From the Head of Junior School

Learning Progress

As we move into the final week of Term Two, and reach the half-way mark of the year, its an appropriate time to reflect on our learning progress through Semester One and celebrate our efforts across all aspects of school life.

Our learning progress across the semester is to be celebrated. Semester reports will be issued in the week to come, and whilst grades and results are an important measure, learning progress is much broader than numbers and capital letters alone. Teachers have written comments throughout the semester in SEQTA releases that are a helpful reference point for progress in each learning area, at the point in time when feedback is most relevant. I encourage all families to refer back to these entries via SEQTA Engage as the feedback often has work samples included, audio recordings, video clips, photographs and student reflections. These entries will provide a deep insight to your child’s learning progress. Semester reports are a retrospective update on student learning progress to this point in time. They (reports) are indeed a helpful measure of reflection and conversation when meeting with teachers at the beginning of Term Three.

Reports are composed using a combination of formative and summative assessment for a students learning progress. Formative assessments are typically samples of learning throughout a unit of work to help inform a student and their teacher for how their learning is progressing and which areas to follow up next. Formative assessments can be verbal, practical tasks, written work, drafts and check-ins. Summative assessments represent learning progress typically at the end of a unit, project or period of time. In a school setting, whilst learning is continuous, summative assessment are helpful though for taking a point of reference at a moment in time for how a students learning is progressing in particular areas. Both formative and summative assessments are valuable insights, and we use them together to inform our feedback to students and families throughout the year and in semester reports.

When forming grades in reports, teachers refer to School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) Western Australia guidelines which provide achievement and judging standards across all year levels and subject areas. This moderation process of utilising our formative and summative learning progress together with SCSA achievement and judging standards will provide an accurate sense for student learning progress at this point in time, and provide helpful guidance to project forward their next steps. At each stage of the learning progress, I encourage all families to celebrate the efforts of their children and affirm the value they are contributing each day to their learning.

Interschool Cross Country

Last Friday 17 June, our Junior School Cross Country team ran superbly, putting all their training throughout the term to the test and enjoying the success of their efforts, winning the Champion School trophy. Congratulations to all runners in the team for their contribution to the overall result, and Mr Steven Berryman – Junior School Sports Coordinator for his efforts in preparing the runners this term with two training sessions each week, rain, hail or shine. That commitment to training has been rewarded in wonderful performances throughout the team, and much to celebrate.

BBQ

Also held last Friday was our first afternoon BBQ for Junior School families, which had a sense of celebration about the occasion. This year we haven’t had the number of opportunities we normally would to gather together, and whilst many events have been able to transfer into an online format, it doesn’t fully replicate the same sense of connection we enjoy when we meet on-campus. Our afternoon BBQ was a wonderful opportunity for families to gather, new families to make some connections and established families to reconnect again. My sincere thanks to everyone for supporting this new occasion, it was such a lovely afternoon and truly heart-warming to see our children enjoying the opportunity for free-play together while we chatted. A special thanks to the Senior School student leaders who joined the ‘play’ with our younger children, that was a truly appreciated by everyone. And thank you to families who helped with cooking, preparing rolls, distributing food etc., there was a lovely ‘Sunday afternoon family BBQ’ feel about the occasion. We plan to hold a few more of these in the Second Semester, the next one likely to be early Term Three, then again early in Term Four, both occasions will be added to our school calendar.

Foundation Day

School Foundation Day this past Monday 20 June was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the history of our School and hold an event that is much loved on the calendar – the ‘Running of the Flags’. When people ask about the culture of a school, there are key events that speak to this well and Foundation Day is one of those. We gathered together first, listening to students share the story of GSG, making reference to key figures in our history and having special guests in attendance all adds to the sense of occasion we value. Then as a community we billow out of the Gymnasium and line the paths of the Quad for the 'Running of the Flags'. Student representatives from Years Two, Six, Nine and Twelve proudly take their turn in running the course, passing their House baton along to the cheering of their peers. The event is an expression of our community connection, our House spirit, our effort and drive, celebration and recognition for our school values – Integrity, Respect, Compassion and Commitment. Foundation Day is a wonderful celebration in the final weeks of Term Two.

With sincerest warm regards, and appreciation,

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School

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