Latest News 22.2.22

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

I am pleased to report that despite the unrelenting hot weather and the changes occurring around them, our students seem to be settled and learning and playing quite happily. There have been a few minor changes to break times – the children are eating and playing in year groups, with half the number of students in play areas at any one time. In very hot weather they have also been required to play in shaded areas only or on a small number of occasions to remain indoors. The latter (playing in shade or remaining inside) would normally pass unnoticed were it not for the fact that we have had an unusually high number of very hot days. Hopefully everyone will be back on the basketball courts and out on the oval at lunchtime in the very near future. Our two Phys Ed teachers and their students have also been flexible when they have needed to share the undercover area and other shaded areas. It would be great if you could remind children of the importance of wearing a hat, drinking water and re-applying sunscreen (available in each classroom and with Phys Ed teachers). I also mention the UV index when I refer to the temperature and trust that the sun safe strategies will become automatic, like putting on a seatbelt.
Regarding safety, it’s important to focus on the few safety measures we have in place to ensure children arrive at and leave school safely.

Arriving and departing by bike:

Adults and children should enter and exit via Catesby St (the main entrance to the school).
Riders should enter and exit using the path that runs alongside the driveway to the staff carpark. That is, they should always be on the western side of the fence, NOT the driveway.
Bike riders must alight and walk their bikes up and down the path

Arriving by car:

• Children should wait until the car has stopped completely before opening car doors and should exit on the PATH side and not onto the road.
• Anyone entering is expected to walk down the path leading from Catesby St. Please do not walk through the staff carpark or up and down the drive to that carpark
• Leaving by car
• Children should enter a car via the PATH not the road

Kiss and Drive

• Kiss and Drive only works efficiently provided everyone knows and adheres to the small number of protocols
• Cars enter the queue from the END/BACK of the line only
• Adults remain in the car at all times, and move slowly forward as the cars in front of them move forward and exit
• Children only enter cars from the front of the line to the point at which of us usually stands

If your child regularly takes a little longer than their peers to come to the front of the school and/or if they need to collect a musical instrument on their way one day each week, please consider arriving a little after 3:00pm to avoid holding up the process or being asked to drive around the block and return.? Children should place their bag in the car first. Most put bags into the front seat, where younger children would not normally sit, and sit in the back.

Please try to avoid placing bags in the boot, to avoid a child being at the rear of the car or an adult getting out of the car.?If cars are waiting to turn left off Styne Rd to join the Kiss and Drive line, please do not drive around them to turn right (or left) onto Catesby St.

Mrs Dixon, Ms Carey and I are usually on Catesby St to ensure Kiss and Drive flows smoothly. If everyone does their part, the line moves quite quickly and safely.

Finally, I’m pleased to confirm that, having received a few minor (COVID-19) updates from our Department today, the information I sent on Friday remains accurate. At this point in time, we are therefore planning for the faction swimming carnival on Tuesday 15 March (Years 4-6), swimming lessons for Years 5 and 6 later this term, and the Year 6s Ern Halliday excursion. Ms Arnold, Mrs Davey and I have also been exploring some creative ways for our orchestra and choir to rehearse by alternating smaller year level groups. It continues to be about keeping school as ‘normal’ as possible while keeping everyone safe!

Best wishes to you all.

Elizabeth