Community Update #3 - Preparing for Week 3

Prayer for the Police
Our hearts go out to the families, friends and colleagues of the four police officers killed in the line of duty on the Eastern Freeway a couple of days ago. We have a number of school parents who work for Victoria Police and we are thinking of you all during this devastating time. Our flags were lowered to half mast yesterday to show that you have our deepest respect.

Oh Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom
embraces the universe.
Watch over all police and law enforcement officers.
Father in Heaven please give them the strength,
courage and perseverance to endure
The unjust condemnation, danger, and physical abuse
to which they are at times subjected.
We recommend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous.

Dear God, grant these brave people your almighty protection,
Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended.

ANZAC DAY
Noah B's (4RM) dad (Shaun) is the leader of the 9th Caulfield Cub pack of which Noah, Barnaby and Henry are members - the Cubs plan to still 'attend' an Anzac Day dawn service by standing in their home driveways ('Driveway at Dawn') with some sort of light source like a torch or a phone as a sign of respect.
https://soldieron.org.au/commemorate/2020-virtual-anzac-day-services/
Let's all show our respect to those Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".

Home Learning Progress

As explained over the last few weeks, we have been supporting families to transition into the next stage of Home Learning - the daily planners. Our teachers have worked hard to prepare videos and  resource packs to support the detailed daily plans uploaded onto the Home Learning pages of our Learning Community Site. Monday's plan will go up first, to give you time to digest the information. The Tuesday to Friday plans will be uploaded on Monday. Thereafter, we will upload the whole week every Friday for those parents who like to get prepared for the week in advance.

The times and breaks on the daily planner are a suggestion for families. It is up to each family how they manage the day and will vary according to your unique circumstances.

Liz Hills has prepared a 4 minute video to help explain some parts of the daily planner. I recommend that you watch the video to help familiarise yourself with the learning intentions, success criteria, enabling and extending prompts. Please email your teachers or Liz Hills with any further questions.

We understand that this is a challenging time for all of you, especially as you juggle young children, your own jobs and Home Learning. We will continue to do our best to support you and value your feedback. 

We are truly blessed with a dedicated staff who, like yourselves, have had to drastically change the way that they work. The positive way they have taken on board the changes they have had to make is a credit to them. We all miss the face to face contact with our children and parents and look forward to when we will all be back at school together.

In the meantime, we will continue to revisit and review our practices to ensure we provide the best possible Home Learning programme for your children. Thank you again for your valued contribution.

Feedback

Some of our staff who are unable to come into school and are working from home are ringing all of you to check in with our families.

One message that came through clearly is that the children are missing the social connections with each other. We encourage you to Facetime or set up group chats and virtual playdates with other families to help alleviate the isolation.

Here are some messages from our parents: 

Thank you so much for everything you all are doing to accommodate on site and off site learning. I know it helps us so much by being able to send our son to school since I work in essential services. Our son enjoys coming to school and learning in a very different environment but still wanting to come and learn.
We thank you all for doing an amazing job everyday.

In between teaching myself, I just wanted to pass on my thanks for the AWESOME job everyone is doing at St Patrick's to keep my son connected and engaged. It is a juggle, but I really appreciate the efforts of his teacher who is just so cool, calm and collected.

I really value the enormous amount of time and careful thought put into the daily teaching plan. The Zoom session are also a great way to start the day. The teacher is an expert on the 'mute' button!! Thank you so much also for the lovely phone call to see how things are going. I felt very valued and loved!

I just wanted to say thank you. This transition to home learning is such a change and we really appreciate all of the work that goes into it. The Zoom meetings in the morning are just so cute and such a nice way for the kids to see you and their friends. You are both so kind and patient with them. Our daughter loved the story this morning. My favourite part is when the parents tell their kids to sit up in the background, ha! Thank you for your hard work.

Message for the SRC

I have published a 2 minute video to share with the SRC students. If your child is part of the SRC, please share this video with them as we start to prepare to meet together each week via Zoom. There is a short activity for the children to do for me by Wednesday.

Welcome to this term's Visual Art Specialist Teacher Andria Arendze

We farewelled Miss Karin at the end of the year. Karin kindly stayed on and continued with teaching Visual Arts for Term 1. This term we welcome Andria Arendze to our staff. Andria has prepared an introduction video which will be uploaded onto the specialist teacher page on the Community Learning Site along with the planning for each week in Term 2. We look forward to the children sharing their art with us during the term.

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK'S CYBER SAFETY WEBINAR?

We are pleased to let everyone know that the recording of last week's cyber safety webinar for parents is now available to watch until May 3rd. 

This is what parents said about the session:

"Fantastic session. So valuable! Thank you so much"

"Terrific presentation. Thanks"

"Awesome content, really informative and great ideas. Thanks heaps :)"

"Congratulations! Only 30 minutes in and you have me hooked. I have done several eSafety Commission courses and although brilliant, this is a more comfortable presentation for parents. Important information!"

To watch the replay, as well as access to all of the slides, links and resources, visit:

www.informandempower.com.au/april16webinar

Password: parents2020

Term 2 Community Update #2 - End of Week 1

Thank you
You will have read the message from Liz on Flexi Buzz today thanking you as parents for your efforts with Home Learning. We understand that many of you are working from home and it is not easy to manage this new and challenging situation we all find ourselves in. As mentioned previously, Week 3 will look quite different and be more structured in terms of learning tasks, so thank you for your patience as the children get up to speed with the new requirements. Week 2 is a transition week to prepare you to the move for the much more structured daily planner.

Home Learning - Photos and Positive Feedback
A few families have sent me lovely messages photos and videos saying how well learning is going at home for their children. If you are happy to have your photos shared on our school Facebook or Instagram page, please send your photos through to principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au as we help to spread some positivity in the coming weeks.

Hi Jenny,

Just wanted to say a quick thank you for all of the hard work you and your staff are doing to offer remote learning. My daughter is loving it and even had a hand delivered Easter Egg surprise in our letterbox from Ms La Fontaine. Really a huge thank you to all of you, we appreciate it.

Yr 6 Parent

Hello,

We hope you and your family are all keeping well and staying healthy.... I have to say, I believe that teachers deserve to be paid at least one million a year.... because educating little people is hard.

Just wanted to let you know that this is the best email for my daughter.

Thank you,
Prep Parent

I wanted to let you know that I tuned into the web-conference for parents last night and it was really good.

Thank you for getting this out this week 

Kind Regards,
Yr 1 Parent
DID YOU MISS LAST NIGHT'S CYBER SAFETY WEBINAR?
We are pleased to let everyone know that the recording of last night's cyber safety webinar for parents is now available to watch until April 26th.

This is what parents said about the session:
"Fantastic session. So valuable! Thank you so much"
"Terrific presentation. Thanks"
"Awesome content, really informative and great ideas. Thanks heaps :)"

"Congratulations! Only 30 minutes in and you have me hooked. I have done several eSafety Commission courses and although brilliant, this is a more comfortable presentation for parents. Important information!"


To watch the replay, as well as access to all of the slides, links and resources, visit:
www.informandempower.com.au/april16webinar
Password: parents 2020

Thanks to one of our parents who shared this poignant reflection

Subject: Brilliant words from a School Principal (shared by a friend)

COVID-19 Kids – what if?
When people say kids are going to be ‘behind’ I say, behind what?? Not each other- they’re all in the same boat. Only ‘behind’ the age expectations of a curriculum that currently has limited context due to these extraordinary circumstances. In front on so many other more important fronts I say.

What if instead of “behind” this group of kids is advanced because of this.
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.

What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet?
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?

What if this generation is the one to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home?
What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less?
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home?
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?

What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?

What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life, who has a fine sense of empathy and care and concern for fellow humans.

What if he or she truly learns what really matters in all this…

Term 2 Community Update #1 ; Preparing for Home Learning - 5 Key Messages

As mentioned in previous updates, the staff have been working hard to support parents and families to make the transition to Home Learning for Term 2. All updates will be published here as newsletters this term. This means you can go back and access them easily. You can open the Shamrock newsletters on any device https://stpatshamrock.blogspot.com/

Term 2 Community Update #1 provides a summary of important links for all of you to read as we get started with Home Learning.

1.  Home Learning in Action
One of our parents has already trialled our Home Learning resources and shared her story of success. Through reading this, we hope you will have a greater insight into the potential of Home Learning for your children. As we develop our resources, we will be providing an opportunity for your feedback about what's working well and what we can do to further support parents to supervise Home Learning going forward. I am looking forward to sharing more of your positive success stories in the coming weeks. Please feel free to share what's going well with me principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au

Go to this link and read Brooke's story  - Home Learning ; One Parent Shares their Story

2. Frequently Asked Questions and Supervised Onsite Expectations
I have prepared a list of 15 Frequently Asked Questions FAQ in response to parent questions.

For those families who have children coming to school this week to be supervised onsite, you must read the Onsite Expectations. These include temperature checks and social distancing guidelines for drop off and pick up. You can read the expectations FAQ 3 at this link.  Access to the Onsite Intentions form can be located FAQ 2 at this link.

3. Online Expectations for Students Learning at Home
We have a set of Online Expectations for Students at Home. It's imperative that you as parents read and understand these expectations and talk through them with your children. You can access the expectations FAQ 10 at this link

4. Teachers Interacting with Students at Home
All families need to download the free Zoom video conference tool. Teachers will be interacting with children on a daily basis for Home Learning online through Zoom. Guidelines about this can be found in FAQ 12 at this link. This week, teachers will contact all parents to confirm email addresses for your children. Staff email addresses are available on our school website at this link.

5. School Resources
At the end of last term, children took their maths workbooks, chromebooks, handwriting books, other resources and pencil cases home. If you wish to collect any further resources, you will need to email the office office@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au and arrange a suitable pick up time. With our new social distancing and safety practices in place, parents will no longer be able to arrive unannounced at the office. Classroom tubs will not be sent home. Please bring in a plastic bag if you wish to take home tub contents.

Important Dates and Notices:

• Term 2 commences on Wednesday 15th April
• Cyber Safety Parent Webinar Thursday April 16th 8:00-9:30pm

Easter blessings of hope and joy as we eagerly take up this new challenge to succeed with Home Learning.
Please contact me principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au if you need support or wish to share highlights from Home Learning with our community.

End of Holiday Community Update

Onsite Learning

School will commence on site for a small group of children on Wednesday15th April. Children will need to wear their winter school uniform or their sports uniform. The learning programme will be the same programme that the rest of the school will be accessing from the Learning Community Site.

Home Learning Week 1 and 2 and Week 3 onwards

This is a friendly reminder that the learning activities already on our Learning Community Site were prepared by staff in readiness for Week 1 and 2 of Term 2. If your children completed these activities in the school holidays then please allow them to have a holiday break or support them by accessing the wealth of activities available online.

Now that we know Home Learning is in place for the whole term, staff have begun planning for Week 3 onwards. There will be greater detail included in the Week 3 planning with an expectation that the day will reflect a school day including specialist learning times and play breaks. Staff are also developing learning videos and will utilise Seesaw as a supporting resource. We will continue to keep you informed and share guidelines to support parents with home learning activities. We will also contact families with children who may require specialist learning resources and arrange for these to be made available.

Access to Learning Devices

Please be aware that we are not promoting a fully digital home learning programme. It's important that "screen time" only forms part of the day for our children just as it does at school.

However, every family will need access to at least one learning device per family. If your family doesn't have access to a chromebook, laptop or ipad please email principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au and we will support your family with a loan device.

Cyber Safety agreements will need to be signed for our Prep - Year 3 children and we will arrange for you to receive access to these during Week 1 and Week 2 of Term 2.

Cyber Safety for Parents Thursday April 16th

We are pleased to announce that our school is resourcing a Cyber Safety Webinar for parents with Marty and Carley McGauran. You can join the webinar live or watch the replay that will be available until April 26th. The webinar will include: managing devices at home; keeping safe online; keys to parent -child communication and balancing screen time and cyberbullying.

We wish you all a very Happy Easter period. Continue to stay safe at home with your families.

Easter blessings,

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

Mid Holiday Community Update

Online Holy Week Masses and Liturgies
As we privately celebrate the Masses and Liturgies of Holy Week please keep the whole of humanity in your prayers. We are blessed to live in a time when the technologies enable us to access the celebrations at least Online and through TV Channels. Wishing everyone of you a truly Blessed Holy Week. United in Prayer, Fr. Leenus Neetany SAC.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne: Sunday Mass Online: 11 am & Weekdays 1 pm: Watch at: https://melbournecatholic.org.au/Mass.
Pope Francis’ daily Mass: Watch at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta.pagelist.html
Mass for You at Home: Watch at: http://www.mfyah.com/video.html or https://10play.com.au/mass-for-you-at-home.
St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney: TV Channel 7 : Good Friday: 3 pm and Easter Sunday: 10.30 am.

Fee Relief for Families Impacted by COVID -19

We wish to reassure any of our families impacted financially by the coronavirus pandemic that we want to assist you in every way possible to continue your child’s enrolment at St Patrick's.

As many in our school community grapple with unprecedented changes to finances, emotional wellbeing and physical health, we have taken a clear position on enrolments.
No parent or guardian who wishes their child to receive a Catholic education at St Patrick's will be denied the opportunity to do so because of financial circumstances.
If you have concerns about your financial situation, please contact Jenny Hawkins directly (principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au) so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child’s ongoing education at our school.

To facilitate your planning, we will respond to applications as promptly as possible given our own constraints during this time.
We are absolutely committed to working with our families as we get through these challenging times.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your continued support of the St Patrick's community.
This support will enable us to continue to provide rich and engaging learning activities, and strong pastoral support for all of our students.

Term 2 commencement

At this stage, Term 2 is still scheduled to start on Tuesday 14 April 2020 with a pupil-free school closure day. The form of the commencement via online and/or onsite learning for some or all students has not been finalised by the Minister for Education as yet. As more specific advice becomes available from the Department of Education and Training, the CECV (Catholic Education Commission Victoria) will update all Catholic schools and I will update you as soon as possible.

Continue to stay safe with your families in the coming week. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. The staff and I look forward to reconnecting with you in Term 2 in one form or another.

Every blessing for the Easter period,

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

Tips for parents and carers on how to keep families safe online during COVID-19 from the 

e-safety commission

We recognise that staying safe online is something many parents and carers are concerned about and that privacy and protecting young people should be a priority.
Given the changing environment, eSafety is focused on providing the most up to date material about maintaining online safety. The e-safety homepage now has a direct link to their latest information relevant to COVID-19. You can also sign up to their newsletter to keep up to date as new resources come online.

SOME GOOD NEWS... At Last "Child care (Before, After and Vacation Care) will be made available for FREE for families during the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced." Around one million families are set to receive free care during the coronavirus pandemic under a plan from the Morrison Government that will help deliver hip pocket relief and help the before & after school and vacation care sectors make it through to the other side of this crisis. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR FAMILIES From the week beginning 6 April 2020 until the week ending 28 June 2020 (with a potential further 3 months extension), parents will be able to send their children for free to any TeamKids service. This package will help support families during these difficult times. IS IT SAFE TO COME TO TEAMKIDS? Yes! The Prime Minister also clarified that there is "no risk to children going to school or child care" based on clear and consistent advice that the government has received. At TeamKids, the health and safety of the children and our team is our top priority.  We have implemented specific COVID-19 risk minimisation plans for our services and will be strictly enforcing our Illness and Infectious Diseases policy. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR FREE CARE Simply book in as you usually would and you will immediately be eligible. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE CARE? Quite simply, EVERYONE. As per the guidelines, we will prioritise enrollments for the parents who need it most - parents still working, parents who are struggling to provide safe care for their kids at home, vulnerable children, THEN parents who have already taken their kids out of care and finally parents who hadn't previously had their kids in child care. *Please note: this information is current as of Thursday 2nd April 2020. This information may be updated as more information continues to be provided by the Australian Government and Department of Education. TeamKids are OPEN and approved as an essential service. We are here for families who need care during the Autumn Holiday period.  We will be providing Holiday Programs at a select number of venues for families who need to continue working during this important time and for families needing a much-needed break.

Important dates for Term 2 2020

Important Note due to government recommendations, 14th April is now a school closure day for staff to update Home Learning resources. Term 2 is due to commence on Wednesday 15th April until advised otherwise as per the message above.