As a new school year is upon us, I would like to start by welcoming everyone back to school for 2022 and in particular, I’d like to welcome our Preps and new students to the school. If you have been at the school for some time and see a new face in the yard, please make them feel welcome, extend a hand of friendship (or at least a fist bump!)
Whilst 2020 & 21 are now behind us, we look forward to greater opportunities to build on our wonderful community spirit when the school community can come back together as a whole. We have been assured by the State Government that remote learning will only be used as a last resort. Even though I'm sure there are still going to be challenges as we continue as a society to navigate the COVID-19 era, we hope all can return to normal operation in 2022.
Our staff started back last week, busily getting ready for the start of the year by putting teaching programmes in place, ensuring consistency in what we teach and how we go about our practise from one classroom to another.
The students have settled back really well into the classrooms, in fact from what I have seen, the students have been craving for the normality of school and being around their friends. It is really unfortunate that we have had students currently isolating and that haven't been able to be part of the start of the year programme set by the teachers.
On behalf of the IEPS staff I thank you for your diligence in adhering to the Covid measures in place and your ongoing support as we continue to provide the best possible learning for each student at IEPS in the safest way possible.
Covid 19 Update
I want to thank everybody for your flexibility and understanding in collecting the rapid antigen test kits (RATS) supplied by the Department of Education last week and testing your children prior to attending school.
Whilst I know it isn't the most pleasant experience to be undergoing, the testing uncovered children who were positive and the parents did not know. Please be vigilant in watching for symptoms and not sending your child to school if they are unwell. If your child exhibits symptoms, please understand that we will contact you immediately and ask that your child be collected as soon as possible.
If your child returns a positive result, your child has COVID-19. You must:
contact the school by email at Ivanhoe.east.ps@education.vic.gov.au, and CC the principal into that email at Tom.boyle@education.vic.gov.au, and you are encouraged to also use the RA Test Portal; this is so the school can support your child and record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation. Your child must stay home until their symptoms have resolved and they are well. Please note everyone in your household will be deemed as a close contact and will be required to isolate for 7 days.
Students will be provided with a week’s worth of optional learning for their 7 day isolation period. The learning has been created with the intent that it can be done as independently as possible by the child. Learning materials are available at;
You must also report your child’s positive test to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398
Communication around Covid Exposure
As part of our ongoing IEPS Covid safety management plan, when we receive notification of a positive case we will continue to communicate via Compass, as timely as possible, with the individual classes that are exposed. We will also send out a daily Covid update to the whole school community with information of positive cases who were on our school site while infectious. If your child has been exposed to Covid 19 you are required to follow the following steps:
- If your child is not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, they can continue to attend school, but you should monitor for symptoms
- Students who show symptoms of COVID-19 cannot attend school and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Household Contact
Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school and isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
Face masks
School staff will be required to always wear masks indoors when not actively teaching or communicating with students. Masks are not compulsory for teachers and staff outdoors.
- Students in Grade 3 and above must wear a face mask indoors at school and at Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies. Students must wear face masks even if vaccinated. Students are not required to wear masks outside
- Visitors to schools aged 8 and above must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies
- Students in Prep to Grade 2 are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school or an OSHC program.
A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.
There are lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a mental health condition. Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception should provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to their childs classroom teacher. There is no requirement for a letter for a medical exception for not wearing a face mask from a medical practitioner.
Lunar New Year
Tuesday 1st February marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year. 2022 is the year of the Tiger. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in our community who celebrates this significant event a Happy New Year!
School Council Elections
Information regarding the 2022 School Council election process will be sent to families via Compass next week. I would encourage any interested parent to read through the documentation sent and get in contact with any questions you may have. School Council is an extremely vital part of the school. Please look out for this if you think you may be interested in nominating or being nominated for 2022. Information will include a timeline and summary of the role of School Council.
2022 Parent Payments Reminder
Parent payments help the school to operate effectively. IEPS provides a significant range of programs that cannot be delivered without the optional support of families. We would like to thank the parents that have already made these payments.
Hats/ Heat Policy
A reminder that hats must be worn in Terms one and four. Sunscreen and sunglasses are also highly recommended.
The school operates a heat policy and we keep the children indoors in air conditioned classrooms on very hot days where the temperature exceeds 350. We have also been asked to remind our parent community about the dangers of leaving children in cars on very hot days.
Student Insurance – Reminder from DET
Parents are reminded that the Department of Education and Training (DET) does not offer any form of ‘student accident insurance’. If families are concerned about this they are advised to make their own arrangements. Ambulance cover could be one consideration as the school will not hesitate to call an ambulance if we are concerned for a child’s wellbeing.
Personal Goods brought to school at the ‘Owners’ risk
The Department of Education and Training (DET) does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools. All schools are requested to remind students and parents/guardians of this at the beginning of each academic year and to discourage parents/students from bringing any unnecessary or particularly valuable items to school. Please avoid bringing these items as it can be most upsetting for all concerned if items go missing or are damaged.
Leadership organisational model for Term 1 – 2022
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that there had been quite a lot of change to the Leadership structure at IEPS in 2021. Even though there are some slight adjustments to the Leadership organisational model for Term 1, I want to reassure our community that the 2022 Leadership structure is unchanged.
2022 Leadership structure
Principal – Tom Boyle
Assistant Principal – Adrienne Dudley
Leading Teacher – Amanda Dwyer
Leading Teacher – Ben Phillips
Learning Specialist – Sophie Herbert
However due to approved leave from the DET there are some adjustments that will occur in Term 1, predominantly over the next few weeks.
- Amanda Dwyer will be the Acting Assistant Principal for the entirety of Term 1 due to Adrienne Dudley being on Long Service.
- Tom Boyle – will be taking paternity leave for 3 weeks from Friday 4th February – 24th February
(Please note I will be still contactable via email & Compass and will be liaising regularly with the leadership team via Webex meetings and where possible be coming in.)
- Ben Phillips will be in an Acting Assistant Principal role for a period of time during Term 1, during his leave Sophie Herbert will be taking on further responsibilities.
As mentioned above please feel free to continue to get in contact with me via Compass or email at Tom.boyle@education.vic.gov.au during the next few weeks, as I will still be active during my paternity leave. For minor day-to-day matters that you believe can be actioned on site please contact Amanda Dwyer at Amanda.dwyer@education.vic.gov.au and/or Benjamin Phillips at Benjamin.phillips@education.vic.gov.au.
Due to Adrienne Dudley being on long service leave and myself on paternity leave, this technically leaves no principal class members on staff, therefore the DET will be allocating a liaison principal class member by the name of Lynne Kemp to support Amanda and Ben during my paternity leave. However, please note that Amanda and Ben will still be the first point of call at IEPS. During 2021 and continuing into 2022, Amanda, Ben and I have been working closely together, I have full confidence that they are more than prepared and capable for their enhanced roles. Amanda and Ben will continue to lead the school in a cohesive and collaborative approach with the liaison principal class member. As mentioned above I will still be working with the wider leadership team consisting of Lynne, Amanda & Ben/Sophie throughout my leave.
Regards
Tom Boyle
Acting Principal