Dear Parent/Carer

I would like to take this opportunity to update our community on procedures for all students returning to face-to- face learning on site beginning Monday 25 May. Our teachers will be focussing on the below support over the coming weeks to ensure all children feel safe and comfortable re-entering learning programs at AFPS.

• Student wellbeing – noticing how children are functioning, feeling and being
• Students re-establishing social connections and interactions with peers
• Building on the positive family connections to provide a successful transition from learning at home to learning at school
• Providing two way conversations and communication with parents to gain knowledge about the the learning at home experience and their child’s strengths, interests and wellbeing

Return of laptops:  

Could we please ask all student laptops that were loaned to students be returned on Monday 25 May and dropped at the school office for cleaning and software updates.

Change to school structures:

Due to COVID-19 some systems/structures and processes will look a little different at AFPS to support physical distancing of adults and limit the spread of germs as we enter the winter months

• Increased cleaning of classroom surfaces and student devices across the school day
• Canteen menu will continue to look slightly different with reduced items available
• There will be no large group gatherings of adults on site which will include assemblies, staff meetings, Lil program, PAKT etc. We will update ASAP when these activities are likely to resume.

Physical distancing:

While it is safe to send your child/ren to school, we still need adults to maintain a distance from other adults, whilst on site. To help us with adult physical distancing, we are asking all parents/carers to:

• Pick up and drop off – use ‘Kiss and drop’ for all drop offs and pickups. This means you don’t get out of your car. New messaging from the DoE is ‘Stop, Drop and Go’
• If you need to talk to your child’s teacher, please call the school office on (03) 6275 7222 or DoJo / email the teacher
• All students should enter their classrooms via side POD doors and not use the front sliding door or congregate in POD library areas. Parents should drop off and collect from classroom doors and avoid entering classrooms

Online learning:

This week also sees our staff begin to transition and prepare for students arrival back on site next week. To support teachers to prepare classrooms and plan learning activities they will not be available online to provide comment and feedback on work set out for this week. Students are asked to still follow online learning tasks set out for Thursday and Friday but be aware teachers will not be available online during those days.

As a whole school staff we can’t wait to see all our students back on site smiling next week ready to learn and kick start the second half of Term 2 back in physical classrooms. Once again we would like to thank our community for their support over the past 8 weeks and congratulate you all on supporting learning from home!!

Regards

Tim Nicholas

Principal

It will take time for everyone to adjust - not just the students

• Celebrate the fact you have made it through social distancing
• Don’t rush - It takes time for adults and children to adjust to a new routine
• Anticipate emotional behaviour over the next month
• Be gentle but firm with your expectations where possible
• Reassure safety and answer questions as honestly as possible
• Focus on the positives and the opportunity for a new start
• Validate and acknowledge worries and reinforce the child’s strengths

 Identify what will be the same and what will be different

• Make sure you read your schools communication and identify what will be different – especially physical distancing changes for drop-off and pick-up
• Check that transport and supervision is organised for the children

Practice the School Day

• Wake up, get out of bed, dress, eat breakfast and clean your teeth just as you would on a school day
• Plan what needs to be done and how long it will take
• Work towards going to bed on time (curb bedtime ½ hr earlier every few days and limit access to technology ½ hour before)
• Alter meals to mimic school - breakfast before 8, morning tea at 11, lunch at 1 and afternoon tea at 3

 Organise Personal School Equipment

• Find and check your school bags and lunch boxes for anything that was left in there at the end of term 1
• Find your school uniform, socks and shoes and make sure they are clean and ready
• Charge up your devices, gather your books, pens and other learning materials

 Connect with your Supports

• organise a phone call or video-chat with a close friend to reduce any nerves about returning to school (both Adult & Child)
• If you anticipate difficulties or have any questions please contact your school before school resumes

Public Health advice is clear – it is safe for schools to be open. This is because we have a low rate of Coronavirus (COVID-19) community spread in Tasmania and there has been increased and expanded testing. To reduce the risk even further, schools have hygiene and physical distancing measures in place.

While it is safe to send your child/ren to school, we still need adults to maintain a distance from other adults, whilst on site.

To help us with adult physical distancing, we are asking all parents/carers to:

• We would like our families to avoid entering school buildings. We strongly encourage Stop, Drop and Go at the beginning of each day and Collect and Go at the end of each day. If children have any anxiety about returning to school or separating from parents please email/DoJo your class teacher to make a plan to support children.

We want to make school as safe as possible for everyone. Feel free to ask questions if you require any further information. These things won’t be forever, but we all have a shared responsibility to act in a way that supports everyone being safe.

More information is available on the Department of Education website: www.education.tas.gov.au

UDATING 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. 

Virtual Cross Country

The Southern Primary School Sports Association (SPSSA) have organised that all our member school students can compete in the Great Australian Cross Country for free. Early Childhood students are also able to register for free.
This is a great opportunity and replacement for school and inter school cross country carnivals for 2020. Students submit their run times and then will be able to see how they improve and what affects their time; weather, track variations etc.

Parents need to register their child on the below website.

Parents need to go to www.gaccc.com.au and register online.

After completing name/address/school information they scroll past payment option and write the following Promotional Code when asked:

Use the code SPSSA during the registration process so there will be no cost to families.

We will be undertaking timed runs at school over our Cross Country track that students can use for submitting.

Mr Bailey