VIRTUAL CLASSROOM JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM

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VIRTUAL CLASSROOM JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM
JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM
V I RT U A L C L A S S R O O M
HANDBOOK 2021
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
                                                          Firbank’s e-learning platforms are a great way for students to continue their Firbank
                                                          Learning Journey remotely. Through online connectivity Firbank can assist students to
                                                          follow a modified timetable of class learning and provide exclusive access to teachers,
                                                          class resources, e-books and more.

                                                          Through virtual classrooms, our School         Please note the virtual lesson times will be
                                                          will demonstrate its commitment to the         the same as if your child was on campus.
                                                          domain of Adaptability wherein ‘Students       Junior Campus teachers will communicate
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                                                          are encouraged to embrace and adapt            timetables and information directly with
                                                          to new and challenging situations.’            families.
                                                          This program is a unique educational
                                                          partnership between families and the           Firbank’s IT staff are here to support our
                                                          School and is a testament to Firbank’s         Firbank Community with any questions that
                                                          strong STEM capabilities. Students are well    they may have and can be contacted at
                                                          prepared to access these learning options      parenthelpdesk@firbank.vic.edu.au
                                                          through their past experience with Firefly.
                                                                                                                           Jenny Williams, Principal
                                                          This handbook provides a guide for
                                                          logging on to the system, following
                                                          timetables and useful tips that can be used
                                                          to ensure continuity of learning.

                           2                                  JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021
BE A GOOD DIGITAL CITIZEN
•   We ask that your son or daughter does not engage in any Social Media apps,
    including, but not exclusive to: TiKTok, Facetime, Snapchat, Instagram, House Party
    etc. Most, if not all, of these apps are strictly for use by children aged 13+ so primary
    school aged children should not be using these apps anyway.

    If your child has any of these apps on his/her iPad, I trust that you will delete these as
    per our School’s expectations and the recommendations of cyber safety expert, Susan
    McLean.

•   If students have any questions about tasks, please contact their teacher via email.
    Students are not to set up ‘Group Chats’ or use any other social media chat platforms
    throughout the ‘virtual’ school day. There may, however, be a situation where our
    educators set up an online forum or collaborative experience for the students to
    appropriately discuss learning, led by the teacher.

•   Your son or daughter is not expected to be ‘on-line’ from 8.50 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. If he
    or she has been on his or her device for more than 40 mins at a time, please ask to
    see what he or she is doing. Children should be having a screen break after every
    40 mins or so.

•   Whilst students will need to access Firefly for task instructions, many tasks can be
    completed ‘off-line’.

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                      JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021                  3
JUNIOR CAMPUS
                                                          Junior Campus learning will be a combination of on-line and take-home resources. Each
                                                          family can connect with the School through Firefly, Firbank’s Learning Management
                                                          System. This system will provide access to shared information, resources and will allow
                                                          parents and students to keep track of learning expectations.

                                                          Each Firefly Year Level page (P - 6) will have a tile titled Virtual Classroom Term 1. This
                                                          tile will provide access to daily schedules, links to live lessons via Microsoft Teams and
                                                          additional resources.

                                                          ELC - Support for parents and children via email and/or Firefly
                                                          •   Teachers have prepared take-home resource packs for each child that will support
                                                              learning across all developmental areas. They also link to ideas and resources on
                                                              Firefly
                                                          •   Through Firefly, teachers will provide suggestions regarding appropriate games,
                                                              activities, stories, videos and links to various websites
                                                          •   Teachers and/or the Director of Early Learning will regularly communicate via email to
                                                              families

                                                          PREP TO YEAR 3 - Predominantly worksheets/task based, supplemented by Firefly
                                                          resources
                                                          •   The current Firbank class set iPads used by Prep - Year 3 in the classroom have
                                                              been distributed to each student to ensure continuity with their on campus learning
                                                              experience. These school managed devices are provided to support access to the
                                                              Firbank Systems while continuing the Firbank Learning Journey from home and
                                                              include the same applications that the students currently use in the classroom and are
                                                              familiar with.
                                                          •   Teachers will regularly communicate via email to families

                                                          YEARS 4 TO 6 - Predominantly Online Learning
                                                          •  All expected learning tasks are communicated via the year level tiles ‘eLearning’ on
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                                                             Firefly and are accessible by parents and students
                                                          •  Students are expected to check their email and Firefly each day for learning
                                                             experiences planned for the day
                                                          •  Students are expected to have necessary stationery on hand and a device charged in
                                                             order to complete their learning each day
                                                          •  Classroom teachers are available for students to contact via email when unsure of
                                                             learning expectations

                                                          SPECIALIST TEACHERS
                                                          Specialists will continue to provide a modified program for classes each week. Please
                                                          refer to year level schedules on Firefly.

                                                          Click here for the Parent Firefly Guide

                           4                                  JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021
HINTS AND TIPS
FOR SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL
CLASSROOM LEARNING
 •      Where possible students should follow the normal timetable

                   ELC 3 & 4                                    PREP TO YEAR 6
                            Classroom Learning/                               Classroom Learning
  9.00 - 10.30 a.m.          Specialist subject      9.00 – 11.00 a.m.        or specialist subject
                                  learning                                          learning

 10.30 - 11.00 a.m.             Morning Tea         11.00 - 11.30 a.m.          Morning Recess
11.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.      Outdoor playtime     11.30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m.      Classroom Learning

  12.00 - 1.00 p.m.          Classroom learning      1.30 – 2.15 p.m.                Lunch

     1.00 - 1.30 p.m.              Lunch             2.15 – 3.30 p.m          Classroom Learning

                              Mindfulness and     NB: Two-hour blocks may be too long for
     1.30 - 2.00 p.m.            relaxation       students working independently at home.
                                                  Please negotiate and agree on a realistic and
     2.00 - 3.00 p.m.         Indoor/outdoor      achievable work schedule with your child,
                                 program          including break times, rest times and play times.

 •      Ensure that other technology is turned off within the home to reduce distractions

 •      As per our Technology guidelines (located in the Student Diary) - Families are
        encouraged to closely supervise the technology that children are using. Firbank
        recommends that children learn in a visible space rather than in a bedroom so that

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        adults can supervise the technology

 •      Set up a clean and spacious work-station in a public place in your home

 •      During the school day (8.50 a.m. - 3.30 p.m.) we request that students do not
        connect/communicate with each other through any social media including
        facetime/group chats/TIKTOK etc

                          JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021                   5
WELLBEING
                                                          At Firbank we know, value and care for our students and community, placing wellbeing at
                                                          the heart of everything we do.

                                                          Learning off campus for an extended period of time can have an impact on wellbeing. It
                                                          is important to maintain a daily balance between engaging with learning tasks, interacting
                                                          with family and participating in student-initiated play.

                                                          Tips for looking after the wellbeing of children during this period include:

                                                          •   Talking to the whole family about what      •    Manage your own emotions and
                                                              is happening, being mindful of the age           behaviour. Our capacity as adults
                                                              and stage of the child. Understanding            to regulate our own emotions and
                                                              the situation can reduce anxiety                 behaviour is better developed than
                                                                                                               that of a child, and we need to stay
                                                          •   Help your child/ren to think about               calm when talking with them. One
                                                              how they have coped with difficult               suggested way of acknowledging your
                                                              situations in the past and reassure              child’s emotions is “I’m also feeling a
                                                              them that they will cope with this               little concerned, but I am just focusing
                                                              situation, too                                   on the facts.”

                                                          •   Exercise regularly                          •    Monitor access to the news, TV and
                                                                                                               social media
                                                          •   Encourage your children to keep in
                                                              touch with family members, friends          •    Make time for your child. Your child
                                                              and teachers through supervised use              may seek extra attention from you and
                                                              of technology                                    it is important for them to know that
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                                                                                                               you are available to them to talk about
                                                          •   Practice good hygiene and health,                how they are feeling
                                                              getting enough sleep, keeping active
                                                              and eating a balanced diet                  •    Keep checking in with your child.
                                                                                                               Be prepared to keep having this
                                                          •   Validate your child’s feelings. It’s             conversation with your children
                                                              important to acknowledge their                   multiple times as more information
                                                              concerns and emphasise that the                  comes to light
                                                              adults around them will do everything
                                                              they can to help keep them safe and
                                                              healthy

                           6                                  JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES
•   Teachers will upload learning tasks and resources to Firefly in time for a 9.00 a.m. start
    to the school day
•   Classroom and specialist subject teachers will deliver live lessons at scheduled times
    via Microsoft Teams
•   Classroom and specialist subject teachers will be available to respond to student
    questions during the live lessons and will respond to parent emails between 8.30 a.m.
    and 4.30 p.m. when not in the act of teaching

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                      JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021                  7
SUPPORT FOR YOUR
                                                          FIRBANK IPADS
                                                          ACCOUNT LOGINS
                                                          Your child’s Firbank iPad will be provided with all required apps logged in. If you are
                                                          prompted for a password, please contact the Firbank Parent Helpdesk,
                                                          parenthelpdesk@firbank.vic.edu.au, and a Firbank IT Team member will be in contact.

                                                          IOS OR APP SOFTWARE ISSUES
                                                          Firbank iPads are remotely managed, allowing us to make changes to apps or
                                                          configuration as or when required, as well as resolve most app or iOS-related issues
                                                          remotely. If you are experiencing issues on your Firbank iPads that can’t be resolved
                                                          however, Firbank IT can step you through resetting and re-enrolling the iPad, as well as
                                                          logging in apps.

                                                          HARDWARE ISSUES
                                                          If you experience hardware-related issues, such as:
                                                          •    iPad not turning on
                                                          •    Screen not working
                                                          Please contact the Parent Firbank Helpdesk for directions.
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                           8                                  JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021
KEY CONTACTS
For queries about                       Who to contact
A subject, learning task or resource    Classroom or Specialist teacher
A technology-related problem or issue   parenthelpdesk@firbank.vic.edu.au
A personal, academic or social/         Classroom teacher, PYP Coordinator:
emotional issue                         kchandler@firbank.vic.edu.au,
                                        Head of Campus: bnelsen@firbank.vic.edu.au,
                                        School Psychologist: ebull@firbank.vic.edu.au
Other issue related to Off Campus       Head of Campus: bnelsen@firbank.vic.edu.au
Learning
Other issue related to School           Reception (shreception@firbank.vic.edu.au) or
                                        9533 5711 (Sandringham Campus), 9591 5188
                                        (Senior School)

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                     JUNIOR SCHOOL SANDRINGHAM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM HANDBOOK 2021          9
51 Outer Crescent, Brighton Vic 3186 • ELC - Year 12 • Girls Campus
45 Royal Avenue, Sandringham Vic 3191 • ELC - Year 6 • Co-educational Campus
                    firbank.vic.edu.au • CRICOS Provider No 00140K
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