Welcome Back to Prep, Years 1, 11 &12 on Monday

We are excited to see some normality returning to the College with 4 of our year levels returning to regular classroom learning on Monday 11 May.  We are greatly looking forward to seeing all our students back learning in classrooms, hopefully on the 25 May, though also understand that the new normal will look quite different to the normal we knew before COVID-19.  As we know there is much conjecture regarding the return of students to schools in Queensland.  Schools have been advised that it is safe for them to be open, as well as receiving a myriad of advice regarding what can be done to keep our community safe.  We are increasing cleaning, changing how we group students in many classrooms, reorganising how we do sport and PE, reducing mass gatherings and assemblies, and limiting the number of adults on the College site at any given time.  This last point has been the greatest consideration we have been required to act on, and one that many families may feel uncomfortable about over the coming week as some students resume.

Essentially, we are asking for parents to not come into our campus until further notice unless absolutely necessary.  This is to increase the safety for our entire school community, including the parents.  Whilst we can’t wait to have hundreds of parents back on school grounds socialising and enjoying the community feel, now is not the time for that.  Please take the time to read yesterday’s update (on Facebook, SZapp and Email for parents) and watch Mrs Walton’s video on Facebook for some clarity regarding collection for the Early Years students.  One thing I have learned from my sons (Kindy and Year 2) throughout this period is how much they are capable of when I allow them to do things independently.  As parents this change from Monday will be quite different, though we also have the chance to practice this with our children over the weekend so we can reduce the anxieties of the children.  On Monday morning we will have many staff out the front of the College supporting our families and students, as well as many of our senior staff.  I look forward to seeing you then.

Of critical importance for our students returning to classroom learning (Prep, Year 1, 11 &12), from Monday, you will go straight back to your regular timetable with your regular teachers in your regular classrooms with your regular lunchtimes and your regular specialist lessons.  As you will be well aware, we have 2 modes of teaching and learning at present, Classroom Learning (which is “normal” or “pre-COVID”) and Remote Learning.  Hence, once we go back to classroom learning we get straight back into it and do it properly.  Accordingly, our teachers will be entirely focused on teaching in the classroom, so no remote learning resources will be available to Prep, Year 1, Year 11 and Year 12 students, beyond what is usually available. 

This will remain true given the hopeful result that all students return to classroom learning on 25 May, with the likely exception of staggered lunches for a time to best practice social distancing for our students (same as Week 9, Term 1). 

Reporting for Semester 1

There has been some uncertainty as to what reporting will look like considering the disruption to regular classroom learning in Queensland.  At OLSCC, a semester report will be produced for every student outlining their progress against the achievement standard in all subject areas where we have sufficient evidence to make an accurate judgement.  The report cards may look quite different to what they have in the past as we are transitioning to our new student management system “Sentral”.  For all students in Years 7-12, your reports will be made in our new system, whilst the format and inclusions of the P-6 reports will begin to transition to what will be produced in 2021 for all students across the College.  Our focus is on reporting on the 3A’s: Achievement, Application and Attitude.  We will have further details in coming newsletters, including the timelines for distribution for parents, though please be assured that a report will be produced for each student based on their progress against the achievement standards for Semester 1, 2020.

Pete Cuskelly

Principal

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher said, “Change is the only constant in life.”  Although he lived over 500 years ago it is certainly true in our current times.  Some days it can feel exciting and challenging and on others it can feel overwhelming.  As things continue to evolve and change, we pray for strength to face these times with a positive outlook.  May we embrace the change which is inevitable not fight it. 

Dear God 

Please give me the strength to endure this situation, and to find the blessings and lessons that it contains.  

Please give me the endurance to continue ahead.   

Please guide my thoughts, words and actions so that I walk you path of peace and love.   

Amen  

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

We are so excited to be welcoming the Prep and Year One students back to school on Monday! We totally understand there are some concerns around the new drop off and pick up arrangements and we hope this message will help to alleviate your concerns. As per Government guidelines, parents will not be able to enter school grounds. Extra supervisions have been arranged for both drop off and pick up times and places. Students should not be on campus prior to 8:30am.

To reduce the weight in the children's bags, please feel free to return items to school over a few days rather than all at once.

Prep and Year One classrooms will be open from 8.30am. If a Prep/Year One student arrives after 8:30am, they will simply go straight to their classroom. Students should not be on campus prior to 8:30am as there is no supervision by teachers at this time. If they are here before 8:30am, they will leave their bag at the classroom and walk to the MPC to wait. When the supervising teacher comes on duty at 8:30am those students will then be directed to go back to their classroom. As you can see, the process is much simpler if you arrive after 8:30!

Year 2/3/4 remote learning students will drop bags at their normal classroom and head to the basketball court where a teacher is on duty from 8.30am. If any student is on campus prior to 8:30am, they will need to wait on the seats at the MPC.

Prep and Year One teachers will be at their classrooms at 8:30am and will provide any assistance required with completing the students morning routines like unpacking their school bags.

To make the afternoon 'pick up' less stressful please make sure that your child knows where they need to meet you. We will assist the students getting to these destinations. The 3 main pick up areas are:

1. Outside the cubby near the Prep gate.
2. Further down the footpath towards the Senior school
3. Cooper Street.

To make this process quick please remain in your car and display an A4  sign with your family name. If there are no spaces available, you may need to go around the block a couple of times. We have already had one practice run of this with the students on campus today and will be doing this again on Monday. See our facebook page for a short video of our practice run today!

If you are walking to pick your child up, they will also be at the front of the school, or where you make your meeting place. (This must be outside the school grounds).

I hope this message alleviates some of your concerns. We are here to help and make this transition to the “new normal” as smooth as possible. Can’t wait to see the Prep Blue family on Monday!

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

Next Monday,  we welcome back our Prep, Year 1 and Year 11 and 12 students after four weeks of Remote Learning and two weeks of Easter break. We have dedicated our recent Newsletters to our remote learners both at home and at school however we must also spare a thought for the teachers and staff who have also had to adapt to a new method of providing education.

Thanks to Ange Stirling, we have some beautiful images of some of our staff members and we thought it would be great to get their perspective on next week's recommencement of formal schooling for our Prep, Year 1 and Year 11/12 students. We asked them what they were most looking forward to about next week and their experiences being at school with only a small cohort of students.

Miss Belonogoff - "I'm really looking forward to having the Year 11 and 12's back in the classroom and having conversation with humans rather than talking to a computer screen. I have really missed the interaction with the students and I will look forward to seeing them all in class on Monday."

Mr Hodge - "It has been so quiet around the campus and I am looking forward to that buzz again."

Mrs Dellit - "While I have found the remote learning period for Year 1 challenging at times, it has shown me just how resilient and independent these young children are! I have been very excited to see their little faces on the computer screen 4 times each week but nothing beats face-to-face contact. I’m looking forward to seeing the children apply their new familiarity with technology and increase their ability to work independently inside the classroom. I would like to send my appreciation for the support that all caregivers have given to both their children and us, their teachers, as without this, the learning journey would have been more difficult."

Mrs Boland - "I'm really looking forward to seeing more kids walking by and hearing their laughter and chatter. I will look forward to seeing all those smiling faces again and getting back to a little more normality."

Mrs Walton - "I can't wait to have the Prep and Year 1's back in the classroom however I am really going to miss Zoom Show and Share which has been very exciting. It will be pretty hard to bring pigs, dogs, birds, amazing Lego creations and tractors to school in your bag."

The P & F AGM is coming up on 26 May at 6pm in the PAC and with all positions being declared vacant, we are encouraging members of our College community to attend. The P & F plays an integral part in the direction of our College. Those who wish to be involved in their child's school and education will find involvement with the P & F rewarding as well as demonstrating to your children the value you place in their school. Please see the two attached documents for more information about the Roles and Responsibilities of the P & F. 

Mrs Crump and Mrs Chalmers have cooked up a storm during the last week of Term 1 preparing meals to be distributed by our P&F Pastoral Committee to families in need. Mrs Nicole Bryers and Mrs Rebecca Martin are leading the Head Heart Hands Team and are all ears to hear of any families that could do with an easy and yummy dinner in these tough times. Families can self-nominate or be nominated by others.  It is as simple as contacting the College Office with as much or as little information you have – if you prefer not to leave a name, you are welcome to leave details such as number in the family, any allergies and when you would like to collect it. All names are kept confidential but we would love to help if possible.

The other way you can assist is by donating ingredients or making something for our freezer in readiness for assistance.

We look forward to hearing from you with offers of assistance or assistance required.