Parkhill Primary School Newsletter
Issue 18, Friday July 24 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
What a super start to round 2 remote and flexible learning. More people have taken the chance to choose whether they complete their learning via the online platforms or Learn from Home packs or a mix of both, this is super! I have received good feedback about the teaching videos and also about the face to face times - many of the tweaks are in response to feedback you gave at the end of term 2. Thank you.
I have attached a social story to help you share with your child and open the discussion around people wearing face masks. There is a link below also about the correct use - many of you will have already found this information through the DHHS website.
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-coverings-1159pm-wednesday-22-july
There are more cases creeping into our local area so vigilance around physical distancing and good hygiene is essential. I have had some feedback from parents across our community that they see children playing together openly in the streets. Please be mindful of the restrictions that are in place.
I find the following website really helpful for good up to date information.
https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-victoria
It has been super to see the high engagement with the platforms across the school. Lots of children are online during our meetings and sharing work samples. In this round of remote learning some teachers have asked you to come and collect resources from the office. They will give you a time slot for you to do this - please be mindful of physical distancing and wearing face masks when you come to collect these packages.
I am sure you have so much to do at home with children and work and life… I find a fun way to spend the evenings and weekends is to cook together. Yesterday we made toffee apples!
https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/toffee-apples-recipe/dhw9mpav
https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/family-life/family-meals-cooking/cooking-with-kids-teens
I hope you are all well and that you are keeping safe and well. Please reach out if you need support, help or have any feedback at all to offer elaine.brady@education.vic.gov.au
Take care and best wishes,
Elaine Brady
Principal
Seeing Other People Wearing Masks
Enrolment Form For New Students Next Year
If you have any siblings attending Parkhill next year we realise it has been difficult to pick up an enrolment form. To assist you we have created an online form
The link to complete the form is https://forms.gle/2u6289Szpowgwur78
As you can understand there is a bit of uncertainly re the timing of our Transition Program but we will be in touch as soon as we have the details.
Sports News
Hello Parkhill Families! We just wanted to share with you some interesting sporting skills and activities that are happening at the moment…that are FREE!
School Sports Victoria
https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/Pages/SSVVirtualChallenges.aspx
SSV Virtual Challenges, have you got what it takes? This is your time to shine, show these great athletes that you are up to the challenge.
SSV is engaging with our ambassadors, partners and Team Vic Alumni to create some Virtual Challenges. We are not looking for perfection; we are looking for Victorian students to give it a go. Simply choose a challenge, take a video and post it on your social media channels using the hashtag #SSVVirtualChallenge.
Melbourne Victory
https://gomvfc.com.au/mvfc-online-training/
Kick It With Victory is an online train-at-home platform for Victorian students.
You will find daily videos with skills and exercises, all designed to keep you moving at home. You can also take part in live online video sessions, download activities to complete at home and win great prizes.
Basketball Victoria
https://basketballvictoria.com.au/design-your-jersey-competition/
Design your jersey competition. Make sure you check out the details on the web page and you could win a prize!
NETFIT Netball
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/netfit-netball/id1389098661?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
One of the world’s leading providers of original and high-class netball-focused fitness and coaching content providing subscribers the chance to improve their skills match awareness and game-day conditioning through a series of graduated fitness and skills challenges pilates session nutritional advice podcasts etc.
Pro-netballers and best friends Kim Green and Sarah Wall show you their tricks about how to get the most out of your game with a smile on your face. Additional resources include Coaching Clinics from National Team Coaches Lisa Alexander and other elite netballers with accompanying curriculum approved session plans to assist the coach/parent from home or teacher in the classroom.
Changes to the School Crossing during COVID
For those families attending Onsite Learning our crossing Supervisors have implemented some small changes to account for wearing a mask. A face mask or covering can make it awkward to use the whistle. As a temporary measure, rather than using the whistle supervisors are requested to use voice and hand signals to communicate key messages to students and other pedestrians using the crossing.
When it is clear and safe for the students and other pedestrians to cross, supervisors are required to fully extend the arm using hand signaling to prompt users of the crossing to come forward (as illustrated above) and clearly say the word ‘WALK’
When the supervisor need to signal that no more students or other pedestrians are to cross, supervisors are required to fully extend the arm with the palm of your hand faced outward (as illustrated above) and clearly say the word ‘STOP’.
Chaplain’s Corner
Well here we are again. We have resumed stage 3 restrictions for a second time and have just embarked on remote learning 2.0. The children have made a great start but as wonderful as that is it doesn’t diminish that people seem to be feeling it more this time around. There’s a heaviness in the air as we realise the serious of our situation. Every time we start to feel like we’ve got a handle on things the landscape or what’s required of us seems to change yet again.
It can help to realise in the midst of all these changes to our daily lives that there is a very real element of grief and loss.
One definition of grief states that “grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind.”*
So some of those seemingly trivial things we can’t do any more, the places we can’t go, the plans we’ve had to cancel over and over again, really can elicit within us a sense of loss and the accompanying grief. You aren’t bonkers for feeling like that and it’s ok to acknowledge those things to yourself.
Along with the grief we can have a very real sense of loss of control and normality. Which is not something humans tend to enjoy. I do wonder if that is why we see so much contention over seemingly simple things like obeying the rules, or people being angry at those who aren’t doing the right thing. We can’t control what’s happening to us so we seek to feel in control by controlling the “threatening” behaviour of those around us.
It’s important to remember that whilst we can’t help what’s happened or happening and we have lost control over a lot of things we do still have the power to choose how we respond to the situation around us. It sounds trivial but don’t underestimate that power. We can control ourselves, we can learn to control our reactions and that can help us to cope with the situation we find ourselves in.
There are some great practical tips for dealing with change located on the Reach Out website: https://au.reachout.com/articles/a-guide-to-dealing-with-constant-change
This week I also wanted to include a link to a list of resources on the Power Neighbourhood house website: https://www.powernh.org.au/downloads/Emergency%20Relief-IMPORTANT-COMMUNITY-INFORMATION-FM(D4).pdf
Thanks to Carol for this information, please check it out if you need to know where to get material aid, mental health support etc.
Look after yourselves and if you need support please do give me a call or an email.
suzanne.carmody@education.vic.gov.au
Suzanne Carmody
Chaplain
*https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/blog/2013/06/best-grief-definition-you-will-find
FlexiBuzz is changing to FlexiSchools
Flexischools is a online App which allows you to
receive the latest communications from the school including our weekly newsletters
receive reminders of events e.g. parent -teacher interviews, excursions, free dress and early finish days.
notify us of your child's absence
send a email to our school
access website links to our school
access lunch order vendors.
FlexiBuzz is in the process of migrating over to the Flexischools portal. If you have already registered with FlexiBuzz, download the FlexiSchools app, register with the same email address you used in FlexiBuzz and you will be automatically subscribed to the communication boxes you had in FlexiBuzz.
New users can download the FlexiSchool App and create an account. Then add your child's year level ( you can select multiple year levels if you have more than one student).
Flexischools also provides a translation section with a choice of languages.
It's that easy to stay up-to-date with all the school news and information!
(Any users still with the FlexiBuzz app will no longer receive notifications once the Flexibuzz portal is closed.)
Dear Parkhill Families,
We are super excited to launch our first Book Club issue! We were looking forward to sending the brochure home but with the current lockdown restrictions, it is a virtual launch - Book Club Issue 5 2020.
It is easy to order and the Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card.
Browse the online catalogue Book Club Issue 5 2020
Place an order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play
Every Book Club order earns Scholastic Rewards for the school to purchase additional resources, however there is no obligation for you to make a purchase
As we are in lockdown restrictions, we are offering home delivery for orders with a $5.99 delivery fee. Orders from this issue are accepted up to the end of Term 3 (18 September).
Parents who are registered on LOOP receive exclusive sneak peeks, downloads and offers throughout the school year. To register, you will need to setup:
your details (name, email address and password)
your child’s details (name, class and school)
If you have any queries or need further information, please email me angelita.williams@education.vic.gov.au.
Happy reading, and take care!
Angelita Williams
Library Assistant
Young Engineers Term 3
This term we are happy to provide 3 different Online learning options through 4 different programs to our STEM parents.
Online learning Options:
- Lego® STEM Learning – Build models and learn STEM concepts
- Lego® Wedo Learning – Build models and learn how to program them using Wedo 2.0
- Scratch – Learn basic coding and logic to develop playable games
All these can be attended from the safety of the house and are fully supported by our YE team. (please see poster below)
Online links for each program are:
ONLINE PACK 1 - YE STEM LEGO® PROGRAM 2020 T3 - PREP TO YR2: https://www.trybooking.com/BKPRN
ONLINE PACK 2 - YE STEM LEGO® PROGRAM 2020 T3 YR 3 - YR 6: https://www.trybooking.com/BKPSK
ONLINE PACK 3 - SCRATCH CODING PROGRAM 2020 T3 - YR 4: https://www.trybooking.com/BKPSL
ONLINE PACK 4 - LEGO® WEDO 2.0 CODING 2020 T3 YR 3 - YR 6: https://www.trybooking.com/BKQBU
Code Camp Postponed
Code Camp has been closely monitoring the situation regarding COVID19 in Victoria. Given the current Government guidelines and Victorian School students returning to remote learning, we have unfortunately decided to postpone our in-person after school classes until Term 4.
Any parents who have enrolled into the classes currently will receive an email from Code Camp explaining the situation and will be offered alternative options or a refund.
We will be continuing our Online After School Program for Term 3 and PPS students are welcome to attend. Find out more at the following link: https://www.codecamp.com.au/online-after-school-programs.
Parkhill Primary School
Email: parkhill.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Website: www.parkhillps.vic.edu.au
Location: 4A Parkhill Drive, Ashwood VIC, Australia
Phone: 03 9807 2239