Dear Families,

This week some of the senior students have worked on our end of term
production. The children have developed a fabulous series of complications
around a group of students coming to school through the town of Morwell.
The plot thickens as they work their way around local land marks and icons
that they feel are significant to them. The script writers have amazing
imaginations and are creating twists and turns at every spot they come to with
a challenge.
The challenges all have a fabulous singing or dancing item to enhance the
story. With both the senior and junior levels practicing AUSLAN for a song each
and the senior girls and boys are both presenting an item as a group. Were
excited.

COVID and influenza
Have continued to be challenging with illness in the school community. The
current COVID pandemic, influenza and the common cold are common and
wide spread illnesses at school. I invite all families to take up the current
recommendation by the Victorian Department of Health. That is face masks
are worn in indoor settings or when physical distancing is not possible. This is
because the wearing of masks is effective in reducing the transmission of
COVID-19 and all airborne respiratory illnesses.
The recommendation is until the end of winter, students aged eight (8) and
over and all school staff are strongly encouraged to wear face masks when in
class (noting that exceptions to the recommendation apply to circumstances
when clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential) is positive.
We have some seniors who regularly wear masks in class and I would like to
commend them for their example. It is to be noted that the use of face masks
should not constrain student participation in the full range of school activities,
including music, sport and performances. This means students are able to
self-regulate the use of them when appropriate.
I continue to extend my thanks to all families for keeping to the RAT testing
schedule. This is the best way to identify COVID and help to minimise the
spread. At school we have maintained a double cleaning schedule during the
day, have air filters in all learning areas and still have the play equipment cleaned between play times. If you have been unwell please allow yourselves
and your children the time to recover, we are all in the same situation and to
function well in all areas of our lives we need to look after our health.
ARTIST in RESIDENCE
Bernard Mangakahia’s visit was truly inspiring. The children have enjoyed the
additional experiences of dance from other cultures and have been working at
some of the hoop dances during recess. The aim is to use some of the dances
learnt in our end of term production. There will be information about costuming
requirements next week. These will be simple and hopefully most items will
already be in children’s wardrobes.

CAR PARK
I have some news from the parish regarding the car park. More investigation
has been done and the council are sorting through paperwork around the fix.
We don’t expect it to be in the next few months but are confident that we are
getting closer to the problem being solved.
As part of our VRQA (Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority)
compliance we are working on new signage for the road which will reduce the
speed coming into the car park and in the parking area. You will also notice
that the pine posts are being repaired and some (near the oval) are being
removed.

BUSH TUCKER GARDEN
Over the course of the weekend, we will be moving the garden beds from their
current position to create a mini footy and soccer field inside our playground.
The garden beds will be transported to the front of the school. This has been a
long time in coming and we are all excited. We will continue to work on
physical science in stem but also we will be looking at biological science and
embrace the planting in the gardens.

Please enjoy the blessings of your children over the weekend,
God Bless,
Anne-Marie Robb