Dear Parents and Carers,

This week marks the end of NAPLAN assessments for our grade 3 and 5 students. We are incredibly proud of students who participated in NAPLAN testing. Despite some initial nerves and uncertainty, they approached the challenge with confidence and determination, giving their best effort in every test. Their resilience and positive attitudes were truly commendable. We look forward to acknowledging and celebrating their successes later in the year when reports are made available to families. For any students who have missed assessments we have until Friday to catch up in Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy. Thank you to our Grade 3 and 5 teachers who have supported our students in achieving their best.

School Review

Last week, we finalised our school review process which supports the development of a School Strategic Plan for the next four years. I would like to thank our reviewer Barry Soraghan, Senior Education Improvement Leader Richard Lambert, Principal Challenge Partners Kate Mancarella and Damien Kitch, School Council President Tim Price and the Whitehorse PS staff, parents and students for the passion and enthusiasm throughout the review process. The review enabled us to reflect on key strengths of the school in particular our Literacy results, Kitchen/Garden program and the embedding of School Wide Positive Behaviours and to look at some goals as a school where we can continue to improve. We look forward to sharing our goals with the community in greater detail early next term.

Stand Up Project - 4:45pm Thursday 20th March

A reminder to the community that our Grade 5/6 Stand Up Project leaders will be presenting to families and staff this Thursday at 4:45pm. We strongly encourage families to come along and learn more about the strategies we are working on alongside our students to support the wellbeing of all students across the school.

Harmony Day

This Friday we will celebrate Harmony Day as a whole school. We have a number of key events including a special lunch prepared by members of our local community and finishing with a special performance by Melbourne Fang Hua Arts Performance Club who will be performing Ink Wash Epistles (Shuǐ Mò Shū Jiǎn) & Day of Joy (Hǎo Rìzi). We hope to see all students dressed in orange or in traditional dress.

Chess Tournament

On Monday, we had several students from Grades 1 to 6 participate in a regional chess tournament at Whitehorse Primary School. For many of the students this was their first time competing against other students and they all represented our school with pride. At the end of the day our school finished in second place which was a fantastic achievement. Well done to Charlotte, Jacob, Izyan, Harrison, Rufus, Liam, Justin, Shaaz and Kayaan for their efforts.

School Wide Positive Behaviour - Bronze Award

This week I was informed by the Department of Education that our school had been successful in achieving Bronze Award status for its work on School Wide Positive Behaviour. Our school has been continually working to put in place structures and support to enable positive behaviour in all areas of our school. This result reflects the hard work and dedication of our students and teachers in developing sustainable processes and actions such as our Behaviour Matrix, Minor/Major Behaviour charts and development of whole school rewards.

Kind regards,

Andrew Den Elzen

Principal

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