It has been fabulous to welcome more students back to school one day a week for face-to-face learning as part of Phase 1 return to school. Seeing the many smiling faces of students coming through the gates was such a joy after many weeks of learning from home. It is evident that students are really enjoying reconnecting in person with their teachers and their peers again, and I know how excited the staff are to reconnect with their students and have the opportunity to deliver explicit teaching and learning face-to-face.

Thank you to all our parent and carers for supporting our managed approach to returning to school. As always, at the forefront of all our planning is the health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, and as mentioned in previous correspondence, all our decisions are based on guidelines issued by the NSW Department of Education. Our first week of implementing the necessary guidelines was successful due to the cooperation from the community at drop-off and pick-up. We ask that this continues to keep students, staff and members of the community safe. Please see the infographic below for more details.

Our organisation and procedures for Phase 1 of the Managed Return to School will continue unchanged this week. Please note that the movement from phase to phase is determined by NSW Department of Education, guided by the most recent health advice. As soon as a date is provided to the school by the Department to move to a new phase, families will be notified by the school via Skoolbag and email. Please note that the school has not yet received information regarding if and when we will move to another phase.

The return to school for so many has certainly been a positive one and we look forward to having many more students on-site daily soon. As always, we appreciate your patience and support as we continue navigating this changing environment together. We commend all our students who have safely returned to Middle Harbour PS with wonderful attitudes and big smiles.

Laura Barry Principal

PHASE 1 FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING

STUDENT FEEDBACK• Teachers will continue to connect with students via Seesaw throughout the week at a

slightly reduced rate due to face-to-face teaching obligation.

WATER BOTTLES & RAINCOATS• Students will need to bring a water bottle with them every day as bubblers are

unavailable.

• Raincoats should be packed in bags daily.

SCHOOL REMAINS OPEN• The school is open for students who need to attend. Remote learning will be supervised

by staff.

AFTERNOON PICK-UP• Students dismissed at different times according to their colour house at both Hale

Rd and Macpherson St gates.

• Students in Jackson and Fraser will be dismissed at 2:50pm.

• Students in Henricks and Landy will be dismissed at 3:00pm.

• Students will need to know which gate they will be collected from as they will be escorted to that gate.

• Parents to move away from the school gate promptly after collecting children.

MORNING DROP-OFF• Students to be dropped off at both Hale Road and Macpherson Street gates from

8:30am onwards.

FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING• Students attend school on their allocated day and engage in face-to-face lessons

with their teacher.

• Teachers focus on literacy, numeracy, learning engagement and student wellbeing.

• Please email the office if your child will not be attending on their allocated day.

PHASE 1STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL ONE DAY A WEEK

STAYING SAFE• Regular reminders and signage about hygiene practices such as handwashing and

cough etiquette are in place.

• If your child is unwell, keep them at home.

• Students who show signs of being unwell will be sent home.

• Additional daily cleaning is in place.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2021 We are now taking enrolments for our Kindergarten students commencing in 2021. Enrolling your child in Term 2, assists the school to plan for Kindergarten numbers for next year.

1. Download and complete all applicable forms found on the Middle Harbour Public School website – link Enrolment at MHPS

2. Scan/email completed forms, with all additional documents to the school, at middleharb-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

To be eligible for enrolment at our school, your residential address must be within our local area. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept out-of-area enrolments at this time.

We intend to have our Kindergarten 2021 Parent Information Session (for adults only) on Thursday 6 August, 2020. Please register your interest here https://forms.gle/j4g5MSv4bJwibyHt9 If you have any questions, these can be included in the form, email the school office at middleharb-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or call us at (02) 9953 6232.

School uniform Students should wear their full winter uniform from Week 7, Tuesday 9 June (after the Queen's birthday long weekend). Prior to that date, students may wear either full summer uniform or full winter uniform - subject to the weather. Uniforms can only be ordered through Flexischools as the uniform shop is currently closed. Uniform deliveries will be made to your child’s classroom. Canteen The canteen will remain closed until further notice. OC Applications for 2021 – delayed until further notice Applications for Year 5 placement in an Opportunity Class in 2021 have been delayed until later in the year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines. Revised timing and dates, including a new date for the Opportunity Class Placement Test, will be announced as they become available. Applications can only be made online and late applications are not accepted. For detailed information about the process of placement in Opportunity Classes, please visit https:// education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high- schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5 Tell Them From Me student survey This term, students in years 4, 5 and 6 will participate in the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au

The survey is an opportunity for our students to provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. More than 6,300 schools in Australia and around the world have used Tell Them From Me to survey 5.4 million students. Capturing the voices of our students will help improve how we do things at our school.

The survey is confidential and conducted online at school. It will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary.

If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the attached form to school by 20 May 2020. Copies of the form and FAQs are available from: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents

OUT AND ABOUT

eSafety As we all work to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19, there has never been a more important time to think about online safety, whether for our community, family or friends.

To support you and your community at this time the eSafetyCommissioner are providing resources for families with parents working from home and those who may be supporting their children through remote learning. Their COVID-19 booklet provides online safety advice for parents and carers.

Carole Jaye Deputy Principal

P&C ZOOM MEETING 19 MAY 2020 The next P&C Meeting will be held at 7.00pm via the ZOOM link: Join via online meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87912145686?pwd=Z1NaN0gzVUZoRVovQ3Y0TTI3d1BKUT09 Meeting ID: 879 1214 5686 Password: 094884 OR Join via call: Dial: (02) 8015 6011 Meeting ID: 879 1214 5686 Password: 094884 Please only join one, either the online meeting or the call. Joining both will cause echoing.

eBooks MHPS staff and students have read so much this month that we have reached our eBook quota already! Well done! We are only able to have 200 eBooks on loan at any one time. Please encourage your child to choose their eBook wisely and be sure to only borrow what they intend to read. Alternatively, visit the 'shop' section of the app/website and purchase the eBook. Allowances: - 2 simultaneous loans per user (Maximum number of titles that a library member can borrow at once) - 8 monthly loans per user (Maximum number of titles that a library member can borrow in a month) - 14 day loans (Maximum number of days a title can be borrowed for) Just a reminder of how to access eBooks: Access via 2 methods: 1. Watch the video >>> 'Getting started' with ePlatform app - Download the app and search for our school library 'Middle Harbour PS' - When borrowing an item, students/staff use their DET log in (log in: firstname.lastname / password: classname e.g. 3W) or 2. Watch the video >>> eBooks via student/staff portal and Oliver Library (MHPS catalogue) Each item is on loan for 14 days and students are required to return them online as shown in the video above. If you have any questions or queries, please email the school office (Att: Sarah Rosenberg).

LIBRARY NEWS

TERM 2 2020 MAY

JUNE

JULY

T2 Wk 10 – Friday 3 Last day of Term 2 TERM 3 2020

T3Wk 1 – Monday 20 First day of Term 3 AUGUST

T3 Wk 3 - Education Week 3 – 7 Aug OPEN DAY – MONDAY 3 (TBC) T3 Wk 3 – Tuesday 4 Athletic Carnival years 3 – 6 Warm up area Sydney Olympic Park (TBC) T3 Wk 3 – Thursday 6 Kindy 2021 Information evening (TBC)

SEPTEMBER T3 Wk 10 – Friday 25 Last day of Term 3

TERM 4 2020 OCTOBER

T4 Wk 1 – Monday 12 First day of Term 4 T4Wk 2 – Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 Band Camp (TBC) T4 Wk 3 – Friday 30 Kindy transition #1

NOVEMBER T4 Wk 4 – Friday 6 Kindy transition #2 T4 Wk 4 – Thursday 12 & Friday 13 School Photographs T4 Wk 5 – Friday 13 Kindy transition #3

DECEMBER T4 Wk 10 – Wednesday 16 Last day of Term 4 for students

Red indicates the event has changed since previous newsletter

RECURRING CALENDAR

2020 Every Monday Training band (Hall) – 7:45 - 9:00am; Concert Band 12:55 - 1:40pm

Stage 2 Choir - 12:55 - 1:40pm Every Tuesday Tuesday - Weeks 3 & 8

Senior Band 12:55 - 1:40pm (Hall) P&C meeting (in Mandarin Classroom) – Week 3 and 8 of every term @ 7:00pm

Every Wednesday Concert band (Hall) – 7:45 - 9:00am Lunchtime Chess Years 2 – 6 (1:00 – 1:40pm) Stage 3 Choir - 12:55 - 1:40pm

Every Thursday Senior band (Hall) – 7:45 - 9:00am; Training Band 12:55 - 1:40pm Junior Strings Ensemble (Library) – 7:45 – 8:45am

Every Friday Senior Strings Ensemble (Hall) – 7:40 – 8:45am Lunchtime Chess Years K – 1 (1:00 – 1:40pm)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY