PRINCIPAL’S REPORT - 14th February, 2021

Happy New Year! I would like to welcome our new families beginning their journey at Frankston SDS and welcome back our returning families. New year 2020 was a particularly challenging time for all Australians and reminded us all how important it is to work together and support each other.

My sympathy goes out to all who had friends and families affected by the fires. Please let me know if your child has been impacted by these events and we will arrange appropriate support.

We have been extremely pleased with the way our classes have settled into the New Year. I am thrilled to inform you that our two new classrooms built last year are fully operational. Our students are enjoying these new facilities and the increased learning opportunities that they offer. In 2020 we will continue to run classes out of Karingal Heights Primary School and the East Karingal Preschool. We believe learning for our students has flourished in these inclusive environments and the existence of these programs has provided extra learning spaces for our students on campus.

Improving communication, social competencies and developing independence will continue to be prioritised in our learning programs in 2020. Student Individual Learning Plans (ILP) will all contain goals in these three areas. In 2020 we will continue to refine our assessment practices so we can accurately measure the progression of learning for our students.

The beginning of each school year marks election time for our school council. School council meets eight times a year and assists in shaping the direction of our school. Being a member of school council gives parents an insight into how the school is run. Please contact the school if you are interested in nominating for school council.

The Coronavirus is a major issue worldwide at the moment. Due to strict control measures in Australia there have not been many cases reported here. The Department of Education recommends a precautionary approach to managing the Coronavirus. Their recommendation is that families should ensure that any student returning from mainland China (not including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) who was in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 is isolated at home and should not attend school until 14 days after they were last in mainland China. This recommendation does not apply retrospectively. It applies only to students who were in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020. I appreciate your cooperation with this sensitive issue.

Have a great week!