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Principal report
As a school we hope that everyone in our community is coping as best they can in these difficult and uncertain times. Our thoughts are with families in and outside our community whose work or businesses have been affected. Impacts of COVID-19 are far reaching and we sympathise with all those who are currently going through significant change to their general way of life.
Below is the latest advice from the Education Department in regards to how schools will function over the final 3 weeks of Term 1:
Health advice is that schools are still safe for staff and students to attend. But we are preparing to support children to learn at home should sites need to close.
From today, you may choose for your child to learn at home, and our website is being updated to help with this. To allow our school staff to be able to support learning from home, 6-9 April will be student free days.
We would like to thank our teachers, staff and leaders for everything they are doing to help our learners.
Austins Ferry Primary School will continue to support students at school over the next 2 weeks while still providing resources to families who choose to keep their children at home. If you are a parent with children at home please refer to the letter attached outlining resources children can use over the coming weeks.
To stay up-to-date with information, please visit the DoE website: https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-…/learning-at-home/
Advice to parents and carers to support learning at home
Dear Parent/Carer
I would like to take this opportunity to update our community on the provision of work for those students not attending school currently due to COVID-19. Advice from DoE is that schools are safe and we encourage all students to attend unless they are sick. We do acknowledge that many families are deciding to keep children home to risk manage the COVID-19 situation and this will be reflected as explained absences in our system.
Currently our teachers focus is on supporting learning intentions for those students attending our school site. Our teachers will not be sending home paper based resources to support learners at home but will suggest online learning resources parents/carers can use with their children if they choose to keep them at home.
However in the event of a site closure our school will communicate with you all details of the closure. The communication will provide information on supporting learning for your child at home. We will continue to use our current communication channels.
- Class DoJo, email, Facebook, school website and letters home
Remote learning may occur in a variety of ways. Teachers may move some or all of your child’s learning into online spaces to ensure all students have access to their learning.
Supporting your child’s learning at home
We will communicate with you timetables and expectations. It is important to establish routines from the first day to keep your child connected and engaged with their learning. Some considerations:
- Set up a learning environment at home that is quiet and comfortable. It is not recommended that this space be in your child’s bedroom. Use a family space that can be quiet at times and has an adult present for monitoring of your child’s learning.
- Support your child to take regular food and drink breaks and to move around.
- Maintain morning and night routines. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping children happy and healthy.
- Check in with your child during the day to keep them on track.
- Maintain regular contact with our school and teacher through established communication channels.
Online tools
It is advised that you do not buy new online programs from third party providers. Use programs that the school already have available.
Regards
Tim Nicholas
Principal
The following 2 pages of this letter outline resources families can use to support children’s learning if they choose to keep them at home.
Additional Resources
Activities to support your child’s learning at home
There are many fun and exciting activities. These activities can stimulate children's curiosity and encourage their love of learning.
- Victoria Education – FUSE learning from home9
- ABC Education10
- Ideas to help with reading writing and maths11
- Resources – Everyday Maths12
- Scholastic learn at home13
Mathematics
- Maths at our house14
- Tiny Polka Dot15
- Eleven games and activities for parents to encourage maths in early learning16
- Everyday math activities kids can do at home17
- Everyday Maths Animations18
- NRich - Home of rich mathematics19
- Math for love - games20
Inquiry, online books and ideas for writing
- Wonderopolis21
- Storyline online22
- Magic blox23
- Literacy shed24
Science for thinking
- CSIRO Education25
- NASA Kids Club26
Wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation
- Move, play and go27
- Cosmic Kids Yoga28
- Smiling Minds29
- Go Noodle30
Managing behaviour online
Children should learn in a safe, supportive and respectful school community. This includes participating safely in technology-based learning and using technology responsibly. Even though your child is at home they still need to follow their school’s behaviour management policy.
Refer to the following:
- AFPS ICT user agreement
- Student behaviour Brochure6
- Conditions of Use Policy for all Users of Information and Communications Technology7
- Cyber Safety Resources8
1 https://canvas.education.tas.gov.au/
2 https://www.office.com/
3 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/canvas-resources/
4 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/students/student-it-resources/
5 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/students/student-it-resources/office365-faqs%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B/
6 https://documentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Documents/Infosheet-TeachingLearning-Discipline.pdf
7 https://tasedu.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet/Document Centre/Conditions-of-use-Policy-for-all-users-of-information-and-communications-technology.pdf
8 https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/cyber-safety-resources/
9 https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/pages/learningfromhome
10 https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/home
11 https://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/learning-and-development-at-home/ideas-to-help-with-reading-writing-and-maths/
12 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/classrooms/Pages/resourceseverydaymaths.aspx
13 https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
14 https://nzmaths.co.nz/maths-our-house
15 https://tinypolkadot.com/
16 https://theconversation.com/eleven-games-and-activities-for-parents-to-encourage-maths-in-early-learning-76522
17 https://www.verywellfamily.com/everyday-home-math-activities-621043
18 https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/ResourcePackage/LandingPage?ObjectId=7a9a8d7d-8b9e-4694-a86a-3f358d8c5bc6&SearchScope=All
19 https://nrich.maths.org/
20 https://mathforlove.com/lesson-plan/games/
21 http://wonderopolis.org/
22 https://www.storylineonline.net/
23 https://magicblox.com/
24 https://www.literacyshed.com/the-images-shed.html
25 https://www.csiro.au/en/Education
26 https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
27 https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mwew/families/move,_play_and_go
28 https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
29 https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
30 https://www.gonoodle.com/
Every Wednesday during Term 1 and Term 4 in the Early Learning Centre we turn on the playground water pump during outside play times. On ‘Water Wednesdays’ students playing in the water are encouraged to wear gumboots and bring a spare change of clothes in their bag. Gumboots can be left at school in your child’s classroom or brought back each week if you prefer.
At the end of recess and lunch Teacher Assistants will help students to change into spare clothes as required. If you choose for your child not to participate in water play we will encourage them to stay away from the water.
Thanks for your support and cooperation.
Kindergarten Teachers
UPDATING STUDENT DETAILS
It is vital for the school office to have updated details for all students. In the event of a medical issue or emergency event this information is crucial in the care and response that we provide for your child/children. Please ensure to update information with the office staff as required: emergency contact details, phone numbers, address details and any changes to your childs' medical needs eg. asthma, anaphylaxis.
ABSENCES / ATTENDANCE
If your child is absent please notify the school office before 9:30am: Leave a message on the answering machine 6275 7272, speak to the office staff face to face, call the office staff 6275 7222, email: austins.ferry.primary@education.tas.gov.au, via the web form: www.austins.ferry.primary@education.tas.gov.au, submit details through the Schoolzine SZapp. We care about your child's safety and will text you if your child is absent unexplained.
CAR PARK SPEED LIMITS
Speed limits throughout the school are restricted to 10km. Please note that regardless of what time of day, if the gates are open there is someone here! Everyone's safety is important.
END OF DAY MESSAGES
Please notify the school office as early as possible and prior to 2:25pm if you need to get a message to your child/ren for the end of the day. Class notice bags are collected at 2:30pm and passing on messages after 2:30pm becomes quite difficult. We cannot guarantee messages will be received effectively after this time.
NOTICEBOARD