The Rocket

Principal's Report

Last week has seen our students in Grades 3 to 6 return to onsite learning and our school is ‘whole’ again. The ‘hum’ of learning conversations, of rekindling friendships and of happiness is a genuine pleasure to see.

 

I have enjoyed wandering the corridors this week, with a highlight being, students creatively reflecting on and sharing their home learning experiences and giving voice and input to adjusting their classroom environment in response to what they learnt about how they learnt whilst at home.

 

Many Thanks 

  • To our students, who adapted to learning from home seamlessly and returned to school as more aware young learners.
  • To our teachers, who taught their students in an entirely different format for eight weeks and welcomed their classes back with minds full of new learnings.
  • To our families, who carefully and considerately balanced ‘teaching at home’ with their ongoing commitments to work and family, as well as the overarching concerns of our global health and wellbeing crisis.

Special Thank You Lunch

Matt Fregon, the local State Government member organised a special thank you lunch for staff at all schools in the area on Friday 5th June.  The generous offer not only showed how valued our staff are but also supported the local businesses, in our case ‘Mocha Joe’s’ who supplied the delicious lunch all in accordance with the health restrictions.  Thank you to Matt and the staff at Mocha Joe’s.

Defibrillator

Earlier this year, after the staff attended their annual CPR Training the discussion arose  regarding where our nearest access to a defibrillator was if the emergency ever arose.  The Physiotherapy Clinic on the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Blackburn Road is our closest option.  It was discussed that to have a unit at the school would be the preferred option.  I discussed this with our wonderful Parent’s Association who unanimously agreed to purchasing a Defibrillator for the school. The Defibrillator has arrived and has been mounted in the hall for easy access by school staff and hall hirers. 

 

Student Reporting

Earlier this term, we received advice from the Department of Education and Training regarding modifications to the Semester One reporting that takes into account the limitations on the ability of teachers to accurately assess student progress leading up to and during the remote learning period.  The report will look different, as it is not possible to implement our standard reporting process.  Student Reports will be sent home via COMPASS on Wednesday 24th June.  We will not be holding formal parent/teacher interviews but if you have any questions regarding your child’s report, you are encouraged to contact your child’s teacher via email to arrange a phone call or catch up.

 

2021 Foundation Enrolments

We are currently enrolling students for 2021.  The beginning of Term 2 is usually our busiest, as parents of 4-year-old children begin to look for a primary school.  Moving to remote learning and the health restrictions that have continued to be in place for this term means that we have not been able to run our usual school tours.

 

If you are a parent at our school and have a younger sibling to enrol for next year, please download an enrolment form from the school website or see Julie or Michelle at the Office for an enrolment form as soon as possible.  In addition to this if you know of a neighbour or friend who has a child ready to start school next year please refer them to our school website for the enrolment information - www.syndalsp.vic.edu.au.

 

Virtual School Assembly

We all enjoyed our trial virtual assembly on Monday, it was a great experience for us all. Student Achievement Certificates were presented to students in Foundation to Year 2.  A group of students from Years 3 to 5 shared their experiences from Remote Learning as did our School Vice Captains Charlie and Aisha from Year 6. Thank you to the production team, Miss Ivin and Mr Phillpotts for organising this.  Our final assembly on Monday will be via Webex and we welcome you to join us.  Please remember to be on mute and to have your video off when you join.  The assembly will start at 9.15 a.m.  The focus will be the presentation of the Terrific Kids Awards for Term 1 as this had to be postponed, and the Student Achievement Awards for this week.

 

Meeting number: 165 011 4216   Password: SSPS 

 

 

Finally, I would like to thank the parents and grandparents who have either spoken, sent cards and emailed over the term to show their thanks and support to all our staff. We have had cookies and cakes supplied, flowers dropped in and even a coffee van organised by one of our families.  The staff and I have been totally overwhelmed by the support you have given us and sincerely thank you.  I recently attended a webinar presented by Dr Simon Breakspear titled ‘Building Back Better’ which I feel highlights the direction we at Syndal South will work together to achieve.