health and Safety Manager Stuart Morris, IT expert Chris Barry, School Council Chairperson Fiona Karaut and myself to evaluate the possibility.  Below is a summary of the meeting. In the end we believed that there was not sufficient benefit to introduce the smart badge system among the students. The reasons for this being:

School phone numbers

You may contact the school either on the landline - 9864233 or the mobile number - 70154448.

Do not hesitate to make contact If you have any further queries or questions.

Regards,

Mr Neville

Parents will be advised when afternoon activities recommence. We thank you for your understanding.

It is imperative that parents and carers do not send their children to school if they are sick or showing any symptoms of a cold or flu. If your child is sick, please keep your child home and seek appropriate medical attention. Children who display any signs of sickness will be isolated under supervision in the school's sick bay and parents called to come and collect them.

1.  A comprehensive deep clean of the school will be undertaken by Nayal LTD, prior to school resumption on May 3rd.

2. Entrance to school for students and parents / carers will be via the Aginas Oval gate only, which will open at 7.50am. Students who arrive before this (which is discouraged) are to social distance and  wait in the carpark undercover area until 7.50am. Students should be at school by 8.10am, ready to start the day at 8.15am.

3. All students will be greeted at the gate by a teacher, where they will be temperature checked. They will then wash their hands at the wash station and then proceed to their classroom.  Parents and carers will not be permitted to escort their children to classrooms, If parents need to go to the office, they will be permitted to proceed to the wash station and are then to make their way straight to the school office. Students will not be permitted to return home during the day to collect their morning snack or forgotten items such as books, etc. 

4. Several wash stations are installed around the school (see pics below) and hand sanitiser is available in all classrooms. Students will be required to wash their hands in the mornings before school, before and after recess/lunch and before leaving school in the afternoons. Educational videos and ISOS personnel will be utilised to support education in hand washing and general hygiene.

5. All desks, door handles, playground equipment and other high contact equipment will be sanitised twice daily or after use by cleaning staff.

6. Social distancing measure of 1.5 metres will be employed in classrooms through desk arrangements. Social distancing markings have been painted on cement areas where students line up and in the undercover area for recess/lunch eating times. The school will implement staggered recess breaks between the primary and high school to reduce the number of children using toilets etc.

7. Students will be issued with a reusable washable mask. Students will be need to wear these masks for travel to and from school and during all activities at school.

8. The school canteen will be closed for the duration on term 2. Students will need to bring a packed recess snack and lunch each day - there is to be no dropping off of food by parents, siblings or haus meris. Students are also asked to bring a water bottle to school that they will refill instead of drinking from the bubblers.

9. In term 2 there will be no after-school activities, sports carnivals or team sports and we ask that students are collected promptly at 3.00pm (12.15pm Kindy).

10. Term 2 will not have traditional assemblies at school. Virtual assemblies will continue throughout the term, with the assembly link to be published in the weekly Toksave for parents to view.

11. Reduced movement of high school students will be implemented.

Monday 19 April to Thursday 17 June

Monday 12 July to Wednesday 15 September

Tuesday 5 October to Thursday 2 December

Curriculum News

National Exam Preparation

Our Year 10s are currently preparing for their Written Expression exam that will take place next week, Thursday June 3rd. Students have been working hard with their writing and we wish them all the best with their exam next week.

Student-led Conferences

We will be holding COVID-safe Student-led Conferences from Kindy – Year 5/6 next Wednesday, Week 7, the 2nd June from 3.00pm – 6.00pm.

For parents new to this experience, Student-led Conferences are an opportunity for your child to share with you some of their learning. It takes place in the classroom, with your child showing you their bookwork and other learning activities.

Usually Student-led Conferences take approximately 15 minutes. This is not a parent/teacher interview; however, the class teacher will assist by preparing students for their conference.

To facilitate this semester’s conferences safely, we are having a booking schedule to ensure there are no more than four sets of parents/carers in the classroom with their child at the one time.

A letter was sent home this week by class teachers for parents to complete, nominating two timeslots that would be suitable for them to attend. This is to be returned to school with your child or you can respond to your child's teacher by email. Teachers will confirm what time your child’s Student-led Conference will be and this will be sent home early next week.

If parents have more than one student in the primary years, students need to wait in the undercover area while parents are attending their sibling’s conference. Students should bring a book to read while they are waiting.

We ask that parents wear a mask, wash their hands after coming through the gate and maintain social distancing practices if talking to other parents or teachers. Students also need to wear a mask.

Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Ms Langusch

Our Work Ready Program will reach the half way point this week and the trainees continue to progress, growing in confidence. On Friday, the trainees will go on a Mine Tour which will be a big eye opener for them. We appreciate the support the Mine staff continue to show our Work Ready Program.

Our FODE students continue to work hard, with our students from last year completing their final exams this Saturday. This week Mr Neville and I met with FODE Staff to confirm administration details to finalise registration of the STMC as a FODE Registered Training Centre.

STMC have confirmed plans for lecturers from Divine Word University to come to our campus to deliver the Primary Education Bachelor Upgrade Program for local Lihirian Teachers. We look forward to welcoming Dr Lynus Yamuna and Mr Kelaki Peter for the delivery of the first semester of this 2 year program.

The Kisim Save Library is open to all Townsite Residents and Newcrest Employees on Saturdays by appointment. Please email kevin.collins@newcrest.com.au .

Regards,

Mr. Kevin Collins