June 2............Education Policy sub-committee (on-line)
June 8............Queens Birthday Holiday
June 9............School Council 6.30pm (on-line)
June 26 Term 2 ends 1.30pm
A Message From Our Principal
Welcome to week 5 of term 2. In a week of major announcements across our state, we have already begun preparations for a safe transition back to school for our students and staff.
As I wrote to you yesterday, our Premier and Minister for Education announced that students would return to school in a staggered approach. The key dates you need to know are as follows:
Monday 25th May – Pupil Free Day (TeamKids Program available)
Tuesday 26th May – Students in Grades Prep to Grade 2 return to school.
Tuesday 9th June – Students in Grades 3 to 6 return to school.
Our students, staff and community have shown remarkable flexibility and adaptability throughout this term. We will tackle this next phase collaboratively and creatively, ensuring a safe and secure return to school.
In my video on Monday morning, I invited our students and families to contribute their own ideas regarding ‘our favourite things about Port Melbourne Primary School’. There were some common themes, including our friends, our teachers and the Port Melbourne community. One response that stood out to me was from Lucette Egan in Grade 1A, who said, “I love our school colours of blue and red – the colours make me feel strong!” Lucette, I could not agree more. Thank you to everyone for your feedback.
On Tuesday night our school council met via video conference for our monthly meeting. Our student leaders, Winnie, Sam, April and Lucas joined us, providing feedback on our remote and flexible learning program and advising us on how we might approach the upcoming return to school. The leadership provided by our school council through this period is incredibly important. I thank our school councillors for their guidance and support; our school is stronger because of your contributions.
Our teachers will soon begin to formulate reports for our students, reflecting achievement during semester one. On Friday, our team leaders and senior leaders will undertake professional learning together to begin the report-writing process. The DET has directed that we complete a modified reporting process and we will keep you updated as to how this will look in coming weeks.
Thank you for your ongoing support and keep doing your best.
Rohan.
A Message From Our Council President
Like everyone else, this week’s news from the Premier was a surprise but I’m sure welcome news to most. I know my kids are looking forward to getting back to school, but there will be some parents and students who are perhaps more apprehensive. This is understandable and it is for Rohan and his team and School Council to try to balance the various views. We are currently discussing the best way to get feedback from parents on the issues families will face.
I’ve been speaking to Rohan on a daily basis and the leadership team are now pivoting to managing the move to restarting classroom teaching. However, this will not be at the expense at continuing to deliver the best on-line learning experience for those in years 3 to 6.
There are a number of issues that the school will face in implementing the DET’s requirements – often we don’t have discretion in how to approach things - and we don’t have much time to work through these requirements to put everything into practice. It is certainly tight and we should also remember that Rohan hasn’t met many of his teachers yet on a face to face basis which adds more complexity to this process. Again, I just ask for the community’s patience during this process and whilst feedback is important and we welcome it, it should be given respectfully.
We had our second zoom Council meeting this week and the agenda was very much focused on getting further insight on the learnings from implementing the online classroom and the issues associated with moving back into the physical classroom. Thanks to the school captains for their input from a student perspective – it’s important to get input from all of our stakeholders. They spoke very well and I’m confident they can help provide strong leadership and ideas when everyone gets back into the classroom.
This Friday, starting at 3.00 pm the PMPS Walking “Hello” Bus will be making its way around the streets of Port Melbourne. Mr. Steve has kindly put together a 4km route (as detailed below) that may come past your house. Our new Principal Mr. Cooper will be amongst the socially-distanced procession along with many other PMPS staff. So check out the map, stand on your doorstep and wave and cheer as the Bus makes its way past.
The Resilience Project @ Home
Resilience Project Online Challenge
‘DISMOMENT’ Challenge:
Remember last year when Hugh from the Resilience Project came and spoke to us about Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness. Hugh spoke a lot about a small child named, Stunzin from India and how he would walk around pointing at things he was grateful for by saying ‘dis’. Now we have the term DIS.
As a school community we would like to make a ‘DISMOMENT’ video with you. What you need to do:
Gather your family or yourself and think of something that you are grateful for.
Take a photo holding up a sheet of paper stating the thing you are grateful for with #dis underneath. (See Miss Annah’s example).
The photos will be made into a video and distributed across the school and on social media and may be used by the Resilience Project.
Staff are going to get involved as well, so we can have the whole PMPS community showing gratitude even in difficult times. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask Miss Annah via email.
See Skipton Primary Schools video as an example Watch Video. (Please note we are only doing pictures).
The next instalment of TRP @ Home is ready and available for you!
We’ve not offered any new content for students this week. Please revisit Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy and complete any activities they may not have yet, or repeat some of their favourites. https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/
If you want to add another layer, encourage your students to participate in a Fitness Frenzy Week. The aim is to complete as many PE lessons as possible from the following two YouTube channels; PE with Joe OR PE at Home with Miss P.
Spelling at PMPS
Spelling is a part of the Victorian Curriculum which is embedded throughout the Reading, Writing and the Speaking & Listening learning areas. The spelling content, and quantity of content, differs for each year level from Foundation to Year Six as stipulated by the Victorian Curriculum. As a result, spelling will look different between the year levels at Port Melbourne Primary School. For example, how a Foundation student learns spelling will be different to how a Year Four student learns spelling. Our year levels are sectioned into three current approaches:
Foundation – Jolly Phonics
Years One and Two – Spelling Investigations (sounds from ‘Jolly Grammar’)
Years Three to Six - Soundwaves
During COVID-19 your child will continue to learn spelling through the online learning platform of Google Classroom. For Foundation students this is embedded in the Reading sessions. For students in Years One and Two this is embedded in the Writing sessions. For students in Years Three to Six, spelling is set as a separate learning area. This is a tiered approach to learning, which also considers the gradual increase in student independence and autonomy for learning as students progress through their primary school education.
As part of my role as a Learning Specialist I work collaboratively with the Leadership Team, the Literacy Action Team (a sub-set of teachers, one teacher from each year level), and the school community to promote literacy initiatives and best practice. Throughout 2020 we will continue to evaluate the school’s spelling practices and instructional strategies, in line with our Annual Implementation Plan.
iMaths is an engaging online resource, designed to support your child’s numeracy skills. All year levels have been offering iMaths and students have enjoyed learning through the fun games. Each game has the option of an easier or harder version to tailor the learning experience to your child’s needs.
Your child just needs a code to log in. Codes for each year level can be found either via Google Classrooms, or below: Prep after791 Year 1 chip624 Year 2 slap719 Year 3 pack274 Year 4 wik208 Year 5 talk222 Year 6 other232
Please contact myself or your class teacher should you require further information.
Katherine White, Numeracy Leading Teacher White.katherine.k@edumail.vic.gov.au
Wellbeing Resources for Families
Welcome to Week 5 of Term 2!
Well done on all the hard work that our school community has put into supporting the students in their continued learning; we know it hasn’t been easy but we have all persevered and it is paying off. While the information from our Government regarding Quarantine Restrictions continues to be updated, please refer to the DHHS website or Victorian Government website for the latest news.
We know these have been trying times for everyone, so do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any concerns about your wellbeing and remember: we are all in this together!
Tips from DHHS regarding conversations with children and young people:
Ask children what they have heard about coronavirus (COVID-19).
The way parents behave can have a significant effect on children. Keep conversations calm and focused on the facts. Emphasise efforts that are being taken to contain the virus.
Model health-promoting behaviours for your children. For example, teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Educate the entire family about good health habits. Talk about what each family member can do to help others outside of the immediate family.
Include children in family discussions and plans, in an age appropriate way.
Address any misconceptions children may have that could result in stigmatising people or groups of people in the community.
Local Support Resources:
City of Port Phillip Family Services-0434 685 032 (Mon-Fri, 9-5)
The Orange Door-1800 319 353 (Mon-Fri, 9-5)
ParentLine- 13 22 89 (24/7)
LifeLine-13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
Kids Helpline-1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Amelia Ingram PMPS Youth Worker
Last week I was fortunate enough to attend a Professional Development Session run by Andrew Fuller. His biography states that he is: a Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist Fellow in the Departments of Psychiatry, Learning and Educational Development at the University of Melbourne. He is an Ambassador for Mind Matters Member and the National Coalition Against Bullying. He is also a principal consultant to the national drug prevention strategy REDI.
Andrew spoke about how these unprecedented times have enabled us to change our lives by: readjusting, and ensuring that we are a conduit of factual and accurate information for our children; returning to our core values; by re-inventing ourselves by asking what is the best thing about this event and what is the worst and evaluating our responses. These 3 factors all contribute to our Resilience.
Stay safe and stay well everyone.
Kind regards, Ruth RN, Division 1, School Nurse.
COVID-19 Update from School Captains
As you know there is a bad virus going around the world. Australia has been one of a few countries that has maintained the virus along with New Zealand. We hope school will be back in 2-3 weeks but it is not confirmed.
Here are some things to keep you happy:
Bake a cake (make sure to wash your hands)
Board games
Do a kahoot challenge
Have a movie night
Have a dance-off
Have a trivia night
We hope you are still having fun. Stay safe and happy.
Thanks,
The School Captain Team
Winnie, Sam, April and Lucas
Art Report
Hi Families and staff of PMPS,
I’m Jesse, your Art captain. Since we are all inside there is heaps of time to get creative and do some art. Below is a list of basic ideas that you can embrace and expand on.
I hope you enjoy these ideas. These ideas are just an outline so you can change up these designs and add as much as you want. Remember to keep creating through your time at home.
Your Art captain,
Jesse Wright.
Sports Report
Hi everyone,
I hope you have been taking my advice on board from last week's suggestions. Hopefully it won't be too long until we can play our daily sport.
Here are some more sport tips to do in your free time:
Go for a bike ride (to the bmx track at West Gate park)
Hit tennis balls back and forth at a wall (at the snake wall at P.M.P.S on weekends)
Classic catches at the beach
Throw the Frisbee
Take your dog for a walk
Skate/scoot/rollerblade
Skipping
Make an obstacle course and keep trying to beat your time
Hopefully we will soon be able to go back to our parks, meeting in larger groups and tennis clubs and golf clubs e.t.c will start opening.
From,
Will Sharpin
Your Sports Captain
Performing Arts Report
Hi Students and Families,
We hope you are all staying healthy and happy in these difficult times.
Now, we know you and your families at home don’t know that much about your Performing Arts Captains this year, so let us give you a bit of an introduction.
I am Nina, I am one of the co music captains of 2020, I write my own original songs, and I love to dance, sing and watch movies from the 1930’s.
And I'm Evangeline, the other music captain of 2020. I love being creative through singing, dancing, performing and listening to music in my free time.
Let’s face it, this year has been very difficult for the Performing Arts, and not just in the school. Over the whole country, the performing arts sector has come to a stand-still.
But even though we are going through some pretty rough times, that does not mean we have to stop doing the things we love. We intend to be here every week to suggest things that you can try at home, while you let your artistic flag fly. Perhaps you could even rope your parents in to doing them with you! ;-)
Everyone needs a bit of a perk up right now, and music and Performing Arts is definitely a great way to go! Look below for online links to a variety of events and activities.
We hope you all stay healthy and happy, and have a great week.
Nina and Evangeline, 2020 Music Captains
While we are at home staying safe, some people may be feeling lonely and downhearted, so why not help lift spirits by doing a random act of kindness. Not only will this make other people feel better it will make you feel good too. So aim to perform a random act of kindness today. If you do not know what a random act of kindness is, it is a selfless act to cheer someone up and it also shows that you care.
You can do many things such as:
Make Mum/Dad or special person a cup of tea
Water the garden
Give a compliment to someone
Say thank you to someone
Ask someone how their day was
Write a letter to a friend
These are just suggestions. There are many more things that you can do to show kindness. The simplest thing to do is to smile or say “I love you”. It is that easy to do.
From,
The RAP Leaders
Cait Sweeney and Issy Wright
A SHOUT OUT TO YEAR 4 STUDENTS
The Year 4 students have been working incredibly hard while at home. Over the past two weeks, they have been exploring 2D and 3D shapes, and how they can be split or joined to create models. A task in particular that has blown us away, is where they were asked to create 3D shape nets to form a robot or animal. The amount of time and effort that the Year 4 students have put in to complete this is INCREDIBLE. Well done!
Here are just a few pictures of some of the incredible models:
Mackerel made by Luca
Cat made by Lucy
Miss Zara the Fox made by Christina
Dalmatian Dog by Ananya
Teddy Bear by Eva A
Robot by William
Robot by Ansh
Weekly Staff Profiles
This week, we profile Alex McLeod and Alysha Bedford of 1AB.
Alex, our Year 1 team leader and 1A’s teacher, graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Education and is in her eighth year of teaching. She has taught in the Northern and Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, most recently at Kew East Primary School. Alex started at PMPS in 2015 and, after two years in the Year 3 team, took on leadership of the Year 1 team in 2017.
Growing up in Vietnam for 12 years, Alex has travelled all around Asia before returning to Melbourne for uni and work. During the school holidays, she loves to travel around the world and discover new and exciting places.
Alysha, who teaches 1B, grew up on the Mornington Peninsula and completed a double degree in Behavioural Science and Business at ACU before completing her M Ed at Monash University. While studying she worked in a variety of jobs in both food and beverage and as a pharmacy assistant. She also spent four weeks as a volunteer in a school in Fiji, assisting students with English. She joined our staff in 2018 and is delighted to be part of our dynamic Year 1 team this year.
Outside school, Alysha is a keen traveller and enjoys regular overseas trips, but finds with every trip she takes the places she wants to visit grows longer. However, she is always keen to return home for the beaches, coffee and her friends and family.
Message from the PFA
Hi everyone,
We hope you are all staying happy and healthy.
A house keeping reminder from the PFA today. Not all families have registered for the Parent Portal. As school reopens it is a good time to register, so we can update you on activities as they resume. Go to https://portmelb.vic.edu.au/parent-portal/register/
We are looking at starting a book club for parents and friends who love reading, so please get in touch with the PFA if interested.
Check out the PFA update for weekly tips and tricks to entertain the family.
As always if you have any questions or suggestions please email us at pmpsparentsandfriends@gmail.com
See you soon!
The PFA
port.melbourne.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Our mailing address is:
415 Graham Street, Port Melbourne 3207
