Principal  Message

Hello everyone,

We have a few things happening in the second half of the term. It is going to be busy.

Parent Numeracy Information Evening

Come and join Chris Cavill in a workshop designed to bring passion and a love of maths into our community through fun and practical tips to supporting your child's numeracy skills.  

As our Numeracy Leader, Chris approached me and suggested we do this session as he really wants to show our families how fun maths can be and how to inspire your child to apply their numeracy skills in everyday life.  Chris is a very passionate maths teacher and will inspire you as he has our staff.

Tuesday 11th March at 6:30pm - Hope to see you there!

School Council Ballot

You are invited to cast your vote for the School Council parent vacancy that is currently open. We have 4 candidates, each one having the potential of being a valuable addition to our School Council. Our candidates are:

Sarah Pant

James Dimmock

Rebecca (Bec) Chivell

Kelly Maguire

Your eldest child at the school has been sent home with ballot papers and envelopes so be sure to check their bag. You will need to deliver your vote to the front office between the hours of 8am - 4pm up until and including Friday 7th March at which time the ballot closes. Counting of the votes and declaration will take place the following week. We cannot accept digital or electronic votes.  I wish to thank the candidates for nominating as it is always a commitment of time that we know is valuable to our busy families. 

International Women's Day Special Assembly

We will also be running a special assembly for International Women's Day next Friday 7th March at 10:30am. The focus on this year's day is Accelerate Action, which is a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activity that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation. We hope to inspire our girls to be strong, independent and know they can achieve anything they aspire to achieve. Gender is not something that predetermines your ability to succeed or be heard.  We can call out stereotypes, challenge discrimination, question bias, celebrate women's success.

Prep 2026 Information Night

We will be running an information night on Monday 24th March at 7pm for any families who have siblings looking to start in 2026. We will go over the new programs and answer any questions you have in relation to Prep in 2026. I will do an invitation to all the Kinder's in the area next week.

Relocation to Templestowe Valley PS

A couple of weeks ago we relocated for the first time to Templestowe Valley Primary School after an Extreme weather warning was issued. I want to thank the staff of WPS and TVPS as well as the students who attended for making a hard day easier by being flexible, polite to each other and to the students of TVPS through the day. They even played an impromptu game of soccer between the schools on their oval. 

A reminder that if we send a Compass Event notice out declaring the relocation or in the case of a catastrophic warning, closing, we require you to acknowledge you have received the message. We are getting better at the system each time and I appreciate that when we relocate it is an inconvenience for everyone.  Next week is looking warm but nothing to indicate at this stage there might be an Extreme day.

Behind the scenes...

What is happening in our staff meetings this term?

Our teachers have begun a journey to enhance student agency within our classrooms and across the school. We have taken on this challenge as part of a bid to increase stimulated learning and student voice. This initiative aims to empower our students, giving them a more active role in their learning process, which is vital for fostering engagement and enthusiasm.

So, what is student agency?

Student agency refers to the ability of students to take an active role in their own learning. It encompasses the choices they make, the responsibilities they assume, and the control they have over their educational journey. When students exhibit agency, they become more than passive recipients of knowledge; they become active participants, engaged in decision-making related to their learning objectives, methods, and assessments.

Engaging students in their learning is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, when students feel a sense of ownership over their education, they are more motivated and invested in their work. This intrinsic motivation leads to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge. Furthermore, student agency encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students learn to navigate challenges and make informed decisions. 

Additionally, cultivating student agency helps develop essential life skills such as collaboration, communication, and resilience. They develop a growth mindset that sets them up to work through productive struggle when they are problem solving or learning a skill that challenges them. These skills are not only critical for academic success, but they also prepare students for future challenges in their personal and professional lives. In a world that is rapidly changing, the ability to adapt, innovate, and take initiative will serve our students well beyond the classroom.

To support the development of student agency, our teachers are engaging in professional learning sessions focused on effective strategies and practices. We are drawing on resources from the regional office of the Northeastern Victorian Region to allow them to explore pedagogy that promotes student involvement. 

Teachers are also collaborating to share best practices and successful experiences related to fostering student agency. By learning from one another and engaging in reflective discussions, they are equipping themselves with the tools necessary to create environments where students feel empowered.

We are already witnessing the positive effects of student agency in various forms. In the classroom, teachers are implementing choice boards that allow students to select how they demonstrate their understanding of a topic, agreed classroom rules and rewards for PBA's received throughout their day. We also have a student leadership role in Grade 6 now, Billy Witney, who is our Student Voice and Agency Leader. He will be working with me and the Junior School Council on various projects throughout the year including, the over-the-counter canteen service on Fridays that we are developing and the implementation of a school podcast. 

Finally, on the last day of the school year (2024) our school captain, Jarrah organised a free dress day to raise funds for 'The Orangutan Project'.  $100 was raised and donated to this worthy cause. A great cause and something the students really supported.

Have a safe weekend.

Nieta