Dear CSPS families,
Further important information from the Department of Education and Training is below.
Also, please see email sent today to the email address supplied to the school office for the Parent Request Form to access on-site student attendance. Thanks for your attention to the information being sent out and for your patience.
Warmest regards and best wishes to all,
Gayle, Bianca and CSPS staff
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) DET INFORMATION: TRANSITION TO REMOTE AND FLEXIBLE LEARNING IN VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents a unique and challenging situation for all Victorians. It means we have to do things differently, including adapting the valuable work undertaken by teachers and schools in providing education for Victoria’s children and young people.
As we act to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the message to students at government schools and their parents/carers, is clear: all children who can learn at home must learn from home.
In the limited circumstances where a student may continue to attend school on-site, the remote learning program delivered on-site will be the same as the learning programs delivered to students learning from home.
Learning from home
To provide learning continuity for your child, it is important they have as much routine and certainty as possible. Education plays a large role in your child’s routine.
To support learning at home, you don’t need to take on the role of a teacher. The most important thing you can do is to continue to provide:
(1) a routine for your child(ren), informed by the teaching and learning program provided by your school
(2) a regular place for your child to do their school work
(3) encouragement for your child as they adjust to this new way of learning.
Your child’s school will:
-tell you and your child what online tools your child can use to support their learning from home.
-clearly communicate the responsibilities of your child’s teacher/s, as well as what you and your child need to do
-provide learning activities for your child to do
-communicate with you and your child through their normal channels. For example, the school website, newsletters and email
Your child’s school will contact you in the first week of Term 2 to determine if your child needs support to access the internet, or if they need to borrow a laptop or tablet to access learning materials. Priority access will be given to senior secondary students, children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds along with those who attend schools in bushfire-affected areas.
Government school on-site delivery
All government schools will continue to offer on-site learning and teaching programs for eligible students during regular school operating hours. In some cases, eligible students may be required to attend a different school in their local area to access an on-site program.
Parents who require their child to attend on-site school learning will need to complete the School On-site Attendance Form in the week prior to their child attending on-site to indicate the days or part-days they require their child/ren to attend school on-site.
In all cases, students must be well and not displaying any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Eligibility for attending on-site
Attending school on-site will remain available in limited circumstances for:
Students on days or part-days when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made. This will be available for children of parents who cannot work from home.
Small Vulnerable students.
Further information
For further information for parents and carers of children enrolled in school visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/Pages/coronavirus-advice-parents.aspx
For health information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Learning from home: Information for parents and carers
Advice, tips and resources to support children as they learn from home.
About learning from home
When you start to think about helping your child to learn from home, remember that no one expects you to be a teacher or subject matter expert. The most important thing you can do is continue to provide routine, support and encouragement to your child.
You can support your child to learn from home by keeping up to date with your child’s school communications.
Your child’s school will:
- clearly communicate the responsibilities of your child’s teacher as well as what students and parents and carers need to do
- provide learning activities for your child to undertake
- communicate with parents and students through their normal channels, for example via the school website, newsletters and email
- advise parents and students about the online tools your child can use to support their learning from home.
If you do not have a computer device or internet at home, your school will be in contact with you to discuss whether your child needs to borrow one and how your child can receive materials.
Setting up a learning environment
Every home is different. Where possible, extended learning should take place in a space your family shares. For example, a lounge room or dining room. These spaces are preferable over a bedroom, where your child can feel isolated and supervision can be more challenging.
It should be a place:
- that can be quiet at times
- where you or another adult is present.
Student responsibilities during remote learning
Depending on the age and stage of your child, they may be expected to:
- regularly monitor digital platforms for announcements and feedback from teachers
- do their best work when completing tasks
- do their best to meet timelines and due dates
- communicate openly with their teachers and raise any concerns or issues
- continue to abide by their school’s behaviour guidelines.
Establishing routines and expectations
It is important to develop a routine to support your child as they learn from home. This is important for them and for family members, to provide an environment that encourages learning.
Start and end each day with a check in to help your child:
- clarify and fully understand the instructions they get from their teachers
- help them organise themselves and set priorities for their learning at home.
Encourage regular exercise breaks. Your school is likely to provide some suggested activities.
Encourage healthy eating habits and make sure they drink enough water.
Try to keep normal bedtime routines for all children, especially for younger ones.
Managing screen time and online safety
As your child is likely to be spending time online, it is important that you talk to them about online safety. This will help them to make good digital choices and use information and communication technologies responsibly.
You may wish to speak to your children about ensuring they:
- use only the online tools recommended by their school or the Department of Education and Training (DET)
- are respectful when communicating online, just as they would be when speaking face-to-face
- use digital devices in open areas of the home
For more online safety advice for parents and carers go to: www.esafety.gov.au
Mental health and wellbeing check in
Just as you set aside time for physical exercise, it is important to make time each day to check in on your child’s mental health and wellbeing.
It may take your child some time to adjust to their new routine for learning and key changes such as not seeing classmates in person. Every child will react differently to new circumstances – feelings of sadness, frustration, anxiousness and even anger are entirely normal.
You can help your child by:
- providing an opportunity to talk about how they feel and listening to what they say
- identifying some specific actions they can take by themselves or with you to address any concerns they might have
- asking how they are finding learning remotely, and if there is anything they’d like your help with.
If you have any other concerns about the health and wellbeing of your child, please contact your school directly, which will have access to resources that can help.
Advice for parents and carers of children with additional needs
If you child has additional needs, you should talk to their teacher about an individual education plan. This will help guide their learning from home.
The parents’ page of the DET website (www.education.vic.gov.au/parents) has several resources to help parents and carers support learning from home.
For parents and carers of children with learning difficulties, a comprehensive resource Understanding learning difficulties for parents: a practical guide can be downloaded from www.uldforparents.com.
This guide provides parents and carers with practical advice about learning difficulties as well as a list of recommended apps.
Literacy and numeracy resources and tips
In addition to the resources and materials that your school will provide, you could use the following resources to support your child as they learn from home:
Literacy and numeracy:
Tips for parents and carers to build their child’s literacy and numeracy skills can be downloaded from the www.education.vic.gov.au. Search: get involved in literacy and numeracy
Premiers’ Reading Challenge:
The challenge encourages children and students from birth to Year 10 to read a set number of books over the year and record their efforts online. Register at www.education.vic.gov.au. Search: premiers reading challenge
Mathematics and numeracy at home:
Parents and carers play an important role in helping develop their child’s numeracy skills. Advice and resources for families can be downloaded from www.education.vic.gov.au. Search: mathematics and numeracy at home
State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training) 2020. Except where otherwise noted, material in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Please check the full copyright notice