Learning from Home: A Guide for Students and Parents

Updated July 2020

Students can enter the Warburton Student Portal here.

Welcome to the Warburton Primary School guide for learning at home. When learning from home, we need to have a shared understanding of what we need to do and how we are going to do it.

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To guide us in our learning, we follow the Warburton Primary School Values:

Learning Packs

Every student will be given a Learning Pack. The first Pack will be available for collection on Friday July 17, between 12pm and 4pm. The Learning Pack will contain:

• Tasks to complete on paper, divided into two weeks

• Handwriting books (please follow the work guide given by your teacher; don’t go ahead and complete the entire book!)

• Basic stationery (pencils, ruler etc)

• Website links, user names and passwords for online learning

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Our expectations

We are living through a pandemic, and there is nothing more important than the physical and mental wellbeing of students and parents.

Whilst we have provided sufficient work in Learning Packs and have enabled online learning opportunities, we only wish to see a minimum of 50% of the work completed and handed in. Any more than 50% completed is great, but we recognise the difficult and stressful situation we are all experiencing, and are mindful of the impact this may have on children.

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You can drop off completed work on any Friday, and you can also drop in on Fridays to return and borrow books from our classroom libraries. Please contact the school before arriving so that we can be prepared and ensure the best safety measures.

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If you have any queries about the work that has been set, please feel free to contact us via the addresses below:

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Books from Classroom Libraries

You can take books home from your book boxes or the classroom libraries when you pick up your Learning Pack. You can come in and return books and borrow on any Friday; please contact the school before you arrive.

Books available online

You can borrow audiobooks or eBooks from Eastern Regional Libraries. All you need is your library card to register or log on. Visit: https://www.yourlibrary.com.au/

Online learning

If you have online access and if you want to, you can do some online learning. Please see the page containing your log in details. You can also visit the Warburton Primary School Student Portal, which has all the sites listed on one page:

1. Sign in with your Google Apps for Education user name and password.

2. Then visit: https://sites.google.com/warburtonps.net/students/home

Suggested daily learning guide

Every family is different and every family has their own routines. It’s up to you and your parents how you manage your learning day. The goal is to set up a regular routine, so that everyone knows what is going to happen each day. Here are our suggestions:

• Set up a comfortable learning area on a table or a desk in a common area of your house. Make sure you have plenty of light to see what you are doing.

• Have a set wake up time, e.g. 8.00am. Eat a nice breakfast, go outside for a bit of a play if you can and avoid technology. Chat about your plans for the day.

• Aim for two or three learning blocks per day. For example, 9am to 10am, 2.00pm to 3.00pm. We suggest literacy activities that take a total of about 45 - 60 minutes; numeracy activities of about 30 - 45 minutes; and about 60 minutes of other learning areas, physical activity or play-based activity. 

• During the learning blocks, complete work in your Learning Pack or do some online learning. Technology should only be used for learning during this time.

• In between learning blocks, do physical activity, have play time, creative time or do helpful jobs around the house for mum or dad. Go outside, do craft, draw, play Lego, play board games. Bake, sing, dance, make movies. Use playdough, work in the garden, cook, design and build something. It’s up to you!

• Eat well and enjoy your meals together as a family.

• Read to a parent or a sibling once a day.

• If you play video games, use the internet or watch TV, agree on set times per day. Be cyber-safe and only use technology in sight of your parents or guardians.

Communication

We will communicate with students in the following ways:

• Letters

• Phone call

• Sentral Student and Parent Portal

• Emails through Google Gmail (part of Google Apps)

• Post on Google Classroom

• Video conference on Google Chat

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We will communicate with parents in the following ways:

• Letters

• Phone call

• Sentral Student and Parent Portal

• Emails

• SMS via Sentral

• Posts on the school Facebook page

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Staff have families too and will only respond to electronic communications during normal business hours, 9am – 5pm.

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Resources for parents

Warburton Primary School's online Learning from Home resources and tips for parents

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Warburton Primary School's SMART Spelling resource and introduction to spelling strategies

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Learning from Home, digital learning resources compiled by the Department of Education

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Tips and ideas for parents (originally published in The Age)

Health and Wellbeing Support

Parents can email warburton.ps@education.vic.gov.au if they have any questions or need any support. Your key contact for health and wellbeing at the school is the Principal, Damian Marley.

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We will endeavour to stay connected by newsletter, website and video and we encourage you to share your experiences, ideas and photos.

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The following websites may also be helpful:

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

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DHHS website https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

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Queries, questions, problems?

If you have any queries or if you and/or your child have any problems accessing our online resources, please email the Principal,  Damian Marley, via dmarley@warburtonps.net

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