20 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal’s Report

Updated Guidelines for Families

On Monday of this week all parents and carers were emailed the updated guidelines for families around further restrictions. These restrictions came into effect Wednesday 19 August. These guidelines have been put in place to minimise the risk of transmission and promote testing to help identify and track any community transmission. As a school we have had to make some changes to certain school operations. They are the following:

• All extra-curricular activities such as dance, art shack, drama, choir and math’s club that occur during the school day are on pause.
• Band rehearsals are on pause (see below for further information)
• Buddies are on pause
• If a student is unwell and displays any flu like symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or cough they will be sent home and will need to get a covid test. The child cannot return to school until we have sighted a negative covid result. This can be done by taking a screen shot of the negative covid result which is usually sent as a text message. You will then need to email this screen shot to the school (manlyvale-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au) before your child can return. Please make sure they are also symptom free before returning to school. At times results can take up to 3 days. We therefore encourage parents to get a test as soon as any symptoms are seen to help students return to school as soon as possible.
• When communicating a child’s absence please provide detail on why they are away. Of course if it was because of any flu like/cold symptoms we will need to sight a negative covid test. We need this to ensure we are following the guidelines.
• Interschool sports have been allowed to continue within our local area. The PSSA conveyors for our local area will be meeting shortly to manage the best way forward with the aim to be resuming summer PSSA. This will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
• Minimised parents and carers on the school grounds. Parents and carers are still unessential visitors and should not be on site. We therefore ask for all parents if coming on site to drop off or collect your child and to leave as soon as you have done so. Please ensure the 1.5m social distancing rule between one another.
• If you need to come into the school office for any reason you will be required to complete an external visitor form.
• Our library remains open for students to use at lunch, however each stage has been assigned a day to ensure no crossing over of stages.
• Kindergarten Orientation, excursions and parents/carers attending the school is on hold. This means that parent meetings will need to occur over the phone with the teacher.

Another copy of the Guidelines for families can be found below.

We acknowledge and understand what a challenging and uncertain time it is for all and the impact the above changes will have on families. We are all doing our best to stop the transmission of coronavirus and to keep each other and our community safe. These measures will be in place for the next 6 weeks when NSW Health with the Department of Education will review them. Please if you have any questions contact our school office. Thank you for your understanding and supporting this amended school operations.

Internet Safety - Messenger Chats

In the digital world we are all a part of today, the need to teach our kids digital literacy skills, including how to appropriately communicate online, is becoming more and more vital to maintain positive relationships.

While online messaging platforms, such as Facebook's Messenger Kids, can offer students a safer online environment to communicate, it is encouraged that parents and trusted adults continue to support their children in navigating how to communicate kindly and considerately. This includes knowing when an appropriate time of day to message is and also what is and isn't appropriate to write to friends.

We encourage parents of students who are using messaging platforms to use parent features that are available, such as the parent dashboard on Facebook's Messenger Kids, to guide discussion and monitor appropriate use of technology outside of school. Please see the link below for further information on how to manage a child's Facebook's Messenger Kids account.

Banner Assembly - Friday 21 August

The following students have earnt a School Banner. The presentation of the banner will occur tomorrow morning at our quick assembly with certain stages. Unfortunately, we are not able to invite parents to this ceremony however we will film the event and make sure parents can access the awards ceremony through a link on the website. Congratulations to the following students:

Ashleigh Forrest, Rena Kim, Abigail Wilson, Gabi Han, Brooke Fisher, Isaac Lau, Belinda Matthews, Isla Stedman, Jack Voorderhake, Sophie Sollberger, Siyul Yang, Savannah Lowe, Ella Kemp, James Curzon. Pipi Te Pania will receive her second School Banner.

Parking

We have been receiving many complaints about illegal parking and unsafe drop off and pick up behaviours. Please do not park across driveways of our neighbours. Please park legally respecting the access for our neighbours. The painted yellow line on the road along the gutter means that you are not allowed to park there. Please don’t sacrifice student safety for convenience.

Athletics carnival

The carnival held last Friday was another terrific sporting spectacle, although it was bittersweet given that we could not invite the Manly Vale community to join with us on the day. Nonetheless, the students participated with great enthusiasm in almost perfect conditions. A big thank you to Mr Dylan and Mrs Birrell (3-6) and Miss Pembroke (K-2) for their great organisation and the teachers for making the day such a success.

Kindy Enrolments

Do you have a little one starting with us next year? I know it sounds early yet our planning for 2021 has begun and our enrolment forms for Kindergarten 2021 have started “rolling in”. If you have a child starting Kindergarten at Manly Vale in 2021 or if you have friends or family in this position, it would be appreciated if you would encourage them to submit their enrolment forms and accompanying documentation (proof of age, proof of address and immunisation) as soon as possible to assist us with our planning and administration.

Stay safe and Take care,

Sharon Oscroft – Deputy Principal

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Hurry – only 1 more week to finalise your Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2020! Many students have finished reading their books but some still need to finalise their online reading records. Books must be entered online by Friday 28th August!

Please remember:

Infants Students (K-2) have completed the challenge entirely at school – you do not need to do anything at home. Students have read 30 books in library and class time and will receive a certificate at the end of the year.

Primary Students (3-6) are expected to complete the challenge independently. They need to read 20 books and enter them into the PRC website by the closing date, Friday 28th August, to qualify for a certificate at the end of the year. Students use their normal school login and password to access the website.

Please see the PRC website for challenge rules, booklists and information on how to log books to your reading record online. Most questions can be answered at the PRC website, however please contact me if you can’t find the information that you need, or if you have queries relating directly to your child’s account. Students may also visit the library during lunchtime for PRC help.

PRC Website -

Ali Webster – Teacher Librarian

3T

Band

Would you like to join the Manly Vale Junior Band in 2021? We are recruiting for next year’s Junior Band. If you are interested please click the link below to fill in the google form.

Google form link below:

Thank you to Ben and Carlos for their hard work and dedication to our Senior and Junior Bands during this difficult time. Please click the links below to watch our talented musicians of 2020.

Senior Band Film:

Junior Band Film:

Miss Emily Sussanna and Miss Hannah Taylor – Band Coordinators

Dates for your Diary

Waste Free Wednesday

Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic brochures have been distributed. Orders are due Friday 11 September 2020.