Principal's Report

Warrandyte Festival

What a fabulous day was had! We were awarded the ‘most creative’ float. Well done ACPS!

Of course the preparation leading up to the event is enormous and there are many thanks to extend to individuals and groups.

Thank you…

Julie Clarke for the float and props preparation.

Mark Clarke – for the float construction and driving it for the parade.

All students for making their clay pieces and tissue paper flowers to wear.

Maggie Spillane for preparing the Year 2,3 and 4 students’ musical performances.

Jimmy Harris – for organising the ACPS food stall including required administration, food and volunteers. 

Gavin Andrews – for the fabulous ACPS photo montage displayed at the ACPS food stall.

Mick O’Keeffe – for testing and tagging the electrical appliances for the stall.

Students who attended and walked in the parade/performed on stage.

The ACPS staff for assisting with festival organisation and attending on the day.

Parent helper volunteers at the stall.

Volkan Ozturk, Gavin Andrew and Daniel Kirby helped with setup on Friday. Gavin was also a great help setting up and packing up on Saturday and brought down a second marquee of his so we’d have more shade.

Helpers on Saturday (taken from the roster). Many parents did more than just the single hour they were rostered on for. It was great to see some students also helping out at times.

Thank you so much to...

Karen Miller, Tamara Kamphuis, Judi Keane, Libby Dwyer, Gabby Davidson, Fiona Cooper, Bryn Townshend, Natalie Harvey, Pauline Lee, Courtenay O'Keeffe, Aime Loydell, Naomi Wright, Nicole Buchanan, Brad Byrnes, Frances Ozturk, Nick Austin, Paul Kamphuis, Nicole Buchanan, Jen McPherson, Melissa Burgess, Jane Verhagen, Nick Gibney, Michelle Parker, Lucy Rogers, Dave Burden, Alison Grieg, Stephanie Morgan, Paul Morgan.

Sincere apologies if I've left anyone out.

Behaviour Blitz at ACPS

This morning I visited all classes to talk about a range of unacceptable behaviours we are observing and managing at ACPS. Next week I will send a Konnective out to families with further details including the 4 major areas for improvement and follow up actions. Please feel free to ask your child/ren about what was discussed. 

NAPLAN 2022

This year NAPLAN will be held between Tuesday 10th May and Friday 20th May. This is a National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) that all students in years 3 and 5 (and 7 and 9) across Australia undertake. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The results of these tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement.

This year NAPLAN is online (with the exception of the Grade 3 writing test). NAPLAN Online is a ‘tailored test’ design that adapts to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of each student’s achievement. The online platform uses technology to make the test more engaging for students.

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on the test days. 

Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the test. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted. 

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a student withdrawal form. 

Students are given opportunities to take part in practice tests at school. This enables them to know the types of questions they might be asked and what the test situation might look like.

The tests are undertaken during May and the results are usually sent to schools in late August and they are then passed on to parents. You will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. 

Below is the proposed timetable for the implementation of the tests at Anderson’s Creek

Please note the change of date from Tuesday 17th May to Monday16th May due to District Cross Country.

For more information about NAPLAN you can visit the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au.

If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN feel free to contact your child’s classroom teacher, Terpsi Milliaresis (NAPLAN coordinator) or myself.

Brooke Eastwood brooke.eastwood@education.vic.gov.au NAPLAN coordinator 2022

Buildings and Grounds

Oval maintenance works occurred earlier this week.

The new gardening company is working well. They come in early in the mornings with a crew and have been focussing on making the front of the school pristine. They will do poisoning of weeds in the school holidays making sure to avoid the chook house and Children's Garden.

Our air purifiers have had their filters cleaned this week.

Parent Payments for Camps and Excursions

Please see the attached Parent Payments overview for schools.

In line with this policy, we will be inviting parents to pay for activities that enhance and broaden the student experience and are considered above and beyond the standard curriculum. Simply put, camps and excursions will be provided on a user-pays basis and listed as an extra-curricular activity. Non payment will result in non attendance. (Please note we are aware of families experiencing financial hardship and no student will miss out on these optional activities where this is the case. Please see the office if this may apply to you.) 

Examples of extra curricular activities include: Athletics Day, Camps, Hoop time, class excursions.

From the Policy...

ENHANCING AND BROADENING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

• Schools can provide camps and excursions that enhance or broaden the schooling experience and are above and beyond what the school provides for free to deliver the Curriculum. These are provided on a user-pays basis and listed as an extra-curricular activity.
• Camps or excursions provided on a user-pays basis can still include curriculum-based learning experiences; however, schools must be able to deliver the standard curriculum requirements to a student who does not participate.
• Schools can invoice families for camps and excursions run on a user-pays basis.
• Schools should support families facing financial hardship to attend these activities.

How exciting - The chickens are here!!! It's great to have the chickens back and see the Children's Garden looking tidy and coming back to life. 

Have a happy and safe weekend...

Sue Dyos