Respectful Responsible Learners

Weekly focus:

Knowing when to tell

IMPORTANT

NEWS

Happy Easter

Term 2, April 27th

School work packs

available from 2pm

Term 2, April 28th

Online learning

begins

Wednesday 8th April, 2020 Term 1 Week 11

Dear Parents/Carers

As we move towards the last few days of the term I would like to congratulate the entire

Orange Public School community for their flexibility and understanding towards the

change in our educational structure at Orange Public School and across the state.

This term has seen the commencement of learning using a new platform that is one the

teachers have been quickly immersed into. As such, we are learning as we go and we are

grateful to all parents for their patience as we discover the pros and cons of the new

format.

One thing we are sure of, is that we know that each parent wants the very best for their

child and that all parents are doing their best in the provision and support of their child’s

learning. Please be reassured you are doing a good job. The Secretary of Education stated

only a few days ago, that the State recognises that parents are feeling overwhelmed and

that parents are trying. We understand this and again reassure parents we are taking care

not to overload the learning activities in the first part of this process. The school is

interested in feedback and have placed a survey in google classrooms for students and

families to complete.

Marking is one area we have reviewed and are moving forward with. It is necessary that

all physical homework handed in is not reviewed for a minimum of 48 hours, so it is

important parents are aware homework handed in on Friday will only be accessed by the

class teacher on Monday. This will likely mean the need for two work books to be used to

ensure resources to write in are always available. Online work submitted will be marked

and completed by the teacher during the week. One thing the school want parents to

aware of is that not all work completed by each student is expected to be handed in for

marking by the teacher. Instant feedback/correction and praise is the best practise and

parents are fine to administer this immediately after work is completed. To also assist

parents, material can be returned to the class teacher directly using the staff members

email that has been provided.

Phone: Primary : 6362 6369 Infants: 6362 1992 Website: orange-p.schools.nsw.gov.au Email: orange-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

What happens next?

In term 2 the school is expecting that most children will again be home schooling. The government has indicated that

the expected social distancing will be in effect for 90 days from the end of March. This would see the majority of term

2 impacted. However, the school at this point will continue to operate. Parents are reminded that classes at school will

be in grade groups due to the low numbers and we encourage parents, being essential workers, to send their children

if required. The school will notify our community of any change to this arrangement. Our purpose and direction will be

to provide quality lessons and learning to all students across all grades from Kindergarten to Year 6. It is vital that all

students are engaged in their learning and understand what is required of them and it is just as important that parents

also feel the are informed with what is expected.

In Term 2, students who are still developing their skills in reading will be given access to digital home readers through

the PM-e collection app. Teachers will be able to select readers appropriate to student’s reading levels to be read in

the home environment. Student login details, and more information will be provided early next term.

At this time our school is operating at approximately 10% student capacity and our staffing arrangements have been

adjusted accordingly to also allow staff to social distance with reduced numbers on site. This is a fluid process which

will always see enough staff at the school to attend and teach all children. Next term the school may also look to have

all students participating in the classroom activities from the one site, which would be the infants. Each day the

children would attend their regular site and after reviewing the number of children attending the primary site, the

decision would be made to walk the senior children to the infants. The classes would operate as normal at the infants

site with the primary children walked back to the primary site just in time for afternoon pick up. This would assist to

reduce staff numbers at school.

Development of the online programs to include interactive features will begin next term. We will start with

Video Lessons followed by the use of programs such as ZOOM, which will enable multiple people to visually

interact during their class. Parents are welcome to do some research into the Zoom product during the break

as the Department of Education has secured a corporate license for schools to use. Areas around safety tips when live

streaming will be provided by the school.

We will be providing the work packs for term 2 on Monday the 27th of April at approximately 2pm. Parents are

welcome to come in and collect the packs to commence the term but as this is the Staff Development Day, please do

not feel you need to rush in. Packs will also be available on Tuesday. Online programming will commence Tuesday the

28th.

Over the next two weeks the school will be closed for the Easter holidays and with the travel and movement

restrictions being implemented by the State Government we are aware that families are needing to be creative with

their children. As such we have sourced a list of activities that may be of use and can be found at https://

www.vervemagazine.co.nz/lockdown-activities-for-the-kids/.

During the break the country will be celebrating ANZAC Day. Sure enough, this will also be impacted by the

restrictions, but many Australians will mark this special occasion by walking to the end of their driveways on the 25th of

April and reflecting on the service of our armed forces. If you would like to share your experience of your children

involved in this whilst representing OPS by wearing their school uniform on the morning, please feel free to send

photographs to the school through Katy Dunlop at katy.dunlop@det.nsw.edu.au. We will publish these on the school

face book page in support of ANZAC DAY 2020.

The Orange City Council will be embarking on road works to the children’s crossing on Anson Street in front of the

Infants site during the Easter break. The works will involve the installation of permanent road blisters which will

improve student and parent safety. Please se information on pages 5 and 6.

As we finish this week we are looking forward to concluding Term one and enjoying the Easter Break along with the

school holidays. I am sure I saw the Easter Bunny looking in the classrooms at school wondering where everyone is. I

quickly chased after him but he was too quick and got away. I am positive he might just be getting ready for a very

special day this weekend.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter Break and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Term 2, be it

through Learning at Home or at school.

Enjoy the holidays

Bradley Tom

Principal

We ask all parents to please download

our free school app, School Enews, to

receive information and updates.

OPS - 2020 School Year Dates

April 1 OPS Athletics Carnival - CANCELLED

April 6 & 7 State Swimming Carnival - CANCELLED

April 8

OPS Cross Country - CANCELLED

April 9 Easter Hat Parade - CANCELLED

April 9 Last day for students Term 1

April 27 Staff development day

April 28 First day for students Term 2

May 5 Sydney Writers Festival - CANCELLED

May 7 District Cross Country - CANCELLED

May 8 CWA Entries Due - CANCELLED

May 11 Rugby League PSSA - CANCELLED

May 19 GRIP Leadership day, Year 6 SRC CANCELLED

May 20 Kindergarten 2021, Open Day, 9.30 -10.30am - POSTPONED

May 25 District Athletics Carnival - CANCELLED

June 22 School photos - Infants - New Date

June 23 School photos - Primary - New Date

June 24 School photos - Family and Catch up - New Date

OPS Assemblies

Kindergarten Postponed

until further notice

Year 1 Postponed

until further notice

Year 2 Postponed

until further notice

Year 3 - 6 Postponed

until further notice

OPS Sport

K-6 Every Friday

Year 2

(Week 3-11) Every Thursday

4 P&C News P&C email address: opspnc@gmail.com

Clothing Pool 2020

Any Donations would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the Primary Office.

The Clothing Pool is located at the Primary Campus Sale Street building

EFTPOS facilities are now available

at the Clothing Pool on the Primary site.

If you are able to volunteer in our Clothing Pool

please call Jane Howell 0414 242 823

April P&C Meeting Cancelled

Due to announcements about measures the

Federal and State Governments are taking to

manage the spread of coronavirus (COVID-

19), the P&C have decided to cancel the April

P&C meeting.

If you have any concerns or issues that you would like raised, please feel free to send them across to opspnc@gmail.com.

Thank you for your understanding,

OPS P&C Executive

OPS P&C Clothing Pool Dates

Closed until further notice

The P&C in consultation with the Canteen Manager and Brad Tom, have decided to close the OPS canteen for

the remainder of the term.

Thank you to all our volunteers for your support. Stay safe and if you have any concerns, please don't hesitate

to contact the P&C President.

Closed - for the remainder of Term 1