29 July 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Education Week- Life Long Learners 26 July – 30 July

This week is Education Week and the theme is “Lifelong Learners.” I would like to acknowledge all the work of the teachers at Manly Vale Public School for their ability to adapt and change to online learning over the past 2 weeks, along with assisting with the supervision at school for our essential workers, and home schooling their own children. Congratulations to all our parents also who have become the home -schooling teachers. Possibly not the vocation you chose but you and your children are doing amazing work from home.

Learning often takes place beyond the classroom as we are seeing in our remote learning experiences. This week we celebrate all types of learning that occurs across our education system!

Olympics - Green and Gold Friday

This Friday all the students have been asked to wear “green and gold” in support of our Olympians. Teachers have programmed and planned activities around the Olympics and thought it would be a great idea to have a “Green and Gold” day on Friday. K-2 students can post a photo either on the class stream or privately send a photo while they are learning from home and 3-6 students will see each other on Zoom in the morning or can post photos up to their teacher. We have a few connections to the Olympics through our Manly Vale community.

Emma Jeffcoat who was one of the 3 Australian athletes competing in the triathlon last week finished the race in 26th place, the only Australian to finish! Emma is Ronan Jeffcoat’s cousin (4B) and I am sure the family are all very proud of her.

Jules and David Huismann’s mum, Magdalena (Marleen) Veldhuis is a retired swimmer from the Netherlands, who held the world record for 4 events and won eight world championship gold medals and 20 European championship gold medals. She was a bronze medallist in the London Olympics (2012) in the 50m freestyle as well as three medals in Athens (2004) in relay events, gold in Beijing (2008) and silver in London (2012). She was originally a water polo player like our Mrs Mel Ward. Mrs Ward played with the assistant coach of the Aussie Water Polo team, Bec Rippon and knew quite a few of the Aussie girls.

Stage 1 children have been asked to send questions to Jules and David Huismann so they can interview their mum for the google classroom activities next week. How exciting!

In this difficult lockdown time it’s great to have the Olympics to watch and enjoy champions, who have overcome so much to get to Tokyo, and share their celebrations during the television broadcasts.

OOSH Educators day- Wednesday 28 July

Last Wednesday was OOSH Educator’s day. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge all of our OOSH team Jordan, Matt, Emerson, Taylor, Tess, Suman and Moire who are essential workers during this lockdown time. They are an amazing team of people who have been such a support to families in the area, especially during the school holiday lockdown period. I feel extremely grateful that we have such an organised and caring group of young educators as part of the OOSH team, under the strong leadership of Jordan and Matt. Thank you also Jane Ellis who is the chief executive of OOSH, for her ongoing commitment to a quality service in our school.

Enquires about OOSH enrolment and information about the service can be found on their website:

Band Zoom Meeting- Wednesday 28 July

Thank you to all the band committee and the conductors who attended the zoom meeting on Wednesday night. We have a plan moving forward for our band program and communication will come out next week regarding the resumptions of practice.

Online Learning- well done everyone!

Congratulations to all parents and students for the wonderful work you have done this week working from home. The standard of work has been incredible from the students, and the teachers have simply been amazed at the work their students are turning in daily.

Kindergarten Online Learning

Year 1 Online Learning

Year 2 Online Learning

Year 3 Online Learning

Year 4 Online Learning

As we work through the extension of the lockdown period it is important to stay positive. Please do what you can when you can at home and realise that this is for a short time only and we will all get through it by supporting each other.

I realise parents are working long days from home trying to home school as are all our teachers. The days are long, but it is important that we stay at home to keep this virus at bay.

We have Maggie Dent famous author, teacher educator, parenting and resilience specialist, and most importantly grandma to Elliya in 1CK, who has great words of wisdom for parenting during the tough times, especially this online learning phase.

I Am A Child – By Maggie Dent

I am not built to sit still,

Keep my hands to myself, take turns, stand in line, be patient, or keep quiet,

I need motion, I need novelty, I need adventure, and I need to engage the world with my whole body,

Let me play.

Trust me, I am learning!

Hours on the computer is not conducive to great learning and well-being. Let the children play. They will learn. Try your best to engage with the classwork set on Google classroom, K-4 students are welcome to come and get hard copies of the learning packs from the office if required. Our stage 3 students seem to be doing quite well with the technology but make sure they too have time to play, go for a walk or bike ride. Create a calm environment in your home with boundaries and routines.

Below is a guide to the time you are working towards for home schooling from the Department of Education.

Early Stage 1

Expect your child to be learning from home for approximately 2.5 hours per day, plus additional activities. This may include:

• 45-60 minutes of English activities
• 30-45 minutes of mathematics activities
• 30-60 minutes of activities across other KLAs (creative arts, HSIE, PDHPE and science/technology).
• The school may also organise other activities such as wellbeing and physical activities.

Stage 1

Expect your child to be learning from home for approximately 2.5 hours per day, plus additional activities. This may include:

• 45-60 minutes of English activities
• 30-45 minutes of mathematics activities
• 30-60 minutes of activities across other KLAs (creative arts, HSIE, PDHPE and science/technology).
• The school may also organise other activities such as wellbeing and physical activities.

Stage 2

Expect your child to be learning from home for approximately 3 hours per day, plus additional activities. This may include:

• 45-60 minutes of English activities
• 30-45 minutes of mathematics activities
• 1-1.5 hours of activities across other KLAs (creative arts, HSIE, PDHPE and science/technology).
• The school may also organise other activities such as wellbeing and physical activities.

Stage 3

Expect your child to be learning from home for approximately 3 hours per day, plus additional activities. This may include:

• 45-60 minutes of English activities
• 30-45 minutes of mathematics activities
• 1-1.5 hours of activities across other KLAs (creative arts, HSIE, PDHPE and science/technology).

The school may also organise other activities such as wellbeing and physical activities.

The Learning from Home Hub- Helpful additional activities

Support for Families

Some helpful links below:

Provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together. Contains information on COVID-19 and how to help your family cope.

Information on how to stay safe online during the COVID –19 pandemic

Provides telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents and carers of children ages 0 to 18 who live in New South Wales. Ph: 1300 130 052

Brings together families, support services and community resources so that our children and young people are safe and well. Ph: 1800 066 757

Information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ph: 1800 512 358

Resources for parents and carers to best support their children and reduce worry and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tina Lee – Principal

Dates for your Diary

School Information