22nd April, 2020

Term 2 Issue 1

The Communicator

A word from our School Captains!

For me home learning so far has

been hard to adapt to. The

hardest thing about home learning

is that I miss the time I spend

socialising with my friends and my

buddy. Despite the situation

however, I am really enjoying the

tasks the teachers are uploading

and the challenges they set. "Be

strong because things will get

better. It may be stormy now but it

never rains forever"- Evan

Carmichael.

I have enjoyed remote learning as it is a

different environment and a different

routine. I really like being able to do the

work in any order and at my own pace,

however I miss my school friends. Sleeping

in until 8:40 is great, so is not having to

wear a school

uniform! Getting back into the classroom

will be good as that means everything

happening in the world now will be over.

Remote learning has been very

different to what we are used it. It

has certainly been more

challenging but I have also found

it much more peaceful working

at home. Before learning at

home, I have found it heaps bet-

ter to take your dog for a walk, or

if you don’t have one, just go for

a walk, go for a run or just do

something active to get your

brain ready for the day.

In my opinion, home learning is definitely harder

than learning at school because our teachers

are not physically there with us. It hasn’t been

the best for me but it hasn’t been the worst. I

need to keep working on my time management

skills so I can get all my work done during school

hours. I’m also missing my friends which makes

learning a bit harder but I know it’s necessary to

stay home right now. I recommend going for lots

of walks and bike rides and just get some fresh air

to make you feel better and not feel like you’re

just trapped in a house all day. The thing that I

like about learning from home is that my parents

are sometimes there to help me if I need and my

mum’s a teacher which helps as well. I like work-

ing in a room with my brother and seeing what

he gets to do at high school and doing all his

work in his actual timetable. Learning from home

is kind of FUN!

Ned K

Jordan Y

Thomas R

Emily B

Grade 6 - Application for Year 7 placement 2021

This week, grade 6 parents will have received the ‘Year 6 to Year 7 Information Pack’ which in-

cludes the ‘Application for Year 7 placement’ form. Please ensure this form is returned to Kirsty

Page by Friday 29th May. This pack includes a FAQ’s section which parents will need to read as

well an amended timeline based on COVID-19.

The Department have also provided a website below which does provide further information for

parents.

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/year-6-to-7.aspx

If you are yet to receive this information or require any further clarification, please email Kirsty

Page.

page.kirsty.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

Oval Update

The oval is looking fantastic and is really taking shape. From a

distance it looks like the fine grass of the MCG, in reality, up

close it is still very patchy and a bit fragile. A positive of school

being closed is that the grass is really getting a good

opportunity to thicken up and knit together without traffic on it.

This means that when school does open again should be in a

sensational state and as a result be more resilient for years to

come.

For all parents and students competing in this year’s Science Talent Search you will have received an email

updating you on the process for Science Talent Search for 2020. If you did not receive this please contact

Megan Macfarlane (macfarlane.megan.m@edumail.vic.gov.au) or Melissa Binding

(binding.melissa.l@edumail.vic.gov.au) for information.

The Victorian Science Talent Search will be going ahead this year, however it will be through digital submis-

sions. Miss Macfarlane and Miss Binding are happy to assist students over the coming weeks with their sub-

missions, should they choose to compete. More information can be found in the email sent to parents.

Registration for entries closes on 25th May 2020. Please contact Megan Macfarlane or Melissa Binding on

the emails above to let us know whether your child will be or will not be competing this year.

We look forward to working with you.

Melissa Binding

Megan Macfarlane.

Science Talent Search Update

Congratulations to Alison Bates,

husband Mark and son Cooper

on the safe and healthy arrival of

their little boy on the 20th March—

Archie Bates.

We wish Alison, Mark and Cooper

all the best for the future with their

new little addition.

It’s a perfect time to curl up with a good book!

Right now is a perfect opportunity for children (and adults) to curl up in a cosy corner

and lose yourself in a book. Although you may not have access to a physical book

there are many options in the online world which are currently offering free access to

ebooks and audio books. Given that you are unable to visit the school or local library

in person, these sites are a great option in the current climate (and some prefer it al-

ways)! Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of sites currently offering free access to

ebooks and audio books:

Glen Eira Library (online version) - https://library.gleneira.vic.gov.au/browse

Time for Kids - https://time.com/tfk-free/

Epic Books - https://www.getepic.com/ (some grades are using this already so please

check with your child before setting up)

Storybox - https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/ (see attached information on Storybox)

Spotify and Audible both have audio books available (you may need to have a sub-

scription to these)

Podcasts – Search ‘shows for kids’

Assistant Principal’s Message

As we move into our second week of Remote Learning we wanted to

acknowledge all of our parents for the hard work that they have done in making

it so successful. We know that you are all juggling different work and family

commitments and also trying to adjust to life under Stage 3 Restrictions. Please

know that we really appreciate the work that you are doing and how you are

working in partnership with the school. You don’t need to feel that everything

from a ‘normal school day can or even should be replicated. We understand that

it is not your role or responsibility to manufacture a full ‘school experience’. Please

just do your best and do whatever is achievable on any given day.

On some days you might feel like ‘tearing your hair

out’ and others might feel more successful. On the

previous page we have provided some tips and hints

that might help you manage home learning bet-

ter. Remember, we are all in this together!

Marg Kennedy- Wellbeing Coordinator

Dear Parent,

We are delighted to let you know about an education resource that is available to your

child at home as part of our school subscription – Story Box Library .

Your child can watch favourite stories, read aloud by fabulous storytellers, at home as well

as in the classroom.

Reading aloud to children, in particular by diverse and engaging storytellers, greatly

improves language and literacy skills, especially in the early years of a child’s

development.

Story Box Library is committed to supporting and engaging the practice of storytelling. It is

intended for use as a complementary form of delivering the precious experience of being

read aloud to, in order to improve children’s lives. Connecting children with literature

through the complementary medium of film, providing a vibrant, interactive experience

via a diverse range of storytellers sharing the best of our local children’s picture books.

To access Story Box Library at home:

1) Visit www.storyboxlibrary.com.au

2) Choose Log In from the top right corner of the screen

3) Log in using the username and password provided below

4) Enjoy the library of stories on any device with internet connection

USERNAME: cpsread

PASSWORD: cpsread

Please note the following features:

● Story Box Library regularly adds new stories, so is an ever-growing library

● Content is aimed at Prep/Foundation through to Year 6 students

● Includes a range of short films to inspired by our stories, creators and storytellers

● Resources are provided for each story, including Classroom Ideas, Activity Time and

Student Task Sheets – all designed to assist at-home learning

● Captions can be turned on or off for each story

● Story Box Library is a safe online space free from advertising

In these unprecedented times we’re all being asked to change the way we work and live. Our

tradition of putting books into the hands of kids isn’t going to change, but for Term 2, we're doing

things a little differently.

What does this mean?

All orders will be placed via the LOOP ordering system with Scholastic.

If you don’t have an existing account, you will need to register.

How does it work?

Follow this link Virtual Catalogue Issue 3

Browse and note the items you wish to purchase

Click anywhere on the catalogue and it will take you to the LOOP login page

Log in or Register and Place your order

Submit payment

Once ordering has been closed off, Scholastic will send the orders to school.

Once they arrive, notification will be sent out via the Communicator to notify you of col-

lection times/days etc

IF you wish to order, but have items delivered directly to your home, you can do so after

the orders have been closed off. Delivery to your home costs an additional $5.99 for

postage costs

ALL ORDERS DUE BY

MONDAY 4th MAY