Message from the Principal 

WELL DONE & THANK YOU CAMPERS

Our Year 6’s had a GREAT Anglesea Camp last week. Camps provide our students with a wonderful opportunity to try new things and challenge themselves. It might be having a go on the zipline and facing a fear of heights, working with a group of peers to complete a range of initiative activities involving leadership and teamwork or even simply being able to meet new friends or broaden a friendship group. Our Year 6 Camp is definitely one of the highlights of the year and I know our students will remember the experience long into the future.

These opportunities are only organised thanks to the dedication and commitment of our staff and of course the parents that attended as well. Many thanks to Becc Stephens, Tegan Smith, Steph Burns, Jordan Daley, Brad Ryan, Sheryl Munks-Callahan, Ashlee Mackinven, Mario Korze and Courtney Turner.

ANNUAL REPORT 2023 DATA

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we continue sharing some of the data from our 2023 Annual Report as it is finalised and ready for School Council on 30th April.

2023 NAPLAN Learning Data highlights the large percentage of students in Year 3 achieving on Strong or Exceeding proficiency levels. In Reading this was 10% higher than Similar Schools and over 20% higher than the State average. In Numeracy, this was over 5% higher than Similar School and again over 20% higher than the State average. Year 5 data in both areas was not as strong. Whilst both Reading and Numeracy were both over 5% higher than the State average, they were also both 7% lower than Similar School average. 

Pleasingly, the 2023 School Performance Report measures our school in the "influence" group for Achievement in Numeracy with a 5% increase in students with Medium to High Relative Growth.    

These strong outcomes were delivered through developing teacher capacity to plan a differentiated program that ensures challenge and progress for each student. Teacher data literacy had been strengthened, and planning for learning is more dynamic by focusing on two-week blocks. 

High Abilities and Tutor Learning Program / Reading Support Program were delivered effectively across the year. This included an extension to programs offered such as Maths Olympiad, Maths Games, Maths Challenge, ICAS and Writing Extension. This saw more students participate and strong results obtained across the school as evidenced by a consistent increase in Norm-Referenced Testing Scale Scores in both Reading & Mathematics across the school.

Data literacy across teams was improved through PLC processes and professional learning sessions. This included professional learning delivered by Sharon Draper / Reading Support in the use of Running Records to inform planning and teaching.

All teams completed four PLC cycles, including celebration and sharing of learning at the end of each cycle. Peer Observation started to become interwoven within the cycle, along with targeted and directed professional learning at whole school and team level. High Impact Teaching Strategies were built into all cycles with precision and effectiveness. High Impact Wellbeing Strategies were also built into each cycle.

WE VALUE YOUR CONTRIBUTION

We know that maintaining and extending these strong data sets are a team effort. We value your contribution and seek your continued support.

At home, you can assist your child to find an extra 10 minutes a day to read. It might be as simple as 10 minutes less on technology or reading for 10 minutes before dinner. We know that you can become better at something if you focus on it more. Reading becomes easier and more enjoyable the more you do it! If you need some motivation have a think about this: If your child currently reads for just 1 minute a day, they will read 21,000 words this year. Increasing this by 10 minutes a day will lead to 321,000 words being read in a year. It also works for those students that are already reading for the suggested 15 minutes a day. Currently these readers would be churning through 1.8 million words a year. Ten minutes more would take this to over 2.7 million! 

Help your child to choose different types of books to read and take turns to read with them. Talk about the book and look for words to pay special attention too. Most importantly, make the experience as fun and engaging as possible.

STUDENT AGENCY CONFERENCES

This is a reminder that our Student Agency Conferences will be held on Tuesday 26th March. On this day, students only attend school for the duration of their conference. These are 15 minutes each and they will run between 9am and 6.30pm. Bookings are now open via Compass and they will close on Monday 25th at 12pm.

Please note that the conference structure will be 15 minutes with the teacher, student and parent/s. As is always the case, should you wish to discuss any issue with your child’s teacher throughout the year, you can contact them to make a suitable time.

We also have our Scholastic Book Fair during the day, students can browse and purchase books (EFPOS available) in the Library.

NAPLAN ONLINE

This week and last week, our Year 3 & 5 students have been completing the annual NAPLAN assessments. This year, the tests continue to be completed online using iPads. The value of using this platform is that the test will adapt to better match the student’s level as opposed to a one size fits all where often there is only one or two questions that stretch students at the top end. The online platform will also mean that in time schools and families will be able to access the data and results in a timely manner. In the past, NAPLAN results have been sent to schools in September which is well past the used by date for our teachers to use the assessments to guide their teaching and planning. 

RIDE TO SCHOOL

This Friday 22nd March, is National Ride2School Day. We are encouraging as many students as possible to ride, school or walk to school. 

James Penson 

Principal