Assistant Principal's Report

MOBILE PHONE AND OTHER MOBILE DEVICES POLICY

Last night at School Council we ratified the DPS Mobile Phone and Other Mobile Devices Policy. This policy covers mobile phones, Smartwatches, iPads and any other personal mobile devices.

We understand that many students are bringing mobile phones and iPads to school, and/or are wearing Smartwatches. We don't want to discourage this, however we must use these devices appropriately and according the Department's own Mobile Phone - Student use Policy.

We ask that if a student needs to bring a mobile phone to school, that they bring it up to the office at the beginning of the day, where it will be safely stored at the office during school hours. If students are wearing a Smartwatch, we ask that they do not use it to make or receive calls during school hours and do not use it for other purposes during the school day. 

If you need to speak or message your child, please call the school office on 9842 3373, where we can facilitate communication between you and your child. Private messaging on iPads, Smartwatches and phones is not appropriate.

Please read and familiarise yourself with the DPS Mobile Phone and Other Mobile Devices Policy. If you have any queries or concerns please feel free to contact me on 9842 3373.

VICTORIAN HIGH ABILITY PROGRAM (VHAP)

As a key initiative of the DET School Excellence Program, the department has worked with leading academics and teachers to create the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP). This program provides a rich leanring experience to challenge and extend our highly-abled students in  English or Mathematics. Students are selected by the department to participate in the program. As part of the selection process, the department analyses student achievement data and NAPLAN scores to assess student readiness and ability to participate in this program. 

Next term we have 3 students participating in the VHAP Mathematics program 'Patterns: From Symbols to Secrets' and four students participating in the VHAP English program 'The Power of the Pen'. These students will participate in one virtual class per week, over a ten week period, through Virtual School Victoria Online. 

We are looking forward to hearing all about their learning next term.

This term, Caleb from year 5 was selected to participate in the English program. Here is his reflection about the program:

My VHAP Experience 

This term I have been doing English VHAP. For those that don’t know, VHAP stands for the Victorian High Abilities Program. Last term I did the Maths one with Alo, Luke, Jasper and JZ. This term, I am not doing it with anyone. This means I don’t need headphones. VHAP is done online, in different classes. My class is the Avocados! 

At 11:27 on every Thursday I have to go to a breakout room to go do my VHAP. I was actually forgetting to do it, so I had to set an alarm! I load up the VHAP website, and open the lesson and do my attendance. After that, I open the Webex meeting before the lesson starts at 11:35. Last term, the lesson used the LMS lesson a lot, but this term, it doesn’t as much. 

We have a writing piece we are working on, and we have to work on it alongside the homework.  Yes, we have homework. Not much really, just a couple of small activities. In the lessons, we are also sometimes asked to add a concept to our writing pieces. My writing piece is a narrative called ‘Flash Begins’ and it’s the prequel to a story that I wrote in Grade 3.