Principal's Report
Dear Families,
NEW RESOURCES
Thanks to the hard-working efforts of our Parents and Friends Group, we have been able to purchase some valuable resources for our classrooms.
Mrs Tuhan was very excited to order a range of texts to support the art program across the school. Meanwhile, the Junior Section has received a set of calculators for students to use, along with some new manipulatives.
Ms Osmond consulted with students in the Senior Section about the types of books they would like to read in class and purchased these for our Book Clubs.
We are very fortunate to be able to provide these resources for our students to use.
REPORT WRITING
Student reports will be uploaded to XUNO next Wednesday.
As you may be aware, the teachers' union is currently taking protected industrial action. One of the directives associated with this action involves union members not completing written comments on student report cards. As a result, you may notice that some reports this semester contain your child's academic grades but do not include formal teacher comments.
Please be assured that this omission does not reflect any lack of care for your child's progress. Your child's assessments and grades have been fully completed in accordance with curriculum requirements. We understand that report comments are valuable to families, and we remain fully committed to your child's education.
As always, if you would like to discuss your child's academic progress, areas for improvement, or overall development, please contact the school.
BIOCATS
Early on Monday morning, the Grade 5 and 6 students will head to Geelong to participate in the BioCATS Program. This partnership program involves BioLAB, the Victorian Bioscience Education Centre, SEDA, and the Geelong Cats.
The Years 5–6 program focuses on Physical Health and STEM Inquiry. It engages students in the science, mathematics, technology, and health aspects of Australian Rules football. Since its inception in 2012, the BioCATS Program has been delivered to almost 12,000 students.
The full-day program, held at the Deakin Cats Community Centre at GMHBA Stadium, provides students and teachers with an opportunity to experience a day in the life of an elite athlete through GPS data tracking and analysis, while learning about the importance of nutrition, hydration, and the benefits of sports participation.
The students will receive exclusive access to the new Joel Selwood Stand where students will get to walk in the footsteps of the Matildas, Big Bash Cricket teams, AFL teams and the Foo Fighters! The tour experience will include athlete locker rooms, warm up rooms, rehabilitation areas, team briefing rooms and the team entry to the ground.
This program is provided at no cost to students and is a fantastic opportunity that takes place every two years. We ask that parents encourage their child to participate.
SAFETY IN THE CARPARK
Slow Down signs have been installed in the car park areas, as the speed at which some vehicles enter from Wren Street is a concern.
ORRVALE REVIEW
On Tuesday and Thursday of this week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Orrvale Primary School Review process. School reviews occur every four years and provide an opportunity for schools to reflect on their achievements, identify areas for improvement, and plan for future growth.
As part of the review process, each school invites two principals from other schools to act as Challenge Partners. In this role, we work alongside the review panel, examining evidence and engaging in professional discussions to help validate the school's self-evaluation and future direction.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Orrvale Primary School and valued the opportunity to gain insights into the many successful initiatives they have implemented. It was rewarding to see the dedication of staff and students and to learn from the innovative practices that contribute to their positive school culture and strong learning outcomes.
SCHOOL POLICIES
There have been several policies up for review recently. Below are our updated policies which will be available on our webpage too. We are hoping to upgrade our webpage next term to be more user friendly. They can be found below or in the document section of the webpage.
AFLW Essendon Visit/Footy Day
Today we had a visit from 3 players from the Essendon AFLW team. They were Grace Belloni, Maggie Mclachlan and Georgia Nanscawen. They spoke to the kids first of all and handed out some prizes, then they ran a clinic, where the kids got to kick the footys and practice their skills. We were lucky that the weather held out for this. Unfortunately the rain started after lunch, so we missed out on our afternoon outdoor activities. It was great to see so many children dress in their team colours.
DENTAL VAN
In week 2 of Term 3, we will have a visit from Australian Smile Group. It is a travelling dental van that visits schools to provide comprehensive exam, cleaning and any required treatment through the Child Dental Benefit Scheme of bulk billing. There is NO cost for this service. Forms were sent home during the week, please return them by the end of term to ensure your child can be seen on the day.
WINTER SPORTS
Next Thursday, the Grade 5 & 6 students will participate in a winter sports day in Tatura with students from Tatura Primary School and Murchison Primary School. The organisers are calling for volunteers that would be available to umpire netball, football or soccer. Please let the school know if you are available.
END TERM ASSEMBLY
Our final assembly for Term 2 will take place on Friday 26th of June commencing at 1.30pm. Students will be dismissed at 2.15pm
Have a lovely weekend,
Regards,
Filippa & Heather