Calendonia Drive, Eltham North 3095 Ph: 9431 1599 Fax:9431 0686 OSHC Ph: 9431 2503 www.glenkps.vic.edu.au/ Office Hours: 8.00am– 4.00pm

Email: glen.katherine.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

LINKLETTER

Issue 4 16th March 2020

Children, Teachers, Parents: A partnership for the future

LEANNE’ S COMMUNICATIONLEANNE’ S COMMUNICATIONLEANNE’ S COMMUNICATIONLEANNE’ S COMMUNICATION

LEANNE’ S COMMUNICATIONLEANNE’ S COMMUNICATIONLEANNE’ S COMMUNICATIONLEANNE’ S COMMUNICATION

COVID-19 Communication Over recent weeks, the world, Australia and GK have faced an unprecedented challenge with the emergence of COVID-19. Nations, governments and businesses (including schools) are responding to a dilemma that does not have a rule book.

We are managing the outcome of this pandemic with a sincere level of calm readiness. This situation is what it is. Our role as a school, and as a community, is to face the issues head on with kind, respectful and consistent support.

We have put measures in place to ensure that our staff and students can maintain a sense of normality each day while remaining vigilant in keeping each other safe and healthy. Unlike some schools, we have a supply of toilet paper and hand soap and sanitiser to last us for a period of time. Explicit education about hygiene is being delivered by teachers, with Department posters visible around the school. Recent Government advice around event cancellation of numbers exceeding 500 people has caused us to cancel our Harmony Day Celebrations and any assemblies until further notice.

There is talk about the need for schools to be closed for a period of time in a measure to slow down the potential spread for the virus. Any decision regarding school closure will come from the Department of Education. If school closure is advised it could come at short notice. We are in preparation mode should this be the case with staff considering how we can best support families at such a time. For now it is business and usual.

In light of the measures being put in place regarding COVID-19, the following information is especially important.

When your child gets sick, keeping them home from school can help them recover faster. It also helps prevent any contagious illnesses from spreading to other children in the school, which is critical to keeping everyone as healthy as possible.

If your child is unwell, has persistent coughing, appears to present as being unwell, has vomited during the night or that morning or requires medication for being unwell, we ask you to keep them at home. We make no assumption that they have COVID-19, just that they are unwell and home to speed up health recovery.

Please advise the school of any absences via COMPASS. Alternatively you can call the office on 9431 1599.

The COVID-19 issue will pass - until it does we must do what we do so very well at GK—support each other in mind, body and spirit. If your child is feeling uneasy or anxious at this time, please keep open communication with our teachers so we can be especially mindful of how our young people are coping. Shannon Whelan, our Welfare and Wellbeing Support, is also available should serious concern is raised for your child.

We will continue to provide you with updates via COMPASS and email when necessary.

We thank the whole GK community for their understanding during this time, and appreciate everyone’s forbearance as we chart the weeks ahead.

Our Harmony Day Celebrations cancelled but dance goes ahead Due to this cancellation our students will not be able to perform to the entire student community and the large number of community members who were likely to join us like last year. We are going to get groups to still perform individually and this will be videoed. A posting of the individual group performance, only to classes within each dance, will go on Seesaw. If you do not wish your child to be a part of the videoed performance, please let your child’s teacher know before Thursday. The children will still perform once but not in the second videoed performance to share. We ask children to still come or bring the coloured clothing they were planning on wearing on Thursday so they can perform in the colourful manner in which teachers had planned. Assembly cancelled until further notice

Due to the event caution, assemblies which bring close to 600 people together, are cancelled. Student of the Month Awards will be delivered to students over the PA system on Friday with the certificate given to them by their classroom teacher.

New sign out the front—Kiss & Go

New signage at the front of the school has been installed by the local council. The sign indicates that a KISS & GO - stay with your car—2 minute limit action is expected. This is timely reminder that adherence to local and school processes and procedures ensures our community remains safe and orderly for our kids.

Have a wonderful week and stay well. Leanne TingwellLeanne TingwellLeanne TingwellLeanne Tingwell

The Wellbeing & Welfare of our students remains our priority -

See this page and the next for a pictorial overview of our education approach for your children

OUR SCHOOL COUNCIL AGM has confirmed a new School Council for the 2020 school year. It is with pleasure I announce the following parent and staff volunteers to School Council:

PRESIDENT: Charles Charalambous VICE PRESIDENT: Margie Haynes

TREASURER: Margaret Dixon

PARENT MEMBERS: Carly Broadbent, Tanya Harding, Stacey Lawler, Rowena Thomson, Tom Biviano (PFA Co-Opted Member)

STAFF MEMBERS: Sally Armstrong, Sandra Febbraro, Shannon Whelan, Jodee Jackson (Secretary), Leanne Tingwell

I take this opportunity to thank each councillor for nominating and look forward to working alongside everyone in both governance and school improvement priorities. Leanne

It would be helpful if we were in partnership in this education approach. We encourage all

families to be discussing hygiene and safe procedures, not only when at school but anywhere.

Certificates will be awarded over the PA system Friday afternoon

MARCH STUDENT OF THE MONTH (SOTM) AWARDS

Prep

PREP F

Alyssa D

PREP F

Miller H

PREP J

Phoebe C

PREP J

Evie D

PREP L

Thomas B

PREP L

Macy R

PREP R

Aiden O

PREP R

Tyler K

PREP S

Samantha B

PREP S

Ivy C

Junior

School

1/2B

Isla I

1/2B

Oscar S

1/2B

Dustin M

1J

Anakin B

1J

Phoenix B

1J

Cruz R

1L

Savanna B

1L

Jax C

1L

Logan M

1/2D

Stella R

1/2D

Bryce C

1/2D

Sophia C

2A

Phoenix B

2A

Zara R

2A

Flynn B

2S

Dylan B

2S

Anoushka S

2C

Dayne E

2C

Ava B

Grade 3

and

Grade 4

Grade 5

and

Grade 6

SPECIALISTS

3/4H

Sebastian D

3/4H

Gabby O

3J

James C

3J

Xavier D

3J

Mia R

3W

Zac C

3W

Olivia R

3T

Chloe Y

3T

Ryan F

4B

Eliza G

4B

Matthew A

4L

Coby I

4L

Eli C

4P

Ben L

4P

Lily W

4P

Darcy S

5G

Alexa P

5G

Tyler V

5K

Isabelle B

5K

Gabbie H

5/6 M

Baylan L

5/6M

Lachlan H

5/6M

Sienna C

5/6T

Liv M

5/6T

Aryan B

5/6T

Lachie B

6V

Ariana G

6V

Thomas R

6V

Jaya M

6O

Sam G

6O

Giselle Z

60

Alex O

SCIENCE 3T

Liam H

SCIENCE 3T

Aidan C

SCIENCE 3T

Oliver Mc

SCIENCE 3T

Alice H

SCIENCE 3T

Dylan T

SCIENCE 3T

Ryan P

SCIENCE 3T

Kaya H

PE 4L

Ruby D

PE 3/4H

Sebastian D

PE 4P

Ryan H

Linkletter Page 5

CANTEEN

DIVISION SWIMMING

Congratulations to the following students who represented the school at the Division swimming on Monday 2nd March.

There were many outstanding performances with all students finishing in the top 4 for their events

Jack B – 4th 11 yr freestyle

Jeremy W – 2nd 9/10 yr boys breastroke, 4th freestyle

Annika M – 4th 12/13 girls breastroke

9/10 yr boys relay team -4th. Mitch C, Kobe D, Ryan H, Jeremy W

David Blackburn

SPORT

DAY & DATE NAMES

Tues 17th Mar C Cuncliffe

Wed 18th Mar M Cook; K Bate

Thurs 19th Mar L Emery; C Strachan (Swap)

Fri 20th Mar S Grant; K Agius; S Garnham

Tues 24th Mar D Baker; S Fisher

Wed 25th Mar L Mills; M Cook

Thurs 26th Mar S King; K Frittata & Special Lunch Volunteers

Fri 27th Mar B Lowe; K Wishart; S Plummer

HANDY HINT: If you need to contact the canteen regarding an order, it’s best to ring after 9am, especially on frantic Fridays! I will have gotten everything started for the day & the parent helpers are in to help out.

Order for our Hoppy Holidays Lunch on Thursday 26th March next are now closed. If you are not sure if you placed an order you can check on the QKR App in ‘My Activity” or contact the canteen after midday. I suppy a list of those taking part to the teachers a couple of days prior.

Students not having the special lunch will need to bring lunch from home as there will be no other orders available from the canteen on this day. Back to nor-mal for lunch orders on the last day of term, Friday 27th March!

Only 3 more spots to fill on the Roster:

1 Helper - 3rd Tuesday each month

1 Helper – 1st Thursday each month

1 Helper – 3rd Thursday each month

Please don’t hesitate to contact me by via phone 94311599 or email cunningham.suzanne.s@edumail.vic.gov.au, or with a note through your child’s lunch tub. I am available most Tues to Thurs from 8.30am to 1.30pm and Fri from 11.30am to 1.30pm. I can sometimes still be around till 3pm, just give a loud knock on the door!

Cheers,

Suzi Cunningham GK Canteen Manager

Linkletter Page 6

Glen Katherine Primary School Parents & Friends Association Update

Meeting update: Upcoming Events:

Our meeting held on Tuesday, 10 March 2020—

we discussed:

/ the Fete

/ the 2020 events calendar / 2020 fundraising focus

/ grade communicator program.

The next meeting is taking place on Tuesday, 14 April 2020 @ 7pm in the staff room.

Fete Update:

More detail posted on the ‘GK Primary’ Facebook page or email glenkpfa@gmail.com

Get ready GK, it’s Fete year! And it’s going to be a MONSTER!

After months of pre-planning and plenty of brainstorming sessions, the PFA are ex-

cited to be announcing that this year our school will be holding the GK Monster

Fete on 25th October.

This is a wonderful family friendly event that grows in popularity and size each

year, and this year will be no different. Celebrating this tradition that has been a

much-loved part of our school community for generations, we are delighted that this

year marks the 30th anniversary of the GK Fete.

Making a successful fete takes a lot of work from our generous school community.

In the coming week, information will circulated to you seeking volunteer assistance

to help bring this monster fete to life!

So mark the 25th October 2020 on your calendar and stay tuned for more updates

over the coming months.

COMMUNITY NEWS

MARCH

WEDNESDAY 18th—Parent Teacher Interviews 3.20pm-7pm

THURSDAY 19th—Harmony Day

WEDNESDAY 25th—Parent Teacher Interviews 3.10-4.30pm

FRIDAY 27th—Last Day of term early finish at 2.30pm

School Council Endorsed 2020 CURRICULUM DAYS, STUDENT FREE DAY and 3-WAY CONFERENCES

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4

Curriculum Day Week 1

Tuesday 28th January

Focus: 2020 Start Up

Curriculum Day Week 1

Tuesday 14th April

Focus: AIP Voice & Agency

Curriculum Day Week 6

Monday August 17th

Focus: AIP Shifting Reading

Day 2

STUDENT FREE

Week 5

Monday 2nd November

Cup Eve

Curriculum Day Week 3

Monday 10th

February

Focus: AIP Shifting

Reading Day 1

3-Way Conference

Week 1

Thursday 16h July

Alternate School Day –

Students attend for their

conference only

LAST DAY OF TERM FOR

STUDENTS

Friday 18th December

1.10pm DISMISSAL

Linkletter Page 7

COMMUNITY NEWS

COMMUNITY NEWS