Different Times

What a journey we are on. Everyone, children, parents and staff, are learning new skills and exploring different learning experiences. It is important to be thankful for the way everyone is accepting and responding to the changes we are going through. There is much anxiety and apprehension right across our community as we walk through unchartered paths and the uncertainty doesn't help. We have been told that the best way to get back to normality is to slow down the "curve" by self-isolating, social distancing and keeping our hands clean - three very easy things that all people can do. We have seen many news items where people are refusing to do this. Why? Maybe because they are a little inconvenient? Probably. Too restricting? Probably. Too boring? Probably.

Will they work? Probably. Are you following the 3 easy suggestions? Hopefully.

Just remember -- that the school is open and welcomes any children whose parents are working and staying at home would be impractical.

Home Learning

How is it going? 

Throughout the past week, I have been in regular communication with principals from around our diocese, and it is clear that parents and carers are feeling incredibly anxious and overwhelmed in regard to their children’s learning in the foreseeable future.

While teachers acknowledge that parents are the first and primary educators of their children, schools have a very important role in fostering the academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the children. Face-to-face teaching, which is the optimal way of doing this work, requires a level of personal interaction that cannot be replicated through technology. Online teaching can never replace classroom group learning because students learn from their peers as well as their teachers. The classroom offers students opportunities to assist one another to solve problems, and this is what helps to build children’s skills in collaboration and independence.

During the week, teachers will be arranging a time to call each of their student's families to touch base and see how things are travelling.

We look forward to what the new terms brings.

School Fee Support

Parents would have received via COMPASS a message from the Director of School offering a way to relieve the financial stresses during this difficult time. Parents can apply for support through two schemes which could defer payments or provide some reductions dependent on your current situation.

Both schemes require an online application.  The links to these applications can be found in the letter sent to the parents from the Director on Wednesday via Compass.

PALM SUNDAY

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. The Year 2 children who have been at school have created a PowerPoint for all to watch and listen. Please take the time as a family on Sunday to view this PowerPoint.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

We were visiting the church each week to pray by following the last journey on Good Friday as the Stations of the Cross. We have put together the prayers and images for you to expereince tomorrow (Friday 3). Friday next week - 3pm is the traditional time to pray these prayers. Thank you Millie Hughes for helping Mrs Dunn with this.

ANZAC LITURGY

Over the next few days you will see our ANZAC liturgy come out on Compass. Thank you to all the children in year 5/6 and Mrs McGann for putting this together, particularly Olivia & Maria who jazzed up the presentation. All the local ANZAC service have been cancelled so we would encourage you as a family to watch this PowerPoint. We will miss our vetran visitors next week, so please keep them in mind.

SUNDAY MASS

Just a reminder that you can livestream Sunday Masses from Sacred Heart Cathedral via mnnews.today at 9:30am.

SMS/EMAIL NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCE

As part of Our Lady of Victories’ commitment to student safety and welfare, our school has begun notifying parents of their child’s unexplained absence via SMS message & email.

This service provides an SMS / email notification to parents of children who are marked absent from school without explanation once the roll has been checked in the morning.

Where possible, it would be appreciated if parents can notify the school at their earliest convenience regarding a child’s absence.

 If a child is going to be absent for the day or is intending to arrive late (e.g. medical appointments etc.), then parents are asked to use the COMPASS APP or call the office to notify the school before 9:30am on the day rather than sending a note afterward.

It is hoped that by providing this service and in partnership with families we can continue to ensure all possible mechanisms are in place to maintain the safety of our students.

USING THE ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATIONS

COMPASS is the preferred method of informing the school that your child is away. By sending it through COMPASS, it is immediately synced to the class roll. Teachers endeavour (technology permitting) to have their rolls marked by 9:30am. If your child is not present and you have not sent a compass notification (or contacted the office of an absence) you will be sent an SMS to advise that we have not received an absence “note” and your child is not present.

Please refrain from using other electronic forms of notifications such as email, Schoolzine or other APPS we have used in the past. If in doubt, call the office.

You will be able to access the school newsletter here and notifications will come through Schoolzine. Please DO NOT use the old SkoolBag App. It is no longer used for communications of notifications and messages..

Go to this link to download the Schoolzine App:

http://www.schoolzine.com/szapp

SORRY but we are not loaning books from the library until further notice. If your child has a book at the moment, please take good care of it till school resumes as normal. Parents could return them to school if you are passing by. Please do not break your social obligations for social distancing by doing this. 

KINDER

Thank you to all the wonderful teachers at home who are doing my work for me. I miss the children and would much prefer to teach face to face. The children bring so much joy into a teacher’s day - there is no joy in interacting with a computer. Hopefully we will meet again soon. Until then, we battle on, some better than others, but I am happy if you at least try to have a go and ask for help if you need it please.

I understand that not all children have access to a device for online learning. I am using three online sites: Starfall for Alphabet and calendar, Studyladder for Literacy and Numeracy and Epic for Reading, drawing, and fun activities. To date, 92% of Kinders are accessing Studyladder while only 34% are using Epic. Engaging with stories is necessary to develop Skills in Literacy so please spend some time on Epic. I have added songs with a drawing focus for children who like to be creative. Adding a sentence to their illustration will build skills in writing. I would like you to send me some completed work please for my records.

I completed the drawing of the cement truck with two students at school today and have included their work to stimulate ideas around drawing and writing.

For children without devices there are work booklets to complete. Some still need to collect these from school. Add some hands- on activities such as forming the numerals to ten using playdough or writing sight words in the sand. Do some craft using recyclable materials around the home.

Term 2 will be more focused on developing skills in Reading and Spelling. I will be adding two more online sites: Spelling City and Matific for Maths.

Working this way is challenging for both parents and teachers. We are still finding our way and need to keep communicating and supporting each other.

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

Sadly, no Regional or Diocsean SPort will take place this term. We hope opportunties will become available next term.

Our school athletics carnival scheduled for ??? will not be going ahead.

We would like to wish the following children a Happy Birthday

 Thomas W, Shammah N, Ewan O, Clayton S, Logan E

Congratulations and we hope you had a happy day