The Randwick Buzz

Term 3, Week 4 2021

From the Principal

As we come the end of our fourth week of lock down I wish to express my appreciation to parents who have been able to support their children's learning from home either everyday or for most days of the week. We also thank our essential workers who are out there keeping our towns and cities running and safe and especially health care workers, many of whom are exposing themselves and their families to risk everyday. For these families or for children at risk, the school remains open.

We have seen a small increase in the number of children attending this week so I must reiterate the NSW Health and Education position that students MUST stay at home where there is an adult available to ensure care and supervision of learning. 

I have heard comments that children may be attending school to catch up with friends or parental respite. Greater Sydney is not in a position where we can support the extra numbers or travel this entails. We do not want Randwick to become the next totally locked down LGA or contribute to that. Our skeleton staff on site is not adequate for any increase in students. Please contact the school executive first if you need to speak about support for your situation. If your child is missing friends perhaps try a Zoom catch up with close friends. The chat may be a little silly but that’s children. 

Please also remember that a child showing even the mildest symptoms of sickness must remain at home and have a COVID test as the DELTA variant is also putting children at risk. Today there was a case in the Hunter of primary children being positive and the school shut down, a practical demonstration of how far and how quickly Delta can spread. ​We've completed an analysis of the comments you have provided to us regarding home learning in an effort to provide better support:

Style of work: Most families appreciate us keeping it simple, allowing students to develop their independence or complete with the minimum of assistance. Where children can be identified by teachers and quality of work as needing more challenging work, further extension activities may be offered by Ms Hughes Clapp, Instructional Leader. 

Children needing additional support have continued to receive this through either F2F or Zoom by our wonderful Learning Support and EAL/D team.

Quantity of Work: The school is abiding by the DoE guidelines for the work provided and families should do so too which means for younger children core work can be completed by morning tea time. If it takes longer than this or your child is struggling with a task let the teacher know and they will help. One parent shared their simple strategy of a 'scratch and sniff' sticker for work completed!

We have asked that each child now submit a Literacy and Numeracy task each day but our expectations for students particularly in Y3-6 is that they complete a normal day's school work. Again let the teacher know if this is a struggle for your family. 

​Using Technology: Zoom sessions with teachers:  Zoom sessions will increasingly focus on teaching strategies in Literacy or Numeracy and will be followed up by instructional videos each day. 

A couple of people have asked to have teachers on F2F devices all day. This is neither desirable nor possible. Teachers have to do their share of supervising students at school as well as scheduled Zooms, preparing the learning tasks and resources and providing feedback and support on Seesaw or Google Classroom.

Best practice means that children should be engaged in tasks both on and off devices and we don't want to be contributing to IT addiction by making them a child minding device. Young children also need to be up and moving and engaged in non structured active and creative play, and even an opportunity for a little boredom, the source of many highly creative ideas. Please resist the temptation to entertain your child all day, particularly with a device.

We are working with families who need support either with devices or how to manage this.​ Please contact the school if you have missed out on this offer.

My overriding message however is wherever you need help or clarification, the class teacher is there to help, so please contact them, as many families are doing. We have received lovely emails praising teachers’ response when help has been sought. You just need to ask.

We will all need to manage our mental health day, before lock downs ends. If this is a real struggle for you, try to get a structure where the essentials, literacy and numeracy, and your online work are completed each morning. Where it is all getting a bit much, take advantage of our sunny days and take a long walk, away from the busiest spots and just enjoy each other's company. ​​Our counsellor Jess has been responding to families to support and sending out community contacts. 

​Teaching is very much a relational process, the child forming close links with the teacher and the teacher and child working as one. This is an opportunity for you to make that link as well - that you are in it together. Get to know your children better and that is what you will gain and remember most about the lock down.

Regards

Susan Allen
Principal

Department Education Student Work Guidelines

Event Cancellations

Unfortunately, in line with the Premier's announcement regarding the the COVID-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney, the following events have been cancelled for this term:

-    All Friday winter PSSA sport competitions

-    The SCPSSA Athletics Carnival

Parent, Carers Mental Health Education Session; supporting young people impacted by COVID-19

Headspace are hosting free mental health education sessions with a focus on Covid, titled "Supporting young people impacted by COVID-19", and providing Parents and Carers with information and strategies to proactively support their young people during these uncertain times. 

The following session is scheduled virtually on the:

  • 19 August, 2021, 6:30pm – 7:45pm, Randwick

The session can be booked here:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/headspace-national-youth-mental-health-foundation-30549822220

Headspace have been liaising with key stakeholders in the community and hope to have a panel component to each of these sessions, providing information regarding the variety of supports available to young people during this period of increasing lockdowns and disruptions to daily life.

Additional information on these sessions can be found here:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) (headspace.org.au)

Parent and Carer Events (headspace.org.au)

Community Services available during Lockdown

Please find below some local, key emergency services that are available during lockdown for the community, or for people you may be concerned about in our community.


Randwick Meals on Wheels (Covers Randwick and Waverley LGA areas)

Address: Shop 1, 523 Bunnerong Road, MATRAVILLE, NSW, 2036 

Contact: Orders: (02) 9661 3781 

E: admin@randwickmealsonwheels.com.au 

W: Visit website https://randwickmealsonwheels.com.au/

The meals are delivered to persons, living in the City of Randwick Local Government Area, who are frail and elderly, or have a disability, or are a carer. Delivery meals from Monday to Friday • $5 - $6 per meal. Opening hours are 7am-1:30pm.


Junction Neighbourhood Centre 

Address: Shop 2, 669-673 Anzac Pade Maroubra 

Ph: 9349 8200 Mob: 0447 046 606 

Emergency food boxes Contact for Delivery or pick up From Namatjira or South Coogee.

 

Mobile Community Pantry St Pauls 

South Coogee (every second Thursday) 1 Gregory Street, South Coogee. Ph: 0407 891 306 

St Mark’s Anglican Church (every second Friday) Cnr Franklin St & Victoria Lane, Malabar. 

Ph: 9311 0309 Please call prior to using service. 

Contact ph: 8624 8600 for additional options.

https://www.anglicare.org.au/mobile-communitypantry

Collect bags of food venues & times vary. Fill bag with groceries for $10 (Malabar) • Tinned Food (South Coogee) Bring pension or health care card. 


Kooloora 

Address: 167 Bilga Crescent Malabar 

Ph: 9661 9160/0482 039 053 Call to register For Food Program 

EAPA vouchers – Tuesdays only. Please email bill and photo ID to: koolooraenergy@outlook.com

Fruit & Veg bags, Cooked Meals available. Monday, Wednesday & Friday. (Subject to availability and times vary). Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

 

Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) 

FASS legal advice can be accessed by calling the Legal Aid Domestic Violence Unit on 

Ph: (02) 9219 6300. 

Family Advocacy and Support Services at Sydney Family Court (No face to face due to Covidsafe restrictions, assistance via phone only). 

Hours: Mondays to Fridays 9:30am-1pm, 2-4pm Monday to Thursday: 

Tangee on Mobile: 0431 253289 

Email: tangee@swslc.org.au 

 

La Perouse Aboriginal Community Health Centre 

Address: 1 Elaroo Avenue Phillip Bay Ph: 8347 4800 

Maternal, child and family health service Monday to Friday.

 

South Eastern Community Connect 

Address: Shop 84, Eastlakes Shopping Centre, Eastlakes PH: 8338 8506 (Eastlakes, Monday to Friday 9am-4:30pm)

​-Seniors Services Individual Social support is currently list shops primarily. Home delivery Service For people who have difficulty shopping due to physical or mental health conditions. Delivery days: Tuesday & Thursday. 

-Children & families/adolescents: Community strengthening services continue to be provided either on-line or over the phone (Centre is closed due to Covidsafe restrictions however services are continuing via distance).

 

EATS – Eastern Area Tenancy Service 

Ph: 9386 9147 (Monday to Friday 9.30am-1pm)

Offers free advice, information and help to tenants who are having problems with their landlords or real estate agents. (Appointments via phone or online only due to Covidsafe restriction).

 

CAMHS 

Ph: 9382 4347 Child & Family East (0-12years) Ph: 9382 8213 

Mental health support for children and adolescents (under 18years) 

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm

 

No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) 

PH: 13 64 57 

www.nils.com.au 

The No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) helps low income households to purchase or replace essential household items. Loans are available for up to $1,500 for essential goods and services such as fridges, washing machines and medical procedures. No cash, (money goes directly to the provider).

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm

Please provide your feedback by clicking on yellow banner link. We will direct the feedback to the appropriate people and/or share it in the newsletter!

Thank you!

It’s hard for everyone. Thank you for looking at how we can ALL do it better.

The introduction of zoom check ins in the morning has been great. It helps to set expectations and seems to really help with our daughters motivation to stay focused- thanks so much for the teachers and schools good work in this time.

The schedule for the week is not sent to student's seesaw, only parents. The links to online activities makes it onerous to type manually. Please provide the schedule or summary of all links to student's seesaw so they can seamlessly access,

Thank you to all at RPS for all you are doing. This is a very hard time for everyone - "We are all in the same storm- just different boats". Home schooling will never be perfect and normal learning will only resume once school resumes. Hopefully school can resume in some capacity soon! But I understand that this is out of your control! Thanks again.

 I think more instructional videos for Maths and English would take the pressure off me so I can then attend to working from home responsibilities and looking after toddler.

It is important that the program stay flexible to be responsive to the rhythms of working parents and home life. Requiring the students to be present for multiple Zoom classes during the day is not feasible.

Not a suggestion, but a massive shoutout to all the teachers in these trying circumstances. You guys (and gals) are doing a magnificent job! Also the videos of what teachers do in their "time off" are hilarious and have been passed around to our extended family. It's great to see you guys having some fun outside of your work!

Did you know we are trialling a new way of advertising via our school website?

We now have a separate Community Advertising section to direct parents to activities held at the school, during school holidays and within the local community.

The link can be found on the Randwick Public School website, scroll down the front page and click on the link "Community Advertising". See the picture below for what to look for! You can also click the yellow bar 'Community News and Advertising' above.

Information for parents and carers about the changes to school operations because of COVID-19 health advice current from 8 September 2020 is available in the following languages:

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