ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT

Julie Andrews and Paul Dawson

Parents and Friends

At last week’s meeting we had a small attendance but covered;

• Presence at Open Night next week, 23 March
• Presence and support at the Parent Teacher Interview Day, 14 April
• Helping with the preparations for the Fifty and Fabulous celebrations.

Next term there will be two afternoon meetings and one dinner meeting. All dates still to be confirmed. We are looking for new members to swell the numbers.

Reports

This year we are using two methods of reporting to parents.

Firstly there are the Progressive reports that are completed by teachers twice a term. This week, Week 8, is the second of these reports this term and are available for view via the Parent Portal. The Progressive Reports rate the child on five areas of learning behaviours from ‘consistently’ to ‘rarely’.

Secondly, there are assessment task reports that are published by each teacher as assessments are completed. For each subject you can expect to see approximately four assessments being reported via Markbook per semester, and they can be viewed through the Parent Portal. Specific feedback using rubrics, explicit teaching and conferencing with the students will continue to occur in the classroom. Students use this feedback to improve their efforts in the next assessment. Not all assessments are going to be reported in this way.

Both forms of reporting will be the basis for the Parent Teacher interviews.

Parent – teacher - student Interviews will be held on Thursday 14 April. Please note that this is a change of date from previously published in the newsletter. Interviews bookings will be made using the online booking section of the Parent Portal. Interview times will be available from 12pm-7pm. More information will be sent home to families in the coming days.

If you have any concerns with making bookings on that day please contact the school office or the relevant Year Level Coordinator.

New Vic Curriculum

As of 2017, the curriculum framework will be based on the Victorian Curriculum which itself is based on the Australian Curriculum. Key features are that the descriptions of knowledge and skills are clearer and easier to use to construct learning sequences. The standards will continue to use a continuum of learning and will map straight across from the 7.0, 8.0 etc. that are currently being used.

During the week, in the Professional Learning Team meeting (PLT), Laura Cox the Curriculum Leading Teacher, introduced staff to the Victorian Curriculum. The use of the Vic Curriculum, Hattie’s Visible Learning instructional model and the Backwards by Design planning model form the triad of how we plan and implement teaching and learning at the college.

Jacaranda

All payments for the Year 7 to 9 Jacaranda ebooks need to be paid by the end of the term.  These ebooks have proven to be very engaging for the students with positive feedback from staff and students on the value it adds to the students learning in the classroom.  It is also important to note that they are much cheaper than individual textbooks and are easier on the student’s backs.

Uniform

Just a reminder for the girls to ensure that there skirts are the correct lengths.  The winter skirt is to be up to the student’s knees and the summer dress is to be no less than 8cms above the student’s knees.  Students have until week two of term two to ensure that they have their uniform’s following the school’s guidelines.

Captains

The following students have been elected as the house captain positions.  They will be the voice for the home groups and new initiatives and concerns will be directed through these representatives.  They will then be taken to the Year Level or Area meetings for actioning.

Synthetic Turf

The students are to be congratulated on the way that they are utilising the synthetic turf.  They are respecting their peers and allowing them to participate on the days that certain year levels are timetabled.  It is also pleasing to see that students are utilising the areas before and after school.

Absenteeism

All student absences will continue to require that the school receive parental approval of their absences.  If you are aware that your child is going to be absent could you please ring the school Absence Hotline (Phone: 5240 5899) to leave a voice message or email on attendance@ngsc.com.au and leave the following information; YOUR NAME, RELATIONSHIP TO THE STUDENT, THE STUDENT’S NAME, FORM, DURATION AND REASON FOR ABSENCE. ‘Absence Hotline’ fridge magnets are available from the General Office.

If you are unable to ring the school, please write and sign a note with the above information on the next day your child returns to school. This will help ensure that you are aware of your child’s absence and improve their attendance.  All unapproved absences will be followed up with letters home.

Absence letters have been sent home for outstanding unapproved absences and students are required to return these to their home group teacher.