PRINCIPALS MESSAGE

Dear parents and Carers,

The term is moving along quickly with our Foundation students commencing a full week of school from next Monday. We have had the largest intake of Foundation students in our school’s history of 24 and we are delighted to see them beginning to settle into a routine, connect with their peers and staff, and learn and explore the school environment.

Annual Implementation Plan

Our 2023 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) has been endorsed by School Council and our Senior Education Improvement Leader Robyn Marr. It outlines our school's key goals for the next six months, with the School Review scheduled for term two. Following the review process a new School Strategic Plan (2024 – 2028) and AIP will be developed. Our initial school improvement work will include professional development, training and coaching on resilience and trauma, school-wide positive behaviour support, sexuality education, Comprehensive Literacy, AAC’s and Data Wise Professional Learning Community (PLC) inquiry cycles to progress achievement for following goals.

Goal 1: Wellbeing – Effectively mobilise available resources to support students’ wellbeing and mental health, especially the most vulnerable
Goal 2: To improve student learning outcomes in English, with a focus on communication
Goal 3: To increase student engagement with their learning
Goal 4: To improve the resilience and wellbeing of students

School Council Elections

The election process for the 2024 School Council two parent 2-year vacancies has been completed. As there were the same number of nominees as vacancies an election was not required. I am pleased to announce Diana Duffy will continue as a member of the Council and we welcome Amber Hewat. Continuing parent representatives for a further 12months are Charleen Longmuir and Aubrey Anderson. The next School Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th March where this year’s office bearers will be confirmed.

Staff Recruitment

It has been a busy time for recruitment for additional staff in a range of areas, with a number of selection processes currently underway. We welcome Education Support (ES) Jarrod Clarke (3 days) and Archer Dibsdale (trainee) who have recently commenced with us. Veronica Pulis (ES) has taken a year’s leave.

Student Support Group Meetings

Term One Student Support Group (SSG) meetings are now underway and we appreciate the attendance of families, support workers and allied health for participating in these first SSG meetings of the year. Your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be developed based on the goals discussed and provided to you at the end of the term.

Community Connections

A group of Covenant College students are weekly visitors to our school, joining in with some classes. We are also hosting a Monash University Physiotherapy student Deifilia on a part-time placement and yesterday commenced weekly AFL footy clinic with some Physical Education classes.

School Prospectus

We are creating a Prospectus to support promotion of our school and the programs we provide for potential new families. A photographer will be onsite on Wednesday 13th March. If you approve your child having their photo taken for this purpose, please return the permission slip if you have not already done so.

Professional Learning

Throughout the year our staff participate in a broad range of professional learning. I want to highlight a special recent event where Ash, Terese, Claire and Sam attended their 2023 Harvard Data Wise Graduation Ceremony at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. Data Wise supports educators in using collaborative data inquiry to drive continuous improvement of teaching and learning for all students and our school has been implementing this approach since 2022. This is a very prestigious program and the involvement of these staff will support our continued focus on this work.

Welcome Picnic

Next Wednesday we are holding a welcome picnic for parents/carers from 1:30 – 3:00pm. This is an opportunity interact with your child, their classmates, other families and our staff. Please join us if you can. A Reminder flyer is included with the newsletter.

Student Leadership

A selection process is currently underway for our 2024 Student Leaders. Once finalised a Badge Presentation will be held.

Easter Raffle

Again this year we are holding a fundraising Easter Raffle. See more information about purchasing tickets with the newsletter. You have to be in it to win it!

Please Note

Our next newsletter will be published on Thursday 28th March, the last day of term one, prior to Easter and the school holidays. School will finish earlier at 2:30pm on this day and buses will arrive home approximately half an hour earlier.

Yours in educational partnership,

Suzanne Armstrong

Principal