Assistant Principals' Report

Parent / Volunteer Training

Our school values strong partnerships with families, and becoming a parent volunteer is a wonderful way to support our students and school community. 

To become an approved volunteer, you simply need to:

• Complete the Parent/Volunteer Training available on the school website at  https://www.whittleseaps.vic.edu.au/page/31/, 
• Hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC), and...
•  Sign a confidentiality agreement

Whole School Athletics

Our Whole School Athletics Day will be held at Meadowglen International Athletics Stadium, McDonald's Road, Epping, on Friday, 27th February. Students and teachers will travel by bus to the stadium and return via bus, arriving just before 3:15 pm. Parents are welcome to attend on the day. We would appreciate as many parent volunteers as possible to help ensure the day runs smoothly and supports student participation. If you have already completed the Parent Volunteer Training and are an approved volunteer, you do not need to complete it again. Thank you for considering supporting our school in this important way.

On the day, students can wear their house colours. All students must wear runners. Remember to bring a packed lunch, a drink bottle and a hat. If your child has their own sunscreen, please remember to pack it in their bag. The school will also supply sunscreen on the day.

Classroom Engagement Norms

This year, our school is placing a strong and consistent focus on student engagement norms and routines across all classrooms.

Engagement norms are the shared expectations that help students understand how to participate in learning. They include routines such as listening attentively, contributing to discussions, responding to questions, working with peers and transitioning smoothly between activities. These norms are explicitly taught, practised and reinforced, just like any other part of learning.

Why are engagement norms important?

When engagement expectations are clear and consistent:

• Students know what learning looks like and what is expected of them
• Classrooms feel calm, predictable and supportive
• Learning time is maximised

• All students have regular opportunities to participate

   

We believe that every student is a valued contributor to their classroom. Participation is not about having the “right” answer, it’s about being involved, having a go and learning through practice and feedback.

Supporting understanding and learning

Engagement norms also help teachers to check for understanding. When students respond, talk through their thinking or demonstrate their learning, teachers can quickly identify:

• What students understand well
• Where students may need more support

• How teaching can be adjusted to meet learning needs

   

This ensures learning is responsive and supports every student's growth.

What this looks like for students

Students will be supported to:

• Actively listen and respond during lessons
• Participate in whole-class and small-group discussions
• Ask questions and share ideas

• Follow consistent routines across classrooms

   

Teachers will continue to explicitly teach and model these routines so students feel confident and successful. By working together to build strong engagement habits, we are creating classrooms where students feel supported, included, and ready to learn.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to strengthen learning across our school community.