From the Principal’s Desk

COVID-19 School Update Welcome back to what will undoubtedly be an ‘interesting’ Term 2 for us all. I hope that this finds you safe and well and that despite all that’s been happening, you’ve been able to take advantage of some positive family time together over the past fortnight or so. I know that the weeks ahead pose a variety of challenges, in a number of respects, to many folk - but I remain positive and optimistic that if we all pull together for the mutual benefit of our children, one another and our community, that we will prevail.

School Opening and Attendance As you’re aware, the Queensland Government has decided that, in order to reinforce social distancing across the community and slow the spread of COVID-19, students were to move to a home-based learning model from 20 April 2020 until at least 22 May 2020 (Weeks 1 to 5 of Term 2). A decision about the remainder of Term 2 will be made by mid-May. During this period, the Premier has affirmed that ‘all students who are able to be supervised at home and learn from home are to stay home’. There are exceptions for some students who will continue to be able to attend school: those whose parents or carers work in essential roles and must attend their workplace and cannot access alternative care, students identified as vulnerable, and students in designated Indigenous communities.

A majority of staff are currently in attendance at school to support the continuity of learning for students and to ensure adequate supervision of those who attend school. Staff who are vulnerable or live with a vulnerable person have been informed that they will not be required to work on-site and in consultation me have received approval for a ‘working from home’ arrangement. For them, and their students, the planned teaching & learning program continues.

What’s happening at school and/or home? Students who attend the school site are participating in much the same learning activities that home-based children are undertaking, and using the materials set by their regular classroom teacher/s for the whole year level. The government has advised that where a student is learning at home, the parent or carer is responsible for the student’s safety and wellbeing at home or elsewhere. It is recognized that given the definition of an ‘essential’ worker (as set by the Government) that there may be situations where students whose parents are employed on a part-time basis might actually participate in learning both at school with teachers, and at-home under parental supervision. This arrangement will be understood and supported as the need arises, with parents welcome to discuss this situation with either their child’s teacher, or me, on an individual basis.

As you are aware, we’ve established a strategy that will see your child’s class teacher making phone contact with each student 3 times over a 5 day period each week during the Learning from Home’ approach. On those days where your child is not being contacted by phone and is not in attendance at school, parents will receive an email from their child’s teacher asking you to confirm that your child is learning at home or elsewhere, and that their safety and wellbeing is being maintained by an authorised adult whist they’re not on the school site. This is a requirement of us to help ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of all students. If parents would like to ‘get in first’ so you don’t have an email arrive after 9.00am and then have to respond, you will need to email your child’s teacher by 8.30am each morning to advise of your child’s status for that day.

Message of Hope & Optimism for MRSS students - from School Captains Thomas & Kaylee MRSS School Captains, Thomas and Kaylee have done a great job in creating a simple but positive video message for all students during this challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas & Kaylee, keenly supported by their families, are to be commended on their initiative and thoughtfulness in the production of this video clip which has been uploaded to the homepage of our school website. Click here to view their encouraging message.

Learning from Home packs for all students

Our school teams have produced more substantial ‘learning from home’ packs for Fortnight 2 (Mon 27/4 - Fri 08/5) and Fortnight 3 (Mon 11/5 - Fri 22/5) that are being progressively released to parents and also

School Contacts:

Principal Craig Barron

Deputy Principals

Lois Staatz (T-F) Belinda Brett (M-W) Jill Temple (M-T-Th-F) Office Admin Staff

Julie Collingwood (BM) Sharon Conway (AO) Dianne Pentecost (AO)

Phone

46874222

Email

admin@ middridgss.eq.edu.au

Outside School Hours Care

0452 246 230

Tuckshop Convenor

Amanda Ryan 0419 620 138 P&C Association

Meets at 7pm on the 3rd Wednesday each month. All parents welcome. School Motto

‘Where seeds of learning become forests of opportunity’

School Values

We value & strive for: Respect Honesty Learning Kindness Co-operation Social Justice Self-discipline

- NEWSLETTER - Middle Ridge State School

Wednesday 22nd April 2020 ‘Where seeds of Learning become forests of Opportunity’ 11/20

www.middleridgess.eq.edu.au 203 Spring Street, Middle Ridge. Q. 4350

uploaded to the school’s website for additional ease of access. These next learning at home packs are more detailed in terms of content, subject range and specific days/times of the week in which children are encouraged to participate in continued learning. They have been deliberately structured to align with both the expectations of the Australian Curriculum and to be ‘user friendly’ for parents who are likely to be supporting and assisting their child’s continued learning. The activities and learning opportunities planned each day should take no longer than approx. 3 hours to complete and are not intended to completely supplement a normal school day. Students who are coming to school will need to make sure that they are bringing with them their Learning Pack, Stepping Stones Maths text/s (Yr 1-6), Grammar Rules / Conventions text (Yr 1-6) and Handwriting book (Yr 4-6) each day.

Accessing the Fortnight 2 Learning Pack

The ‘Fortnight 2’ Learning packs are now available to all families. Hard/printed copies the ‘Fortnight 2’ packs have been compiled and made available for collection from the school site since Tuesday this week. In order to comply with required social distancing protocols, we have been staggering the collection of these resources from the School Hall over 4 days, making them available in a graduated manner, based on the surnames of each family. Large tables for each year level have been set up and spread out in the School Hall where families are invited to visit to collect their learning packs, based on the first initial of their surname. In this way, if you have more than one child, you’re able to collect the necessary materials for multiple students (in different year levels) at specific times, on the same day, in one visit. Fortnight 2 learning packs can now be collected either in the morning or afternoon block as follows:

Families whose Surname starts with an:

Can collect Learning Pack 2 in person on:

In the MORNING between:

OR in the AFTERNOON between

A - E Tuesday 21st April 7.45am - 9.00am 3.30pm- 5.00pm

F - L Wednesday 22nd April 7.45am - 9.00am 3.30pm- 5.00pm

M - R Thursday 23rd April 7.45am - 9.00am 3.30pm- 5.00pm

S - Z Friday 24th April 7.45am - 9.00am 3.30pm- 5.00pm

If you’ve already missed the Monday-Tuesday collection opportunity, come in over the next two days at the above times. Alternately, should you prefer not to collect the Learning Pack from school, it will once again be uploaded to the School website, placed in the Documents folder and activated for accessibility on Friday 24th April where you’ll be welcome to download and print out all of the activity sheets for use at home. As we enter the end of the third week of this school term, I’ll communicate with parents/carers once again to advise of arrangements for Fortnight 3 continued learning.

Contact with Teachers and the School

During the forthcoming period all of our current staff are being productively engaged in supporting continued student learning, either for children who are home based, or for those on the school site. Whilst the world around us may be somewhat unpredictable, the business of education continues. Through an intentional low-tech approach we simply wish to ensure that our students are being provided with opportunities to remain engaged with learning, connected with people who care for their growth and wellbeing, and to provide them with hope, optimism and encouragement for a brighter future. As a consequence, our school and teachers will be receptive to your contact – predominantly via email – to provide clarity, feedback, affirmation and/or to address queries as they arise. Should there be anything further that a student or parent may wish to ask in relation to the learning activities or program, you’ll be welcome to send this directly to your child’s teacher’s email address and they’ll endeavour to respond as soon as possible thereafter. There may be some delays due the number of email queries, but they’ll be doing their best to get back to you. Similarly, should there be a query you have relating to any other aspect of schooling over the coming days and weeks, don’t hesitate to contact me or one of my Deputy Principals (Mrs Temple, Mrs Brett) and we’ll also endeavour to reply within a short timeframe.

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

OSHC services will continue to operate before and after school care where there is demand for services and particularly for vulnerable or children of essential workers. This will include on-site OSHC or other services off site that cater for school age children, such as long day care or family day care. Parents are encouraged to check with our local provider, Camp Australia and our Co-ordinator, Cindy. She can be reached at 0452 246 230.

For Children needing to attend School - Arrival arrangements

Children who need to arrive at school before 7.45am should be booked into the Outside School Hours Care program in our School Hall where they will be supervised by OSHC staff until 8.30am, the released into the school

Children who arrive after 7.45am are to assemble and wait quietly in the area immediately behind the School Administration building. After 8.00am a staff member will escort them to the Covered Play Area (near Tuckshop)

Children who arrive after 8.00am are to go directly to the Covered Play Area and wait quietly for the arrival of a staff member who will officially commence supervision from 8.15am-8.45am

For Children needing to attend School - Collection/Departure arrangements

Other than those Year 1-6 students who are collected from Roger Guard Lane, all other children (Prep-Year 6) are to wait at the big tree at the front of the school for collection by 3.30pm by family members.

Thank you

Thank you for the support you are providing for both your child and the school during these difficult times. You would have seen that all over Australia and the world, schooling systems are experiencing similar challenges with many countries also moving to home-based learning in response to COVID-19. Our dedicated teachers and support staff remain committed to supporting your child. Together we’ll be doing all we can to assist you in this new mode of home-based learning. Please stay safe, keep well and remain optimistic - we will endure.

Challenging times and available support for families in need With a range of businesses having to close recently, and a number of parents having to manage their way through difficult financial circumstances due to job losses, it was heartening to this week receive a generous community member’s offer to assist others in need. I’ve been approached by a thoughtful individual, (representative of a number of others), who’s kindly offered to provide home cooked meals for families who are finding the current environment and their circumstances very hard at the moment. I’ve discussed this offer with our school Chaplain, Chappy Bev Cowie, and invited her to become the point of contact for MRSS families who may wish to seek assistance in the above way. All such requests will be maintained in the strictest confidence by Chappy Bev who discreetly make requests of the kind donor/s. Parents are invited to confidentially email or phone Chappy Bev to seek assistamce by way of the offered home-baked meals – Bev can be contacted by email at beverleyc@chappy.org.au or telephoned by calling 0412 712 316. Discretion and privacy will be preserved for anyone making contact with School Chappy Bev.

Michael Grose Parenting Ideas Article We have subscribed to the Michael Grose ‘Parenting Ideas’ website, providing our school with free on-line access to a multitude of articles, resources and ideas to support parents in your efforts to continue raising healthy, happy children. This week’s feature item is a special article prepared in light of the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, entitled: ‘Successful close quarter living’. I hope you find this article to be supportive and insightful reading. Take care one and all - best wishes for the week ahead.

Regards,

Craig Barron

STEM News – Mrs Belinda Brett (Deputy Principal & STEM Leader)

Term 2 - Week 1 AFTER SCHOOL CODE CAMP- unfortunately our face to face after school code camp has had to be cancelled, however they are offering an exciting new opportunity - Code Camp After School is now available online! They will be running online sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday afternoons and also Saturday mornings so parents will have a variety of times to choose from. Students will be supported through the tutorials with their Live Tech Support Team. The program starts week commencing 27th April for 8 weeks. The new online After School price is $160. Parents can book in by following this link: codecamp.com.au/after-school

Griffith University is inviting students in years 5-12 to register for STEM Mania and begin competing in weekly Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) challenges from home. Students will earn digital award badges for each challenge they complete. They will also have the opportunity to cast votes for their favourite weekly challenge results. Students can register to become a STEM Maniac here The first 300 Australian students to sign up and register for the STEM Mania program will receive a complimentary seed pack to get you started on the first challenge. If you have any questions about STEM Mania, please email stem@griffith.edu.au

Learning from Home Tips when YOU are working from home After speaking to a number of families here are some tips on what families have been doing with working from home as well as having children learning from home. 1. Remain calm – Do what you can do and don’t worry about what you can’t

2. Pack their lunch – this way they know what they can eat each day without needing to interrupt you to ask

3. Help children with school before you start work or when you have finished work

4. Have a list of activities children can do independently when not involved in school work

5. Have activities out that they can do before you go to work (generally the night before)

6. Older siblings have stepped up to help with younger siblings

7. Use a timer to control what is happening. eg. One hour using technology(gaming, TV, ipads etc) one hour off (playing outside, puzzles,

colouring in, using toys, board games etc)

8. Positive reward system of some type. Some families use what the teacher has been using at school so children are already familiar with it.

9. Have children wear their school uniform to put them in the frame for learning

It is difficult. We can only to the best we can with what we have. Each family is different with different circumstances and you need to work out what works best for your family. Mental health and well-being is of the utmost importance and there are a number of organisations that are able to offer support if needed. My email is bdale42@eq.edu.au if you would like me to contact you directly with more information.

BOOK CLUB NEWS – Mrs Jane Whibley (Library Teacher Aide)

ISSUE 3 OF BOOK CLUB IS GOING ONLINE!

1) To view the catalogue for issue 3, click on the following link https://scholastic.com.au/book-club/virtual-catalogue-1/ 2) Select your book orders from the online catalogue, remembering to take a careful note of the Item number and cost 3) To place an order please visit www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP and follow the prompts as usual. 4) The final day for ordering from Issue 3 of Book Club is 11th May, 2020.

P&C ASSOCIATION NEWS

A message from the P&C President

Hello!

Welcome back to the new school term, albeit an unusual one. I hope that all families in our school community have managed to have a pleasant Easter break, despite the restrictions we were all facing. During the break I hope that parents and carers managed to keep up with all the regular updates put out by our Principal regarding the start of Term 2. I would like to thank the teachers and support staff for the amazing job they have done in preparing the home schooling packs for students to use at home for the first five weeks of the term.

The P&C will continue to update you through the school newsletter and our P&C Facebook page about any P&C related information including the recommencement of our Tuckshop and Uniform Shop operations. A decision has been made by the P&C Executive, School Administration and Fundraising Group within the P&C regarding this year’s Mother’s Day Stall. So in light of the delayed start to the on campus school term, continuing social distancing measures, and a number of other logistical impediments it has been decided that this activity would be difficult to run in the current Covid-19 climate. Sadly, the Mother’s Day Stall for this year has been cancelled. We will make a decision later in the term about any other P&C activities that may also be affected.

Please continue to follow the Covid-19 updates that Mr Barron has been regularly sending out to the school community, to keep you informed about the current Government advice in relation to schools. This public health and safety information passed on by the Principal is done so with the protection of the Middle Ridge school community in mind. Please take care over the coming weeks as we all continue to experience changes in our daily lives. Graeme McBryde, President, MRSS P&C Association, pandc@middleridgess.eq.edu.au ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TUCKSHOP

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Welcome back to you all whether it be those at home or those with children at school. I would just like to let you all know how tuckshop will work, going forward for the next 5 weeks. I will be doing a Meal Deal each Friday 1st Break starting from week 2, 1st May 2020. This is set up in Flexi school as Friday Meal Deal and your options are there to choose. I have made it a limited menu so this can be done by a minimum of staff. I will also open for over-the-counter sales as well for that Break only, so children are able to purchase just Ice Blocks, Drinks or chips. Depending on numbers this will continue Each Friday at this stage. Orders can be placed up until Friday morning, 8am as per normal. I am able to still do a Birthday Menu if you have a child attending School and need something special - I can cover that. Coffees will also operate Wednesday and Friday Mornings from 8.15am - 10.00am. Stay Safe guys and Stay Tuned. I will post any updates on facebook and next week’s School Newsletter. Keep safe. Regards Amanda Ryan Ph: 0419620138

Opening Hours:

See below for changed arrangments