Week+9+Term+2+2009

Week 9 Term 2 2009

**__Happy Birthday Davo & Tania__** There is drinks and BYO BBQ at the bastion on Monday to celebrate their big day.

It is Samanatha's big day next Sunday.
 * __Sam's Birthday__**

I__** am trialling this type of way of giving you as much information as possible. You will need to know the school code to open the document**__. __** Please email any information during the week and I will put it in the database and put it on the wiki each week. I will also put it in the shared drive and Dani and Helen will add to it each day. You can add information to the database as well. This is what it will look like, to open it on here you will need to use the school code as the password.
 * __Student Whereabouts Information

Dee has indicated that she will be returning next week, Katie will be here as well for next week to do a handover and give Dee time to set up programmes for the kids in the transition class.
 * __Deeanne is back__**

Jamie is on a course in Broome until Wednesday. Please see Jeanette if you need any information.
 * __Jamie out__**

Can I meet with all staff going to this excursion next week. You should check the board if you do not know. If we have too many kids with 25 golden tickets I will run a reward day next term week 2. Sam is the teacher in charge, I have done all the planning the only thing not done is the swimming Health form.
 * __25 club Home Valley__**

Kindy and PP & Year 1 will be taken by Grace Yrs 2-3 will be taken by Lis Cox for the day Yrs 4-7 will be taken by Stuart Grant and Jamie will be taking the High School students who do not go to Kimberley Cup.
 * __Relief for the week 10__**

Jeanette, Erin, Christopher and Jane O will be away for the week on Kimberley cup.

Not all teachers have finished their reports. I will be writing to staff if this is not completed by tomorrow. I gave everybody enough time to do their reports plus an extension of a week. The reports will be put in eacher teacher's pigeon hole throughout the week. I have made copies already. I urge you to check for any mistakes before sending out.
 * __Reports__**

Congratulations to Robin Pardoe-Bell for being the reccommended applicant. There needs to be a 2 week grievance period before it becomes offical.
 * __Registrar Position__**

The photos start at 10.00am today for Kindy. The staff will be having their lunch at 12.40 on the start of lunch please bring your class down or they can sit on the benches.
 * __Photo Day on Monday [[file:WDHS Photo Day Timetable.docx]]__**


 * __Athletics Carnival agenda

School Council Meeting Week 8__** There will be an expression of interest flyer sent out for anyone who is interested in running the canteen independant of the school. The canteen will remain open for the rest of the term. Depending on how many expressions of interest we get will determine what will happen in the next few weeks of next term.

In 2010 the school unoforms may be sold by WELA at a reasonable price. The school council has endoresed the primary school's decision to have 11/2 to 2hrs maths lessons each day as well as 2 hours of literacy. The primary school will only report on Literacy and Numeracy and support staff will report on ART and PE for semester 2 2009. We will not charge GST on the goods sold at the Fete

Here are some references for the conference I attended in Perth. It is great stuff particularly if you are interested in leadership. Also there is links to research on impacts of what we do on student outcomes. []
 * __WAPPA Conference__**

__Central Office Info__ [|//Effective teaching//][| publication] The next in the Director General’s series of statements under Classroom First, Effective teaching, is now being sent to schools and principals are asked to give a copy to each member of staff. WA Education Awards 2009 Nominations for the WA Education Awards are open for 2009. Nomination kits, promotional flyers and posters have been distributed to schools. Schools are asked to display the posters and send the promotional flyers home with every student. Following an extensive review of the Awards, significant improvements have been made including combining all teacher categories to become one Premier’s Teacher of the Year award; providing professional learning opportunities for individual award winners; and providing a pathway to the Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence for individual category applicants. Further information and nomination kits can also be downloaded from the WA Education Awards [|website]. Applications close 14 August 2009. [|Secondary teachers to transition to primary] As part of the planning for the transition of the half cohort from primary to secondary schools, permanent and fixed term secondary teachers are invited to submit an expression of interest for temporary deployment to a primary teaching role. [|**Back to School Lists (parent purchases)**] Advice on the competitive process required for schools supplying Back to School Lists by commercial suppliers. [|**Language Assistant Program expression of interest 2010**] Expressions of interest are invited from schools teaching French, German, Indonesian and Japanese to participate in the 2010 Language Assistant Program. [|**Leavers WA 2009 dates announced**] The official Leavers celebration period is from 24 to 27 November 2009. The final examination timetable for the 2009 TEE/WACE examinations will be published on 24 July.

[|**Register interest in offshore project work**] Staff interested in working offshore can register on the Education and Training International database for commercial, aid and development opportunities. [|**New complaints advice line**] The EDvisory Line (1800 791 197) is no longer in use and has now been replaced by the new Complaints Advice Line.

H1N1 (HUMAN SWINE INFLUENZA) There has been a significant shift in the national approach to managing the outbreak of H1N1 influenza. The new approach recognises that human swine flu is mild in most cases, severe in some cases and moderate overall and that the overwhelming majority of people make a rapid and full recovery. Changes announced yesterday have major implications for schools. The following questions and answers have been developed to help schools with the changes. A: Yes. However, the emphasis will remain on excluding school children and staff with flu-like illness from school. A:School closure or partial closure will not be used by Health authorities when there is one or more suspected or confirmed cases within a school. The only exception may be in specific circumstances, such as schools with significant numbers of students with special needs where the students may be more vulnerable to infection. Schools will be notified by us or the Department of Health if this is the case.
 * INFORMATION UPDATE N0.6 NEW PANDEMIC PHASE - PROTECT **
 * Q: Has the seven day voluntary exclusion period for students and staff returning or visiting from countries of concern or Victoria been lifted? **
 * Q: Will the Department of Health continue with school closure or partial closure? **

A: No. The previous countries of concern are no longer classified as such and Victoria is no longer considered differently to other parts of Australia. School excursions/trips can resume under the usual application and approval processes. However, children returning from excursions or trips should be monitored and not attend school if they develop symptoms of flu-like illness. A: Resolution of this issue will need to occur within the context of each school’s arrangements and contractual obligations. A: Principals need to ensure that parents, students and staff understand that someone who has influenza-like illness (fever AND one or more of cough, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion) needs to stay away from school until they are completely recovered. Students and staff who experience the onset of these symptoms during a school day should be identified, or identify themselves, be isolated and sent home.
 * Q: Are there restrictions on travel to Victoria or the countries of concern? **
 * Q: What do schools do if they have problems with insurance or rescheduling a trip to Victoria or a country of concern that was cancelled? **
 * Q: What is the key role of schools from now? **

A sample school [|newsletter item] is attached and posters are on the Department’s [|swine flu website].

An advisory letter to principals written by the Department of Health is also on the Department’s website.

A: Normally healthy students and adults who develop a flu-like illness do not need to consult their doctor or hospital to be tested for human swine flu. These individuals should completely recover after a few days without the need for prescription medications.
 * Q: What advice is the Department of Health giving to parents who have children with flu-like illness? **

Children and adults who suffer from severe illness or with chronic underlying medical problems should consult their doctor or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222 for specific advice. Medical conditions such as chronic respiratory disease (eg asthma), heart disease, diabetes, morbid obesity and pregnancy can increase vulnerability to complications from the disease. A: Schools can provide educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and coughing etiquette. Students should be told that there are simple steps they can take to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illness such as influenza. These include: · washing hands frequently (alcohol based hand cleaners are useful if soap and water is not easily accessed), especially after coughing and sneezing; · avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth; · covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue in a rubbish bin afterwards; and · avoiding contact with people who are unwell.
 * Q: How can schools reinforce good hygiene messages? **

All schools should ensure that appropriate hand washing facilities are available to students and staff.

Schools are also reminded of the Department of Health advice on hand washing and good hygiene, available on the Department’s [|swine flu website].

A: Students who have been on a seven day period of voluntary exclusion after returning from a country of concern or Victoria need to be recorded with an Educational Activity code (E) and an appropriate note entered against their record.
 * Q: How do schools retrospectively record student absences related to human swine flu? **

A: All schools are asked to monitor their attendance rate each day as part of the Department of Health’s surveillance system related to human swine influenza and seasonal influenza.
 * Q: How do schools assist the Department of Health through attendance monitoring? **

Starting on Monday 22 June 2009: · schools with absenteeism rates of 15% or more on any given day are to report this; · in addition, schools with an electronic or other automated system for tracking absenteeism may report student absenteeism rates under 15% on a daily basis, if they choose to do so. This additional information is not required but would be much appreciated by the Department of Health. · Reports should clearly identify the school’s name and be sent by 12.00 noon each day by email ( cdcd.schoolsurveillance@health.wa.gov.au  ) or fax (9388 4888).

If you have questions about this surveillance system, please contact Dr Donna Mak, Public Health Physician, Communicable Disease Control Directorate by email (donna.mak@health.wa.gov.au). A: Yes. This hotline will continue to be available Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 6.00 am until the end of Term 2. Further, the Department’s [|swine flu website] will continue to offer additional information.
 * Q: Will the Department’s 1800 635 674 number continue to be available for principals? **

A generic Question and Answer document related to the Department of Health shift to a Protect phase for the H1N1 influenza is available on the Department’s swine flu website.

I understand that the measures schools have been asked to implement in recent weeks to protect the health and safety of students and staff have placed pressures on schools. Your understanding and cooperation in this unique situation have been outstanding. I would like to express thanks to all school and district education office personnel involved for the professionalism, diligence and leadership demonstrated.

Duty of care (before school)The school owes students a duty of care. Where it is known that students arrive at school at a certain time, the responsibility of the school is to provide adequate supervision for the students from that time. If parents remain with their child before the start of school, they will also owe their child a duty of care.For Kindergarten and Pre-primary students it is preferred, but cannot be insisted upon, that the parent/responsible person remains with their child until the commencement of the school day. A refusal to acknowledge the presence of students will not provide a defence against liability. That is, refusing to open classroom doors/gates etc will not remove the teacher’s responsibility. ECE guidelines [] A good reference for K-PP teachers.
 * A new roster will be put up in the next week.**

• the age and ability of the person collecting the student • the route to be taken home/to the bus stop (e.g. does the student have to cross busy roads, walk past lakes, through bushland etc?); and• parent instructions and the basis upon which those instructions were given. Instructions regarding the collection of a Kindergarten or Pre-primary student should be provided in writing. Where, after taking into account factors (as above), the principal still has doubts about the arrangements, they should discuss and document these concerns.
 * __Duty of care (after school__**)Great care should be taken by the school in handing a Kindergarten or Pre-primary student over to the careof a student, relative or sibling under the age of 18 years, even if the parent/responsible person has giveninstructions to this effect.The duty of care owed by a school to a Kindergarten or Pre-primary student necessitates the school being satisfied that no foreseeable harm will come to the student when releasing him/her at the end of the school day. Factors to be taken into consideration are:

Kindergarten/Pre-primary teachers should not be expected to do any more supervision duties than other teachers in the school. The fact that early childhood teachers and secondary teachers have more DOTT time than primary teachers is an industrial issue and is not a reason for them to have more duty times. Kindergarten and Pre-primary teachers, as well as education assistants, may all go into the duty roster. If education assistants are on lunch time duty another teacher must be within range.
 * __DUTY OF CARE Lunch time supervision of K-PP__**

The // Duty of Care for Students // policy states that before teaching staff entrust non-teaching staff, such as education assistants, with the care of students, teaching staff must first obtain the agreement of the non-teaching staff member. In other words, the education assistant must be asked whether or not he or she is prepared to personally care for students. When a decision is made as to whether a member of the non-teaching staff might care for children (without a member of teaching staff also being present) teaching staff must satisfy themselves that the person is suitable for the task being assigned. Teaching staff must consider the following :• the number of children involved; • age, experience, capabilities and behaviour of children; • the nature of the environment; • the activity to be undertaken; and • the age, ability, experience and general suitability of the proposed carer. If education assistants accept tasks that require them to personally care for students (eg supervise students without a teacher present), the // Duty of Care for Students // policy provides that they will owe the same duty of care to those students as the duty owed by teaching staff. This ‘special’ duty of care is more onerous than the ‘general’ duty of care generally owed by education assistants. It is more onerous because the education assistants will not only have to ensure that their own conduct does not result in foreseeable injury to others, but they also have to take reasonable, positive steps to ensure that the conduct of the students for whom they are responsible does not result in injury to themselves or others.
 * //Supervision of students by education assistants all students//**

Education assistants at this level perform tasks that ‘may require activities within or outside school that result in supervision of students without the presence of a teacher’ and may have limited scope to refuse to supervise students.
 * __Education assistants (Level 3)__**