Assistant Principal's Message
I would like to extend my gratitude to our school community who came together on Friday last week to recognise the work of all the dedicated and hardworking teachers at Toorak Primary School. We truly appreciated
the yummy treats that were supplied by parents for morning tea. Small gestures go a long way in feeling appreciated.
As I regularly wonder through classrooms and at times take classes and be a ‘real teacher’ as students describe it, it is an empowering opportunity for me to continue my teaching journey, one which I miss the most.
Last Friday I had the opportunity to work with the year one students in Mathematics. The lesson focussed on using counting patterns to determine the total value of coins and being able to use notes and coins to pay for nominated items. Students demonstrated their understanding of counting by 5s, 10s, 20s and 50s and then also combining different coins to count the total. I was astonished by the sophistication of thinking by some students in the year level. Whilst demonstrating adding a collection of notes and coins, students were able to articulate the meaning of the decimal point related to money as “it separates the whole dollar and part of the dollar amounts.” Some showed their critical thinking and demonstrated their ability to make a amount larger than the cost of the item and express the difference between the money amounts as the change required when purchasing. Lessons like this are a snapshot of the work that is undertaken by teachers on a daily basis; teachers creating a positive learning environment where children have opportunities to learn and grow and then share their knowledge with me.
It is always lovely to meet up with past families and students who have relocated to other schools and hear about the positive experiences that their children are having in their new learning environments. This week one of our previous families expressed how their child is enjoying their new school, however she said that she missed the high learning expectations that were evident at Toorak Primary School. She went on to explain that she often refers to ‘what would the teachers at Toorak be expecting with that piece of work?’ which made me laugh. Memorable moments and positive role models last a lifetime in the minds our our students.
Cybersafety - being informed
For almost two decades, cyberbullying has been a significant concern for young Australians. As students spend more time online via multiple devices we need to be aware of the ever changing landscape of what they are using and what may be happening behind closed doors away from adult eyes.
How many of the icons below can you identify?
Keeping up to date with young people’s online world is an important step in intervention. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is a great place to start. As our national online safety regulator, they are responsible for providing Australians with the most current information about online safety. I recommend exploring the eSafety Commissioner’s Newsroom. The blogposts published here are a quick and easy way to stay informed about the digital world. The resource I find most useful is The eSafety Guide – it provides the latest information about online games, apps and social media, how to protect personal information, and how to report harmful content for each service.
Suada Dzaferovic
Assistant Principal