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Ben Venews

Principal’s Message Week 6 Term 2

It has been wonderful to welcome our students back to full-time face to face learning over the

past week. Our teaching staff in particular are very pleased to have their own students back in

front of them and to be able to continue with planned teaching and learning.

I have taken the opportunity this week to have a chat with many students about their return to

school and how they felt about learning at home. There were mixed feelings about both of

these but overwhelmingly students were happy to be back to see their friends! It was

interesting to hear what students liked about learning at home, many students liked being able

to eat whenever they wanted and they also liked the flexible timetable.

Parent Survey

As we move beyond the period of COVID-19 it is important to reflect on the many things we

have learned during the period of ‘at home learning’. I would appreciate you taking the time to

fill in a short survey, not to assess how well we as a school performed but to hear your

thoughts on some of the things we can potentially continue that will improve our current

practice. Please access the link here.

COVID-19

As students return to school, please be reminded that anyone who is sick with influenza-like

symptoms, even with mild symptoms, should not attend school.

NSW Heath recommends that anyone with respiratory symptoms or unexplained fever (of 37.5

degrees or higher) should be tested for COVID-19. Your GP can arrange COVID-19 tests.

This is usually a quicker option than attending the hospital emergency department.

There is no requirement for students who have been unwell but have not displayed these

symptoms, to be tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to school, unless advised by a doctor.

Parents are reminded to please avoid congregating at entry points to the school. Unless

absolutely necessary. Parents should not be walking students to classrooms and should be

maintaining social distance from teachers and other adults.

Learning at home

During the learning from home period, some resources that were optional for students to

access were created by our teachers. We are pleased to inform you that we are providing

continued access to both Mrs Porter’s French lessons and the staff reading of ‘Harry Potter

and the Philosopher’s Stone’.

French lessons are available here. There are also supplementary paper lessons available for

students to collect from Mrs Porter.

The Harry Potter reading is accessible here. The password remains the same; it is the room

Mrs Pryce works in, all lowercase. A new chapter will be uploaded each weekend.

Phone 6772 4263 – Email benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website – Facebook – School Stream

Celebrating Birthdays Many students like to celebrate their birthday at school by bringing in cupcakes or birthday

cakes for their classmates to share. I have just been provided with advice that the practice of

bringing in cupcakes or a birthday cake to celebrate birthdays has been suspended

indefinitely. I apologise for any confusion over this.

School Reports

In line with advice from the NSW Department of Education, our school reports for Term 1

and 2, 2020 have been adjusted to cater for students learning from school and at home.

Reflecting the many adjustments required from students, parents and schools, this report will

not grade student achievement using the A-E scale. The report will reflect engagement in

learning during this period based on the evidence provided, with a particular focus on English

and Mathematics. Please be aware that all students may not have covered the same syllabus

outcomes or content during this period.

Reports will be distributed in Week 1 of Term 3.

What did you like about learning from home?

“I liked how mum gave me food while I was doing my work”. Spencer, Year 1D.

“I liked working on-line, that is what I’m good at.” Logan, Year 4H

“I liked being able to get food whenever I wanted and being on the computer more… I like

looking at screens”. Brittney, Year 5B

“I could wear what I wanted”. Levi, Year 5.

“I could eat whenever I wanted and could set my own timetable”. Ashley, Year 5

“I liked seeing my family while doing work”. Grace, 3S

“Nothing really”. Connor, 3S

“You weren’t restricted by bell times, you could work when you wanted to”. Jessica 6H

Are you pleased to be back?

“Yes!!!! At home if I didn’t understand something I had to email my teacher and wait for her

reply. Instead of her being able to help small groups at a time she could only help one

person”.

“At first I wasn’t sure. But now I’m pleased, I missed socialising”. Levi

“Yes! My favourite thing about coming to school is the visual stimulus of the classroom… the

teachers, desks, my friends…”. Josie 6H

What did you miss the most? “My friends, Mrs Howlett and the learning. I like the classroom environment”. Lydia, 4H

“I missed all the fun games, art and new learning”. Tayla 5B

“Friends. Not being around people”.

“Music”. Logan

“I missed learning and having conversations with friends”. Connor

Phone 6772 4263 – Email benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website – Facebook – School Stream

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Phone 6772 4263 – Email benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website – Facebook – School Stream

Lou Moffatt

Cybersafety – Keeping your child safe online

Over the coming weeks, students in Years 5 and 6 will be investigating how to stay safe online and

effectively manage their online interactions. In conjunction with this, each week we will be including in the

newsletter information that will help you ensure your child is engaging online in a healthy and safe

manner.

Next week, Stage 3 students will focus on ‘making good choices online’. Below are links to helpful

information on how to help keep your child safe in digital spaces.

Controlling your privacy settings in social media (Including easy to follow instructions)

Keeping your child safe when talking to others online

Creating a safe gaming environment for children

What do I need to know about in-game chat?

Cam Pryce, Jeanenne Gale

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TERM 2 2020 CALENDAR Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

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