Principal's Report 

What a fabulous Term 1 we have had at Rangeview to begin 2023. Over the past weeks we have run our planning week with all teams meeting together for a day of planning while the students had all of their specialist classes in one day. Our Foundation students had a visit from Victoria Police to learn more about our emergency service officers, all of our Level 1 Team completed two full days of professional learning in the new phonics model - Little Learners Love Literacy, our Foundation team and the Level 2 - 5/6 Teams all participated in a full day of Phonics professional learning provided by DE Regional Office specialists, our whole school celebrated Harmony Day, Level 4 participated in Lacross Clinics, the PLC leaders and our leadership team participated in the final two sessions of Cambridge Education Coaching to further refine our PLC practice, and we all ate Cupcakes on the wonderful P&F Cupcake Day! 

Curriculum Day 

On Friday of last week we had a Curriculum Day which saw our Foundation team and the teams of Level 2 - 5/6 all participate in Professional Learning run by DE specialists in phonological knowledge, awareness and the phonology and morphology of words. This training is a major step towards the school building a bespoke explicit phonics model for our Level 2 - Level 5/6 classes. It is essential that the explicit phonics instruction of the Foundation and Level 1 team through Little Learners Love Literacy, is continued throughout the rest of the school. 

Our Curriculum Day for Term 2 will be Friday 2nd June. The teachers will be using this day to work on the Semester One Student Reports and the provision of this day is a requirement of the new VGSA 2022. Our OSH Club will be available for any families that need care. 

Annual Report to the School Community 2022

The 2022 Annual Report to the School Community outlines some of the achievements of the school over the previous year and gives some direction for 2023. The report is presented in six sections; School Context, Learning, Wellbeing, Engagement, Highlights, and Finance. 

Each year the school works towards the achievement of set goals from the Annual Improvement Plan (AIP) through meeting defined targets. Results for these targets are drawn from data sets such as NAPLAN, Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS), Staff Opinion Survey, and Parent Opinion Survey. 

Annual Report Summary

In 2022 the school maintained a focus of on-going professional learning for staff in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and Mathematics. The school also introduced The Resilience Project (TRP) as a whole school wellbeing model. As a result, student learning growth and achievement is above expected levels, particularly in Mathematics, and student wellbeing and engagement is positive, strong and increasing.

Learning

2022 Achievements 

A focus on strengthening our Professional Learning Communities has seen staff PLCs work though the FISO Inquiry Cycle 2 -3 times through the year. PLCs utilised student learning data to identify areas of need and then implemented small changes of practice using evidence-based strategies and interventions. Ongoing data analysis enabled constant review of these changes. 

In 2022 the school introduced The Resilience Project which utilises the tenants of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness to improve Student Wellbeing. 

2023 Focus

Professional Learning Communities, the teaching of Phonics, and The Resilience Project will be a focus over the next 3 years as a component of our new strategic plan. The Tutor Learning Initiative will continue and be strengthened in 2023. 

Data Analysis

• Year 3 and Year 5 Reading results are strong, much better than state results and similar to Like Schools. 
• Year 3 and Year 5 Numeracy results are strong. Much better than state results and similar to Like Schools. 
• Year 5 Writing results are better than previous year results but lower than Like Schools. Move in 2022 to writing on laptops. 
• Our benchmark growth in Reading, Writing and Numeracy was excellent – better than Like Schools and significantly better for numeracy. 

Wellbeing

The health and wellbeing of our students (and staff) was a key priority across the 2022 school year. Careful and considered management of COVID protocols and following all DET guidelines ensured that classrooms remained safe and supportive learning environments for our students. 

As a school, we made effective use of many resources to support the wellbeing and mental health of our students including the introduction of The Resilience Project (TRP), Cyber Safety Program, our Social Worker running the Peaceful Kids Program and Social Groups, the Martial Arts Therapy Program, and our whole school Buddy Program.

Data Analysis

• AtoSS results showed strong results in School Connectedness- better than state and close to Like Schools. 
• AtoSS results showed excellent results in Respect for Diversity – better than state and equal to Like Schools. 
• Individual Wellbeing / Life Satisfaction results are very high and significantly higher than 2021 results. 
• Parent Opinion Survey showed a decrease in teacher communication (coming out of covid) and a decrease in school improvement. 
• Parent Opinion Survey showed a very strong result in School Pride and Confidence – much better than state and Like Schools. 

Engagement

We continued our work as a Lead School in the Rights, Resilience and Respectful Relationships model, we again ran our Student/Parent/Teacher conferences and we extended the role of the Junior School Council to begin to develop our focus on student voice and agency. 

Data Analysis

• AtoSS results showed an increase in Sense of Confidence but this was a lower result than Like Schools. 
• AtoSS results showed continued lower levels in Student Voice and Agency than Like Schools. 
• Parent Opinion Survey results were strong in Student Motivation and Support, and Effective Teaching Time. 
• Parent Opinion Survey results were excellent in Parent Participation and Student Voice and Agency? (our parents believe the students have voice) 
• Parent Opinion Survey standout results were in Student Connectedness and Confidence and Resiliency. 

2022 Highlights 

Our re-engagement with the school community, our wonderful School Fair, Our Sporting Program and Run Club, and our new Senior Toilets are some of the highlights of 2022. 

The full 2022 Annual Report will be available on the school website from Term 2. 

Annual Implementation Plan 2023

The Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) 2023 is in line with the second year of the School Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025. 

Our main focus initiatives for 2023 are strengthening the school’s Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), implementing a whole school Phonics Model and continuing our work in and with, the Resilience Project (TRP). 

Planning Week & Student Voice

Next Term our classes will be emersed in a whole school Inquiry Unit with a broad concept - Move, Make, Motivate. This is the theme for Education Week and it encourages physical activity, hands on learning and student voice in education. 

To take the first steps towards authentic student voice, our teams asked for thoughts and ideas from the students themselves around what they would like to learn, how they would like to learn, and how they would like to present their ideas. A few students from each level then attended part of the teachers planning day to present their cohort's ideas and discuss the Inquiry Unit in person. This rich data has been taken on by the teaching teams and integrated into the planning for the term. 

These were some of their ideas; 

• How do different things move - bodies, animals, cars, the World?
• What does motivate mean?
• How did space become real?
• Dinosaurs. 
• Mythical creatures.
• Clouds.
• Why don't electric cars make sound?
• How do we steer planes?
• What is the fastest animal?
• Use Mr Evan's knowledge to make LEGO that moves.
• Origami.
• Robotics.
• Sports and Games.
• How do you become a PE teacher?
• Sustainable cities.
• The human body.
• Student Voice in Government.
• Robots in workplaces.
• AI
• Climate change.
• Ocean exploration.
• Dancing, exercise & yoga. 

We hope you have a wonderful Easter break and look forward to seeing you all back ready for more learning and fun in Term 2! 

Marika Ferguson

Principal