FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Here we are in the last week of term and what a term we’ve had! I want to thank

our school staff, students, parents and families for their work during the term, in

particular the last few weeks. What a term it has proven to be. It has not been

easy, but it is safe to say we have all stepped up and continued on this journey as

best we can and that is all you can ask for.

On Friday I sent out a note regarding learning from home moving into Term 2.

From a State perspective, it is still strongly encouraged, where possible, that

parents keep their children home during this pandemic unless parents are going to

work. For this reason, home learning will obviously continue into next term. Mr

Hartmann and I have been very busy this week preparing Term 2 Week 1 hard copy book packs for those students who

are learning from home. These will be available for collection from school on Monday 27 April between 9-3. Students

first day back (home or school) is Tuesday 28 April. Work will be sent out on a week to week basis with an email of the

weekly plan being sent to parent email addresses.

Students in 3-5 will have their plans attached in their online classroom - Google Classroom, as well as emailed to their

parent/s. There will be some opportunities during each week to meet up with class mates via Zoom (DoE approved). The

times for the link ups will be in the student’s weekly timetable. The link ups are a way to support student well-being by

interacting with their teacher and peers. These opportunities are completely optional. Some lessons will be pre-

recorded and sent to students via Google Classroom (logged in using their school email) so they can view lessons from

home and support their understanding on various literacy and numeracy concepts.

Discussions around online safety, correct use of technology and online behaviour have taken place with students at

school. When students in 3-5 login to their G Classroom account they are expected to read and acknowledge the “Whilst

learning online” document which outlines expected online behaviour. Online safety discussions will be ongoing as more

students are using this platform to engage with learning for the foreseeable future. I would encourage all families to

also have discussions with their children around this very important topic, particularly those families and students who

are adopting flexible hours and are completing school work outside of the normal school day. I have included some

posters from the Department of Education in the newsletter and these will also be in the classroom at school. Thank you

for your support with this. You can also find the DoE policy by clicking this link: https://policies.education.nsw.gov.au/

policy-library/policies/pd-2020-0471

Technology platforms used for learning (Seesaw K-2, Google Classroom 3-5, email - all students) will be regularly

checked during the school day by teachers. Questions from students and/or parents will only be answered during the

normal school hours of 8:30-3:30pm Monday-Friday.

Term 1 Week 11 9 April 2020

411 Carool Road, Carool NSW 2486 t: 07 5590 9876 e: carool-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

www.carool.schools.nsw.gov.au

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL

Monday 27

• Staff Development Day

- Parent to collect

student book packs

Tuesday 28

• Start of Term 2

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Staffing Term 2 and Flexible Working Conditions

School staff are also following the advice of working from home and isolating as much as we can. Parents who are

able to keep their children at home are encouraged to do so as this then supports our families as well as our own

health needs. Due to the small numbers of students still attending school there will be days where staff will be

working from home. Students who attend school will be in the one room and the K-2, 3-6 days, at this stage, will no

longer occur next term.

Mr Hartmann will be working from home on his Tuesday-Friday work days until further notice. He will still be setting

weekly home learning plans for students in K-2, will be doing pre-recordings for K-2 students attending school and at

home (on the Seesaw app), live teaching and will be in contact with families throughout the weeks. Mr Hartmann will

also be available should any parents need to ask any questions.

Next term, I will be taking my principal administration day every Monday. Some of these days I will be at school and

some I will be working from home. Ms Williams will be the teacher on this day and will be following my Monday

program (which will be the same for students learning at home and at school). Ms Williams will also be taking the

students every Thursday and Friday. This is to allow me extra time to manage home learning plans, curriculum

programming and running the school during this very busy time. Ms Williams will be replacing Mr Hartmann every

Friday and will also be following his learning program.

I wish everyone a happy and safe Easter and holiday break. While this year’s term 1 break will look very different to

other breaks, I trust you will enjoy family time and unwinding with each other. I look forward to working with you all

after the holiday break and getting through this pandemic together. Stay safe and look after each other!

Mrs McMahon Principal

Keeping in touch

Teachers will be calling families once a week to touch base.

This is to check how students are going with their school

work and also their well-being.

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