Principal's Notes

Dear families and friends, 

Welcome back to Term Three. We have lots of exciting learning planned and the Lightning Prems in Coleraine for our senior students to look forward too. At the front entrance, we have a brand new sign and now we have an updated sign on Merino-Casterton Road indicating where to turn off to get to our school. Thank you Eva and Stewie McFadden for their help with the design and installing them.

Exciting News – We're Launching Our Newsletter on iNewsletter!

We’re excited to share that our school newsletter is moving to a new online platform called iNewsletter!

This change will make it easier for families to access school news, updates, photos, and key dates – all in one convenient and interactive place. iNewsletter works on phones, tablets and computers, so you can stay connected wherever you are. You will receive a link via email or or from ClassDojo. Simply click the link to view the latest edition. No logins or downloads required! If you have any questions or need help accessing iNewsletter, feel free to contact the school office.

Student reports were sent home at the end of last term. This is always a great chance to showcase the academic and social progress of our students to their families. On Thursday 31st July, some of our families attended parent/teacher interviews with the class teachers. Please note, we also have term meetings for students who receive additional support. Kou and Thomas received their NAPLAN results this week and they must be congratulated on their excellent results. Overall, Victoria as a state is achieving very well and is outperforming in nearly every area. 

Each Friday, we are continuing our sessions with the Digby and Merino Knitting Ladies, pompom creatures are the focus now plus some of our students are continuing with their knitting projects. After recess, the students will be in groups gardening in our school grounds and then cooking with the produce we have grown. In our projects, students will continue working on our community mural for the Merino Progress Association and start painting our cubby. Another future project will be creating an Indigenous Garden area, just behind the library. Hands-on learning makes education active and engaging. It’s a chance for students to learn by doing and helping build confidence and connect learning to life. 

On Monday 11th August, Miss Bailey, Miss Sartain and myself will be heading to Horsham for the day to attend some professional learning on responsive teaching, which is: Teachers start by clearly explaining new concepts and demonstrating how to apply them, this involves checking for understanding throughout the lesson, using techniques like quick questions, 'think-pair-share,' or exit tickets, responding to student needs based on the assessment data. This might involve reteaching, provide differentiated support, or moving on to more challenging material.  Mr Ray Penny will be here at school teaching the students. 

Last week, we farewelled Foundation student, Millie Jenkins, who was with us for term two while staying with the Mutch family. We wish Millie and her family all the very best.                                                                                                                                                                                       Kind regards, 

 Lisa Ferrier