Principal Team Report

You Tell Us Interviews

All families will have now received an invitation (via Geddup) to attend a 10 minute, You Tell Us interview with your child's classroom teacher.

Interviews will be available during the week of 17 February and evening appointments are available on Tuesday 18 February.

These interviews present parents and carers with the opportunity to share important information with teachers that relates to you child/ren's specific learning and wellbeing needs.

Project Completed: Multi-Purpose Hall Heating & Cooling System

I am delighted to announce that the school's major improvement project, 'Heating and Cooling in the Hall', has been completed! Our purpose at the outset was to install and heating and cooling system that allows year-round use of our Multi-Purpose Hall. After a number of meetings, fundraising events and generous family donations, we have delivered on this aim. 

At ASPS we are extremely fortunate to have a parent community that works in partnership with school staff to deliver improved outcomes for our school. this project is no exception and I would like to recognise the following people:

Adam Stansen, Anthony Gaugain, Cowan Ashton Taylor, Daniel Murdoch, Nina Wissenden, Members of School Council and the School Improvements Sub-Committee, Heath Matthews, The Creswell Family, our Parents Association (committee members, event coordinators and volunteers), last year's Fair team and generous family donors.

Thanks are also extended to Michael Wainwright (Mr Michael) for all of the work that he has put in to help bring this project to fruition. 

It is important to note that School Council and the School Improvements Sub-Committee has supported this improvement project with an understanding that the school will prioritise the implementation of a solar energy strategy.  As part of this strategy, the School is on a shortlist (of schools to be considered) for a future Victorian School Building Authority 'Solar in Schools' initiative. Details regarding our aspirations for Solar Energy at our school will be shared with the community as details emerge. 

2020 Parent Payments 

Please note that all Parents Payment forms will be sent home from today. Family support for the school via these payments is greatly appreciated and has a significant impact on the school being able to realise its strategic aspirations. 

The reality for our school is that initiatives and programs such as the School Nurse and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen garden Program do not exist without the financial support of our families.

If you have any questions regarding the 2020 Parent Payments, please contact the office for support.

Supporting Effective Communication

The following school-wide communication guidelines were established to support and strengthen the home-school partnership.

Principal Team

Principal: Marcus Wicher

Assistant Principal / Head of Teaching, Learning & Wellbeing: Sharron Bailey

Assistant Principal / Head of Teaching, Learning & Wellbeing: Ben Zonca

Assistant Principal / Head of Operations & Wellbeing: Michael Wainwright

Who should I contact?

1.) As always, all questions or concerns that relate to your child's learning and wellbeing are to be directed through your child/ren's classroom teacher. 

2.) If you have met or spoken with your child's teacher (or it is not appropriate to do so) and further clarification or support is required, please contact a member of the principal team.

3.) The school principal is always happy to provide support and guidance but it is preferred that either the classroom teacher or an assistant principal is consulted first. 

Email Communication Guidelines

Email Hours: Where possible please send emails to staff between the hours of 7.30am and 6.00pm (weekdays only). Staff are not encouraged to be checking work emails outside of these hours. If a matter is urgent, please contact the school office for support.  Please note that emails sent on a Friday afternoon from 4:00pm will not be actioned until at least Monday morning.  As such and where possible, please avoid sending emails to staff during these hours. Again, if your matter is urgent, please contact the school office for support.

How long should I wait for reply?

Due to often unpredictable nature of our work, if you have emailed the school (teacher or principal team member) and have not received a response within 48 hours (i.e. that person could be ill, on a camp or managing a large volume of enquiries), please feel encouraged to contact the office and the appropriate person will call you back.

Geddup

Geddup is the platform used to distribute information within the community.  Each week, you will receive the school newsletter via Geddup.  This newsletter will contain important updates, and articles that relate to school events, learning, wellbeing and positive parenting. Year level teams and classes will also distribute information via Geddup. In addition to this, parents are also be able to sign up for parent teacher interviews via Geddup.

Geddup is also used to mobilise volunteers for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, in the canteen and for Parents Association events. It is also used to promote other school events such as information nights and guest speakers.

** It is important to note that Parent to teacher communication is best delivered via email.  Geddup is a more useful tool for distributing information to the whole school or specific groups.

Seesaw - Digital and Interactive Portfolio

Seesaw is used as both a digital portfolio and as a virtual and interactive window for parents to connect with the learning that happens in their child's class. All students regularly upload samples of work, video reflections and learning experiences via Seesaw so that parents, classmates and teachers can collaboratively celebrate learning milestones and experiences. 

Parents are encouraged to 'like' and comment on their children's work but please remember to keep comments in kid friendly language and to always  view students posts through an appreciative lens.

How often should I communicate with my child's teacher?

Our observations over a number of years consistently reveal that those families that stay in contact with teachers via regular and short informal conversations or emails are generally less concerned about how their children are going at school. The opposite can be said for those families that wait until Term 4 to find out how their children are going or to raise a concern. In short, invest in the relationship with your child's classroom teacher, stay in touch and if you have a worry or question raise it with us promptly.

How regular is too regular?

If you're finding yourself needing time with your child's classroom teacher multiple times each week (in person or via email), chances are that you're inadvertently monopolising a teacher's time and denying other parents the same opportunity to connect. By doing this you may also be eating into valuable teacher preparation and planning time.  If this resonates with you (not including times when a teacher is initiating contact) please discuss with your teacher how you might best manage the ways in which you stay in touch and work together as a team to support your child.

If you require an appointment to discuss something in more detail (with a teacher or a member of the principal team), please plan ahead and make an appointment.

School Council Election

Each year, Parent and DET Employee Member (staff) positions become available on our school council.

All interested parents and staff are encouraged to read the attached documentation and to return the relevant nomination forms to the school office by Monday 17 February (4pm). If you would like to find out more about what is involved in being a member of the Auburn South PS school council, I encourage parents to read the School Council pages in the newsletter and to contact the office as required. 

Mobile Phones Policy

As per our school's updated Mobile Phone Policy and in accordance with the Department’s Mobile  Phones  Policy issued  by  the  Minister for  Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at ASPS during school hours (8:00am–4:00pm), including lunchtime and recess, or on school premises, unless an exception has been granted.

Unless your child is walking or riding a bike or scooter to or from school, families are strongly discouraged to not let their children bring mobile phones to school. Any communications that need to be made between children and parents/carers (during school hours) can be made via the office. 

Please read the school's policy carefully but phones will be removed from students if they are used on school premises during the hours of 8:00am - 4:00pm (unless an exemption is granted).

Upcoming Event: School Picnic

Raphael is shaving her hair off...

I have raised $1144.00 so far

THANK YOU

Yes that's correct I am shaving my hair off to raise money for Blood Cancer Research. Please read the information below and hit the link to donate:  

Any questions come and see me in the office.