COVID-19 Update – 18/03/2020

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

COVID-19 Update – 17/03/2020

COVID-19 Update – 17/03/2020

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

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

Once again, our situation has changed, and another set of directions has been given to schools to digest and appropriate.

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 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.

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

  • Drink fountains are only to be used by students to fill drink bottles.  All students must have their own drink bottle and be directed to use this daily.

Please ensure that all students attend school with a personal drink bottle.

This week, we secured sufficient hand sanitizer for our school. Our cleaning staff have been given extra time to further sanitize classrooms, surfaces, school chairs, full doors and light switches.

School Events – Updated

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

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

Attendance

Today we saw 104 children absent from school. Whilst we understand the fear that exists in the community, it is a directive from the Department of Education that schools are open, and therefore, all children who do not have any risk factors, family in self isolation or family who are at risk, that they come to school.

If you are self-isolating, have risk factors, or any family members in self-isolation, please keep your child off and advise the school office of this fact.  This is a reasonable reason for an absence.

Please keep sick children 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 of this by Connect, email, or phone.  This is a reasonable reason for an absence.

Thanks 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 17 2020

COVID-19 Update – 17/03/2020

COVID-19 Update – 16/03/2020

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As you will be aware, strong directions were given this weekend by the Federal and State Governments, aimed at mitigating the outbreak of, and management of the state, with regard to COVID-19 Virus.

Mindarie Primary has paid close attention to what recommendations and requirements have been directed to be put in place.  As you were advised, in last week’s newsletter, the school continues to be proactive in this space and in view of the new requirements, some new school adjustments have been implemented. Clear directions have been given to staff around the management of students in classrooms and also when accessing specialist areas, these include the following:

  • Students, designated by year groups, to playground areas for eating and also for playing. The students will be separated. Staff have been provided with a map outlining these areas.
  • Students only to use their year level toilets at break times and at all other times during the day.
  • Student toilet doors and staff toilet doors are to be propped open during the day to reduce contact.
  • Front office door to be propped open during the day.
  • All classroom entry doors to be propped open during the day.
  • Student drink bottles to be separated when stored.
  • Library is closed at recess and lunch times.
  • Students attending specialist classes and the library are to wash their hands before entering the class.
  • Students are encouraged to use their own equipment.  If not possible, shared equipment use at a minimum.
  • Shared iPads are to be cleaned regularly.
  • Promethean boards are only to be used by teachers.
  • Wipe down computer key boards between students use.
  • No buddy class interactions.

Assembly 19/03/2020
For this week’s assembly, we will observe the requirement of the Australian Government of less than 500 people in a static environment by planning the following:

  • Pre-Primary to Year Three – attend the assembly in the morning, commencing at 8:50.  This will involve 16 staff, 3 admin and 428 students, of which 28 will be on stage.  Student’s will separate out across the area.  Parent attendance is discouraged.
  • Year Four to Six – attend assembly in the afternoon, commencing at 2:15 pm.  This will involve 300 students, 11 staff, 3 Admin. Student’s will separate out across the area. Parent attendance is discouraged.

The assembly format will change, there will be Welcome to Country, National Anthem, two lots of achievement certificates and the class presentation.  No other announcements will be made.  The assembly should last less than 25 minutes.

Healthy Habits
Staff have been asked to remind students regarding Healthy Habits, they will do the following;

  • Revise with students daily about the need to wash hands thoroughly.
  • To cough into their elbows or to cough into a tissue and place it in the bin and then go and wash their hands.
  • To remain away from each other and not to do the following: hi five, hand shaking, hugging and so forth.
  • Refraining from touching their faces, in particular their noses, eyes and mouths.

School Events
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

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

  • Boys Cricket Cup
  • Summer Sports Carnival
  • Easter Bonnet Parade

Still to be Determined
The following events require further consultation and will stand at this time.

  • Fathering Project camp out
  • Girls Glory Cup

ANZAC Ceremony 2020 – Done Differently
This year, our ANZAC service will be streamed to classes from the undercover area.  More on this closer to the time.

How you can help your school, your community and our country at this time.
Please keep sick children 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.

If you are self-isolating, please also keep your child off and advise the school office of this fact.  This is a reasonable reason for an absence.

Thanks 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 16 2020

NAPLAN Online 2020

NAPLAN Online 2020

NAPLAN Online Continues Into 2020

NAPLAN, which is a part of the National Assessment Program (NAP), is how governments, education authorities and schools can determine whether young Australians are reaching important educatonal goals. States and territories determine when their schools commence NAPLAN Online.

This year, our Year 3 and 5 students will once again complete NAPLAN Online for Maths, Reading, Grammar Conventions and Writing (Year 5 only).

NAPLAN online brings many new opportunities for students and teachers that are limited or not possible with paper-based tests. Some of the main benefits of students taking part in NAPLAN Online include:

  • Better assessment – and more precise results. NAPLAN Online uses a tailored test or adaptive design, where the test automatically adapts to a student’s performance and asks questions that match the student achievement level, allowing the student to demonstrate their knowledge.
  • Faster turnaround of results. Delivery of assessments online significantly reduces the time it takes to provide feedback to schools, students and parents, so teachers can respond more quickly to learning needs.
  • More engaging. Research into online assessment has shown that students have engaged well with electronic tests.

As technology develops, The Department of Education aims to further refine the delivery of the tests to best use the available technology to provide increasingly sophisticated assessments and valuable feedback to teachers, parents and education authorities. I implore families to have a look at the Demonstrations and information that is available on the NAPLAN Online website.

https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/naplan-online

There is also an app version on the iOS App Store that can be downloaded at home. The student demonstration tests are a fantastic way to familiarise yourself and your child to the new platform of testing.

If you have any questions relating to NAPLAN Online, please direct them to Mr Gould.

NAPLAN Online – Brochure for Parents and Carers
School Photo Day

School Photo Day

The 2020 School Photo Schedule has been finalised. Please read carefully and note the day that your child’s photo will be taken.

Tuesday: TA2, TA3, TA4, TA5, TA11, TA12, TA14, TA15, TA22, TA23, TA24, TA25.
Wednesday: KINDY A TA21, KINDY B TA20, TA17, TA18, TA19, TP3, TP4, TP5, TP6, TA29.
Thursday: KINDY C TA21, KINDY D TA20, TA7, TA8, TA9, TA10, TA26, TA27, TA28.

Kids Art Fundraiser

Kids Art Fundraiser

The Kids’ Art Fundraiser is underway with the new online ordering system.

All artwork from students at Mindarie Primary School is now online in our own secure school link. The ordering system is now ready for all orders to be placed.

Ordering is very simple.

1 – Go to this link: wa5752.wehelpfundraise.com
2 – Search for your child in the “Artist search” box
3 – Your child’s art will come up for you to view and place your order.

Ordering for free delivery to school runs until Friday, 18th November. After that you can still place orders or re-order but postage will be paid and it delivered to you.

The popular products will be available: phone and iPad covers, greeting cards, calendars and more.

We encourage everyone to get on board and support the P&C with this fundraising venture.