24 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

It has been wonderful to see the easing of restrictions in the community this week and we hope that this trend will continue into our school environment soon. However, our primary schools still have many students not vaccinated and mask wearing although encouraged and recommended, most students are not wearing masks, therefore COVID cases are still quite extensive and impacting on the school organisation. Teachers and adults on site still must wear masks until Monday 7 March.

Although many parents have asked for face-to-face interviews, entry onto school grounds and the return to normal for excursions, incursions, and events, we still have a lot of COVID cases, so we have made the decision to keep these interviews online.

Teachers still must remain at home if they are a close contact or have COVID or have any COVID symptoms so staffing classes has been extremely challenging for most primary schools, where COVID cases remain high.

At Manly Vale Public School, we have cases in years 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 now and are averaging 5-6 staff members a day off either isolating, or having COVID or COVID like symptoms, or sick or injured.

10% of our students have been off daily with COVID related absences. It is still a juggle to support families in isolation, those families recovering from COVID along with supporting teachers and their families in a return to work.

The organisation around the guidelines has been extensive for the office and Executive team. With all of this in mind, we as a school have decided to proceed with Zoom interviews for parents in weeks 7, 8 and 9, to limit the visitors to the school site and the exposure of COVID for our staff and students. Our main aim is to keep the school open and functioning for learning. We hope that case numbers and staff absences will decrease to allow more parents on site next term.

Communication regarding new guidelines will be sent to families next week.

Rapid Antigen Test – Distribution

This week you would have received a further 4-5 RATs. These are to be used at parental discretion. You no longer need to test twice a week but use the tests to check for COVID if your child is displaying symptoms or feels unwell. It is still very important that ongoing testing occurs to ensure that we don’t have spreading of the virus and therefore having to close the school or grades for this reason.

We have managed to keep the school open due to the vigilance of this testing as many students who were displaying no symptoms were picked up during this process. Please remain vigilant with your testing and keep students at home if they are sick.

Principal Awards

Congratulations to all the students who have already received their first Principal Awards for the year last week in Stage assemblies. The Banner assembly will be held in week 10 of this term. Students receiving a banner will bring home a note explaining when this assembly is. At this stage parents are still unable to attend this assembly, however this could change by the end of term.

Swimming Ribbons

Congratulations to all the students who received a swimming ribbon last Friday at assembly.

Congratulations also to the students who this year broke school records in the pool.

Good luck at the Zone carnival on Wednesday 2 March.

Meet the Teacher Interviews – Weeks 7, 8 and 9

This week parents were emailed a link where you can book a 10 minute interview with your child’s teacher, for a “meet and greet” chat. Teachers and parents will have time to discuss the recent transition for students into their new classes and set up some goals for the year. Please ensure you book in a time to chat with your child’s teacher.

PSSA Trials and Teams

It is always this time of year that brings a range of mixed emotions when the teams for PSSA are announced. Coaches have run 2 extensive trials over the last 2 Fridays and selected their teams on what they witnessed during those trials. The PSSA policy of selection does appear on our website and is a fair, transparent and equitable process. Teachers do their best to select school teams.

Some points to remember.

1. There is only a limited amount of space in school teams and sometimes many trialling for the position. Even if your child makes a team on the weekend, it doesn’t mean they will make a school team for PSSA.
2. Priority is given to year 4 (junior teams) and year 6 (senior teams). Sometimes students who make a team in year 4 find they don’t make the senior team until they reach year 6 (one year later).
3. Students who are away can miss out on teams as there is only a limited window of time to trial teams. Coaches do their best to run additional lunchtime trials when they can, however COVID guidelines and isolation has meant that some students have missed the trials altogether.
4. Most teams are selected in consultation with 2 coaches (senior and junior coach of that sport). Teachers spend many hours deliberating over students to come up with the best team of students who performed well during the trials. Sometimes there can be up to 70 students trialling for 13 positions.
5. Coaches (teachers) do the best they can. Sometimes their selection may be different from that of Rep coaches or coaches on Saturday. It is not an easy job, but they do it as fair and equitable as they can.

Please encourage your children to always be proud of trialling for school PSSA teams but always prepare them that they may not make it in the teams due to the above reasons, and that there are always great sport choices and offers on a Friday afternoon back at school.

SRE/SEE starts next week

Thank you to all our scripture and ethics volunteers. We will have our first lessons starting next Wednesday morning 2 March at 9.00am. An induction for all SRE and SEE teachers was done this week so that they are all ready to start next week.

The number of students wishing to participate in the Ethics program was very high, so names were drawn out of a hat to fill the 22 spots available in each year. Students who weren’t selected for ethics classes will be placed in non-scripture until a space becomes available. We have enough classrooms to offer more Ethics classes but don’t have enough volunteers to take the classes. If you are interested in becoming an Ethics teacher for your child’s class/grade, please contact the Ethics teacher tamara@tylermail.com.au

School Photo Day – Thursday 3 March

Next week we will have our annual school photo day. Please ensure you send your child to school with their hair neatly done and in full school uniform. Plain black shoes and white ankle socks must be worn on this day. No sandshoes or coloured runners.

Sibling photos will start early approximately 8.20am (drop off) and continue in the lunch break. Please let your children know if they are having a sibling photo done.

Dance Ensemble Selection

This week the girl’s and boy’s dance ensembles have been selected by Miss Vanessa and Miss Pembroke, from auditions done in lunchtimes. Ensembles will be announced next week. The selection process has been extensive and thorough. Students who make it into the Dance Ensembles will be committing to lunchtime rehearsals and performances later this term, sometimes out of school hours.

Tina Lee – Principal

Year 5 Excursion to Manly Beach

Last Monday the year 5 teachers took their classes to Manly Beach for an excursion and fun day of water safety conducted by the instructors from SEA Australia.

We had a great time learning about rips, dolphin diving, wading, ocean swimming and of course board riding! Some people overcame their fears and others just had a great time!

The weather was kind to us and the conditions were perfect. We hope year 6 have as much fun when they attend next week. (Please note the date change to Monday March 7 for year 6)

Thanks to Mrs Birrell, Miss Taylor and Justine for accompanying the students and getting wet.

Ms Lisa Cash

Dates for your Diary

School Photos Reminder

Next Thursday 3 March (Week 6), Advanced Life Photos will be at our school to take photos of the whole school, classes and families/siblings.

Children have been sent home with an order form envelope outlining different options for photos if you wish to purchase them. Please have your child see Mrs Radan or the front office should you need a spare envelope. You may pay for your school photos via the secure online advancedorder web portal (linked below) specifically set up for our school using the unique 9-digit online order code P2B 27Y HEW. Parents who place their order online DO NOT need to return the order envelope. Only families who wish to pay via cheque or cash will need to return the order envelope to the school prior to photo day.

Sibling/family photos may be ordered online using the same code above or via a special sibling order envelope which can be collected at the office. Please note that sibling photos are only for siblings who are enrolled at Manly Vale Public School.

This year, to reduce the number of students lining up over lunch time, Advanced Life Photography will begin taking sibling photos from 8:20am. Students will need to go to the hall to have their photo taken and a teacher will be on supervision from 8:20 for these students. Those students with siblings who are in the band or are unable to have their photo taken in the morning will be able to have their sibling photo taken during lunch.

Please ensure that your child/children come to school on photo day wearing their neatest and cleanest, correct full school uniform and presentable hair.

Ellie Radan and Sarah Birrell

Narrabeen Sports High School

Please see attached our Open Night flyer for next Tuesday 1 March 2022, 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

Please RSVP through our link:

Community Notices

K-6 Young Investigators before school Science Club at Manly Vale Public School

Term 1 2022 topic: SPACE! Running 7.45 – 8.45 am Tuesday mornings

For more information, contact info@eyeheartscience.com.au or 0413 186 330

Federal Election – Jobs Available

The Federal Election is due soon, and we are looking for enthusiastic people aged 18+ to join the Warringah team. Lots of Election weekend work available in your local area. No experience necessary! Just bring the lovely spirit of the Warringah community. Please see the range of casual jobs on offer and apply ASAP at:

We look forward to welcoming you!

Manly Roos Junior Rugby Union Club

School Information