COVID-19 Update – 25/03/2020

by | Mar 25, 2020 | | COVID, Latest news

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Critical Update

We are in a difficult position. As a school, we understand our responsibility on society with regard to the continued education of the children. We also have a significant responsibility on the care,  safety, health and well-being of our staff and their families. 

In line with State and Federal Social Distancing Recommendations, we have implemented new procedures:
 
Major Adjustments to School Drop Off and Pick Up

  • All school gates will be now opened at 8:25am and locked at 8:45am.

  • No parents will be permitted to enter school grounds to drop off or pick up students.

  • Children will be met at all school gates by a staff member and asked to go to their classes.

  • Kindy and PP students are to enter and exit via the stairs near the basketball courts where they will be met by teachers who will take children to classes.

  • Parents/ Caregivers of students in other year levels are to arrange with their child the specific gate that they are to enter and exit – reinforce this when you drop off your children.

  • Please allow safe social distancing of 1.5m while you are dropping off and picking up.

Front Administration/Office Procedures

  • All members of community to utilise all other forms of communication, that is email, phone and school website in order to limit the number of visitors to the front office.

  • The main gate will be shut, but not locked. If it is essential, you may enter to the office. If you must enter the front office, please abide by the social distancing laws.

iMaths Books

  • All iMaths books belonging to students who are remaining at home and have NOT been collected, will be left on a table outside the front office in year groups. This will start tomorrow, Thursday the 26th of March. Please come and collect after school between 3:00 and 3:30pm daily.

  • All iMaths books for students still attending at school will be sent home every day. Please bring it back each day your child returns to school.

Library Books/ Home Readers

  • Please return these to the boxes outside the front office gates.

Other Updates on COVID-19 for Today:

  • Thank you for your efforts with regard to informing the school office that your children are not attending. I need to reiterate that if you are ‘Self-Isolating’ your children, that you abide by the rules of ‘Self-Isolation’ and Social Distancing. Seeing the children out and about, at the shops and in groups outside of school, is disheartening. If you are yet to make the Self-Isolation decision, please advise us of this absence in advance and we can process this until the end of the term. Please do this via the school website: https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification

  • Where possible, students are to walk to school independently or be dropped off by car. As there are 50% less students here right now, the morning commute to school is much easier! We ask that students do not ride bikes or scooters. This is to reduce the number of children who need to enter a shared area, and reduce gathering at the bike racks at the beginning and end of the day.

Distance Learning at Mindarie Primary School
We are working very hard in this arena. Please see the update below for information.

Attendance
It is imperative that parents and guardians inform the school if you are not sending children to school. On top of our already increased workload, our office staff have spent countless hours contacting parents to confirm the whereabouts of your children.

Please keep sick children who are genuinely sick at home.  Children with bad coughs, sore throats, sneezing and so forth.  This will reduce the work load and stress levels of all at school. Please advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Thank you in advance for your support. If you wish to discuss any of the above, please phone the school. Please be assured that we will provide you with updates as we are provided with them.

Kind regards,

Barbara Bromley
Principal
March 25 2020

COVID-19 Update – 24/03/2020

by | Mar 24, 2020 | | COVID, Latest news

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Our updates on COVID-19 for today:

  • I can not urge you enough – inform the school if your child is going to be absent. The office spent two hours today, chasing up on the whereabouts of your children. We totally support your decision to keep your children at home. Please respect our office staff and school by letting us know your intentions. If you have made the important and difficult decision to keep your children at home, this is reasonable according to the attendance policy. However, there are strict guidelines that surround this. They are not to be coming and going from school. That is to say, at home on a Monday for ‘Self-Isolation’ and then back at school on Tuesday. We support your decision and can extend their absence in advance until further notice or the end of the term. Please do this via the school website: https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/
  • Please don’t plan to pick children up throughout the school day to ‘Self-Isolate’. This is another cause of contention among students, some of whom have been getting upset when their classmates leave.
  • Teachers at Department of Education schools have been instructed by the Director General of Education to focus on the students who are at school and classroom learning. We as a school went above and beyond this direction to provide a localised work package to support our kids with their immediate learning. We are currently working with the Department of Education as to what remote learning will be supported by the Department. We are very aware that our families across our school have varied access to technology and we need to be mindful of this to ensure equity for all students across our school and Western Australia. As we know more, we will release more on this matter. Please do not ask your child’s classroom teacher for any extra work.
  • When arranging to collect iMaths books for distance learning, please do so before, or after school. Please keep your visit to the classroom to a minimum.
  • Friday the 27th of March will be the last day for Lunch Orders through the P&C.
  • Sports equipment will now be set into Year level groups. The equipment will be washed thoroughly by the school at the end of each lunch session.
  • We have had to make the very difficult decision to stop the dogs coming to school until such time as we can revert to the front door being closed, this is to ensure the safety of the dogs.
  • Senior Choir has been postponed until further notice.

Students Before and After School

Thank you for your support so far regarding this.

Students are not to arrive at school before 8:15am.

Children are to be picked up at 2.45pm unless attending before / after school care. This is a matter of safety and security.

Attendance

It is imperative that parents and guardians inform the school if you are not sending children to school. On top of our already increased workload, our office staff have spent countless hours contacting parents to confirm the whereabouts of your children.

Please keep sick children who are genuinely sick at home.  Children with bad coughs, sore throats, sneezing and so forth.  This will reduce the work load and stress levels of all at school. Please advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Thank you in advance for your support. If you wish to discuss any of the above, please phone the school. Please be assured that we will provide you with updates as we are provided with them.

Kind regards,

Barbara Bromley
Principal
March 24 2020

COVID-19 Update – 23/03/2020

by | Mar 23, 2020 | | COVID, Latest news, School News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Our updates on Covid-19 for today:

  • Our school library is now closed. All books currently on loan from the library must be returned to classrooms immediately and no borrowing will occur until further notice.
  • The hand dryers in toilet blocks will be turned off. Paper towel and rubbish bins have been supplied in all toilets.
  • All our staff, front office, teaching and administration are receiving countless emails regarding attendance. Thank you for taking the time to let us know of your decision to keep your children home. These are being read, however please appreciate that these may not be replied to.
  • It is imperative that parents and guardians inform the school if you are not sending children to school. On top of our already increased workload, our office staff have spent countless hours  today contacting parents to confirm the whereabouts of your children.
  • Today, the Western Australian Department of Education have launched a Learning at Home website for parents wishing to keep their children at home. Please follow this link: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/learning-at-home
  • In addition to these resources, as a school we have released a learning at home pack, also on our school website. Aside from your child’s iMaths workbook, no other learning packages will be provided to parents of students absent from school. Please appreciate that the focus for our teachers is on classroom learning. https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Working-from-Home-Package.pdf

Outside of School Hours

Students are not to arrive at school before 8:15am unless attending Senior Choir.

Children are to be picked up at 2.45pm unless attending before / after school care. This is a matter of safety and security.

NAPLAN

On Friday the 20th March, we received confirmation from The Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority that NAPLAN has been cancelled this year. I thank you for all of the work that you have already done with your children with regards to this, so far this year.

Attendance

It is imperative that parents and guardians inform the school if you are not sending children to school. On top of our already increased workload, our office staff have spent countless hours contacting parents to confirm the whereabouts of your children.

Please keep sick children who are genuinely sick at home.  Children with bad coughs, sore throats, sneezing and so forth.  This will reduce the work load and stress levels of all at school. Please advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Thank you in advance for your support. If you wish to discuss any of the above, please phone the school. Please be assured that we will provide you with updates as we are provided with them.

Kind regards,

Barbara Bromley
Principal
March 23 2020

COVID-19 Update – 20/03/2020

by | Mar 20, 2020 | | COVID, Latest news, School News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It is amazing how the school community has rallied together this week to support each other though the unknown. Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with today’s communication.

School Office Hours and Communication

As you would be aware, there is a massive shortage of sanitizing products available due to hoarding within the community. If you are able to donate any hand sanitiser, bacterial wipes or liquid hand soap, please drop them off at the front office. This would be much appreciated.


Parent Contact Details

Please ensure that we have your correct contact details. If these have changed, please ensure that you complete the Update to Contact Details note that was sent home a few weeks ago, or, you may respond to this email with updated contact numbers and contact information.


Birthday Celebrations

Food prepared at home will not be distributed at school. We encourage you to send wrapped confectionary treats, such as Freddo Frogs, for any birthday celebrations that may be occurring.


Outside of School Hours

Students are not to arrive at school before 8:15am unless attending Senior Choir.

Children are to be picked up at 2.45pm unless attending before / after school care. This is a matter of safety and security.


Information from North Metropolitan Education Regional Office
Parents Registering for Home Education

In the current circumstances, it is timely to remind schools (and parents) about the formalities related to Home Education.

The three key messages are:

  1. Home education is a minimum 12-month commitment/program/cycle.
  2. Parents/carers need to formally register with the Department’s Regional Office in order to home educate their children. The parent then formally becomes a registered Home Educator.
  3. Once a parent/carer goes through the process of applying and being registered as a Home Educator their child(ren) is now longer enrolled at school. There is a formal transfer note.
For parents, when registering as the home educator for your child, it is vitally important to note the following key aspects of your role:
  • You are taking on the full responsibility for your child’s education including the planning, implementation, supervision and resourcing of the education program.
  • No work packs or programs are provided.
It is your responsibility to ensure your program is evaluated as per the requirements by
  • Contacting your home education moderator to schedule a timely evaluation meeting
  • Providing evidence of your child’s education program and educational progress (in accordance with WA Curriculum & Assessment Outline) at that meeting.
You are choosing to withdraw your child from a current school enrolment, which includes most supports available under the public school system. No formal accreditation of learning is available for home educated students. The role of the Department of Education is limited to:
  • Providing the home education registration
  • Providing a home education moderator to carry out a mandatory evaluation meeting within the first 12 weeks of registration, and then at least one successful evaluation every 12 months, to confirm ongoing registration.

Attendance

Today, we had 163 students who were not at school. Whilst a large proportion of those who were not at school were legitimately sick, we did not hear from a large number of families.

As directed by the Department of Education, students whose parents have chosen to keep them home, without seeking medical advice, will not be provided curriculum work and activities. The priority for staff is to maintain focus on classroom learning programs. In the event of a temporary school closure, further advice will be provided.

If you are self-isolating due to acknowledged and identified risk factors by the Department of Health, or any family members who have been directed by the Health Department to self-isolate, please keep your child off and advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

Please keep sick children who are genuinely sick at home.  Children with bad coughs, sore throats, sneezing and so forth.  This will reduce the work load and stress levels of all at school. Please advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Thank you in advance for your support. If you wish to discuss any of the above, please phone the school. Please be assured that we will provide you with updates as we are provided with them.

Kind regards

Barbara Bromley
Principal
March 20 2020

COVID-19 Update – 19/03/2020

by | Mar 19, 2020 | | COVID, Latest news, School News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Please take the time to update yourself with the following information with regard to COVID-19 Virus.

School Office Hours and Communication

Our reception office hours are from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm.  If you wish to notify absences, please do so via our school email: [email protected] or via the absent student notification link on our website.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Work for Students Who Are Absent

Please be advised that students can do the following if they are not attending school:

  • Reading Eggs (K-3)
  • Reading Eggspress (4-6)
  • Matific (PP – 6)
  • Literacy Pro (3 – 6)
  • Daily reading at home
  • Keep a daily journal
  • Mindfulness using Smiling Minds
  • Daily fitness

Library Books

As per Australian Literacy Educators Association, all Library books are being quarantined for one week from when they are returned. Home reading books in Pre-Primary to Year 3 will no longer be distributed to students. Please continue to read books available online through the Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress platforms.

Uniform Shop

To reduce the amount of money handling and to promote social distancing, the uniform shop at Mindarie Primary School is now closed for face to face transactions until further notice. Parents may still purchase uniforms online through https://quickcliq.com.au/ and uniforms will be delivered to the school office for collection.

Outside of School Hours

Students are not to arrive at school before 8:15am unless attending Senior Choir.

Children are to be picked up at 2.45pm unless attending before / after school care. This is a matter of safety and security.

Children are not permitted to play on any of the school play equipment before and after school. This is a current procedure and will now be reinforced by staff through a daily reminder on the PA at 2:50pm.

Healthy Habits

Staff have been asked to remind students of ongoing Healthy Habits, including the following updated adjustments;

  • All caregivers are to drop students at the classroom doors and not come into the classrooms. We truly appreciate the response to the implementation of this action today.
  • The segregation of play areas will change for next week.
  • At the beginning of Friday Sports there will be no initial meetings prior to the students going to sports. Teachers will group students and just take them to the sports area designated to them.
  • Junior choir will be split in two and taken in the undercover area.
  • Senior choir taken in the undercover area.
  • Crown rehearsal will be taken in the undercover area.
  • Achievement certificates will still be given each fortnight.  These will be read out on Thursday, over the PA. A photo of all of the recipients will be included in the newsletter, therefore, publicly celebrating student’s achievement.

School Events and Operation

Postponed
The following events have been postponed, a new date will be set when we have more information. If you have paid, you may contact the school for a refund.

  • Zoo Excursion
  • Ninja Warrior
  • Fathering Project Camp Out
  • Mindarie Primary School P&C AGM
  • Friday Playgroup
  • School Student Banking

Cancelled
The following events have been cancelled, a new date will not be set.

  • Boys Cricket Cup
  • Summer Sports Carnival
  • Easter Bonnet Parade
  • Girls Glory Cup
  • Wednesday Icy Poles
  • All School Assemblies

Attendance

Today, we had 143 students who were not at school. Whilst a large proportion of those who were not at school were legitimately sick, we did not hear from a large number of families.

As directed by the Department of Education, students whose parents have chosen to keep them home, without seeking medical advice, will not be provided curriculum work and activities. The priority for staff is to maintain focus on classroom learning programs. In the event of a temporary school closure, further advice will be provided.

If you are self-isolating due to acknowledged and identified risk factors by the Department of Health, or any family members who have been directed by the Health Department to self-isolate, please keep your child off and advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

Please keep sick children who are genuinely sick at home.  Children with bad coughs, sore throats, sneezing and so forth.  This will reduce the work load and stress levels of all at school. Please advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Thank you in advance for your support. If you wish to discuss any of the above, please phone the school. Please be assured that we will provide you with updates as we are provided with them.

Kind regards

Barbara Bromley
Principal
March 19 2020COVID

COVID-19 Update – 18/03/2020

by | Mar 18, 2020 | | COVID, Latest news

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Once again, our situation has changed, and another set of directions has been given to schools to digest and appropriate. I would like to reassure all families that we are doing everything practically possible to maintain the safety and security of our school community, and this includes confidential handling of family information and health of our students.

Please take the time to update yourself with the following information with regard to COVID-19 Virus.

Assembly – 19/03/2020

All school assemblies will be cancelled until further notice. This includes the assembly taking place on Thursday the 19/03/2020. We can understand the disappointment of the children and families of TA10, however, the latest instruction of the Department of Education is to reconsider any non-essential event that also includes parents on school site. The children involved with this assembly will perform their item for their buddy class, and this will be recorded for parents and presented electronically.

We still want to celebrate the fantastic work of our children and will continue to give out Achievement Certificates, which will be read over the PA each Thursday morning. A photo of the children with their Achievement Certificates will go home in the usual Friday newsletter. 

Parents, Guardians and Adults on School Site

From the 18th of March, we ask that adults who usually bring their children into the classroom, that they farewell their children at the doors of classrooms and allow the teachers to begin their days with the children. Families not entering the classroom further mitigates risk at a school. This extends to all parent help in the classroom, which will no longer be permitted at Mindarie Primary School.

Parents on Social Media

Whilst we acknowledge social media is often a useful means of communication it can sometimes be used for miscommunication. We, as a school, will be the most accurate source of information during this time and we will post factual, up to date communications each day. 

Uniform Shop

To reduce the amount of money handling and to promote social distancing, the uniform shop at Mindarie Primary School is now closed for face to face transactions until further notice. Parents may still purchase uniforms online through https://quickcliq.com.au/ and uniforms will be delivered to the school office for collection. 

Outside of School Hours

Students are not to arrive at school before 8:15am unless attending Senior Choir. 

Children are to be picked up at 2.45pm unless attending before / after school care. This is a matter of safety and security.

Children are not permitted to play on any of the school play equipment before and after school. This is a current procedure and will now be reinforced by staff through a daily reminder on the PA at 2:50pm.

Healthy Habits

Staff have been asked to remind students of ongoing Healthy Habits, including the following updated rules;

  • Students to be sent to school with food and snacks that they can open independently. (think chip packets).
  • Drink fountains are only to be used by students to refill drink bottles. Please ensure that all students attend school with a personal drink bottle. Please reinforce this with your children. We can’t turn off the water fountains – it is not possible as our other water sources are being used as hand washing facilities.
  • Reflection room hats are no longer available for borrowing.
  • Icy Poles on a Wednesday will not be available until Term 4.
  • The school office will operate as cashless from today. We encourage that any fees or transactions occur through the Qkr! app available on the App Store or Google Play Store or via EFTPOS in the office.
  • This afternoon, I addressed the children over the PA with regards to the usage of soap in the bathrooms. Please continue the discussion with your child the need to be highly respectful about the resources provided in the school bathrooms (resources are finite, and we have had socially inappropriate actions in some areas of the school that impact on our resource levels and the work of our cleaners).

School Events and Operations

Postponed
The following events have been postponed, a new date will be set when we have more information. If you have paid, you may contact the school for a refund. 

  • Zoo Excursion
  • Ninja Warrior
  • Fathering Project Camp Out
  • Mindarie Primary School P&C AGM
  • Friday Playgroup
  • School Student Banking

Cancelled
The following events have been cancelled, a new date will not be set.

  • Boys Cricket Cup
  • Summer Sports Carnival
  • Easter Bonnet Parade
  • Girls Glory Cup
  • Wednesday Icy Poles
  • All School Assemblies

Attendance

Today, we had 142 students who were not at school. Whilst a large proportion of those who were not at school were legitimately sick, we did not hear from a large number of families. 

As directed by the Department of Education, students whose parents have chosen to keep them home, without seeking medical advice, will not be provided curriculum work and activities. The priority for staff is to maintain focus on classroom learning programs. In the event of a temporary school closure, further advice will be provided.

If you are self-isolating due to acknowledged and identified risk factors by the Department of Health, or any family members who have been directed by the Health Department to self-isolate, please keep your child off and advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

Please keep sick children who are genuinely sick at home.  Children with bad coughs, sore throats, sneezing and so forth.  This will reduce the work load and stress levels of all at school. Please advise the school office via email, Connect or the absentee notification link.

https://mindarieprimary.wa.edu.au/absentee-notification/

Thank you in advance for your support. If you wish to discuss any of the above, please phone the school. Please be assured that we will provide you with updates as we are provided with them.

Kind regards

Barbara Bromley
Principal
March 18 2020