Issue 06/20 – Tuesday 5 May

EDUCOM

Excellence, Opportunity, Care and Success www.mtrivervie-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Welcome to Term 2!

It certainly has been very different to what we are all used to, but it appears everyone is rising to the challenge of learning and teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I would like to thank the students for their resilience and continued enthusiasm for learning. I have seen some fabulous work being submitted through Google Classrooms. In this newsletter, there will be a showcase of what some Kindergarten students have been doing. The students at school and at home have made me feel most welcome through their lovely greetings and comments. I can't wait to meet you all in person!

I would also like to thank our parents and carers. As a mum myself, I understand the challenges of supervising the learning of your own children from home. You have continued to support our school well and do your part for maintaining the health and safety of our community. Just remember, there is no pressure from us to do things in a particular way. You need to make the situation work for your family. We just need to know that your child is OK and engaging in some of their set learning tasks. As always, if you need help, just ask.

Finally, I must thank the teachers and administration staff. They worked through their school holidays to ensure that learning at home programs were ready to go for Term 2 and to ensure school operations met Department of Education requirements. They have learned to use new online platforms for teaching, assessing and communicating, at the same time as coming to terms with new guidelines for school operations. Despite these challenges, the staff have been professional, positive and collaborative. They are proving to be a tremendous team!

Even after just a short time, I already know I am blessed to have joined the Mount Riverview Public School community.

As we move into Phase 1 of the ‘managed return of students’ to school, we face a different challenge. Our school has developed a plan that we believe will best meet the needs of our staff, students and parents. We have no indication at this point of how long our school will be working in Phase 1. We will continue to take advice from the NSW Department of Education about any move forward and will communicate with you about any changes as soon as possible. I have sent out some guidelines today about our organisation for the current phase. I trust they will help you understand the changes we have implemented. Please keep in contact with us about any questions or issues that arise.

Yours in education,

Elise Berwick

Principal

What’s Happening At Our School … TERM 2 WEEK 1 & 2 Wednesday 29 April - Friday 8 May Phase 0 Continues Students return to school if they are unable to engage with learning at home TERM 2 WEEK 3 Monday 11 May - Friday 15 May Phase 1 Begins Students return to school one day per week Tuesday 12 May P&C Meeting (TBA) Friday 15 May Primary Assembly - cancelled TERM 2 WEEK 4 Friday 22 May Infants Assembly - cancelled TERM 2 WEEK 5 Friday 29 May Captains’ Assembly – (TBA) TBA = To Be Advised

Excellence, Opportunity, Care and Success www.mtrivervie-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Library News Welcome back to Term 2 and a special thanks to the following students who have completed their PRC since the last Educom:

Tyleigh H, Riley B, Jacinta B, Leah B, Georgie P, Willow L, Mitch M, Willow L-C, Liv W, Kate D, Wyatt B, Rose D and Grace H

The PRC has made changes to the number of free choice books children can read. They can read 10 free choices now for all challenges. The instructions for how to add these extra free choices is on Skoolbag. Don't forget to look in Oliver Library, which can be accessed from the student portal for the titles the children borrowed in Term 1. Go to ‘My Library’ tab and then ‘Loan History’. Any book a teacher reads to a student can be included on the list as well.

Ordering from Book Club has changed for this term. A message was sent out on the Skoolbag app. The brochure is digital and all orders need to be placed on the LOOP online platform by Friday this week (8 May).

Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful mums and grandmothers. Thank you for all that you do for your families and our school.

Mrs Turner

Student Attendance

Class rolls will be marked in accordance with Department of Education guidelines. Any student who is physically at school or who is demonstrating engagement with learning at home tasks will be marked as ‘present’. Teachers or office staff may contact parents if there are any concerns about student attendance or engagement in school work. As has been our previous practice, the school office still needs to be notified of the reason why any student is not physically at school. Please continue to send a Skoolbag note relating to absences eg; isolation, learning at home. Otherwise students may be marked as having an ‘unjustified absence’. If your child is sick, please notify the school office as normal and this will be recorded in the roll. They are not required to engage in learning at home tasks when they are unwell. As we move into Phase 1, students have been allocated one day to attend school each week. If you choose to keep your child at home on their allocated day, please notify the school office so this can be recorded in the roll. Students will be expected to continue with the learning at home program on this day if they are not physically attending school.

Visitors to the School Our school needs to limit the number of adults on site so only essential workers are permitted entry. As such, services such as instrument tutorials, playgroup and student banking remain on hold for now. Parents who drop their children at school are encouraged to use a ‘kiss and drop’ approach at a pedestrian entry gate. Parents who come to collect their children at the end of the day, are asked to arrange a meeting point away from classrooms where they can maintain the advised social distance (1.5m) from other adults and children. If parents/carers need to contact staff at school, we request that they use phone or email, unless the matter is urgent.

School Voluntary Contributions Each year the school asks families to consider paying the voluntary contribution if they are in a position to do so. Voluntary contributions for 2020 are $49 per student or $70 per family. This year, the contributions will be spent on classroom resources. Teachers will have some input into what specific resources will be purchased and these ideas will be communicated in future newsletters. Please contact the school office if you are able to make a contribution this year.

Excellence, Opportunity, Care and Success www.mtrivervie-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

SHOWCASE - Kindergarten

PBL News Teachers are looking at how they can continue to give out Warins to students who are showing safe, respectful learner behaviour, either at home or at school. Once we work out how this is to be organised, we will send out a Skoolbag message to families.

Excellence, Opportunity, Care and Success www.mtrivervie-p.schools.nsw.edu.au