Dear Families,

This week our end of term production was finished being written. Student in the senior grades have been invested in the process through, getting to know the story, rehersing their dances and creating props.

Early next week all Grade 5/6 students who would like a talking role will get one. The play is designed in such a way that more than one student (actor) can play the one role. There are many keen candidates. Final dates will be published next week.

We have continued to be challenged 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 that 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 the circumstances when clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential) is positive. We have child sized facemasks in class for any student who would like to have one.

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 facemasks 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 minimise the spread.

Please note there are new signs on our road and in our car park. The speed limit on the road is 10KM and 5KM in the car park. We need these limits to be followed to ensure the safety of our students.

The garden beds are now in place in the front of the school. The students from the sustainability team and any other studnets who would like to help have been slowly transporting the dirt from where the garden were to the gardenbeds in the front of the school. We have noticed that some of the dirt that we transported across earlier in the year has re-seeded lettuce from the garden's earlier life. We will take advantage of these for our first plantings.

VRQA  Victorian Registration Qualification Authority

This is a process that checks and makes sure the requirements of the minimum standards for the registration of a school is correct. Today we went through the process. While it was checked off today there were many hours of work done to ensure our practice, procedure and policy are in order. On this not my humble gratitude is extended to our entire staff for their continued support and commitment to improving student outcomes. Through the implementation of High Impact Teaching Strategies our children have the best opportunity to learn and grow to flourish in the world. I especially would like to give praise to Kristy Glass who has worked tirelessly as the Compliance Officer over the year to ensure all our compliance needs are met.

Please enjoy the blessings of your children over the weekend,

God Bless,

Anne-Marie Robb