Welcome Back
I am pleased to finally welcome back all students and families to the 2022 school year after the staggered start we experienced for the first two weeks of term. It was lovely to have our R/1 students on site during this time but having our Yr 2-6 students return on Monday really made things feel complete. Many of our students were keen to be back at school after spending nearly 9 weeks at home. They were keen to connect face to face with their teachers, see their new classroom, and connect with their peers.
I just want to say thank you again to families supporting the learning from home. We appreciate its not easy especially for those of you who have to work or have more than one child at home. I would also like to acknowledge the work of our staff who were well prepared delivering online learning, tracking and monitoring student progress, daily check ins etc. We got there in the end despite a few initial IT issues in relation to Edpass, forgotten passwords etc.
COVID Update
For the remainder of week 4 (21-25 Feb) there are no changes to COVID restrictions for school sites:
- All students and staff must stay home if unwell, even mildly (runny nose, sore throat etc).
- Ventilation will be maximised by leaving doors/windows open, use of air conditioning (set to fresh air intake) etc.
- Outdoor learning where possible/weather permitting.
- Minimising student intermingling across class groups inside such as choir, buddy class, assembly etc.
- Indoor before school, recess and lunch time venues such as the library, hall and computer room will be closed.
- To minimize the spread of COVID, parents/carers are not to come on site. I appreciate this is frustrating but we need to keep each other safe. Reception/Year 1 parents are allowed to enter the school grounds to drop off and pick up their child but they must use the QR codes available, wear a mask, social distance and leave immediately. Year 2-6 students can be dropped at one of our school entrances. In the afternoon all students must leave the school grounds with their parents/carers. Please do not congregate in the yard and particularly in the JP playground where bus/OSHC students are supervised by staff.
- Continue to practice and promote hand and respiratory hygiene. Hand sanitiser is provided for regular use, and disposable masks.
- Extra cleaning during the day will continue.
- Face masks are required for adults, except when it impedes the ability to teach.
- Face masks are strongly recommended for students in years 3 to 6.
From week 5 to 8 (28th Feb - 25th March) the following can resume:
- Day excursions and incursions (held outdoors where possible).
- Interschool sporting competitions.
- Extra-curricular activities at the school, including choirs, band practice, instrumental lessons.
- Work experience and work placements.
- Assemblies that are held outdoors.
- Volunteers required by the school.
From week 5 to 8 (28th Feb - 25th March) the following will continue:
- Face masks continue to be required (when indoors) for all adults, except when it impedes ability to teach.
- Face masks are strongly encouraged for students in years 3 to 6 (when indoors).
- Current testing, isolating and quarantine remains unchanged, including classroom contacts.
- Outdoor learning encouraged where possible.
- Continue to open windows and doors or use air-conditioning set to fresh air intake where possible.
- All students and staff must stay home if unwell, even mildly (runny nose, sore throat etc).
- Ventilation will be maximised by leaving doors/windows open, use of air conditioning (set to fresh air intake) etc.
- To minimize the spread of COVID, parents/carers are not to come on site as per Week 4 restrictions.
- Continue to practice and promote hand and respiratory hygiene. Hand sanitiser is provided for regular use, and disposable masks.
- Extra cleaning during the day will continue.
I appreciate this is a lot of information but its important to keep you up date so we can work together to keep our school community COVID free.
Whole School Assembly
On Friday we held our first whole school online assembly using Microsoft Teams. It was certainly a pared down event but we got to see everyone at the same time to welcome back students and staff, make announcements, share messages, and present awards. We also acknowledged our new receptions, and other new enrolments yr 1-6 who have settled in well to their new school.
Congratulations to the following students who received awards at the assembly:
Stanley - working well during home learning and always trying his best.
Archie - developing his technology skills during home learning.
Amelia - outstanding work ethic during home learning.
Fynnan - for showing confidence and enthusiasm during Performing Arts.
Harper - having a positive attitude in Performing Arts and giving her best.
Edith - for her enthusiasm and contribution to class.
Ethan - positive start to school, great attitude and hard work.
Olive - awesome effort with home learning, continuing effort at school.
Lachlan - awesome effort with home learning, continuing effort at school.
Hunter - fantastic attitude to phonics and taking first steps to getting his taking superpower!
Clova - fantastic attitude to phonics and taking first steps to getting his taking superpower!
Leo - working hard - learning to email and join Teams meetings.
Kai - being kind - sharing his ideas in class, and a reliable compost monitor.
Amelia - completing many Maths and English tasks during home learning.
Liam - excellent start to school, demonstrating a keenness for learning.
Of course no assembly would be complete without some IT issues and when it came time to share a clip, Kid President Pep talk to Teachers and Students! we had picture but no sound! Most students have since watched the clip (https://youtu.be/RwlhUcSGqgs) but you may like to watch it too.
Thank you to the many families who have returned their general consent forms. A number of families have commented on their forms re. Permission to Act in the Event of a Medical Emergency, that No COVID Jab be given to their child/children. Under no circumstance would this be happening. A medical emergency refers to the school treating existing conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, or an accident that may require the school to contact family, ring an ambulance etc.
Staffing for 2022
Junior Primary
Room 1 - Jen Irwin/Del Hearnden (Thursday) Year 1/2
Room 2 - Briony Tempest/Del Hearnden (Wednesday) Year 1
Room 3/4 - Kim Gniel Reception
Middle Primary
Room 5 – Michelle Goudie/Heidi Shields (Friday) Year 3/4
Room 6 – Rhi Hall (Mon, Tue & Wed) /Sheree Argent (Thur/Fri) Year 2
Room 7 – Matt Burne Year 3/4
Room 8 – Nicollette De Leonardis – Year 3/4
Upper Primary
Room 9 – Leonie Schultz Year 5/6
Room 10 – Joy Darmody Year 5/6
Room 11 – Kim Taylor Year 5/6
Specialist subjects
Room 12 - German - Heidi Shields - Wednesday & Thursday
Health - Matt Bradley - Monday & Tuesday
Library History – Nicole Taylor
Hall/Yard PE - Matt Bradley - Wednesday & Thursday
Hall Performing Arts – Emily Brown - Monday & Tuesday
SSOs
Leanne wall - Office
Kim Oag - Finance- Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Lou Hadden - classroom
Lindy Linke - classroom
Heidi Roesler – classroom
Tilly Hadden – classroom
Faye Hale – classroom
Kate Wohler – classroom - Monday, Wednesday & Thursday
Grounds person - Kelvin Jean (Mr Geyer on long service leave)
PCW - Nat Wood - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Librarian - Nicole Taylor
Deputy Principal - Sokhan Greenwood
Looking forward to an interruption free remainder of the term.
Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Mark Twain
