STAY CONNECTED AND DON’T STRESS

Seeking Feedback

Now that we are mid-way through the fourth week of remote and flexible learning, we’re keen to find out how we’re doing in meeting your needs. Yesterday we circulated a survey; Remote Learning Feedback, which we encourage you to complete. Your replies are anonymous.

We have already received some feedback that there is “too much work”. I would like to reiterate as teachers have already mentioned, that some of that work is ‘optional’ and is provided for students who would like to complete it, rather than core work. We also understand there are good days and bad days – pick your battles and don’t stress!

All schools have been advised that:

1. For students in Grades P-2, schools will provide learning programs that include the following:

• literacy activities that take a total of about 45-60 minutes
• numeracy activities of about 30-45 minutes
• additional learning areas, play-based learning and physical activity of about 30-45 minutes.

1. For students in Grade 3-6 schools will provide learning programs allocated as follows:

• literacy: 45-60 minutes
• numeracy: 30-45 minutes
• physical activities: 30 minutes
• additional curriculum areas: 90 minutes.

The Winters Flat PS website Teaching and Learning tab-Learning from Home has all the work set by classroom and specialist teachers as well as links to some excellent additional resources.

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Additional Telstra data

Telstra users on a mobile plan are being offered additional data at no cost on mobile services. The My Telstra App gives you access to apply for the extra data.

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Pen Pals for residents of Ellery and Thompson House

The Castlemaine Rotary Club is promoting the idea of students from the primary schools in Castlemaine connecting with residents from Ellery and Thompson House during this isolation period. Leading teacher Kate Ward from Castlemaine PS is coordinating the matching of a student to a resident with the expectation that they will send a card or letter 1-2 times a month. We invited student in the JLC but if older students would like to participate please email me: Suzanne.Kinnersly@education.vic.gov.au and I will liaise with Kate.

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Students to practice gratitude as a form of connection during COVID 19

Whether we are learning from home or school during COVID 19 one of the biggest changes is the lack of physical social connection. For some this is tougher than others, however we are all in it together.

As a way for the children to connect to themselves and with others we will be creating a gratitude collage which involves each student to draw/write about a situation or person that they are thankful for.

Each student will receive the collective gratitude collage via email or you can request a laminated copy to be sent to your home for display!

ACTIVITY

1. Think about something or someone you are grateful for, something that made you smile or that you are thankful for. 
2. Draw a picture and or write words/story on a piece of paper to express your gratitude. Some examples could be, I am grateful for;

• My dog as he plays with me
• The bright colours of flowers
• My sister who makes me laugh
• Being healthy
• Spending more time with my family
• The sunshine

3. Once the picture is completed please take a photograph of it.
4. P-3 and Marie’s students email to winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au by Friday 15^th May.
5. Karen and Keenan’s class can either email the photograph or put the picture into the drop box by Wednesday 13^th May.

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YEAR 6 TRANSITION

The Year 6 to Year 7 transition Information pack and the Application for Placement 2021 for students currently in Year 6 at Winters Flat PS should be delivered in Drop boxes today. Applications are due back by Friday 29th May 2020.

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YARRAME HELP DESK

The purpose of this service is to provide parents and carers with the opportunity to discuss your child's behaviours, which may be impeding their ability to learn at home.

The Help Desk can also help parents and carers to successfully navigate potential intervention pathways for their child.

YarraMe's Help Desk http://www.yarrame.vic.edu.au/help-desk.html can assist with:

• understanding a child's behaviour
• providing personalised one to one telephone consultation with a special education teacher
• discussion of a pathway for the family to seek formal diagnosis of learning disabilities
• discussion about behavioural support strategies
• advice on setting up learning environments
• providing targeted resources
• referral to external services.

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BIRTHDAYS

Atticus B – 8 in the last week of April

Huckle – 10 in the last week of April

Eisa – 8 in the last week of April

Archie S-M - 7 in the last week of April

Suzie – 8 in the last week of April

Me – 40ish ;-) in the first week of May

Jane – 25ish ;-) in the first week of May

Lola – 8 in the first week of May

Archie K – 10 in the first week of May

Milla – 12 in the first week of May

Jess D – 12 in the first week of May

Lucinda N – 12 in the first week of May

Hip Hip:  Hooray

Hip Hip:  Hooray

Hooray: Hip Hip

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BUILDINGS UPDATE

Demolition and Construction is still going ahead. The old portable that was Terry’s workspace is being demolished on Friday and fencing has gone up around our main admin building for work to commence on replacing sections of the roof – the very last stage in the refurbishment process. Access to the main building will be limited in the next week or two but we will work around that.

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HAVE SOME FUN WITH GOOGLE DOODLES

At the moment Google is daily revisiting some of their past Doodles which you can access on the Google home page (better with Chrome). They are interactive and two of last week’s had a musical theme. Fischinger is an opportunity to experiment with colour and sound changing notes and instruments. Oskar Wilhelm Fischinger was a German-American abstract animator, filmmaker, and painter, notable for creating abstract musical animation many decades before the appearance of computer graphics and music videos. Rockmore is an interactive theremin which has some cool setting and key changes once you pass the initial tutorials. Clara Reisenberg Rockmore was a classical violin prodigy and a virtuoso performer of the theremin, an electronic musical instrument. She was the sister of pianist Nadia Reisenberg.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal