Back to Yarra@Home Again!

It’s clear that Covid-19 has become part of the everyday lives of students and staff at Yarra Primary School. With the virus still exceedingly present throughout the world, the reality is that we as a school community may continue to shift from IRL (in real life) learning to a remote learning program (often with very little notice).  We acknowledge the fatigue and stress people are experiencing and so as a priority for our community is our school value of ‘Caring’. More specifically, the motto of: Sharing is Caring. To share is to support your community. For our children and students sharing builds empathy and is an important social skill. So, I encourage you to reach out to each other and ensure that physical distance does not equate to social disconnection. Next week we will continue to provide opportunities for this, including our Parent Session and a whole school social event (more information to come).

Remote Learning Parent Survey Feedback

Thank you for the 20 parents that completed our school’s most recent Remote Learning Google Survey. Your feedback has informed our planning for Remote Learning, and we will respond to the information received during our Parent Session on Monday afternoon (See Compass post and/or Yarra@Home website for link).

Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey 2021

As well as our own ‘in-house’ surveys we have Department of Education and Training annual surveys  that is conducted amongst a sample of randomly selected parents/caregivers/guardians (previously known as the Parent Opinion Survey). It is designed to assist all government schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.

Approximately 40 per cent of parents have been invited to participate in this year’s survey. All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year, the Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday 19th July to Friday 3rd September.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in a range of languages other than English. These include: Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (Hakha), Hindi, Japanese, Somali, Turkish, Punjabi and Greek.

If you have been randomly selected, you will have received an email from Leanne with log on details. I strongly encourage you to complete the survey as your feedback informs our priorities for the year ahead.

Prep 2022 Transition

Josiah and Kathryn have undertaken three very successful online transition sessions for our 2022 Prep students and their families. As we embark on kindergarten visits and beginning the four sessions at school in term three and four, we remind families with a child in Prep next year to submit their enrolment forms as soon as possible.

Built an Outdoor Classroom in 2 days!

We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of YPS parent Justin Conlan and his crew from Fulton Hogan (as well as parent and family volunteers - Murray, James, Hyph, Lachlan). Justin and the team donated materials, expertise and labour to build an outdoor classroom in our Kitchen Garden. They also undertook landscaping for our indigenous garden on the corner of Davison and Kent Street.  We look forward to celebrating this significant enhancement to our environment with you all when we can.

Yours In Partnership,

Saraid

1. Take the time to check how you are sorting your recycling. Recyclable plastic usually comes with a little recycling symbol printed on the bottom and depending on the product, there might be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 stamped in the center of the symbol.
2. For parents:Take a look at your child's lunchbox and try to find some plastic things that you can swap for a reusable alternative.And maybe use fruits and veggies because they're good for the environment and your child. Also remember to BYO reusable water bottles.
3. Tips For Teachers: As you may know your classroom has quite a bit of plastic. For example you may have laminated posters, rapping on rubbers and just simple things like plastic containers. But you can replace plastic for recycled and reused items.
4. Conduct a garbage bin audit to discover all the ‘waste’ that could be avoided, recycled or composted.

Thanks for reading,

From the Environment Team.

Flo, Alice, Ollie, Bridget and Lily.

Division Cross Country

11 students represented YPS at the Division Cross Country on Tuesday the 13^th of July at Banyule Flats Reserve in Heidelberg.

All students demonstrated the value of Commitment by trying their hardest in the cold conditions.

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the Regional Cross Country later in the month- Ewan B, Kristina B, Edwina K and Eva N.

Well done to the team for committing to early morning training sessions at Citizens Park!

Kitchen Garden News

A very big thank you to the generous Yarra PS families that have sent in Stock Pots and Fry Pans from the Coles Masterchef promotion.  The school kitchen is revitalized with brand new cookware replacing the very tired old pots and pans.  The students and I all say a very big THANK YOU!

Justine Moore

Kitchen Garden Co-ordinator