Year 7 enrolments for 2021
The Education Department has made the following announcement for parents of Year 6 children:
"Due to remote and flexible learning arrangements currently in place, government primary schools may be unable to distribute the 2020 parent/carer pack to every year 6 family in hard copy from the start of Term 2 2020. Therefore, adjustments to the statewide year 6 to 7 timeline have been made. These changes give parents and carers an increased timeframe to return the application form."
The revised due date for the Year 7 application form is Friday 29 May.
See the Department's "Moving from primary to secondary school" web page for more information.
Home learning support for students in need
State Schools' Relief (SSR) is offering home-learning support packages for students in need.
See below for how to apply.
Primary students
The offerings to students in need are as follows:
- Internet USBs with 50GB of data per month (for 3 months). Applications for these USBs will only be received for students who have no access to home internet
- Study packages comprising of a desk and chair (suitable for primary students)
- Stationery packages for primary students (please select either a Prep - Grade 3 pack OR a Grade 4 - Grade 6 pack)
Schools ask parents to hire babysitters for home learning
According to an article in today's Herald-Sun, some schools are asking parents if they can hire babysitters to supervise children during remote learning, after rejecting their applications for campus access.
The article says that "parents have received contradictory messages on whether children could attend, with some students denied access."
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said it was tough even before COVID-19 for a lot of families. “Imagine what it would be like now for families who have lost everything,” she said
The article is behind a paywall, but you can read it if you have a Herald-Sun subscription.
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition
Prizes in eight categories, across primary, secondary & assisted schooling levels, plus two overall prizes will be awarded.
Entry fee of $35 - $100 per school depending on the number of entries.
Ask your school art teacher to coordinate the entries & facilitate payment.
Full details available at www.dorothea.com.au
Entries close 30th June.
Parents and home-based learning
"The first thing to point out is that you’ve been doing home-based learning with your kids ever since they were born."
Clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller has written a brief and very practical guide for parents who are trying to support their kids with home-based learning.
With his usual down-to-earth approach and sense of humour, Andrew sets out some basic principles that will help you through and give you confidence in what you're doing with your kids.
Download Parents and Home-based Learning
Call for home school allowance
Parents Victoria and Gender Equity Victoria are calling for Victorian parents to be supported with a one-off home school allowance to offset the additional costs associated with educating kids in isolation during Term 2.
‘’This week, families across Victoria are supporting a transformative educational experience – the launching of statewide digital classrooms. We know that women are likely to shoulder the major burden of providing the care, educational support and supervision necessary to making learning from home a success” said Tanja Kovac, CEO of Gender Equity Victoria, ‘The medical, social and economic disaster of Covid19 is impacting on women in ways that exacerbate gender inequities.”
Remote learning: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun published a wide-ranging article today about the Term 2 return to school and remote learning arrangements.
The article includes a comment from PV's Gail McHardy, as follows:
Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said it had been a “mixed bag” of a day but said she knew families would “rise to the occasion”.
“It’s going to take people a few days to settle in and there’s going to be good days and bad days,” she said.
Read the full article on the Herald-Sun website.
James Merlino announces Term 2 remote learning
In this Facebook video, Education Minister James Merlino explains the Term 2 remote learning arrangements in Victorian schools.
VCE students and COVID-19: PV media comment
The Age reported today, "This year's crop of year 12 students, already hit hard by school shutdowns due to the coronavirus, could be further disadvantaged if the school year is not extended, an education expert says.'
The article goes on to quote Parents Victoria Executive Officer Gail McHardy:
Gail McHardy, executive officer of Parents Victoria, said there was just as much anxiety among parents as students. She said those who were not confident about their ability to support their children's studies at home should speak out.
"Parents might not have a level of education to support their children - there is no shame in sharing that with their school community to get some suggestions,” Ms McHardy said.
Read the fuil article in the Age
Students to learn from home, VCE timelines revised
Education Minister James Merlino has announced that all Victorian government primary, secondary and special schools will move to remote and flexible learning and teaching in Term 2.
In a media release today, Minister Merlino and Premier Dan Andrews announced that:
- Most Victorian students will be educated from home when Term 2 starts next week to ensure the physical distancing will help slow the spread of coronavirus, with free internet access and laptops for those students who need it most.
- On-site learning will only be available for children whose parents can’t work from home and vulnerable students without access to a suitable learning environment at home. Under limited conditions, on-site learning may also be available for VCE and VCAL students.
- VCE students will still receive an ATAR score, but there will be a number of changes to the academic timetable for VCE and VCAL students.
- VCE study scores will continue to be a combination of school-based assessment and external exams. VCAL students will have more time to complete their courses and this will be consistent with the revised dates for the VCE.
See full details in the Minister's media release
Media reporting
- Article in the Age
- Article in the Herald-Sun
- Article on 7 News website (Including media conference video)
