Return to School

It has been wonderful to see our Prep students back in class this week. They have loved seeing their friends and teacher, playing with materials that they haven’t seen for a long time and using the playground. Teachers have reported very settled students who have worked well and reconnected with their peers. We are looking forward to welcoming other years levels over the next couple of weeks.

Hats and Covid Safety

As part of our safe return to school, classes will be doing more outdoor learning when the weather permits. The broad-brimmed school hat is compulsory in Terms 1 and 4 in order to protect students from the hotter sun during play times and PE lessons. Hats will be even more important as we engage with outdoor learning. Please remind your child to bring their hat each day to school and ensure the hat is named so it can be returned to its owner if left somewhere.  

Masks

To support the return to school, the Victorian Chief Health Officer has announced new rules around mask wearing to keep everyone at school safe.

We know that returning to school will look a little different this time and it’s important that we support you and your children with effective ways to keep everyone safe and well.

One of the most important and effective things we can do to help keep students in the classroom is to wear masks to help minimise COVID-19 transmission risk.

When worn properly, masks can play an important role in reducing the transmission risks of Covid-19 that could happen from common activities in school.

Students in Year 3 and above:

• Face masks will be required for all school students in Year 3 and above indoors including at Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies. Face masks can be removed while outdoors at school for primary students
• Students in Years 3 to 6 are required to wear face masks from 18 October 2021. All other students who are required to wear a face mask must continue to do so from the first day they return to onsite learning
• Face masks will be strongly recommended for Prep to Year 2 students
• For students with a disability, parents and carers should speak to the child’s doctor or regular health professional about the best methods to encourage mask wearing. Students and parents can also contact the Disability Liaison Officer program for more information
• Students with a medical condition or disability that make wearing a face covering unsuitable are not required to wear a mask
• Face masks are required for students in Year 3 to Year 6 unless an exception applies. Exceptions include students with a physical or mental disability where their disability means it would not be suitable. Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception must provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school.

We will try to maximise outdoor learning where possible and offer more breaks wherever practicable to further support students.

We can work together to support students by having conversations around the importance of masks in preventing COVID -19 transmission and remind them that it’s only for school days in a week.

We have seen through remote learning that friendships are important. We can work together to remind students that wearing masks means they can see their friends and be at school together more often. We also protect our friends and keep them safe.

We encourage you to discuss wearing masks with your children to keep kids in the classroom and minimise COVID-19 transmission risk. The Raising Children Network has resources that can help you with having conversations with your children about wearing masks.

These new changes to wearing masks will come into effect when students return to staged onsite learning from 18 October 2021 in regional and metropolitan schools.

Thank you for your ongoing support in the implementation of these important steps that enable us to return to onsite learning.

Canteen

From next Monday 25^th October, the Canteen will be open for counter sales at recess and lunch times. I’m sure many students will be excited to purchase a snack from Sonia who is very much looking forward to re-opening.

2022 Enrolments and Class Placement

If you have not yet enrolled your Prep child for 2022, please do so via the office as soon as possible.

Please advise us as soon as possible if your child/children will not be attending Ivanhoe East Primary School next year. This information assists with staffing and planning the number of classes at each year level.

Also, if you would like to share any relevant information regarding your child’s placement for 2022, please put it in writing to Adrienne Dudley no later than Friday the 29^th 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.

Adrienne Dudley

Acting Principal

ROSTER

Sonia - Canteen Manager
Phone: 03 94992171
Email: canteen@ivanhoeeastps.vic.edu.au

Enrolments for Prep in 2022 are open and we are finalising grades for the coming year. Enrolment forms may be  downloaded from the link below.  

When lodging the enrolment form, we are also required to sight the original birth certificate and current immunisation history statement, which we will take a photocopy of for school entry requirements.