2020 Classroom Placements

It is coming up to that time of the year again when we begin to work on class lists for 2020.

For transparency purposes, I thought I would outline for you our process for placing students in classes. Our school is held in high regard for our process, and although difficult to get 100% correct, we do our best to support all students and staff each year.

Our priorities lie in considering the social, emotional and academic needs of each student. While friendships are also taken into consideration, we acknowledge that class time is primarily a time for working and that students have other opportunities throughout the day to socialise and play with friends. Students are remarkably adept at making new friends too!

We also take into consideration the special needs of students. If you think that you need to make me aware of ‘special’ considerations we are not already aware of, please make an appointment via our Office staff.

Classroom teaching staff, should not be approached, regarding 2020 Classroom Placements. As such, they will encourage you to make an appointment with me.

I ask that parents refrain from requesting specific teachers. I believe that all of our teachers are highly professional and demonstrate a high level of commitment to the students they teach. The unique style of each individual teacher means that each of them will offer something different to their students.

We invest many hours into the development of a class list that we believe is the best choice for all of our students. The process we use to develop class lists is as follows:

1. Teachers use their current class list to develop a profile of each student which includes social, emotional and academic needs as well as friendships and those students who do not work so well together. Again, friendships are considered but class time is primarily work time not play-time. If students are not in class with their best friends, they will get to see them at play times and may in fact spread their circle of friends by making new friendships in their class;

2. Teachers and PLC Leaders group students according to the above criteria while also taking into account that there is a balance of social and academic needs within classes;

3. PLC Leaders and I cross check the lists, making any necessary changes;

4. We leave these lists for a short period of time, and then check them again with the advantage of ‘fresh eyes’;

5. Classroom teachers make a final check;

6. Class lists come to me for a final check. I then discuss any further changes with teachers, whilst considering any confidentiality issues; and

7. Class lists are published and disclosed at the National Transition Day (Tuesday 10 December)

This process is lengthy as well as thorough, and while decisions are made, in what we believe are the best interests of each student, there are approximately 390 students to be considered.

Good luck Campers!

All the best to our students and staff heading to Canberra next week. I’m looking forward to hearing of all the amazing sights and tours they will undertake in an action packed week of activities.

Thank-you! Re: 3:20 Student Pick up

Thank you to our community for supporting the school and staff in implementing the 3:20 after school process. That entails the details, previously shared in our newsletter – your support is truly appreciated and helps make our school a safer place for all.

Details repeated below:

Our staff are on yard duty until 3:35pm each day prior to an announcement indicating students who haven’t been collected are to go to the Administration area.

Students who aren’t collected within 15mins of the 3:35pm timeslot may be placed in OSHC at a charge to the parent / carer. We avoid this at all costs, however, our staff attend meetings on many evenings after school hours and we cannot guarantee supervision.

Playground rules apply before and after school, with allocated Foundation, Year 1/2 and Year 3-6 Playgrounds to only be occupied by the year level appropriate students. Parents are welcome to supervise their own children on the correct playground after hours.

Bruce Cup

Thanks to Kylie for acting as Principal during my absence last week with Bruce Cup.

We had a successful championship in Perth, with TeamVic being placed in bronze position behind a dominant NSW and Queensland. Thanks to all for the well wishes. Nine days away with 14 students is very demanding, so it is great to be back!

Quote of the Week

Miners Rest Primary School

Issue 32 · 23 Oct 2019

In this issue