DSODE Supervisor Guide

General Supervisor Information

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What is the role of the supervisor?

Thank you for taking on the role of supervisor. Every student must have an at-home supervisor who will give support and guidance. Secondary students up to the age of 17 years also require the regular presence of an adult who will provide supervision and support appropriate to the age and needs of the student.

Supervisors provide appropriate protection for the student in their learning environment and assist with the organisation of learning resources, on-task behaviour and management of schedules. The supervisor must arrange for the supervision of students’ learning activities in accordance with the instructions provided and take full responsibility for the precautions and safety in all assigned practical work.

As a supervisor you agree to the following:

Student will be appropriately supervised during schoolwork activities and the home learning environment is safe and suitable for effective distance education provision
All practical activities will be supervised with respect to precautions and safety
Student’s work in all subjects will be completed and returned weekly to the school
Supervisors will be contactable by phone, email or voicemail
Textbooks, teaching materials (e.g. audio recordings, DVDs, videos), unmarked lesson booklets and library books that have been issued by DSODE will be returned when the student completes the course or leaves the school.
Ensures that the student follows the timetable, engages in lessons and completes learning activities
Interpret and explain instructions or comments in lesson materials and provide assistance with locating necessary materials and resources
The supervisor is to contact the school to provide advice about illness or absences which have affected their student’s ability to complete set activities

As distance education enrolment procedures are updated annually. All enrolments will be subject to review at the end of each calendar year and additional documentation may be requested by the school.

Parent-Teacher Partnerships

Roll Call & Attendance

In accordance with the requirements of the NSW Department of Education, DSODE students will be required to attend a daily student roll call each school day, consistent with attendance expectations in face-to-face secondary schools.

Key Information:

Secondary Roll call will occur each school day from 9:00 am to 9:15 am for Stages 4 and 5, and 9.00 am to 9.10 am for Stage 6.
Primary Roll call will occur from 9.30 am to 9.40 am.
To be marked present, students must be observed by the roll call teacher in the Microsoft Teams meeting with their camera turned on.
Students who are not observed during this time will be recorded as absent.
All absences must be explained by the student’s supervisor by contacting the DSODE office on (02) 5804 7000 or emailing

dubbo-d.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Secondary students will access the Roll Call Microsoft Teams Meeting link through their Stage Hub in Canvas
Primary students will access the roll call through their stage classroom on Teams.

The daily roll call will also serve as an important communication point where students will receive key updates and information throughout the school year.

DE attendance flyer

What is Canvas - What does it look like

Canvas Parent Observer Account

Communicating with DSODE staff

Learning is more successful when parents, supervisors, students, and teachers work together as a team. So it is recommended that you communicate with your student’s teachers. The teachers are there to support your role as a supervisor, but they need feedback on your student’s progress too. That way the teachers can provide appropriate work and the best opportunity for your child to succeed.

All staff telephones have an answering machine so messages can be left at any time.

We’d like you to keep in touch with us during the school year. Teachers like to hear from you if you need any assistance. You can write, email or telephone.

Students with supportive supervisors who regularly communicate with the teachers succeed at learning at DSODE

school email: dubbo-d.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Front office: 02 5804 7000

website: https://dubbo-d.schools.nsw.gov.au/

School Bytes

At Dubbo School of Distance Education we use parent portal apps to make communication and administration easier for families. These tools help you:

make payments quickly and securely
stay up to date with school events.

At DSODE we use a system called School Bytes to communicate online permission notes and for parents to make payments. All information for this can be found on our school website under the payment tab. Website: https://dubbo-d.schools.nsw.gov.au/school-life/parent-portal

To start using this, you will need to create a new account - this is done by selecting 'create a new account'

school bytes login screen

If we need to send you permission notes on School Bytes we will send you a link via your email. The School Bytes parent portal enables you to view all your children in one portal and process payments for multiple siblings in one transaction.

Newsletters - Keeping in Touch

Once a term, the school newsletter, Keeping in Touch is published on the school website. https://dubbo-d.schools.nsw.gov.au/school-life/newsletters

This is a great place to learn about important school business. The Stage 4 team regularly publish curriculum news, student presentations, and reflections.

DSODE Facebook

The Dubbo School of Distance Education - NSW DEC Facebook page is regularly updated with school announcements, great news stories and reminders. Like us on Facebook to receive regular updates.

example of facebook story page for DSODE

https://www.facebook.com/DubboSODE

Student Portal and Email

Tips on accessing the Department of Education Student Portal for the First Time

When students enrol as a distance education student, they will automatically be given a NSW Department of Education student email address.

This email address will be the main point of electronic communication that Dubbo School of Distance Education (DSODE) to contact your student. It is the student’s responsibility to check this email regularly for communication from the school and their DSODE teachers.

Advise your student to contact their Year Adviser to be given their Department of Education email address and password if they are unsure of what it is.

1. To access the student portal and the DET email account, students need to log onto the following website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/

2. Then click on the Log in button on the far right and select Student Portal from the dropdown list:

Student Portal.png

3. The next step is to log in using their email address as the user id and password. If the email address has a number in it this is to be used in the user ID too. (Do not include the @education.nsw.gov.au in the user ID)

For example: User ID = Peter.Person3

Log in with your DOE account.png

4. The student may be presented with a Department of Education Internet user agreement – read and accept the user agreement to access their portal.

5. The Student Portal contains a range of useful links include email, calendar and learning resources and software tools.

Face to Face Opportunities

Field Service

The Field Service program is an integral part of the educational program of Dubbo School of Distance Education. One type of Field Service is a home visit where a teacher/s comes to visit your home to get to know student/s and Supervisors. At times, if preferred, these can take place in a local library. The home visit program provides valuable teaching and connection opportunities for the students and you will get to know your teacher.

*Please note that a Supervisor, or another appropriate adult, MUST be present for all home visits.

Residentials & Workshops

Coming to school regularly will give an opportunity to meet other students and for supervisors and staff to exchange ideas. The school conducts Residentials, Student Workshops and individual lessons.

On these days students and supervisors will:

Get to know their teachers and other students.
Find out that learning can be fun.
Have lessons designed to suit their needs.
Experience ongoing enrichment programs in a range of areas.
Experience practical lessons, e.g. in science, technology and art.
Report on students’ progress and needs.
Gain feedback on their progress.

Are you visiting Dubbo for appointments or a short-term stay?

We love it when our students and their families are in town and come to visit. We welcome the chance to show you around the school, visit the library to borrow books, discuss any work issues, and for some families, even meet face-to-face for the first time!! We do ask, however, that you ring to let us know you are coming so we can make time for you. It can be disappointing for students to visit and have their teacher unavailable. It is also a school procedure that all students and families must sign in at the front office. The front office staff will then ring down for your teacher/s to come and meet you in the foyer.

The Role of the Student Support Officer (SSO)

Virtual School Tour

Accessing the School Library

Accessing DSODE E-Book Platform