GHPS IS COMMITTED TO CHILD SAFETY

Learning Today. Leading Tomorrow.

Principal’s Report

We were very much hoping for a return to school today and have missed everyone very much, but we all need to follow the advice of the Chief health Officer and comply with the restrictions for another week.

If a measure of intelligence is the ability to change, then we are all showing a great deal of intelligence in adapting to the return of remote and flexible learning. We greatly appreciate everyone’s best efforts to help our students continue learning as safely and as inspired as can be! Keep being a superstar! Our staff are all doing an amazing job and we can’t thank them enough.

Ms Tinetti has included some fabulous information about staying as positive as possible and the tips will help you with your children and family. We hope that you are all doing ok but do reach out to us if you need anything that we can help you with.

Thank you Ms Ristos and Ms Smart for sharing the information with Prep families about the exciting milestone taking place today with them all officially celebrating preps and their 100 days of learning:

“This is such a special occasion in our Preppies first year of school. As we will not be able to have this celebration at school tomorrow, we will have a mini celebration instead via Webex at roll call!
Students are welcome to wear a special outfit or accessory if they wish, we will however still have a party with all the trimmings when we return to onsite learning so please do not stress if you do not have your 100 days outfit ready to go!”
I loved being part of your very special roll call this morning and hoped everyone enjoyed it. Congratulations Preps, Ms Ristos and Ms Smart. We are very, very proud of you all and you are marking the day in your own very special way. 100 smiles for a wonderful day.

Grade 3/4 Camp Information

Students and families in Grades 3 and 4 will have received the disappointing news that due to the extended lockdown unfortunately it will mean that the Year 3/4 Camp scheduled for next week cannot go ahead. Ms Shannan Fox and the team have been in contact with the camp and have been advised that there may be an alternative date in term 4 so for now, let’s cross our fingers for another possibility. Thank you, Ms Fox, for working very hard to secure a future possible date.

Capital Works Update

It is very good news to be able to inform you that there has been a start to setting up the school site for the Capital works.

This week there has been an inspection and fencing off or adjustments of the following areas in the school:

Fencing: Gate A and the Main Office entrance: the way for all students and families is through Gate B which is the one closest to the lane way. Everyone will make their way round the side of the building and towards the playground.
Access for a short time is through the back door if you need to visit the office.
The Main Office will move to Mod 5 very soon, but we will let you know when it’s completely set up
Fencing: Ahead of installing Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant ramp, there is fencing around the second classroom in the MOD 5- 3F. The way in is through the first classroom (3O) where Ms Tinetti and I have moved to already.
Back door: as of Monday 16 August, any students registered for Remote and flexible learning will come through Gate B and go into through the back door with parents to sign them in
Hall: The classroom for Remote and flexible learning will move from being supervised by teachers in Room 2 to being supervised in the Hall. Thankyou to the staff who have set this up ready for Monday.
Fencing: At the back of the oval near Lyons Street- this may be used for staff parking only and the date is to be confirmed when Interface is ready.

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) oversees the program and so we need to adhere to their timelines and will keep everyone informed with updates through Compass. Please see the previous newsletter for additional information.

Prep Enrolments for 2022

Thank you to our current families who have emailed in their 2022 enrolment form as we are starting to plan for Transition which will take place next term.

Prospective new families can also book in for our next lot of WebEx tour dates with Ms Amy Tinetti and I:

*Webex Tours

*Wednesday 18 August at 11am

*Thursday 26 August 12pm

We hope to be able to return to onsite tours for these dates:

Wednesday 1 September 2pm – 2.45pm

Tuesday 7^th September 9:15am – 10am

Parent/Care Giver/Guardian Survey

If you received a Parent/Care Giver/Guardian Survey, please complete, and return to us by Friday, 2^nd September.

We appreciate your input.

Look after yourselves everyone and stay safe.

Libby Alessi Principal

A message from your Assistant Principal

Resilience Project:

I’ve just listened to the latest episode of The Imperfects Podcast with Dr Billy Garvey and I couldn’t help but think of all the parents who could benefit from listening to this episode right now.

The Academy of Imperfection – Dr Billy Garvey, Paediatrician

Go get your pens and notebooks everyone! In this edition of The Academy of Imperfection, students Hugh, Ryan, Josh sit down with famed paediatrician, Dr Billy Garvey of The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Currently, Billy regretfully has a two and a half year waiting list to see him in person, but is keen to reach as many of you as possible NOW. And with all the talk on our podcast about parenting recently, we felt this was a very necessary episode.

Billy may not look like one of Australia’s most respected and in-demand paediatricians, as we speak about in the episode, but gee whiz, he sure does talk like it!

Martin Heppell has created a short clip about the importance of sleep Here is a quick link for you: the clip

For more information on sleep & device management please click through to The Resilience Project latest blog “Reclaiming control of your electronic devices”

As we head into the weekend with millions of Australians in lockdown, I wanted to share some resources and tips which could help you look after yourselves and the people around you during this challenging time.

Aim for a positive headspace by focussing on what we have or the things we still get to experience. Try not to worry about the plans that aren’t happening, or the things we can’t do.
Show kindness for others and feel the incredible benefits attached to practising empathy.
Pay attention to how you feel. Set boundaries on the activities which bring negative emotions, like scrolling through social media or watching the news.

Here is another short video from Vikki Ryall, Executive Director of Clinical Practice with some tips for parents and cares during lockdown:

Tips and strategies for Victorian parents and carers during lockdown.

As always I am here to support all of our students, staff and parents at GHPS. Please give me a ring or send me an email to let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.

“Taking care of yourself makes you stronger for everyone in your life … including you.”

– Kelly Rudolph

Amy Tinetti Assistant Principal

Notification of changes to Fee payments and

Excursion Permissions and Payments.

Due to the current situation of lockdown, and the upcoming Capital Works, we are making some amendments on how we will communicate regarding Excursion Permissions and Payments.

Communication notices regarding excursions will be sent through COMPASS.

Permissions are to be given through COMPASS.

Preferred payment method for Fee payments and Excursions is through COMPASS.

EFT will still be available in the office and, if no other method is possible, correct cash only (no change will be given).

This will allow us to always keep all the correct information available to staff whilst on an excursion.

CLICK HERE for Parent’s Guide to Compass

Year 1 News

This term, the Grade 1’s have been focussing on making their writing more interesting by using adjectives and descriptive words. To do this, students have been learning to use their 5 senses in our Seven Steps writing lessons.

So far, the Grade 1’s have used their 5 senses to describe the zoo, the beach and their favourite – a hot chocolate. This tied in well with our procedure writing unit.

Students first wrote a procedure for how to make a hot chocolate, they then made their own hot chocolate and finally used their senses to describe the hot chocolate. The best part was drinking and tasting the delicious creamy chocolate flavour!

Sport News

House Athletics

Last Wednesday on the 3rd of August, the years 3 to 6 went to Duncan McKinnon to participate in house Athletics.

The events that took place were: 100m sprint, 800m sprint, Triple jump, long jump, vortex throw, shot put and the house relays.

The winners of the relay run for the boys was Mitchell and the girls relay winners were Flinders.

It was very close but in the end Hume won the House Shield. Well done to all the people on the day who tried their best. The winner of the Spirit Cup has not yet been decided.

The day went wonderfully, and we give thanks to Miss K for organising the event.

Hasini, 5/6 OP

Last Wednesday, on the 4th of August, our school held its’ House Athletics!

Each House competed in six events – 800 meter run, 100 meter sprint, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shotput and Vortex throw (replacing high jump). First place got 4 points, Second place three points, Third place 2 points, and 4th place one point, but only the top three in each event got ribbons.

The weather went well for us that day, with only a few spots of rain here and there.

In the end, Hume took home the House Shield, with 196 points!

Amber, 5/6 OP

Please CLICK HERE for the latest Newsletter from TheirCare.

Please remember to put your name on all uniform/property.

Lost property will be sorted every month and any uniform without a name will be put into the second hand uniform shop.

Other unnamed items will be donated to charity.

If your child attends before or after school care, please check their lost property as well.

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Newsletter #11 August 13, 2021