Remote Learning
Only in the last newsletter we were welcoming everyone back. We know that many in our community are disappointed and upset about our new restrictions. This is the time, more than ever, that we must stick together and show kindness and care for one another.  The Department of Education and Training have asked us to focus on creating routine, predictability and security.  We would ask that all adults in our homes support our students to help create this. At the very least, students must attend the morning meets and the contact groups.  We are teaching and students are learning in these difficult times. We will have teachers working together to share some Book Week experiences and other events that were coming up.  These will be modified for classes to share on teams. Students need to be supported to maximise their opportunities.  If you are finding this difficult your GP is a good resource and sites such as Beyond Blue provide a huge range of resources.  Compass has outlined requirements for school supervision.  If this applies to you contact the office if you have questions.

I would like to publicly thank all our wonderful staff.  Whilst you may see them at morning meets and contact groups, teachers and aides are working tirelessly to plan and implement programs appropriate to remote learning.  They spend hours each week preparing additional materials for those who may need it and hours supporting families in many different ways that some of you would not be aware of.  Give them a shout out and say thanks for their efforts.  We of course also need to say thank you to families.  We know everyone is doing their best.  Hang in there.  Some days will be diamonds and some days won’t be. 

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thank you to everyone who attended their interview.  These help to create and sustain the vital links between home and school as well as celebrate the wonderful achievements of your children. Particularly at this time it is essential for us to have strong links between home and school.

February

Tuesday 20th Febuary - Wednesday 28th Febuary: Somers Camp

March

Friday 1st March: 5/6 Leadership Incursion

Wednesday 6th March: Student/Parent/Teacher Interviews

Monday 11th March: Labour Day Public Holiday (No School)

Wednesday 13th March - Monday 18th March: NAPLAN 

Thursday 21st March: School Photos

Thursday 28th March: End of Term 1

April

Monday 15th April: Term 2 Begins

Friday 19th April: Movie Night

Thursday 25th April: ANZAC Day (No School)

Friday 26th April: Whole School Curriculum Day

Monday 29th April - Wednesday 1st May: Year 5/6 Sovereign Hill Camp

May

Thursday 9th May: Mother's Day/Special Person's Stall

June

Friday 28th June: End of Term 2

Office Opening Hours

The School Office is staffed between the hours of 8:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday. For all enquiries please contact us on 9758 1662 or via email ferntree.gully.north.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Student Medication

If you wish to keep medications in the sick bay for office staff to administer to your child when needed, please bring the medication (in its original packaging) to the office and complete a Medication Permission form.

Asthma
Students known to have Asthma have been given a 2023 Asthma Management Plan to be completed and returned to the office with the medication in the original packaging.

Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis Action Plans have been sent home at the end of Term 4. Please return them to the office once completed by your medical practitioner, along with your epipen and antihistamine. A Student Management Plan will be prepared once this has been received.

Allergy
Allergy Action Plans have been sent home to students known to be suffering from allergies. These plans need to be completed by your  medical practitioner and then returned to the office with your medication.

If you have received action plans from the school we would greatly appreciate it if these are the forms you take to your GP to be completed.  These forms not only have a space for a photograph of your child, they are the forms used in staff first aid training so they are familiar with where to find important information quickly when required

Borrowed Spare Clothing
If your child has come home in spare clothing supplied by the School, please wash and return these items as soon as possible. As you might imagine in these wetter days we can go through our limited supply very quickly!  A spare set of clothing in school bags would be greatly appreciated ‘just in case’.  It’s not just the younger students that might need a change after the breaks.

Late Arrivals
A reminder to all parents that if your child arrives late to school, parents/guardians must come into the office so that students can be signed in at school. We need to record the correct data for the absence.

If students arrive unattended there will be an unexplained absence entered in Compass and parents will be required to update with an explanation.

Lost Property
Just a reminder to ensure all items are clearly named so that if lost can be reunited with students.  If you have received a pre loved item please make sure the name is updated.

We also ask please that you check your child’s uniform from time to time to ensure they haven’t brought home someone else’s clothing by mistake in the excitement of the day.

Items discussed at school council on the 18^th August 2021:

1. 1.The school continues to actively pursue options for having regular lunch orders available at school. Unfortunately in the current climate there are fewer businesses around, but they are working hard to make it happen.

2. 2.Works continue on upgrading the bike shed. It is being moved to the old BBQ area which is currently being worked on.  This will make the bikes more visible, allow more space and be safer for the bikes/scooters that are left there.

3. 3.GNPA – many events have either had to be cancelled or postponed

4. 4.Ilona Bennett (art teacher) has been working hard on making the Art Show an online event this year, to be run on Microsoft Teams and making children’s art work downloadable for parents.

5. 5.Rest assured that teachers are working very hard to educate our children in trying times. They are online each morning for morning meets.  They are running small contact groups for children. They are on the phone to parents to discuss the needs of children.  They are answering parent emails. They are answering the questions that children send to them on Microsoft Teams.  They are planning to try and meet the needs of the class as well as individual children.  They also have their own families to work around as well. Please remember, they are doing their best too. Be kind to them and offer support to all staff for the great work they are doing.  

Next meeting is on 15^th September on line.

On Tuesday our Preps had lots of fun celebrating 100 days of learning. Although it wasn’t the celebration we had originally planned, we still had lots of fun dancing at home, playing games and following a guided drawing. We are looking forward to getting back to school when we can dress up like 100-year olds and continue our celebrations!

Mr Chamberlain and Miss Aiello

On Tuesday the 3rd of August Junior School Council had the first Garden Club session. We moved the circle garden beds that are in the 3/4 area out into the sun. Then more and more people came to help. We managed to finish in 30 minutes. Now, thanks to everyone’s help the garden beds are getting access to sunlight and rain.  We will be planting in these tubs and mulching some of the garden beds near the soccer pitch.  We hope to be running Garden Club every week until the end of term and we hope to see lots of people to help.

JSC and Mrs Casey