My prediction last week was that by the end of this week we will have ironed out many glitches with our Home Learning. I wonder how we are going with that. Judging from the emails, phone calls and word of mouth, many families are finding it a positive experience, even if it is something they hope will not go on for too much longer. Others are experiencing frustrations at managing the technologies involved in this model of teaching and learning. I urge you to persist with it, follow the guidelines presented in earlier communications regarding routine and continue to reach out for help when you need it. This article, 10 Tips For Parents Homeschooling Young Children, may be helpful.
When support is required regarding your child’s learning program, it is best to contact your child’s teacher directly by email or Seesaw message. Feel free to ring the school but we may still need to get in touch with the teacher.
Home Learning Portal
Hopefully you are all able to connect to the Home Learning Portal. If you do get lost, a button for the Home Learning Portal has been placed on the homepage of our school website, www.spportfairy.catholic.edu.au. Remember, you need to be logged in to one of your children’s school Google accounts.
Home Learning Resources Pickup Day
As we prepare for Week 3 there may be a need to collect materials from school for the next learning period. Pickup Day for these materials will be Friday 24th April from 8.30am to 4.30pm, with materials being collected from the hall as they were last Tuesday. This procedure will continue each Friday during this current mode of operation. Parents will be notified by their child’s teacher through Seesaw if there are materials to collect. Materials that can't be collected by 4.30pm Friday will be available for collection from the school foyer from the following Monday.
Onsite Supervision
Please remember that we can only offer supervision to children whose parents cannot provide this at home due to work requirements outside of home. If your child needs to be supervised at school, please register them by calling the school office, giving at least 2 days notice so that adequate supervision can be arranged. Children attending school are doing the same work as they would be doing at home under the supervision of school staff (teachers and/or Learning Support Officers).
The following procedures have been put in place:
Temperature checks on students as they arrive;
Hand sanitiser will be available at the entry points to classrooms and education will be provided on hand hygiene. Physical distancing will be implemented in classrooms to the extent feasible;
Regular wiping down of high contact surfaces;
Daily sanitising of areas currently being used.
Attendance Records
We are still required to keep attendance records of students whether they are working at home or at school. We will mark every student present unless notified by parents through PAM that their children will not be doing school work because of illness or other reason on that day.
Code of Conduct
Due to staff having to make contact with students using various means of communication, we have had to modify the Code of Conduct they are required to abide by. This new Code of Conduct is available on our school website under Child Safety.
Google Meet
Google Meet is the recommended platform for schools in the Ballarat Diocese to use for video conferencing between teachers and students during this time of flexible learning. Students and teachers from Years 3 to 6 are using this platform. The Letter to Parents (Google Meet) provides some guidelines and expectations for children to follow when they are using the platform.
Family Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our families is of paramount importance at this time. If you, or a family that you are aware of, are in need of support in any way, please reach out. If we cannot help directly, we may be able to connect you to services that can.
Kind regards,
Peter Sanderson
Principal