Assistant Principals
Supporting Our Students by Supporting Our Teachers
As teachers, we are lifelong learners ourselves. Every Wednesday afternoon, our staff come together to learn and practise as a team. Recently, we began a professional learning series on Responsive Teaching, focusing on strengthening our instructional practices and ensuring every student is supported to succeed.
Teachers explored the importance of whole-class participation, recognising that participation is often the evidence of your child’s learning here at Grayling. We want our classrooms to be vibrant places where students are actively thinking, sharing their ideas, and engaging in their learning together.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN is the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy conducted across Australia for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students are assessed in the areas of Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. NAPLAN is just one part of our school’s assessment and reporting process and does not replace the ongoing assessments teachers complete throughout the year.
This year, NAPLAN will be conducted between Wednesday 12 March and Monday 24 March 2026. Our students will complete the assessments online at school during this period, with each test scheduled on different days. Teachers will support students through the process to ensure they feel comfortable and prepared.
Families can support their child by:
- Ensuring they get a good night’s sleep
- Providing a healthy breakfast
- Encouraging them to simply try their best
- Talking positively about their efforts throughout the week
Playground Behaviour and Seeking Support
Our playground is a busy and active space where students build friendships, practise teamwork and enjoy unstructured play. We want it to be a safe, inclusive and positive environment for all children.
We regularly speak with students about showing respect, including others in games, using kind language and solving small problems calmly. Most playground issues are minor misunderstandings that can be resolved quickly with support.
If a student experiences a problem in the yard — such as unkind behaviour, conflict during a game, or feeling unsafe — we strongly encourage them to seek help from a yard duty teacher straight away. Staff on duty are there to supervise, support and help students work through concerns in the moment. Reporting issues immediately allows us to respond quickly and fairly.
We also encourage families to remind children to:
- Walk away from conflict where possible
- Use respectful words
- Avoid physical responses
- Seek help from a yard duty teacher rather than trying to manage serious issues alone
When concerns are reported promptly, they are much easier to resolve. If issues are not brought to staff attention at the time, it can be difficult to fully investigate later.
Thank you for supporting your child to understand that asking for adult help is not “telling” — it is a responsible and safe choice. By working together, we can ensure our playground remains a positive and enjoyable space for everyone.
Enjoy your Fortnight
Warm regards,
Lach Clydesdale and Meagan Lindberg
Assistant Principals