Principal's Report
Jells Park Primary School
Principal: Kevin Oakey
Assistant Principal: Julie Hall
Assistant Principal: Scott Zachariassen
s.zachariassen@jpps.vic.edu.au
Danceaerobics Team
Wishing the Level 5 Danceaerobics Team the best of luck in Adelaide this weekend as they battle it out at the National Championships. This team has worked incredible hard and their routine is looking slick and high quality. Again a massive thanks to the staff that have co-ordinated these teams and to Mrs Wyllie and Ms Dakalakis for supporting the team in Adelaide.
Parent Opinion Survey
A reminder that the 2024 Parent Opinion Survey has been made available and is open for responses until 30 August. Currently I have had 12% of the community respond - I would love to get this to at least 30%.
We greatly value the input and opinions of parents about the school, whether positive or critical. This is the best way we can learn, improve and make changes for the benefit of your children.
NAPLAN Performance
Our overall NAPLAN results have come our and we are delighted with the result, again showing that we are a strong curriculum school, but also knowing that we provide all the extra-curricular activities that support student growth. A snap shot for the community:
| Domain | Jells Park PS Result | Similar Schools | Network Schools |
| Level 3 Reading | 92% | 85% | 85% |
| Level 3 Writing | 93% | 91% | 90% |
| Level 3 Spelling | 78% | 76% | 81% |
| Level 3 Grammar & Punctuation | 81% | 75% | 77% |
| Level 3 Numeracy | 92% | 84% | 84% |
|
|
| |
| Level 5 Reading | 84% | 88% | 88% |
| Level 5 Writing | 91% | 87% | 90% |
| Level 5 Spelling | 79% | 81% | 85% |
| Level 5 Grammar & Punctuation | 80% | 83% | 84% |
| Level 5 Numeracy | 82% | 86% | 88% |
Kevin Oakey
Principal
National Science Week
National Science Week runs from August 10 - 18. This year the theme is Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world.
There are a number of free activities that are being held in the local area which your family might like to participate in.
Click on the links below to find out more:
Science is Fun - Digging Dinosaurs Workshop
Science is Fun - Marvellous Mixtures Workshop
Illuminating Species Survival: LED Lights and Ladybug Pebbles
Julie Hall
Assistant Principal
Student Attendance
As we near the halfway point of the school year, and delve into the middle of a Melbourne Winter, we would like to point out the crucial role that consistent school attendance plays in your child's academic success and overall development.
Why Attendance Matters:
- Academic Achievement: Regular attendance directly correlates with higher academic achievement. Each day a student misses means valuable learning opportunities are lost, impacting their understanding of key concepts and ability to keep up with their peers.
- Skill Development: School is not just about academics; it's also where children learn essential life skills such as time management, collaboration, and problem-solving. Consistent attendance fosters these skills by allowing students to engage fully in classroom activities and group projects.
- Building Relationships: Being present in school helps children form meaningful relationships with teachers and peers. These connections provide emotional support and encouragement, which are crucial for their social and emotional development.
- Preparation for the Future: Regular attendance instills discipline and responsibility—qualities that are indispensable as students progress through their educational journey and prepare for higher education or the workforce.
Tips for Promoting Good Attendance:
- Establish a Routine: Set regular bedtimes and morning routines to ensure your child is well-rested and ready for the school day.
- Communicate Early: Notify the school promptly if your child is unable to attend due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances.
- Allow enough time to arrive at school: Our school day begins at 9:00am and students can be on the school grounds from 8:30 am onwards. It’s important to allow enough time to get your child to school prior to the beginning of the day. Late arrivals have impacts on a child’s social and emotional learning time.
- Encourage Engagement: Take an interest in your child's school activities and encourage their participation in extracurriculars that enhance their overall school experience. Jells Park has an extensive extracurricular program, far beyond other schools in our area. It is important that your child is present at school to ensure they can participate in these programs.
In addition to regular school attendance, being at school on time is just as important.
One of the important decisions our school made to our curriculum a few years ago, was to implement a 25 minute Social and Emotional Learning Lesson at the beginning of every day. Not many other schools do this however we have seen the benefit of this over the years it has been implemented. Constant late arrivals to school impacts your child’s learning of these skills so arriving at school on time is extremely important.
Some information and flyers are attached with information regarding the importance of regular school attendance. If families are experiencing difficulties in regular school attendance for their child, please reach out to your classroom teacher or myself for support or advice.
We currently have over 150 students with unexplained absence days totalling more than 300. Can families please use the Parent Portal App to change these unexplained absences. It is important for our school records that these are rectified before the end of Term.
Thank you for your commitment and support with this and please contact us if you require extra assistance.
Scott Zachariassen
Assistant Principal