Dear Parents,

 

I hope you have had a great weekend and the chance to get out and enjoy the warm weather. I would like to pay tribute to the work you have done to successfully transition your children to flexible and remote learning. I appreciate that many parents are working from home and some days will be more challenging than others. The challenges are something we understand and are here to provide support.  Please keep in regular contact with your child’s teachers, who are mostly working from home and have reported very positive feedback from students and families. Teachers supporting students at school and remotely are working very long hours as they try to provide timely feedback throughout the day and present instructions through video recordings. Teachers are available by email each day if you need to contact them. The work posted by students has been outstanding. I would also like to acknowledge the parents who are involved in essential services and working outside their homes. Thank you for the important role you play in these difficult times.

How long we continue to provide education in this current form is still uncertain with mixed messages in the media from the State and Federal Governments. These are times like no other and I ask you to pray for the people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries and the wider world. We pray that they communicate clearly, truthfully and calmly with each other and with the public; and that their messages are received and heeded. 

Learning activities for ABC TV programs

Self-directed learning activities connected to ABC Education programs shown on the TV channel ABC ME.

These activities are particularly helpful for students without internet access.

A reminder that there are many resources available on the school site.

St Paul's online links for students and parents

Thank you to the families who have provided feedback on how Remote Learning is being delivered at St Paul’s. In light of your feedback, teachers are now delivering work schedules the night before so that families can be organised with their own work commitments, teachers are using more instructional videos to deliver their teaching, and in some cases the amount of work has been decreased to support all students and families. We have been committed to working through the two online platforms that both students and staff were familiar with before we moved to online learning. At this stage, we have not moved to real time video conferencing for the following reasons:

1. We believe that flexibility is important for multiple family members who share devices to be able to begin their learning day at a time that suits everyone.
2. Parents, students and staff have not had to engage in learning about new platforms.
3. The current approach provides timely feedback, clear communication and is inclusive and accessible to all students - it seems to be working!
4. Students get to see and connect with their teachers each day on their screens.

On Wednesday, we are having an online staff meeting to discuss and access how we are progressing and to make further adjustments where necessary.

We have received so many encouraging emails from you all during these difficult times. The following email was received last week:

The teachers have been amazing. All the platforms are simple and intuitive and the teachers have been very responsive and engaging. There are some really good learnings out of all of this and we’re trying to embrace slowing down. In saying that we’ll be rejoicing when they’re back at school.

Student Absences

If your child is unwell and will not be connecting to their online schedule, please email their classroom teacher and cc Anna please.

Library Borrowing

On Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of this week, parents are invited to bring their children to the front gate and let them come to the front Office for Library borrowing and exchanging books. Each child’s temperature will be checked before they go down to meet Despina in the Library. Parents are asked to wait outside the front gate, which will be unlocked between 10am and 2.30pm on these days. Please let your child’s teacher know if you would like to swap home readers as well and a pack will be organised.

Cyber Safety Webinar

To watch the replay, as well as access to all of the slides, links and resources, visit:

www.informandempower.com.au/april16webinar

Password: parents2020

Today I would like to share a Liturgy with you, prepared by Ed Dooley and Matilde that you may wish to use with your family. 

Please do not hesitate to contact your classroom teacher or me if you require any additional support. Every family is different and every family has their own challenges during this time. We are all here for you.

Best wishes,

Catherine

Dear Parents/Guardians,

URSTRONG which is the organisation which produces our Friendology framework has sent us an encouraging  message: "You don’t need us to tell you it’s a challenging time to be an educator.  In talking to teachers and administrators around the world we’ve discovered a huge range of expectations and capabilities – some teachers will be in the classroom with students on Monday while others will most likely be working with students online for months to come.

One emerging theme is a simplification of what’s being taught and, in some cases, this means wellbeing initiatives are being shelved until students return to school. We certainly understand the instinct to streamline curriculum but we believe that now, more than ever before, is the time to prioritize wellbeing, by strengthening meaningful connections with students while ensuring that educators have the support they need".

With this context in mind, URSTRONG has prioritized Keeping Kids Connected  

Click on the following link which will give you a number of free on;line activities which you can do with your children..  This is a wonderful way to keep your child and yourselves connected during this difficult time.

https://urstrong.com/resource/keeping-kids-connected/   

If you have any questions regarding Wellbeing issues at the moment please do not hesitate to email me on: edooley@spbentleigh.catholic.edu.au

Edward Dooley (Wellbeing Leader)