CHALCOT WEEKLY - chalcotps.vic.edu.auThese activity ideas are provided for parents to use with their children at home and provide fun, stimulating activities that can be used as described

NEWSLETTER No 12 – 15th May, 2020

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CHALCOT WEEKLY

SCHOOL VISION

Chalcot Lodge Primary School empowers all

students to embrace learning, achieve their

personal best and build their emotional, social

and physical well-being.

STAGED RETURN TO SCHOOL

As was communicated earlier in the week via COMPASS, we will be implementing a staged return to

school for our students.

In the first stage, students in Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 will return to our school from Tuesday 26th May.

To support all school staff to prepare for this transition, Monday 25th May will be a pupil-free day.

In the second stage of our return to on-site schooling, all other year levels will return to school from

Tuesday 9th June.

For those students who cannot be supervised at home and vulnerable children, the existing model of on-

site schooling will remain in place during the two-week period from Tuesday 26th May to Friday 5th June.

The current process that we are using to enable parents and carers to indicate the days or part-days for

which on-site schooling is required will continue for this two-week period.

All other students in these grades and year levels will continue learning from home until Tuesday 9th June.

Once a year level has returned, all students will be expected to attend school as normal. This means if you

choose to keep your child/children home after their year level has returned to on-site schooling, we can no

longer support their learning from home.

This does not apply to children who need to be absent for health or medical reasons. For those families,

please contact us so we can make an appropriate plan.

This same approach is being taken by all government schools in Victoria.

To support the health and wellbeing of all our students and staff, our school will continue an enhanced

cleaning routine and will encourage frequent hand washing.

If you child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek

medical advice.

While the Chief Health Officer has advised that students will not be required to maintain physical

distancing at school, there will be a number of important changes to our school operations, consistent with

health advice. This will apply until further notice. I will provide more detail about our local school context

as soon as possible, but it is important to note that changes will include:

adjusted arrangements for drop off and pick up, including staggered school start and finish times;

restrictions on access to the school site for anyone other than immediate school staff and students;

the way we conduct parent-teacher meetings and interviews

We understand that some families may feel anxious about this move back to classroom teaching and

learning. I can assure you that this decision has been taken on the basis of the best health advice available

to our state.

More information about the return to school and coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the

Department’s website, which will continue to be updated:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

Thank you for your continued support and patience during this time. We look forward to welcoming our

students back to the classroom.

Assessment – Semester 1 Reports

In order for teachers to continue our ongoing assessment schedule in preparation for Semester 1 reports,

over the next two weeks they will be assessing students. Your class teacher will give you a detailed outline

of what that may look like for your child later this week.

We anticipate that reports will be ready to be accessed via COMPASS sometime in the last week of this

term. A more precise date will be provided over the next few weeks.

School Policies

For community information, please find attached a copy of the school’s Asthma and Electronic Funds

Management policies.

If you would like to comment on these policies, please feel free to email me through the school’s email

address [email protected]

3 Tips to Boost Emotional Health in Children

Like all of us, children want to feel good. And like all of us, that's a challenge - they disagree with their

parents, siblings, and friends, they may miss out on the team or things may not quite go their way. As

children experience these situations, it is our responsibility as parents to teach them how to handle these

emotional reactions and develop intelligence.

What does emotional health look like in children?

An emotionally healthy child is aware of their emotions and equipped with the skills and strategies to deal

with them. Remember, emotions can be both positive and negative.

Three ways to model positive emotional health

More effective than sharing theory. If parents show their children positive emotional health habits they are

likely to develop them in their own lives.

1. Speak about emotions Help children to understand and talk about their emotions. Being able to identify anger or frustration

allows children to let it go easier.

2. Be honest about your feelings If you're struggling or have had a hard day, don't be afraid to say "today has been hard. I need to take a

few deep breaths before we continue". This shows you are learning too and will encourage them to do the

same

3. Use calming strategies Emotionally healthy children are equipped with strategies to calm their emotional reactions. This may

include breathing exercises, visualisations or setting aside a "quiet space" in your home for them to use.

FUN AT HOME - FUN LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

These activity ideas are provided for parents to use with their children at home and provide fun, stimulating

activities that can be used as described or adapted and built upon as desired.

The quality learning tasks are mostly self-directed, meaning children can do it by themselves, and are

generally open-ended and can be interpreted by children of differing ages to suit their own

capabilities/strengths. Enjoy and have fun! https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/funathome

ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY

Education Day- STEM

During this week, your class will be completing Assessment Tasks, so teachers can begin to prepare your

reports. Your class will complete these tasks on one day next week. You will be given a time to log in

with your teacher and complete the assessment tasks. When you are not signed in for assessment, your

teacher will have fun and engaging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) activities set

for you to complete independently at home. You may also like to dress the part and dress up as a wacky

and wonderful scientist! We would love for you to upload photos to your teacher to see your amazing

costumes, problem solving skills and learning.

Or you may also like to take a photo to share with the school and send to

[email protected]

Paul Poliviou

Acting Principal

Thursday 14th May School Council Meeting 2.30pm via Webex

Tuesday 26th May Prep – Yr 2 students return to school TBA

Monday 8th June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 9th June Yr 3 – Yr 6 students return to school TBA

THANK YOU

CHALCOT COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

WEEK 6

Chalcot Values- EXCELLENCE and SAFETY

Show us how you and your family are displaying the School’s

Values from home. You may like to write a journal entry, draw

a comic strip, take a photo, make a poster promoting these

values, create a short video, etc. showing us how you use these

values at home. Be creative and then share your results with

us.

Achieving your best

Looking after others and ourselves

If you would like to share it with the Chalcot Community please

send to us at [email protected]

We would love to put them up on Compass or maybe in our

weekly newsletter.

I am looking forward to seeing the different and creative ways

you can present these values.

Have fun!!

Miss Ablitt

POLICY: ASTHMA

INITIAL COPY DRAFT/REVIEW

14/5/2018 13/5/2020

Purpose

To ensure that Chalcot Lodge Primary School appropriately supports students diagnosed with asthma.

AIM

To explain to Chalcot Lodge Primary School parents/carers, staff and students the processes and

procedures in place to support students diagnosed with asthma.

Scope

This policy applies to:

all staff, including causal relief staff, contractors and volunteers

all students who have been diagnosed with asthma or who may require emergency treatment for

asthma and their parents/carers.

IMPLEMENTATION

Asthma

Asthma is a long term lung condition. People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react

to triggers, causing a ‘flare-up’. In a flare-up, the muscles around the airway squeeze tight, the airways

swell and become narrow and there is more mucus. This makes it hard to breathe. An asthma flare-up can

come on slowly (over hours, days or even weeks) or very quickly (over minutes). A sudden or severe

asthma flare-up is sometimes called an asthma attack.

Symptoms

Symptoms of asthma can vary over time and often vary from person to person. The most common asthma

symptoms are:

breathlessness

wheezing (a whistling noise from the chest)

tight feeling in the chest

persistent cough

Symptoms often occur at night, early in the morning or during/just after physical activity. If asthma is well

controlled, a person should only have occasional asthma symptoms.

Triggers

A trigger is something that sets off or starts asthma symptoms. Everyone with asthma has different triggers.

For most people with asthma, triggers are only a problem when asthma is not well controlled with

medication. Common asthma triggers include:

exercise colds/flu

smoke (cigarette smoke, wood smoke

from open fires, burn-offs or

bushfires)

weather changes such as

thunderstorms and cold, dry air

house dust mites moulds

pollens animals such as cats and dogs

chemicals such as household

cleaning products

deodorants (including perfumes,

after-shaves, hair spray and aerosol

deodorant sprays)

food chemicals/additives certain medications (including

aspirin and anti-inflammatories)

laughter or emotions, such as stress

Asthma Management

If a student diagnosed with asthma enrols at Chalcot Lodge Primary School:

1. Parents/carers must provide the school with an Asthma Care Plan which has been completed by the

student’s medical practitioner. The plan must outline:

the prescribed medication taken by the student and when it is to be administered, for

example as a pre-medication to exercise or on a regular basis

emergency contact details

the contact details of the student’s medical practitioner

the student’s known triggers

the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an asthma flare-up or attack.

2. Parents/carers should also provide a photo of the student to be included as part of the student’s

Asthma Care Plan.

3. Chalcot Lodge Primary School will keep all Asthma Care Plans:

in the first aid room Medical Register

in the classroom with students medication

in the class Displan folder.

4. School staff may also work with parents/carers to develop a Student Health Support Plan which

will include details on:

how the school will provide support for the student

identify specific strategies

allocate staff to assist the student

5. If a student diagnosed with asthma is going to attend a school camp or excursion, Chalcot Lodge

Primary School parents/carers are required to provide any updated medical information.

6. If a student’s asthma condition or treatment requirements change, parent/carers must notify the

school and provide an updated Asthma Care Plan.

7. School staff will work with parents/carers to review Asthma Care Plans (and Student Health

Support Plans) once a year.

8. Student asthma kit

All students diagnosed with asthma are required to have a student asthma kit at school which contains:

their own prescribed reliever medication labelled with the student’s name

their spacer (if they use one)

Student asthma kits will be stored in their classroom.

Asthma Emergency Response Plan

If a student is:

having an asthma attack

difficulty breathing for an unknown cause, even if they are not known to have asthma

School staff will endeavour to follow the Asthma First Aid procedures outlined in the table below. School

staff may contact Triple Zero “000” at any time.

Step Action

1. Sit the person upright

Be calm and reassuring

Do not leave them alone

Seek assistance from another staff member or reliable student to locate the student’s

reliever, the Asthma Emergency Kit and the student’s Asthma Care Plan (if available).

If the student’s action plan is not immediately available, use the Asthma First Aid as

described in Steps 2 to 5.

2. Give 4 separate puffs of blue or blue/grey reliever puffer:

Shake the puffer

Use a spacer if you have one

Put 1 puff into the spacer

Take 4 breaths from the spacer

Remember – Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths

3. Wait 4 minutes

If there is no improvement, give 4 more separate puffs of blue/grey reliever as above

(or give 1 more dose of Bricanyl or Symbiocort inhaler)

4. If there is still no improvement call Triple Zero “000” and ask for an ambulance.

Tell the operator the student is having an asthma attack

Keep giving 4 separate puffs every 4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives

(or 1 dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort every 4 minutes – up to 3 doses of Symbicort)

5. If asthma is relieved after administering Asthma First Aid, stop the treatment and observe the

student. Notify the student’s emergency contact person and record the incident

Staff will call Triple Zero “000” immediately if:

the person is not breathing

if the person’s asthma suddenly becomes worse or is not improving

if the person is having an asthma attack and a reliever is not available

if they are not sure if it is asthma

if the person is known to have anaphylaxis

Staff Training

Chalcot Lodge Primary school will arrange the following asthma management training for staff:

Staff Completed by Course Provider Cost Valid for

Group 1

General

Staff

School staff with a direct

teaching role with

students affected by

asthma or other school

staff directed by the

principal after conducting

a risk assessment.

Asthma first aid

management for

education staff (non-

accredited)

One hour face-to-

face or online

training.

The Asthma

Foundation of

Victoria

Free to

all

schools

3 years

Group 2

Specific

Staff

Staff working with high

risk children with a

history of severe asthma,

or with direct student

wellbeing responsibility,

(including nurses,

PE/sport teachers, first

aid and school staff

attending camp)

Course in

Management of

Asthma Risks and

Emergencies in the

Workplace

22282VIC

(accredited)

OR

Course in Emergency

Asthma Management

10392NAT

(accredited)

Any RTO that

has this course in

their scope of

practice

Paid by

Chalcot

Lodge

Primary

School

3 years

Chalcot Lodge Primary School will also conduct an annual briefing for staff on:

the procedures outlined in this policy

the causes, symptoms and treatment of asthma

identities of the students diagnosed with asthma

how to use a puffer and spacer

the location of:

o the Asthma Emergency Kits

o asthma medication which has been provided by parents for student use.

Chalcot Lodge Primary School will also provide this policy to casual relief staff and volunteers who will

be working with students, and may also provide a briefing if the principal decides it is necessary depending

on the nature of the work being performed.

Asthma Emergency Kit

Chalcot Lodge Primary School will provide and maintain at least two Asthma Emergency Kits. One kit

will be kept on school premises in first aid room and one will be a mobile kit for activities such as:

yard duty

camps and excursions.

Chalcot Lodge Primary School will provide an additional kit for every 300 students.

The Asthma Emergency Kit will contain:

at least 1 blue or blue/grey reliever medication such as Airomir, Admol or Ventolin

at least 2 spacer devices (for single person use only) to assist with effective inhalation of the blue

or blue/grey reliever medication Chalcot Lodge Primary School will ensure spare spacers are

available as replacements.

Spacers will be stored in a dust proof container.

clear written instructions on Asthma First Aid, including:

o how to use the medication and spacer devices

o steps to be taken in treating an asthma attack

o A record sheet/log for recording the details of an asthma first aid incident, such as the

number of puffs administered

The first aid officer will monitor and maintain the Asthma Emergency Kits. They will:

ensure all contents are maintained and replaced where necessary

regularly check the expiry date on the canisters of the blue or blue/grey reliever puffers and place

them if they have expired or a low on doses

replace spacers in the Kits after each use (spacers are single-person use only)

dispose of any previously used spaces.

The blue or blue/grey reliever medication in the Asthma Emergency Kits may be used by more than one

student as long as they are used with a spacer. If the devices come into contact with someone’s mouth, they

will not be used again and will be replaced.

After each use of a blue or blue/grey reliever (with a spacer):

remove the metal canister from the puffer (do not wash the canister)

wash the plastic casing

rinse the mouthpiece through the top and bottom under running water for at least 30 seconds

wash the mouthpiece cover

air dry then reassemble

test the puffer to make sure no water remains in it, then return to the Asthma Emergency Kit.

Management of Confidential Medical Information

Confidential medical information provided to Chalcot Lodge Primary School to support a student

diagnosed with asthma will be:

recorded on the student’s file

shared with all relevant staff so that they are able to properly support students diagnosed with

asthma and respond appropriately if necessary.

Communication plan

This policy will be available on Chalcot Lodge Primary Schools website so that parents and other members

of the school community can easily access information about Chalcot Lodge Primary School asthma

management procedures.

Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma

Chalcot Lodge Primary School will be prepared to act on the warnings and advice from the Department of

Education and Training when the risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma is forecast as high.

Further information and resources

Asthma Foundation Victoria: Resources for schools

School Policy and Advisory Guide:

o Asthma

o Asthma Attacks: Treatment

o Asthma Emergency Kits

EVALUATION

The Asthma Policy will be reviewed by the First Aid Coordinator in consultation with the Education Policy

committee, every three years or sooner if required.

ELECTRONIC FUNDS MANAGEMENT POLICY

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to set out how our school will manage electronic funds in accordance with

applicable Department of Education and Training policy and law.

scope

This policy applies to:

o all staff/responsible persons involved in management of funds transacted electronically

o all transactions carried out by Chalcot Lodge P/S via the methods set out in this policy

Policy

Chalcot Lodge P/S has developed this policy consistently with the Schools Electronic Funds Management

Guidelines and Section 4 Internal Controls of the Finance Manual for Victorian Government schools.

Implementation

Chalcot Lodge P/S school council requires that all actions related to internet banking are consistent

with The Department’s Schools Electronic Funds Management Guidelines.

Chalcot Lodge P/S school council approves the use CommBiz as the approved software for all

internet banking activities as individual authority and security tokens are required.

All payments through internet banking software must be consistent with Department requirements

and must be authorised by the Principal and one other member of school council nominated by the

school council.

Chalcot Lodge P/S school council will determine how refunds will be processed and any refunds

processed through the EFTPOS terminal will be recorded in a refund register.

Chalcot Lodge P/S will undertake maintenance and upgrading of hardware and software as

required.

Chalcot Lodge P/S will ensure proper retention/disposal of all transaction records relating to

accounts such as purchase orders, tax invoices/statements, vouchers, payroll listings and relevant

CASES21 reports.

EFTPOS

The Principal of Chalcot Lodge P/S, will ensure all staff operating the merchant facility are aware

of security requirements. At our school, this includes:- all EFTPOS transactions must be processed

through an EFTPOS only CASES21 batch, all EFTPOS transactions must be reconciled by an

authorised officer with the CASES21 transaction on a daily basis, all EFTPOS transactions will not

be accepted over the phone

School council minutes must record which staff are authorised to process transactions.

No “Cash Out” will be permitted on any school EFTPOS facility.

Chalcot Lodge P/S will not accept EFTPOS transactions via telephone or post.

Chalcot Lodge P/S will not process refunds through EFTPOS

Direct Debit

All direct debit agreements must be approved and signed by school council prior to implementation.

The school council requires all suppliers to provide tax invoices/statements to the school prior to

direct debiting any funds from the school’s account

A direct debit facility allows an external to a pre-arranged amount of funds from the school’s

official account on a pre-arranged date. Any such payments will be authorised as appropriate and

required.

Chalcot Lodge P/S will ensure adequate funds are available in the Official Account for the “sweep”

of funds to the supplier.

Direct Deposit

Chalcot Lodge P/S utilises a “two user authorisation of payments” banking package, as it contains

a greater degree of security and access controls.

Creditor details will be kept up to date and the treatment of GST for creditors will be monitored.

Payment transactions will be uploaded as a batch through the CASES21 system.

All payments made through the internet banking system must be authorised by two authorised

officers.

The various internal controls that need to be considered include:

o the identification of staff with administrative/authorisation responsibilities

o the identification of payment authorisers [the Principal and other School Council President]

o the allocation and security of personal identification number (PIN) information or software

authorisation tokens

o the setting up of payee details in CASES21

o the authorisation of transfer of funds from the official account to payee accounts

o alternative procedures for processing, using the direct deposit facility, for periods of

Business Manager’s and Principal leave of absence.

BPay

Chalcot Lodge P/S school council will approve in writing the school council’s decision for the utilisation

of BPAY.

Payments made by BPay are subject to the same requirements as for all transactions relating to accounts

such as:

o purchase orders

o tax invoices/statements

o payment vouchers

o signed screen prints and payee details

o relevant CASES21 reports etc.

This includes a requirement for the principal to sign and date BPay transaction receipts attached to

authorised payment vouchers.

Further Information and Resources

Finance Manual for Victorian Government Schools

o Section 3 Risk Management

o Section 4 Internal Controls

o Section 10 Receivables Management and Cash Handling

Available from: School Financial Guidelines

Schools Electronic Funds Management Guidelines

CASES21 Finance Business Process Guide

o Section 1: Families

Internal Controls for Victorian Government Schools

ICT Security Policy

Public Records Office Victoria

Archives and Records Management Advice for Schools.

Review Cycle

This policy was last approved by school council on 02/2019 and is scheduled for review in 02/2020.