Thank you to parents who zoomed in with us for P&C and especially to those who submitted questions or asked questions in the session. You are welcome to do this at any time but in the words of one of my teachers who is also a parent working both at home and school in response to my question "how are you coping?' "We are coping by being kind to each other, one day at a time, as we stumble through this transient period and do our best to observe the rules."
Thank you too, for the many emails you have sent supporting the school and your individual teachers. This is a very challenging time for everyone however it is a critical public health emergency. As a public school we must support the public health order, minimise movement and reduce the spread of the virus. Below are some of the answers I provided if you were unable to attend.
It has become more and more clear to me that our school values Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be a Learner are so valuable to reinforce. Unfortunately, a lack of respect for public rules and responsibility for one's own actions have resulted in increasing spread. Just one person flouting or taking advantage of the situation results in sickness and death for many. It reinforces to me the importance of school and home modelling these values consistently for our children if we are to achieve a common good. Please continue to do this in the absence of daily school.
Going forward
Assessment: In the absence of clear direction regarding Semester 2 Assessment and Reporting we will commence our student assessments over the next couple of weeks. These will be presented as part of the normal daily literacy and numeracy task. We ask that you ensure your child can complete in a settled environment but please do not direct or help them. These tasks are designed to provide teachers with information of how your child is going and to inform teaching programs. It will not be helpful if we find Year 1's are functioning at University level!
Home Learning: Thank you for the great job you are doing supporting your children's learning from home. Remember if it gets frustrating particularly for little children change pace and choose a different activity. You wouldn't expect us to push a child to tears and we don't want you doing that either. Let the teacher know and they can provide an alternate task or advice. I have had numerous emails from parents on how adaptable and supportive teachers are when contacted. Separate packages are being sent for EALD students, special needs students and Learning Support students as well as high performing students who need extra challenges. The Zooms teachers are doing each day they are not on face to face teaching are designed to motivate, encourage and teach key concepts in either literacy or numeracy and are backed up by daily instructional videos. Children in the younger years learn in small snippets and this is the way the instruction continues to be designed.
Teachers: The situation regarding face to face teachers is becoming critical as we have teachers who cannot be at school on doctor’s advice and the Department will not allow teachers in the 12 locked down LGA’s to leave home. The recent lock down of Bayside resulted in a further shortage of 14 staff. Student and staff numbers are reported daily to the Department and where these deviate from the usual we are asked to explain and reduce these numbers. At present we have been asked to have no more than 5 staff at school. This is just not possible as we have 170 students attending regularly, hence the employment of casual teachers to supervise at school.
Communications: I apologise that some people have been offended by recent communications. These are certainly not the sort of communications I am in the habit of writing nor do I wish to write them. After 50 years of service to students and communities writing such communications are not pleasant. Unfortunately, even compared to the previous lock down, the government, health and education have recognised the dire risk of the Delta variant, even to younger children and have hence enforced stricter expectations on schools and the community. Wherever people have emailed me I have replied or spoken to them to understand their position and provide support. Please continue to do this.
FAQ P&C
How are the teachers getting on?
It was so good that questions on notice asked after teachers’ wellbeing particularly those who are also juggling families and home schooling. It was a good prompt for me to ask and I received some wonderful replies. Most get up quite early and get their children started. They have strategies such as packing the lunch and crunch and sip as usual for the day, with children on a timetable to access these and with strict instructions to go outside to eat and have some exercise. Where there are two parents working from home, they schedule their breaks at different times and use this time to help their children with activities they have not been able to do independently. They work well into the night after children are in bed, check the next day’s home learning time to be prepared and take some of the stress out the following day. Most indicate that home pride has taken a back seat to dress up clothes, lego and playdough to ensure their children remain off screens as much as possible. All suggest that some days just go “pear shaped”! For slightly older children they’ve suggested how important the after school zoom calls are to maintain their friendships. Teachers and students alike would prefer to be at school but think it’s good to see children developing independence and resilience.
Our teachers are very professional and dedicated to what they do, always trying to think of new ways to engage children in the learning and keep some fun and curiosity, so hence Science Week and the exploding watermelon! They are also doing a great job of supporting one another with after school virtual social events on Fridays and virtual games but perhaps with their own real refreshments.
Student Wellbeing
At this stage there is no indication of when students will return but as soon as we know you will know. The Department has KPMG investigating possible ways of returning some students to school but no indication of what that will be as restrictions on travel will remain.
Technology
Devices have been offered for students without these but many of the students who require this also require internet access. We have ordered dongles from the DOE but these may take some time. P&C is interested in hearing from parents who may need some financial support for internet connectivity.
Other questions and ideas were raised by parents
Please be aware that we follow all of these up with teachers in their planning even down to avoiding activities with a 10 sided dice: a bit tricky to come across in lock down, I agree, so that's off the list. Please keep constructive ideas coming in.
Public Education Foundation Scholarships
| Applications for scholarships for primary and secondary students are open. Please spread the information with your family and friends -- it could change someone's life. |
| Our student scholarships play two roles: to help students overcome barriers to achievement created by social and economic disadvantage, and to acknowledge and reward academic excellence. Closing date for scholarship applications are: - Scholarships for secondary school students close 14 September 2021* - Scholarships for primary school students close 21 September 2021 What does a scholarship recipient receive?
Susan Allan |
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