Dear Parents,

National Reconciliation Week  2020 Theme - In this together

This year Reconciliation Australia marks twenty years of  shaping Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.

Much has happened since the early days of the people’s movement for reconciliation, including greater acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to land and sea; understanding of the impact of government policies and frontier conflicts; and an embracing of stories of Indigenous success and contribution.

2020 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the reconciliation walks of 2000, when people came together to walk on bridges and roads across the nation and show their support for a more reconciled Australia.

As always, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and Australians now benefit from the efforts and contributions of people committed to reconciliation in the past.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We strive towards a more just, equitable nation by championing unity and mutual respect as we come together and connect with one another. 

In week 11 of this term, we will prayer together as a school, for equality, peace, forgiveness and harmony among our nations in an online Liturgy. 

Welcome back 

The Prep-2 students have enjoyed a short week back at school, playing with friends and learning in the classroom. There have been lots of smiling faces and some tired ones as we all try to adjust back to some kind of normal. 

Classrooms are looking a little bit different with many items that usually adorn the walls or benches have been placed away to make cleaning easier. Tables and desks have been assigned and name tagged. Junior classes have some personalised stationery and equipment so as less items are shared. All these measures are precautionary and we continue to follow the advice from CECV that social distancing measures apply to adults not children.

Along with the additional cleaning measures in place during the day and after school, different cohorts of children are kept separate where possible, e.g. entering buildings, lining up and gathering in open areas. Parents continue to contact the Office by phone when arriving at the gates, with only adults providing essential services permitted onsite.

Staff are following strict social distancing measures in classrooms, staffroom and all areas of our school. Staff continue to follow hand washing protocols. We will continue to take precautions to ensure the health and safety of our school community until instructed otherwise.

At last week’s School Board Meeting it was suggested that we create a webpage on our Parent Portal with all the information regarding COVID19, that the school has sent out. This can be accessed via this link https://spbentleigh.schoolzineplus.com/covid19-updates.

It was also suggested we create a Q&A section where parents can ask questions that we will respond to and place on the page under Frequently Asked Questions. These can be found on the same page.

Gold stars are definitely being awarded to all parents for exemplary behaviour during drop off, pick up, and drive through. The systems in place are working really well especially surnames attached to sun visors for drive throughs at Riddle St and Higgins Rd. It has also been really helpful using the code on children's hands for those who might forget.

Just when we thought we had it all organised, things are about to change. Next week we warmly welcome back the Year 3-6 students. We are so excited as the school is just not the same without you! As of next week we will have staggered arrivals, lunch and snack times and afternoon pick up. With this in mind, I am asking all parents to complete the Caremonkey form indicating how your child will be arriving and departing from school each day. (most days is close enough). Please respond to  this as soon as possible.

The options for morning arrivals:

• All Preps and siblings continue to enter through Riddle St gate (including Prep bikers).
• All students who walk to school and live near Riddle St can now enter through the Riddle St gate.
• Students in Yr 1-6 who walk or are dropped off in Higgins Rd enter through the large gates.
• Bikes and scooters enter down the driveway beside the church.

Afternoon Pick up:

• Preps and siblings and local Riddle street families who walk home, or are picked up in cars will continue to use this system that is currently in place. (Prep parents can you put your family name on the passenger sun visor for speedy identification)
• Hall drive through from Higgins Rd (sun visors labelled)
• Bikers from Higgins Rd
• Walkers from Higgins Rd
• Park and collect from Higgins Rd

Don't worry about tennis and occasional OSH club as we already have access to this information.

If you are unwell please stay at home

Within our school community we have staff members, students and families who have health issues which make them  more vulnerable during a pandemic crisis. We continue to give the message to all our school community.  If you are unwell please stay at home. If children present sick at school, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child. This is a time when we are all asked to work together and support a safe transition back to school.

Student Reports

Student Reports will go home on Friday 26 June. 

School Closure Day

This Friday all staff will be gathering on google meet to reflect on our teaching and learning during Remote learning. I believe that it is our responsibility to honour the work that was done during this extraordinary time, by families, staff and students.

Reflections on Remote Learning

As students return to school teachers will be asking students to reflect on their time during Remote Learning. 

Parents will also be invited to share what they have learnt about their own children’s learning, how they have responded to feedback, their capacity for resilience and what they will miss about Remote Learning. A google form will be sent out later in the week.

We have an enormous opportunity to reflect as a whole community and ensure all voices are heard and considered as we return to classroom learning.

What did you learn about how your child learns?

What surprised you about your students/child over the last two months?

 What were the key factors that contributed to success/challenges during this time? 

 What are you sensing that is now different?

Last Day of Term

Term 2 will finish on Friday 26 June at 2:30pm

Have a great week

Catherine