The Return to face to face teaching
Monday saw the long awaited return of our students and there was a high level of excitement in the morning as students reconnected with each other and their teachers. It didn’t take very long for the children to settle into the classroom routine and it was clear how happy they were to be sitting next to their classmates after only being able to see them on WebEx during the extended period of remote learning. It was also clear that many of our students were tired at the end of the day and we will work slowly to rebuild the stamina required for a full day of learning and play at school.
I also noticed that parents showed signs of both relief and sadness when they dropped their children off in the morning. Relief that the children were back at school and a bit sad because they were going to miss them after having more time together.
Parents and Carers in and around the school
The Department of Education has asked all school principals to remind families that there are guidelines in place to minimise the number of people on school grounds. There may be times that you need to come into the school such as to collect your child or to drop something off to them. In these instances, please call the school so we know that you are coming. If your child is unwell, we will call you to make arrangements to bring them out to the car. There may be other times that you need to speak to your child’s teacher so please contact them via email or leave them a message at the office so they can call you back. We do not want these restrictions to become a barrier to important communication and support for your child so please call us on 9499 2171 if you require assistance.
The DET guidelines also require parents and carers to follow physical distancing measures and not congregate at or around the school gates before and after school. We thank you for your flexibility with the staggered drop off and pick up times and for minimising the congestion around the school.
Weekly Assembly
Our Year 6 students will continue to lead virtual assemblies each Monday at 9.30am. Class teachers will open up the WebEx room to share with their class and you are welcome to log in and join us. The meeting number 165 559 2771 and the password is: ieps
Parent Opinion Survey
The DET parent opinion survey is now open until the 13th of November. The 2020 survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents’ and carers’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. All families are invited to complete the survey using the log in details shared on Monday via Compass. We are grateful to you for taking the time to share your feedback and insight.
Planning for 2021
Please advise us as soon as possible if you know your child will not be attending Ivanhoe East Primary School next year. Also, if you would like to share any relevant information regarding your child’s placement for 2021, please put it in writing to Justine Mackey no later than Wednesday the 28th of October at ivanhoe.east.ps@education.vic.gov.au. Please note that while we take any information that you provide into consideration, the final decisions regarding your child’s placement rest with the teaching staff and leadership team.
Justine Mackey