From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Mitcham Primary School Families,

Remembering Kavita Parmar

This afternoon at assembly as a whole school we took time to remember our bright and colourful Assistant Principal, Kavita Parmar, who was with us for just a short time, but who made a lasting difference to the lives she touched here at Mitcham Primary School.

Kavita brought joy and warmth. She loved colour, and she loved each of our students’ smiles. She always said that their laughter and joy were the best parts of her day.

To honour Kavita’s memory, we will be planting some beautiful, bright flowers and an evergreen native tree in our garden. It is a small way for us to remember Kavita and to keep a bit of her spirit with us – something joyful and colourful, just like she was.

I hope we can continue to carry her kindness, her joy, and her love of learning with us each day.

I hope that everyone enjoyed the recent long weekend and took the opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend some quality family time. It’s always valuable to have a brief pause to return refreshed and ready for the final weeks of Term 4!

On Monday, our staff had a very productive curriculum day, diving into some exciting developments in the new Victorian English Curriculum 2.0. One of our main focuses was on enhancing our understanding and delivery of the "Big 6" of reading for our Prep – Year 2 students. These six essential components—oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension—are vital to building strong, confident readers. By intentionally embedding these elements into our practice, we can ensure that all our students have the foundational skills they need to become proficient readers. We also dedicated time to exploring effective phonics instruction and learned about Macquarie University’s MultiLit SpellEx program for students in Years 3 – 6.

To integrate the Big 6 into our teaching, we use our established explicit teaching model known as GANAG. Created by educational researcher Jane Pollock, GANAG (Goal, Access Prior Knowledge, New Information, Application, Goal Review) supports structured, intentional lesson planning. This model provides a flexible framework that enables teachers to deliver clear, purposeful lessons. By using GANAG, we can seamlessly incorporate the Big 6 into our reading instruction, allowing students to engage actively in their learning process by connecting prior knowledge with new content and reinforcing understanding through consistent goal setting and reflection. This approach aligns with our dedication to providing high-quality learning experiences and fostering continuous growth for every student.

In addition to our work on the English curriculum, we also focused on the new Disability Inclusion reforms, which are reshaping how schools across Victoria support students with additional needs. These reforms aim to make education more inclusive and accessible by offering better resources, targeted support, and a more individualized approach for students with disabilities. For our school, this means continuing to provide even more responsive and equitable learning experiences, ensuring each child feels valued and empowered.

It was an inspiring day of collaboration and growth, and we look forward to seeing these improvements come to life in our classrooms.

Birthday Celebrations and Treats at School

We love celebrating the birthdays of our students and recognize that this is a special occasion for many children. However, we would like to kindly ask that parents refrain from providing edible treats or lollies to share with the class for birthdays.

The reason for this request is that we have several students in our school with anaphylactic allergies, and some children are not permitted to eat sugary or other types of treats due to health or dietary restrictions. We want to ensure that all children feel included and safe during birthday celebrations, and that no one feels left out because of their dietary needs.

Instead of edible treats, we encourage parents to consider non-food items such as pencils, erasers, stickers, or small gifts that all children can enjoy. These alternatives help us foster an inclusive environment where every child can participate and feel valued.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to create a safe and welcoming community for all our students.

Reminder to Show Courtesy and Care Around our School Grounds

In recent days, I have received complaints about verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour between parents and carers during these busy times. While I understand the pressures of school runs, it is crucial that we all remain patient and considerate. Verbal abuse, whether directed at other parents, school staff, or anyone else in the vicinity, is not acceptable in or around our school grounds. We want Mitcham Primary to be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, and we ask that all members of our community lead by example in how they interact with one another.

Please ensure that:

You drive slowly and cautiously in the school car park and neighbouring streets.
All children are dropped off and picked up safely.
You remain calm and courteous when engaging with others, particularly in stressful or busy moments.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. By working together, we can ensure that Mitcham Primary remains a place where safety, respect, and kindness are paramount.

Warmly,

Erin

Mitchat

Respect, Resilience, Kindness, Love of Learning

Issue 18 · 08 Nov 2024

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