Newsletter - Term 2, Week 8


BVPS Valley View Thursday 4th June 2020

Here’s the latest news to keep our community up to date on the latest happenings at our school.

 

Upcoming Events   

June
Tues 9 - Grades 3, 4, 5, 6 return to school on site

Thurs 18 - School Photos

Mon 22 - Semester 1 Reports sent home

Thurs 25 - Parent Teacher Interviews (via phone)
Friday 26 - Last Day of Term 2

July
Mon 13 - Term 3 Begins

NO SCHOOL Monday June 8th (Labour Day)

 

Principal's Message

Hello to all our fabulous parents and carers,

Our Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students have returned to school as if they have never been away. What a fabulous group of students who have engaged in their learning with such enthusiasm and commitment. The teachers have been thrilled to see them all!

A very big thank you to all the parents and carers who have responded positively to the ways in which you need to engage with the school. There has been a minimum of fuss and everything has progressed smoothly. We thank you for cooperating with us, we can’t do it without your support and for that we are very grateful. We will continue with the same arrangements for P-2 students until the end of the term.

 

We look forward to welcoming our Grade 3- 6 students and their families back next Tuesday.

 

Grade 3-6 Staggered Start and End of School Day

As you are aware, we have been implementing a staggered start to the beginning and the end of the school day to avoid large congregations of people and minimise adult interaction in large groups.

On June 9th we will be welcoming our Grade 3 – Grade 6 students back to school at the following times -:

  • Grade 3 students: 9:00am start and 3:00pm finish.
  • Grade 4 students: 9:15am start and 3:00pm finish.
  • Grade 5 students: 9:00am start and 3:15pm finish.
  • Grade 6 students: 9:15am start and 3:15pm finish.

In order to enable parental compliance with social distancing requirements, the following arrangements will be put in place when escorting your children to school.

Start times:  
GRADES 3 & 5 9:00AM
GRADES 4 & 6 9:15AM

 

Siblings can be dropped off together and collected at the same time.

Grade 3-6 students who elect to remain at home will not be supported by the school unless there are unique circumstances.

Drop off will conclude at 9.15am. Any late students will need to make their own way to the office and receive a welcome / late pass from Lindy.
 There are 4 distinct entry points into the school:
  • Front gate on Dimboola Road
  • Double gate off the Community Link near the basketball court
  • Johnstone Street / Gowrie pathway through LN 1 & 3
  • Central area through the secondary school

Each of these entry points will be supervised by school leaders and other staff. We will have members of staff at each point, greeting families and welcoming children onto the school site.

Parents are not to go past this point.

 

PICK UP at the end of the day

At the end of the day the following arrangements will take place for Grade 3-6 students:

ONE PICK UP LOCATION - MINI BASKETBALL COURT (parent pickup from Community Link gate off Johnston St)

 

Pick up times:  
GRADES 3 & 4  3:00PM
GRADE 5 & 6  3:15PM

 

Prep-Grade 2 pickup will continue to be at the front basketball court (via Dimboola road).

 

Students will be assembled on the basketball court and handed over to the parent/carer when they arrive. Homegroup teachers together with Learning Neighbourhood leaders will supervise this exit out of the school.

We understand that it will be a different routine for you and your children as you will not be able to wait with them as you have done in the past. At this stage parents are not able to enter the school grounds and buildings unless going to the office.

Please be reassured that all teachers will be discussing these new routines with the children over this week to ensure that that they are prepared for the change. It is a necessary precaution that all government schools are taking during the pandemic and it will not be for ever.

We ask that our Grade 3 – Grade 6 students do not bring their scooter or bike to school during this period. If you wish them to ride to school, you will need to take the scooter or bicycle home with you.

Please follow the social distancing guidelines and remain 1.5 metres away from another adult as you wait outside the school to drop your child off or pick them up.

The Department has recommended that schools maintain a good flow of air through the school buildings and so we will need to leave some of our windows and doors open weather permitting. This may make our learning spaces a little cooler on some days and our students may wish to wear their jackets inside as well. Can you please ensure that you clearly label all your children’s beanies, gloves, jumpers and warm jackets so that we can easily locate them for your child during the day.

 

Social Story

Our teachers have put together this video about what it will be like coming back to school for Grade 3-6 students. Please watch this video together with your children. https://youtu.be/vecPdpRbXwE

 

Computers

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE COMPUTER WITH YOUR CHILD/REN. You will receive an appointment time to return the computer to the school.

 

Labour Day Public Holiday - Monday 8th June - NO SCHOOL

Labour Day is an annual public holiday that celebrates the eight-hour working day, a victory for workers in the mid-late 19th century. The argument for the eight-hour day was based on the need for each person to have eight hours labour, eight hours recreation and eight hours rest.

 

Enhanced Cleaning

Broadmeadows Valley Primary School will have extended cleaning that involves progressive cleaning throughout the day, with a focus on high-touch surfaces. In summary, it includes an increase in the frequency of the regular cleaning beyond what is normally required, using detergent/disinfectant to wipe areas including, but not limited to:

  • Doors (door handles, handrails and guardrails)
  • Kitchenettes including sinks
  • Drinking troughs and fountains
  • Student tables, chairs and lockers
  • Electrical fixtures and appliances (switches, printers, photocopiers, fridges etc.)
  • Bathroom areas
  • Teaching and non-teaching area floors (hard floors and soft floors)
  • High-touch surfaces (including all entry and exit points, shared surfaces including chairs and desks, benchtops, hand sanitising units, drinking troughs.
  • Bathrooms (including toilets, washbasins, soap dispensers)
  • Learning Neighbourhood and office waste bins
  • High-touch areas in playgrounds
Canteen, Cafe and Breakfast Club

The canteen, café and Breakfast Club will remain closed for the remainder of Term 2. We look forward to welcoming them all back in Term 3.

We thank you for your cooperation during this time and we want you to know that we will do everything we can to keep ALL of us safe when we are at school.

 

School Photos

School Photos will be taking place on Thursday 18th June. Envelopes for school photos will be distributed when students return to school next week.

 

Information and the details to order online are also available here.

 

If you would like to order a sibling photo orders need to be placed online before photo day. Online Sibling Ordering will be open until midnight the night before photo-day. Students whom have ordered Online will not need to return an envelope. Please note that the photographers do not photograph every family within the school. Sibling photographs are by request- that is, only families that have placed an order online or via an order envelope by day of photography, will have a photograph taken.

 

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Parent-Teacher interviews will be held on Thursday 25th June from 1pm-7:30pm. These interviews will happen via phone. Semester 1 Reports will be sent home on Monday 22nd June so that you can look over this report before discussing it with your child's homegroup teacher. Teachers will be making contact with you in the coming week to book a time for them to call you.

 

 

Please remember that only students and teachers are allowed on site to keep everybody safe. Thank you in advance for your support.

 

Look forward to seeing you soon.

Regards

Carmela