From online to face-to-face learning                               22 October 2021

What a fantastic week it's been as Prep - Year 2 and Years 5 & 6 students returned to on-site learning, part-time. We will hopefully only have a short time of juggling on-site learning with LFH, before all students can return full-time to LPS.

The turnout for our Parents@Webex sessions was terrific - thank you to the 316 families who tuned in to reconnect with our staff and hear answers to your submitted questions. Overwhelmingly, these were about safety, which is completely understandable. We particularly appreciate the support of Parents Group in helping behind the scenes with parents' Google Forms, with such short notice after government decisions. Special thanks to Georgina and Tasneem!

Of course, we are continuing our COVIDSafe practices, with students this week easily slipping back into those routines (helped by explicit instructions from teachers). There has been very high support from parents for children wearing masks, including in Prep - Year 2, and we're happy that parents understand the additional safety measure that masks offer. Thanks also for sending useful spare masks; our Preps have been quite inventive with masks, sand and water in the playground!

If we are unfortunate enough to be impacted by a confirmed COVID case on-site, one of the factors considered by the Department is the proportion of students wearing masks. Principals have been advised that this information informs the extent of a school closure. Put simply, wearing masks decreases transmission of the virus. 

Thanks also to those parents who've updated their contact details with our office. Please check Sentral to ensure we have your current contact details. We never want to make phone calls to families about your child being a Primary Close Contact but, if we do, we're relying on those details.

During any of those calls, we're also required to follow a script provided through the Department of Health, containing essential and immediate actions for families. These are roles that weren't on our radar when Jo, Kathy and I joined the Principal Class and we hope to never have to deliver this news.

Thank you all for maintaining social distancing, keeping unwell children home and sourcing some very creative and effective masks. These measures help us to stay safe and stay open.

Changes to Webex as classes resume:

Just as we phased in various Webex sessions, we've started phasing them out as students return to school.

Specialists@Webex finish today, as our Specialists have already begun resuming their classes on-site.

Literacy Intervention via Webex also finishes today. Our versatile Specialists will resume their other roles, as the Intervention Team fully resume on-site Intervention next week.

Part of this transition is assessing students, taking referrals from classroom teachers and classifying student needs according to our targeted and tiered approach. We'll align this transition with the next batch of Individual Learning Plans as students return, and by 8 November.

For the remainder of 2021, students needing support in Reading or Maths will again be classified into one of three tiers, as we last communicated in LPS eNews in July:

• Students in Tier 1 can be supported by their class teachers (this includes most students);
• Students in Tier 2 could benefit from additional small group work with teachers or the Intervention Team; and
• Students in Tier 3 will receive assistance from our Intervention Team, as well as their class teacher.

Social Skills groups have already resumed with Sara, our skilled therapist. This is a wellbeing priority for some students after their time at home.

STA (Speech Therapy Assistance) continues online while Sam, the Speech therapist, works remotely. Aides and students will connect with Sam from LPS classrooms, instead of from home.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) groups have resumed, with Specialists again taking small groups of students for Oral Language sessions, as they did earlier in the year.

Requests for 2022 class placements: 

Many factors are taken into account when placing students in class groups for the following year. If parents have a particular request, these should be made in writing by email to laburnum.ps@education.vic.gov.au or by hard copy, and addressed to the Principal (not your child’s teacher). They must be received by Friday 5 November. These are then considered along with those of other families, teachers and students.

As in previous years, please do not ask for specific teachers for 2022 as these requests will not be considered. We also respectfully request that your requests are reasonable; one or two requests per child are manageable as we try to juggle competing and often conflicting priorities.

Due to the complex process involved, late requests cannot be accepted.

Leaving LPS?
We have almost finalised our 2022 staffing, which correlates with student enrolments. If your child is leaving the school at the end of this year (except for Year 6 students of course), have you let us know?  If not, please call or email our office as soon as possible.

Interrelate – Sex Education program (Years 5 & 6)

Due to current DET operational guidelines for schools, the planned incursion for Year 5 and 6 students is unable to go ahead during Term 4. This also includes the Parent Evening webinar scheduled for Monday 25^th October.

We apologise for the cancellation of this program. A range of resources can be purchased from the Interrelate website.

Parents Group News:
The mango fundraiser is back again! 

• Delicious Kensington Pride Mangoes fresh from the farm are being delivered to us again.
  Unfortunately, due to unusual crop failure this year, we have maximum number of trays of 400 for the school and the tray sizes will be smaller at 4.5kg (previously they were 7kg).  
• One tray will cost $20.
• The delivery date will be early December and we will contact families as soon as we know the date and time for collection. 
• This year, all orders must be completed online via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/BUPUF. Once the 400 trays are sold, no more trays will be available so get in quick! Orders must be in by Friday 29th October.
• Any questions please email lps@gmail.com