PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

22nd May 2020 - Issue 7

Dear Parents, Welcome Back to School, Yr P-2– Tuesday 26 May

I am excitedly awaiting the return of our Junior School students as they resume their school

attendance from Tuesday 26th May. To see the children back with their classroom teachers will be

wonderful. I can’t wait to welcome all families in these year levels when I’m opening one of our

school gates ready for student arrival from 8.45am each day.

I want to reassure all families that significant planning and preparation has occurred to put in

place arrangements that meet the intent of the health advice and ensure community confidence.

Upon this health and safety advice, strategies that support the physical distancing, particularly

among adults, thorough school cleaning and good hygiene practices within the school

environment have been a major focus. With this newsletter are a couple of social stories to read

and discuss with your children that I hope will assist families in their discussions, upon your return to

school.

Health and Safety Measures | Cleaning– all throughout the day, in addition to the normal schedule

of cleaning

Extended and increased cleaning arrangements have been in place all term, and will continue for

the future. This occurs throughout the school day to reduce the risk of transmission of diseases,

particularly on high –touch surface areas. This new arrangement means the school has extra

cleaning staff, who continuously clean onsite throughout the school day, in addition to the normal

full cleaning schedule undertaken, as well. This enhanced cleaning of the school, focuses on high-

touch surfaces, such as classroom desks, chairs, doors, exit/ entry points, waste bins, bathroom /

toilet areas and play equipment being disinfected and thoroughly sanitised throughout the day.

Students are required to practice hand hygiene regularly throughout the day, supervised by

teaching staff. The school will continue to undergo deep cleaning procedures by specialist

cleaners on a regular basis and all staff and students attending school must be in good health and

meet the Victorian Governments requirements around potential COVID-19 exposure.

How to help your child

Teaching your children good hygiene practices, such as how to wash their hands, blow their nose,

sneeze into elbows, dispose of tissues and keep their physical distance from others. Endeavour to

read ad discuss the social stories provided with this newsletter to reassure children of what to

expect. In particular, reassure your children that school is a safe place, and communicate what

the dropping off and collecting arrangements will be for your child. Children will only leave the

school with sight of a parent or carer who is the designated adult person collecting.

We will strictly monitor and take a conservative approach to any chid displaying signs of a cold, or

generally being unwell and will ask families to keep unwell children home or to immediately collect

a child if requested by our first aid officers. You might like to consider providing a small packet of

tissues for your child to bring to school, if you feel the need for your own personal supply.

Let’s Fast Track to Tuesday

I can’t wait to see our beautiful families next week. The teachers are ready for you and excited for

your return. Have a fantastic weekend.

Kind Regards,

Cheryl Clark

Principal

Children will arrive at 8:45am

and enter the school via the

Heatherhill Road Gate,

Robinia Street Crossing Gate

or Kalmia Double Gate.

Children will depart at 3:30pm

and exit the school via the

Heatherhill Road Gate,

Robinia Street Crossing Gate

or Kalmia Double Gate.

Children will regularly hand wash + sanitise

whilst at school

Students who are sick

must stay home and

seek medical advice

Parents must not enter the

school grounds and

must keep 1.5m distance

from others when walking

to and from school gates

Students need to bring a

water bottle. School drink

fountains will not be used

Extended and increased

cleaning arrangements

have been made

including disinfection

of playgrounds.

Cleaning will occur before

+ afterschool as well as throughout the school day.

Equipment sharing will

be kept to a minimum

No food sharing will be allowed.

This includes providing special

treats for birthdays. Children

will still sing Happy Birthday

& celebrate.

Families need to plan for and

adapt to the above changes

Frankston heights Primary School’s

Return to School Health and Safety Measures The following is a number of important behaviour changes to allow for a return to school…

We wish to reiterate, if a child attending school displays any symptoms or indicates they are feeling unwell they must be collected immediately.

Thank you for your support and understanding on this matter, as we manage

the safety and wellbeing of our school community.

By sending your child to school, parents are agreeing to the declaration that to

the best of your knowledge your child/ren are well and have not come into

contact with anyone who may potentially have been exposed to Coronavirus.

Welcome back to school!. Let’s do this … together!

Before and After School Pick Ups and Drop Offs

Start of day:

All Principal Class staff (Mrs Clark, Mrs Smith and I) will be on the gates from 8.45 in the morning.

To ensure child safety, children will need to enter/exit the school via the Heatherhill Road Gate,

Robinia Street Crossing Gate or Kalmia Double Gate.

All other gates including the front office gate will be closed. The double gates near the school

flags will be the entry point at the front of the school. Integration staff have been organised to

be a support at the front gates. We ask that students for obvious safety reasons do not enter

the bottom gate of carpark.

Teachers will be in their class rooms so that the students will be supervised as they enter.

Learning will start at 9.00am.

End of day:

Once again all Principal Class, Cheryl, Michelle and myself will be on duty at all gates.

All teaching staff will come out of the classroom with their students and supervise in the yard.

As mentioned above: to ensure child safety, children will need to enter/exit the school via the

Heatherhill Road Gate, Robinia Street Crossing Gate or Kalmia Double Gate.

All other gates including the front office gate will be closed.

During this time: All teaching staff will be supervising and moving students along. Students are

not permitted to continue playing in the yard. All students must go home straight away at the

end of the day.

Students may walk home themselves as per plans made by parents. PARENTS ARE ASKED TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE CHILD/REN WHERE THEY

WILL BE PICKED UP FROM AND WHAT GATE SO WE CAN ENSURE STUDENTS ARE ALL HAPPY AND

SAFE. Students will be advised to wait inside the grounds until they can see their parent.

Parents waiting must continue to social distance and where possible maintain 1.5m between

each other and school staff. Parents must not congregate. Once children have entered/exited

the school grounds parents must leave immediately.

Our school gates will be locked throughout the day.

We are confident all families will get into a routine fairly quickly. However, if you continue to

have concerns, please be reassured that a call to the office can alleviate this.

Have a great weekend,

Jodi Craig

Assistant Principal

Student Wellbeing and Operations

Mathematics Feedback Survey

Dear families,

Although we have been switched to remote learning, our school goals have remained the

same – ensuring that your child/ren progress in their learning. We would like you to complete

this survey with your child to get feedback, specific to our Mathematics program.

Please complete this short 5 minute survey with each individual child. Whilst learning at

home has looked a little different, we are interested in understanding what the benefits and

challenges have been and how best we can support your child as we return to face-to-

face teaching.

Thank you in anticipation for completing this quick survey. Your answers will be extremely

helpful for the Mathematics School Improvement Team to continue working on providing

rich mathematical learning experiences.

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SURVEY BY FRIDAY 29TH MAY.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE: https://forms.gle/dkFhpLFPHvZzj4WA8

RETURN OF LIBRARY BOOKS + TAKE HOME READERS

Dear parents,

Prep – 2 Families are being asked to return ALL Library Books + Take Home

Readers on Tuesday 26th May.

There will be no borrowing from Tuesday 26th - Friday 29th May to allow for

thorough cleaning.

Students in years 3-6 are asked to return ALL Library Books + Take Home

Readers on Tuesday 9th June.

Year 6-7 Transition Forms | due next Friday 29th May

Dear Parents,

A reminder all High School Application Forms are due next Friday 29th May.

THESE FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED AND HANDED TO THE PRIMARY SCHOOL TO PROCESS

HIGH SCHOOL ENROLMENTS.

Any Out of Zone Application Portfolios must also be handed to the Primary School under the

current circumstances.

To ensure forms are received by the due date parents are asked to:

scan and submit their forms via email to: frankston.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au

OR

submit the forms in person. Due to restricted access to the school, parents are asked to

drop forms into the school letterbox located on the inside of the Office entrance gate via

Kalmia St