Resuming Learning from Home (LFH)                                              15 July

As we head into Learning from Home 2.0, we'll need to resurrect an old friend; LFH eNews. Surveyed families have told us how this communication was helpful for so many parents, so let's keep doing it while needed. As we expect to be communicating frequently in the short-term about LFH-related issues, we'll use this format for any LFH information that needs to go to families between our regular eNews.

Regular eNews? Yes, additionally, we had already planned the release of our new eNewsletter, simply LPS eNews. This is the next phase of School Council's Communication Strategy and will proceed tomorrow or Friday, but with different content than we had prepared over the break! The format of the new LPS eNews is very different from this one, so you'll easily know which is which. The LPS eNews is delivered fortnightly and directly to you via email.

This week, LPS staff are working onsite to prepare the LPS Learning from Home program for all students from Monday 20 July. In taking this unprecedented step we are continuing to follow the guidance of the government and the Chief Health Officer, in response to unimaginable circumstances. 

We all share the concerns around the escalating number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria and greatly appreciate your support as we navigate our way through these challenging times. Principals met again yesterday with Regional DET executives to discuss the latest update on school arrangements, in what is a continually responsive approach to the public health crisis. With the State of Emergency Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions, there is an increased emphasis on 'If you can stay home, you must stay home'.

For the latest DHHS information, click here. 

The LFH Program this term:

As we move into Learning from Home, be assured that we feel prepared for next week after last term’s experiences! Our Leadership Team met last Friday to plan this week as best we could with the advice we had at that time. This week, teachers are preparing for the next stages in remote learning, involving more professional learning, responding to student, staff and parent feedback and considering the lessons learned across DET schools. We will continue to offer as much support for families as we can, and prioritise your children's wellbeing, during the weeks ahead.

In particular, we are reviewing the timely LPS Learning from Home Experience Survey, which has provided extensive feedback on what parents think we should continue, stop, modify or add to LFH. Coming from the people who prioritised and managed that learning at home with very little notice, this information is now invaluable in helping us meet your children’s needs going forward. Thank you to the 332 families who answered our survey; a fantastic response that we acknowledge, appreciate and will now be able to action.

As soon as all survey comments are translated into English (which is not automatic unfortunately), I will share the improvements we are planning in relation to your feedback. These will build on what families valued and are familiar with from last term, as well as some additions or changes to support you and your children further. We're trying to get this done and to you before the Week 1 LFH program is published on Friday on our website. A reminder that the LFH website password is as follows:

        USERNAME:    lfh@laburnum.com
        PASSWORD:    labpslfh

To assist parents in understanding the LFH program, please expect an email invitation later this week from your child's teachers as they schedule parent LFH Webex briefings next Monday afternoon, for teachers in each year level to reconnect with parents and outline what’s happening. These will involve two or three teachers in each level briefing parents from their classes; similar to our Information Evenings held in Term 1. Every class teacher is involved and specialists are spread around the levels. If you can't attend, a summary of the main points will be uploaded to the Sentral parent portal.

Additionally, our sub-school teams are contributing to the new LPS eNews this week to help families start preparing for next week's Learning from Home. For recently updated DET Learning from Home information for parents, click here. The section that includes 'How to set up a learning environment at home, establish routines and expectations' may be useful at this time.

Having learned so much in the previous 28 – 38 days of teaching remotely, I am confident our staff will successfully implement the planned enhancements to LFH over the coming weeks, continuing our considered and staged approach.

Loan of Devices:

For families who borrowed computers or iPads last term, your return date is now extended to 5 October 2020 (start of Term 4). As one of our additions to LFH is more online sessions each morning, please email the school if you need to borrow a device, so we can organise these this week. We can email the DET Equipment Loan form on request, or it can be accessed here.

Expect more updates over the coming days. Kathy, Jo and I will continue to communicate via LPS email, Sentral messaging and the LPS website. If you have any matter that needs to be addressed, please email us at laburnum.ps@education.vic.gov.au with PRINCIPALS in the subject line. Otherwise, Sentral mailboxes remain open for parents to contact teachers. (Have you tried the new Sentral App yet?)

I ask again that you please be patient and understanding during a time we will certainly remember and reflect on for years to come.  Although we wish all students could return to school now, hopefully these challenges we face will be compensated by more quality family time and the good health of our family, colleagues and friends.

We will all get through this together, again. Please stay home, keep safe and take care of yourselves and each other.

Kim