Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you are all keeping well. With all of the uncertainty in Victoria with the current health crisis we are doing our best to keep things calm, safe and settled for our students. I am uncertain about what the rest of the term will hold for us so we’re focusing our energy on the things we can control. As a staff we have revisited the school strategic plan and begun to implement the key actions that will support us to improve our results and strategic goals. It is refreshing and energising to focus on teaching and learning after the disruptive remote learning period. The staff are all very grateful to be teaching face to face and are enjoying the opportunity to improve their practice even further.
The strong hygiene, cleaning routines and the protocols we have around managing students and staff with symptoms continue to be reviewed and improved to reduce the risks in our environment. This controlled and thorough approach helps us to reduce the risks for our students and staff so we can continue to provide the best education we can for students.
There is a lot of positive work happening in classrooms. Lauren Barham, our newest staff member, has hit the ground running and is developing a thorough approach to supporting students with their reading. Karren Baker has been busily preparing and leading teacher professional learning sessions for our staff and has booked a select team of teachers into a professional learning focused on the evidence based best practice in regards to teaching reading. Anthony Bortolot is working closely with an external provider to design a thorough health and human development program for our year 3-6 students (3-6 parents there will be more information to follow). I am working on a project aimed at giving a select number of year five students the opportunity to collaborate online with other year five students from the Macedon Ranges network of schools. All of our staff are planning and implementing a quality program and focusing on teaching, learning and student wellbeing.
As we know, our situation could change rapidly and we will be ready to pivot and adapt the scenario as it plays out.
Face Coverings
There has been a lot of attention in the media about face masks recently. This is how it relates to us;
- Students who live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire and attend a school outside these areas are not required to wear a face covering at school.
- Staff who live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire and work outside of these areas, must continue to wear a face covering.
Temperature Checks
Because we are outside metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, the routine use of temperature screening is not required. However, daily temperature screening is being undertaken for students who live in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. This includes students who live or stay with their parents or carers on a part-time basis in the lockdown areas.
You can support us by letting us know if your child has visited or stayed in a lockdown area. Please email me on Matthew.Forrest@education.vic.gov.au if you fall into this category. It is important for us to remain vigilant and we thank you for your support.
Matthew Forrest
Principal
