Assistant Principal Update

Hello everyone,

It has been another fabulous week at Alphington with lots of learning and achievements across the school. While it has been an extremely busy week, we have continued to focus on developing the learning journey of each student at Alphington Primary School.

2023 Book Week

Each year since 1945 the CBCA has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. This year we will again be inviting grandparents/special persons to be a part of our Book Week celebrations. 

Then on Monday 4th September students will get to watch live action productions of two books nominated for this years CBCA book awards. 

District Athletics

Next Monday 21 August students selected to represent APS will travel to Meadowglen International Athletics Stadium for the District event. We have a team of 50 students representing APS across the 10-, 11- and 12-year-old age categories. The school is allowed to nominate a maximum of two students per event, and individual students can compete in a maximum of two events, plus the 4 x100 relay as an additional event. 

Megan, Alan, and I will attend the event. Parents are encouraged to come along and support our team. A big thank you to Megan for her efforts in organising the challenging nomination process and coordinating the various plans to ensure we can send as many students as possible to compete.

RMIT Pre-service Teachers

Alphington Primary School supports the development of our educational workforce. A part of this means mentoring beginning education students as they complete their degrees and courses. Throughout each academic year we accommodate a variety of Pre-service Teachers.  Next week we have eight students from RMIT University commencing their pre-service teaching placement at APS. Students will spend 3 weeks working in classrooms with their mentor. The students are working in Year 2, Year 3, and Year 5. We welcome them to APS and wish them the best in their ongoing learning. 

Wellbeing at APS – Circle Time 

Circle Time is a teaching strategy which provides a structured mechanism for solving problems, in which all participants have an equal footing. Circle Time affords the opportunity for the teacher and class to communicate with each other about issues which promote self-esteem and positive behaviour. 

Circle Time should not be regarded as a sanction, and as children begin to understand the mechanism, they will ask the teacher for a Circle Time session when they think it is necessary.

Where Circle Time is developed across levels in a planned, developmental way, many teachers report that it makes significant impact, in developing children’s skills and attitudes. 

There are the rules by which Circle Time will proceed most effectively.  Ideally students make up their own rules as part of their classroom agreements although there are some which are well-considered examples. Such as:  

• You can only talk when you are holding the ‘talking stick’ 
• Everybody listens when someone else is speaking  
• Everybody has the chance to speak  
• Always keep the circle shape  
• Everyone has the right to pass  
• Listen respectfully to what a person says  
• Children may disagree with a statement but no one should be put  down  
• No statement or answer is wrong  
• Nobody should be mentioned by name
• Children can only talk about their own issues, not someone else’s

Year 2-6 Production:

As Melissa mentioned, this week Elizabeth from STOMP Dance commenced practice for our Year 2-6 Concert. The effort, enthusiasm and engagement were excellent, and many classes got through the choreography for a whole dance. A spectacular effort. Students will spend the next five weeks completing their class dances, while the Year 6 students will be working on the script development, acting, props and programs. There will be a whole school dress rehearsal on Thursday 14 September at the Ivanhoe Girls Grammar Performing Arts Centre (PAC). The performance will be also held at the PAC from 7:00pm on Thursday 14 September. Tickets for the performance will go on sale through TryBooking on Friday 25 August, and will be on sale until Friday 8 September. Tickets will be $20 each for adults and $15 for concessions. There will be a 2 ticket per family limit to ensure all students are able to secure tickets for the 500-capacity venue.

Have a great week.

Shane Wilkie

Assistant Principal