IMPORTANT DATES!
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
COVID Safety Updates
Yesterday the Victorian Government announced a six week extension of the COVIDSafe measures for schools. This means we will continue to focus on the 3V’s of ventilation, vaccination, and vital COVIDSafe steps. RA tests will be made available for term 1 and though not compulsory, we still highly recommend the use of these RAT’s twice weekly. Safety measures will also continue with the playground bubbling occurring with a few changes. Rotations allowing children to play in different play spaces will be worked into the timetable. Vaccination continues to be an important consideration.
It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.
Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.
Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.
Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 weeks after their first dose.
If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022
To book an appointment you can book at your local GP or pharmacy: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking
You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.
You can also make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/
Helping Children to get their Vaccination
Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options are available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.
Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations.
👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers
Meet the Teacher Evening
Don’t forget to complete the student information questionnaire prior to our meet the teacher week. It is a great chance for our teachers to get as much information as possible so that we can provide the best possible program for our students. Relationships are so important in a thriving classroom and this work assists each teacher to build strong foundations. We are all crossing our fingers that next time we might have the capacity to host live and in person meetings.
School Council
An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Rosanna Golf Links Primary School.
Nomination forms may be collected from the office from Thursday the 17th of February and must be lodged by 4pm on Thursday, 24th February 2022.
The ballot (if required) will close at 4pm on Thursday, 3rd March 2022.
Following the closing of nominations a list of the nominations received will be posted at the school. The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows –
If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school.
Take care,
Kirrily Lamers
Principal
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT
Provisional Psychologist
As communicated in the newsletter a fortnight ago, Zoe Bloore (provisional psychologist) will be working with us for the first half of this year. Her work will be focused on a range of students, groups, and needs.
As you would imagine the need for such a service in the school can be high and our priority is to meet this need as best we can. We have now a process in place to best triage Zoe’s time and expertise. Should you feel that your child is needing this support please be aware we will be following the process below.
- Parents should contact the school asking for a permission form and parent information form (this will be emailed to you). You should return the form to Luke Franklin: franklin@education.vic.gov.au
- School staff will be contacted and asked to complete a school information form. This form will be collated with the parent information form.
- Details will be consolidated into a student database and given a priority ranking. This ranking will be developed by looking at the school’s needs and parent needs (the psychologist’s time will be prioritized towards the higher-ranked students).
- We will contact you to inform you of any session times and the availability of the psychologist as we work through our current cases.
Please be aware that this service will operate alongside our current Department of Education School Support Services SSS (which includes psychologists and speech therapists). Any issues that are deemed urgent will continue to be allocated through SSS.
Respectful Behaviours within the School Community
Our school community has demonstrated incredible solidarity and resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Being back in our classrooms with extra health and safety measures is another big transition, but it’s the very best one for our children’s education. As we navigate these changes to onsite learning, including required mask wearing for some students, it’s more important than ever that adults in our school community treat each other with respect and kindness.
The Department of Education and Training has released a new policy that describes the positive behaviour expected from parents, carers, and other adults in Victorian school communities. The policy sets clear standards of behaviour to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for students, staff and adults.
There are also other resources to support safe and respectful relationships in our school community, including information about getting involved in the school, advice on how to raise a concern or complaint, and parenting support resources. You can find the new policy and these resources here.
You may also see a new poster up around our school, promoting positive behaviour.
2022 Production - Dance Lessons
This year we have teamed up with Stomp Dance Company to present to you, ‘The Amazing Race’, our student Performing Arts Production.
Sadly, with the interruptions we have had to onsite learning in recent years, our students have not had the opportunity to participate in this extra-curricular activity since 2018!
RGLPS’s ‘The Amazing Race’ is set to take stage at Darebin Arts Centre on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th of May. Students will perform over two nights, with half the school on one night and the other half on the other night. More details to follow.
We ask that you please make an initial payment of $16.50 to cover the cost of dance lessons which will being in Week 6 (Wednesday 2nd March). Students in Grade 1- 6 will participate in 40 minute dance lessons and Prep students will dance their little hearts away for 30 minute sessions. Dance lessons will take place in the school hall on:
- – Wednesday 2nd March
- – Wednesday 9th March
- – Wednesday 16th March
- – Wednesday 23rd March
- – Wednesday 6th April
Further information regarding additional costs such as for buses to transport students to the theatre for daytime rehearsals will be sent via Compass in the coming weeks.
Payment is due on Compass by Monday 28th February.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at denisse.lobos@education.vic.gov.au.
Luke Franklin & Denisse Lobos
Assistant Principals
TEACHING AND LEARNING
ICAS 2021
I am happy to announce the following 2021 ICAS Spelling Bee results and certificates, which were delayed due to the lockdown and postponed testing window:
High Distinction: Mia B and Bianca K. These results place Mia and Bianca in the top 1% of participants in their year level in Australia. Huge congratulations to them both!
Distinction: Charlotte L, Ava C, Lachie B and Jasper L. These students all achieved in the top 10% of participants Australia wide – awesome effort!
Credit: Grace R, Sullivan C, Sohum B, Christian L, Thomas B, Archie W, Ruby R and Rayaan M – These results placed students in the next 25% of participants – well done!
Merit: Jasper W – Jasper achieved results in the next 10% of students.
Students who achieved higher placed certificates were presented with these at assembly on Monday 14/2/22. All other ICAS Spelling Bee certificates will be distributed to classroom teachers (or sent in the mail to students who have departed the school).
The results of the ICAS English, ICAS Mathematics and ICAS Science have also just arrived in the mail and will be presented at Monday’s assembly and announced in next week’s newsletter. Fingers crossed that the ICAS Digitech results are not far behind..!
Term 1 2022 Team Newsletters
Term 1 2022 Team Newsletters are now available. These will be accessible via links in a Compass announcement on Friday and are also stored for long term access on Compass under School Documentation -> Year level Newsletters -> 2022 -> Term One 2022.
I encourage all parents/carers to take the time to read these comprehensive newsletters as they provide an overview of the curriculum, programs, special events and other important reminders for parents/carers in each year level.
2022 Maths Olympiad
2022 Maths Olympiad sessions will start from March 2nd for selected students. For those that are unaware, the Maths Olympiad is an Australia wide enrichment challenge that RGLPS offers to high achieving upper primary students in mathematics each year. Students are asked to complete five problems at five different Olympiads spread across the year, for a total score out of 25. Mathematical questions are pitched at lower to mid secondary level and are designed to really challenge participants. Selected RGLPS students will be primarily from Year 5/6 and must be performing at least 12 months above expected for their year level to be considered for the team. On occasion, a handful of exceptionally capable Year 4 students may be invited to participate.
The Maths Olympiad is often also a challenge in resilience for participants, who are used to high levels of mathematical success and generally find maths tasks easy. Students need to develop a growth mindset and understand that the Olympiad problems are designed to be extremely difficult. Students routinely only solve 1-2 questions correctly (out of five) per Olympiad. It is important that children and parents/carers understand this before agreeing to participate.
I will hold weekly Maths Olympiad practice sessions on a Wednesday morning at 9am from March 2nd. On non-test days, these sessions will focus on learning and using a variety of mathematical strategies. There will be a strong focus on students collaborating and learning from each other and making their mathematical thinking visible and visual.
The five Olympiad dates are scheduled between the end of March and September 2022, with the first Olympiad for 2022 on Wednesday 23rd March. I will send a Compass invite to parents of students selected for the 2022 team next week. Parents need to give consent for their child to participate. Please feel free to contact me at the school if you have any questions about the Maths Olympiad.
Have a great week everyone!
Kerron Worsdell
Learning Specialist
CSEF – Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.
Payment amounts this year are $125 for eligible school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child. The first payment run is 1 March.
If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
Application forms are available at the school office or alternatively can be downloaded from the Department of Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page. Please return any new application forms to the office as soon as possible.
Please speak to Kaylene or Susan if you have any queries.
SCIENCE NEWS
Caterpillars
Over the course of the week, each of the six caterpillars turned into a chrysalis. Now we will wait anywhere from 4 to 12 days (but most likely 10-12 days) until metamorphosis is complete and Monarch Butterflies emerge when they are ready. We hope the staggered timing will mean many students will have opportunity to observe the emergence of the adult butterflies.
While we wait for the butterflies to transition, we will learn about the lifecycle of chickens. Some chicken eggs will delivered to incubate and hatch in the Science room from Monday 21st to Friday 4th March. The Grades One and Two in particular will spend time investigating the stages of life but all students will have the opportunity for observations.
Katy Wheeler
Science Teacher
SCHOOL PHOTOS
CANTEEN
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Disclaimer: Rosanna Golf Links Primary School (RGLPS) does not endorse any product or service advertised in this newsletter. RGLPS takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements or the quality and reliability of products or services offered in the advertisements
