Newsletter #17

28th October 2021


Event Calendar

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Principal's Report 28th October 2021

Return to School
Congratulations to everyone on their great return to on site learning.  It certainly has been a challenge. Our bubble approach is working well and the children are certainly enjoying their outside time with smaller groups. Our focus will be on re-establishing cohesive classroom communities and getting back to core literacy and numeracy skills.  If you have any questions or concerns, please email your class teacher.  We look forward to everyone being back on site together from Monday 1st November.

Monday 1st was originally listed as a curriculum day.  Postponing this was a great decision to get everyone back to school.  However, we know of many families who may want to take advantage of our new freedoms and travel to regional Victoria for a long weekend.  If you have these plans, we hope you will feel confident to follow through on them.  There will be no negative consequences for families if you would like a long weekend.  Have a great weekend and we will see you on Monday at school if you are home, or on Wednesday.

On our return next week, year levels will have their breaks at different times and our bubbles will remain to reduce mixing of groups.  We will of course maintain hand hygiene and we ask that parents drop and pick up at the gates.  If there is a case of Covid going forward you will be advised on a case- by- case basis regarding how it will impact on you and your family. The DET system is now a well oiled machine with experience and they will guide us through any cases.

Welcome Back to School Picnics
We have organised dates for a picnic for each level.  These will run on the synthetic surface and basket ball court from 5.30-7pm.  Families can choose to attend, bring a picnic, blanket/chairs and some sports equipment/games for their students.  Staff will attend and what a lovely way for families to reconnect. We hope to see you there.  Adults will need to check in on the QR codes at the gates, masks must be worn if you are unable to socially distance and adults will need to be vaccinated.

Days and dates are as follows;

Prep – Thursday 18th November

1/2 – Wednesday 24th November

3/4 – Thursday 11th November

5/6 – Wednesday 10th November

2022
Thank you to those families who have shared any concerns around class placement for 2022.  Students will have an opportunity to tell their teachers which other students would be good learning partners for them at School.  We will be starting to work on the classes.  We work very hard to make sure that every child has an opportunity to be their best.

Our class structure for 2022 is as follows:

3 X Prep

4 X 1/2

5 X

5 X 5/6

Transition for Prep 2022  (Please see following pages)
Our on line sessions have been going very well.  We are expecting next week’s sessions will remain on line but we are hopeful that after that we can organise some sessions on site.  Stay tun

llness at School
Attached below are the current guidelines regarding children who may be unwell at school.  We encourage you to ring the office if you are not sure of what to do. Managing unwell students covid19 factsheet.pdf




Important Dates to Remember

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




From the Office

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.



Parent Payment Information and Book Pack Collection 2022

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE:

2022 Parent Payment information is now available on Compass through Course Confirmation. Please take the time to read through all the information provided via the Parent Payment Policies relevant to your child’s year level and direct any queries you might have to our Business Manager, Skye Thornton. Payment plans are available through your Compass access, or you may prefer to contact us directly.

We would also encourage families to contribute to the voluntary contributions in the form of Grounds & Facilities fund and/or Library & Building fund. These funds are vital to support the running of additional programs and purchase of resources. The School Assistance fund provides an opportunity for parents to support others in need within the school. We thank you in advance for your contribution.

If you would like to make a contribution for 2022 this year, student book packs will be available for collection from Thursday 2nd December.  Arrangements for the collection of books will be confirmed closer to this date.

Parent Payment Information Prep-Year 2 2022

Parent Payment Information Year 3-6 2022

Parent Payments on one page overview

Compass_pay_schedules_2022.pdf

Please note: ALL students will receive their book packs no later than the first day of school Monday 31st January 2022.




2022 Prep Transition

Last week our 2022 Prep students had their first virtual transition session. Although we were not able to see all their smiling faces in person, it was so wonderful to see them on our screens joining in with all the fun. All of them were so brave, engaging in all activities by sharing their thoughts and ideas. It was a wonderful opportunity to play some games, get to know one another and sing some songs. Together we enjoyed reading ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and we created our very own hungry caterpillars. Everyone did such a terrific job, showing great persistence when practising their fine motor skills through cutting, pasting and colouring in. How cute do they look? 

Well done to all our new prep students, we can’t wait for our next transition session together on Thursday the 4th of November! We can't wait to play some more games together and practise our counting skills. Don't forget to bring along your caterpillar. 🙂   








Meet the Prep Team 2022







Helping your family manage uncertainty

by Maggie Dent
 

Uncertainty is part of life and yet our brain, which creates our thoughts and feelings, loves certainty and predictability.

The pandemic has created more uncertainty in families, schools and communities than most people can recall in their lifetimes. With no clear end point, more stress and anxiety may well be triggered. In small doses anxiety heightens your sense of focus, giving you an increased level of energy, and increases your chances of managing a potential challenge that has appeared. In large doses, this anxiety is problematic, as it can cause feelings of being overwhelmed and even panicked.

The lesson of being real

Many fears and unexpressed emotions lie beneath the stress of navigating uncertainty. Be prepared to share your emotions with your children, especially feelings of sadness. They experience grief every time they lose the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, go on holiday or return to school to see friends.

Grief is not a sign of weakness. It shows you are human. Let your children see you cry and give them the agency to know what to do. They can grab a tissue, they can give you a hug and, if they’re old enough, they can make you a cuppa.

Your children need to see that when bad things happen to adults, they can feel upset for a time. There are many ways you can help children cope with uncertainty.

Normalise uncertainty

Teach your children that nothing is permanent. Good things come and go. So will tough times. Change is a part of life and can be positive or challenging. Share stories about how your family recovered from hard times. Adaptability and flexibility are key components of resilience, which can be nurtured in childhood.

Make choices that ease fear and anxiety

Remind your children and young people that they are not powerless. Resting, reading and relaxing are great tools to ease fear and anxiety. This might include taking deep breaths, listening to music, or making others laugh. Getting outside to play or walk the dog is another simple way to ease the nervous system.

Focus on the things you can control

Simple habits and routines really make a difference. When everything is changing routines and rituals such as regular family mealtimes, bedtimes and wake up times help maintain a sense of normality. These rituals provide an important anchor helping them feel in control.

Encourage your kids to have a ‘gratitude attitude’

Though times are no doubt really tough for many, you can choose to feel grateful for the things you have, and the people love, and you can model this mindset with your children.

Maintain hope

Hope is an important antidote to feeling stuck in fear. Encourage feelings of hope by sharing wonderful memories via photos or videos which can lift everyone’s spirit. Plan a new experience to happen when that becomes a possibility.

Children and young people need to understand that life can be an unpredictable ride and together you can adapt and find a way through to each new day.

The greatest tool you have as a parent in these times is to remember that you are the ‘safe base’ for your children and young people. If you can embody that, and help them feel that no matter what, your love and support is a certainty, then the uncertainty around us all becomes a lot more manageable.

Maggie Dent

Commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience. She has written seven major books including the bestselling Mothering Our Boys and her 2020 release, From Boys to Men. Maggie is host of the ABC podcast, Parental As Anything. She is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. For further details visit maggiedent.com



Camp Australia



Uniform Shop

Klad Sports is our new uniform supplier.  Their team will be able to help you with all of the School uniform needs.

https://www.kladsport.com.au/

8 Macro Court 
Rowville 
Victoria, 3178 
Australia

 T:(03) 9763 0266

 E:info@kladsport.com.au

Please note School bags will now be available from Klad from the end of January 2022.

Uniform List Effective July 2023



Community News 28th October 2021