20-May-2022
Dear Families
Thankyou for your understanding as we navigate our way through some rough Winter waters this week. With flu, gastro and Covid in our school community we have had to continually adapt and adjust the learning and teaching. I know through conversations with leaders at other local schools that we are not alone in this and that we are all doing everything we can to keep our students, families and staff safe while remaining open. It means that there may be times when we have to split classes and not run extension and support programs on some days as the Replacement Teacher pool is very shallow right now.
Despite the changes to routine, our students have remained true to our school values – Kind, Determined, Respectful – and barely skipped a beat. Our Year 3 and 5 students (and staff) have stoically pushed through NAPAN testing and the smiles and waves that we get on school tours is a great source of energy to draw from – and a wonderful way for incoming families to see what a wonderful student group we have at Edithvale.
Uniform Update
As per our Uniform policy, we are seeking parents’ co-operation to ensure correct uniform is worn and that all clothing is clearly labelled. After recent discussions about our uniform, we have asked staff to encourage students to wear the correct uniform. The change in weather recently has no doubt meant a few students have hurriedly located tops and jackets that are not part of our school’s uniform to wear out of necessity to stay warm.
Many students/families have very valid reasons for not being in school uniform (our son who has started in Prep this year, for example has already lost 3 jumpers and a fourth one is in the wash 😊) so we understand the need to occasionally wear a jumper (non uniformed) to keep warm – but we don’t want this to become the norm.
Our school’s policy can be found on our website at
https://www.edithvaleps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Uniform-_-Dress-Code.pdf
Over the next 4 months we will start the process of introducing the option of an updated uniform (same colours but with a slightly different style and branding that reflects our new logo). The price of the new uniform items will be very similar to the current prices and with a slight increase to reflect the better quality material that will be used.
Our uniform suppliers – Primary School Wear (PSW) – ensure that all new uniform stock will be available at the start of Term 4 and we can start phasing in the new look uniform.
We believe that there is enough of our current stock available to get us through to the end of Term 3. Throughout Term 3 our current uniform will be sold at between 25-35% off the regular price through the PSW outlet store
Any stock leftover at the end of Term 3 will then be purchased by Edithvale Primary School and sold at school at heavily discounted prices.
Until October 2024 rolls around, we will see 2 styles of Edithvale Primary School uniform – both using the same Royal blue and yellow colour scheme but with slightly different logos/branding and styles.
As we move towards the colder winter months, we want to ensure that our families have all the information available to make an informed decision about possible future purchases.
Parent partnership meetings
With the end to the current wave of illness not yet in sight, and to provide certainty for us all, we will again be conducting our end of Term 2 Parent partnership meetings online. This was successfully undertaken last year and we will send out booking information later in the term. Parent Partnership meetings offer an opportunity to discuss the Semester 1 Progress Reports. These will be accessible on Compass on June 17.
These meetings will all be conducted via Webex Meetings and hopefully, this builds in flexibility for parents to attend these discussions remotely.
Rapid Antigen Tests will be distributed again next week on Tuesday May 24
RATs will continue to be distributed as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this term.
However, from Monday 23 May 2022, students will no longer be recommended to undertake twice weekly RATs in mainstream schools.
RATs however will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative tests over a 7 day period) or who have symptoms.
The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.
The next distribution of RATs is scheduled for Week 7 (June 7 approx)
Child Safety Code of Conduct
Our Child Safety Code of Conduct sets out the expected behaviour of adults with children and young people in our school. We want to create a culturally safe environment for ALL students
All Edithvale Primary School staff, volunteers, contractors, service providers, school council members and any other adult involved in child-connected work must follow the Child Safety Code of Conduct.
The Child Safety Code of Conduct applies to all physical and online environments used by students. It also applies during or outside of school hours and in other locations provided by the school for student use.
Our current Child Safety Code of Conduct can be found on our website at Child Safety Standards and in response to new Child Safety Standards that come into effect shortly, an updated DRAFT version of our Code of Conduct is attached below. Along with our Child safety and Student Wellbeing and engagement Policies, this forms a key part of our teaching and learning during whole class wellbeing sessions.
Child Safety Standards – Code of Conduct (Draft)
Smiling Mind
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity and without judgement. If you believe that you or other family members might benefit from practising Mindfulness, you may wish to explore the Smiling Mind website and start to build routines into your day to help manage the stresses and pressures of life https://www.smilingmind.com.au/mindfulness
Smiling Mind has also created digital Care Packs to support the mental health of kids aged five to 12. The resources can be downloaded from the Smiling Mind website and provide readers with practical support to help manage anxiety and promote positive mental health. Each pack includes brief learning tools as well as activities for children to use within the home or school environment. To download the pack, see: Smiling Mind Digital Care Packs
Key dates
- May 25-27 Year 5/6 Camp
- May 27-June 3- Reconciliation Week
- June 8-10 year 4 Camp
- June 13- Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
- June 20-23- parent partnership meetings
- June 23 – Students’ Final day of Term 2
- June 24 – Student Free Day
- July 14 – French Day celebrations at school
- September 8 – School Concert