via Webex (details to be advis
Thu 25th Februaryvia Webex (details to be advis
Fri 26th Februaryvia Webex
Tue 2nd MarchWe all shared a sense of relief with the announcement last weekend that restrictions would be further eased. Although some aspects of our lives will be positively impacted, there have been minimal changes for schools so far. We can start library borrowing for each class (accompanied by hand washing/sanitising). Please ensure your children have returned their books so they can once again enjoy our library resources. As well, home reading with 'real' books resumes next week.
After the significant sacrifices made to control COVID-19, we can't become complacent. The school was inspected on Monday as part of the COVIDSafe Assurance Program. The three-hour site visit included a checklist and review of LPS health and safety strategies to minimise the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission. We recorded a completely positive checklist and the follow-up email noted that 'you and the team have done a great job with the school in general and the COVID situation'.
This is definitely an area where we want to be doing everything properly, so thank you to Bernadette, Donna, all our staff and students for their ongoing efforts. Parents received positive recognition as well, as our school drop-off procedures were observed, noting the success of our staggered starting times and parents' social distancing!
In this week's eNews, and on our website home page, we include the new DET flyer on what to do if your child is unwell, which has some useful links and reminders for parents.
If you borrowed a school laptop for remote learning, please return those before December 7, via your child's classroom teacher. Yesterday, our students observed Remembrance Day, which Commonwealth countries dedicate to those who have died as a result of war, particularly from World War I onwards. Our students were led by the School Captains in a simple and developmentally appropriate observation of this day, including the playing of 'The Last Post'.
Unfortunately, our response rates for the Parent Opinion Survey are very low. Please check your email for the link to this - we'd love to gather some more data before the survey closes tomorrow.
Kim
from the Assistant Principals, Kathy and Jo
The 2020 year has seen families across Victoria dramatically alter their usual daily routines to decrease the spread of the COVID-19 global pandemic. As a state-wide community, we have kept ourselves indoors, working, parenting and schooling from home, and reducing our interactions with family and friends.
The result of these restrictions have meant that our infection numbers have been dramatically suppressed and, as a state and country, we have almost reached a new ‘COVID normal’. What a fantastic achievement!
Now that restrictions are easing, it is timely to remind each other of the importance of regular routines for our children, including reducing screen time and increasing physical activity and sleep. You’ll find the Australian Government’s Department of Health Movement Guidelines here. This resource provides the evidence-based recommended levels of screen, physical activity and sleep for 5 – 17 year old children.
It is also incredibly important to ensure your child’s online safety at home by monitoring what they are accessing via digital technologies. Locating your child in a common area where an adult can actively view their screens (not bedrooms), as well as filtering the applications or websites that they can log on to will increase the likelihood of their online safety. Co-viewing is a beneficial alternative to sole child participation.
Our Technologies page has some useful resources for parents, including information on age-appropriate apps and programs. Please review our LPS Acceptable Use of Technologies Agreement with your child to ensure that they are fully aware of the behaviours expected, both at school and at home, when using digital technologies and the internet.
**If you would like to explore some current research by the OECD (2019), please read ‘What do we know about children and technology?’
1. If a child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home
If a child becomes unwell during the day, they must be collected from school/early childhood education and care (ECEC) as soon as possible.
2. If a child has any of the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) outlined below, however mild, they should get tested and they must remain at home until they receive their results:
• fever
• chills or sweats
• cough
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• loss of sense of smell or taste.
In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered symptoms.
For further advice:
• call the 24-hour coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline 1800 675 398
• call a general practitioner
• use the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) online self-assessment tool.
Visit: Where to get tested.
3. A child must stay at home until they are symptom free, even if their coronavirus (COVID-19) test is negative
If a person has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) they must isolate until they receive clearance from the Department of Health and Human Services. Read the What to do if you’ve tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) factsheet (PDF) for more information.
If a person is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) the Department of Health and Human Services will get in contact to tell them they are a close contact of a person who is confirmed to have coronavirus (COVID-19). A close contact must quarantine at home. Read the What to do if you have been in close contact with someone with coronavirus (COVID-19) factsheet (PDF) for more information.
For information on the minimum periods students and children need to stay at home for other conditions, refer to the DHHS school exclusion table.
4. Children do NOT need a medical certificate before returning to school/ECEC
Once symptoms have cleared, there is no requirement from the Department of Education and Training or DHHS for children/students to have a medical certificate before they return to school/ECEC.
Thank you for your support in following these steps, together we can all stay safe.
Year 1
During our wellbeing morning lessons, Year 1 have been focusing on the school values, in particular Resilience. We know resilience means having a positive attitude, taking risks and learning from mistakes. This week we read “The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes” and had a discussion about the importance of making mistakes and learning from them.
Year 2
Every morning in Year 2, we have been focusing on student wellbeing, using the L.P.S Matrix to identify how we can demonstrate positive behaviour. We have been practising our active listening and demonstrating how this looks in the classroom.
Resilience has also been a focus this week. We persisted when challenged to make origami and were proud of our achievements. The Year 2 teachers were proud of how students encouraged each other to have a growth mindset.
In Year 2 we have been very curious about our family history. It has been interesting finding out where our family are from, what types of houses they grew up in and how their school life differed from ours. We have been busy publishing our family history posters and are very proud of our finished work.
Year 3 Coding
In Year 3 this term we have been exploring the program Scratch, learning the basics of coding. Each week we have been exploring a different focus, ranging from creating motion, recording and uploading sound and designing animations.
Our goal this term will be to create our own videos, telling a story through coding.
Year 4 Writing
In Writing, the Year 4’s have begun creating a narrative that we will be working on for the remainder of the term. This will allow students to see how their learning has evolved over the weeks, by comparing their original draft to their final product.
The students understand the importance of planning before they write to help organise their thoughts. They created a visual planner to guide their narrative drafts. We can’t wait to see everyone’s narratives later in the term!
The main discussion item will be the LPS Bullying Prevention Policy, which is still in draft form.
If you would like to receive Webex details for this meeting and a copy of the Bullying Prevention Policy (draft), please contact the school office via email: laburnum.ps@education.vic.gov.au
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