Principal Team Report
Upcoming Important Dates
Term 3 2024
12 August: Year 2 Learn to Swim Program Commences (daily for 2 weeks)
26 August: Year 3 Learn to Swim Program Commences (daily for 2 weeks)
9 September: Prep Learn to Swim Program Commences (daily for 2 weeks)
20 September: End Term 3 (2:00pm dismissal)
2024 Curriculum and Student Free Days
Professional Practice Day
Professional Practice Day (student free day) is confirmed for the day before Melbourne Cup Day – Monday 4 November
** Please note that additional events can be accessed via the Whole School XUNO calendar.
Children’s Book Week 2024
Dress-up Day: Monday 19 August (dress as favourite book character) from 9:15am onwards under the COLA.
The past two weeks, all 25 classes have completed reading all 6 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Books! Now we are collecting data on each classes’ favourite CBCA books. It’s been fun collecting the data from all classes.
There's excitement already! On the 19th of August, Book Week at ASPS will be celebrated at assembly by wearing a costume from your favourite book character (it can be any book, like Harry Potter or Pig the Pug).
We’re looking forward to seeing your creative costumes for Book Week!
Remember, Book Week will be held on the 19th of August!
Positive Behaviour Support and Restorative Classrooms
As part of the recent curriculum day, our school's Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders, Ella Tregaskis and Darien Hunte, led our staff through an interactive workshop focused on our school's Prevent, Teach, Reinforce approach to support positive student behaviours. Throughout the day, our teachers explored the preventative and proactive strategies used to support all students in being Ready to Learn. Teachers also explored ways in which they can build trust and effective relationships (teacher to student and student to student) through restorative, strength based approaches.
The following short video is a great starting point for those wanting to understand the basis for taking a restorative approach. As a school, how we engage with students during times of conflict and challenge is central to how we want our students to approach conflict in their personal relationships now and when they are adults. Using our ASPS Positive Behaviour Expectations, we also take time to reframe challenging behaviours as resilient, respectful, compassionate and learning behaviours that we would like to see more often.
Winter Wonderland Gala Ball - What a Success!
On behalf of the organising committee, we would like to thank everyone who came along to our 2024 Winter Wonderland Gala Ball on Saturday 20th July. The night was a huge success and we were able to raise money that will go towards redeveloping underutilised areas at our school into welcoming outdoor play and learning spaces. This will, in turn, support the health, wellbeing and development of all of our current and future students. We are incredibly appreciative of your support and hope you had a great evening!
Ball Committee - Necole Reska, Beck Cattermole, Annie Strauch, Michelle Linderman, Alicia Lanigan, Bec Robson, Elle Chapman and Kate Collett
Fundraising for Next Phase of Landscaping and Play Space Development:
Funds raised via the Winter Ball and events such as this year's Fun Run will contribute to the planning and redevelopment of our gardens and playspaces - specifically, Zone A (addressing the bottle-neck entrance near the toilet block) and Zone B (development of nature, sand and water play spaces).
Following the success of the recent redevelopment of the Tooronga Rd landscaping and outdoor learning spaces, School Council has given approval to engage Pollen Services to develop detailed landscape architectual plans for the redevelopment of the above-mentioned spaces. The design brief for Zone B includes but is not limited to the following:
Creating Exceptional Sensory Experiences: Integrate play-spaces and pathways to stimulate multiple senses. Consider the use of natural materials (sand, pebbles, bamboo) and moving parts (wind chimes, light play, sound creation) to enrich the sensory experience for all students.
Sand & Water Play: Integrate flowing water into this space (pump, channels) fornew sensory experiences. Consider how water and sand are maintained providing easy maintenance for years to come.
Accessibility: Ensure that play areas are fully accessible. This includes utilising surfacing that accommodates students with mobility challenges and incorporating diverse play elements that are engaging for children with various physical and sensory abilities.