Assistant Principal Update

Hi all and welcome to the final week of the term. It has been an extremely busy yet wonderful first term. 

A few highlights from the start of 2025:

• The induction of our upgraded 2025 Leadership Team, with the inclusion of the various curriculum leaders; and the selection and commencement of the Stand-Up Project and the 20 leaders of this project from years 5 and 6.
• Another very successful swimming carnival and subsequent district and division meet with several students experiencing success at the various competitive levels.
• A very smooth and successful NAPLAN period with students participating and completing assessments in line with our school values and dispositions.
• The completion of the basketball and netball court resurfacing works – some photos included at the bottom.
• The Term 1 House Event – BFFD – Best Friends for the Day! 

I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to celebrate the holiday period with family and friends, safe and healthy. See you in Term 2!

Term 2 Curriculum Planning

This week year level teaching teams have been released during staff meetings and their weekly planning time to prepare their Term 2 curriculum unit overviews. 

This process involves reviewing the whole school curriculum plan for each of the curriculum subjects of English, Mathematics, Wellbeing, and STEAM Integrated, referencing the Victorian Curriculum for the relevant year level, as well as looking at the curriculum content descriptions and elaborations for the year towards and beyond.

Teachers then design the lesson sequence, including the learning intentions, success criteria, key questions, assessment tasks and areas for differentiation. 

Over the past two years we have continued to refine our planning documentation, ensuring we are articulating the Victorian Curriculum updated 2.0 version and aligning our pedagogy to our vision for teaching and learning at APS. We have had a strong focus on creating rich and authentic learning experiences that are engaging for students and develop student voice and agency.

This week I have attended the Year 2 Insect Presentations, The Year 6 Health Presentations and played some board games with Year 3 students. Students worked in small groups to create a fidget toy that could be used to support student health and wellbeing. This unit was highly engaging for students and reflected our curriculum teaching and learning vision. Students worked collaboratively on a real-life project that integrated a number of curriculum learning areas. The speaking and presentation skills demonstrated by students was exceptional. 

Semester Reporting

This year Alphington Primary School will be updating the way we report students’ achievement against the curriculum. We have done a considerable amount of work in this space including consultation with School Council. Over the coming weeks we will be providing a variety of updates in preparation for this change.

The update to reporting reflects both the work our school and staff have done in relation to curriculum planning, teaching and assessment, and the transition to the Victorian Curriculum 2.0.

Previously, semester reports included progression points, a section with areas for future learning, and a general statement which outlined a student’s achievement as a paragraph of text. This paragraph included statements which reflected the curriculum content covered in English, Maths, Personal and Social capability and the other key curriculum areas identified as Integrated. 

Our specialist subject reports (LOTE, PE, Visual Arts and Performing Arts) included a subject overview, a paragraph of achievement and a progression point for those students in Year 3 and above. 

In 2025 semester reports will look different and include a more detailed explanation of what students have achieved within the relevant year level curriculum. The core subjects of English, Maths and Integrated will each have their own page. Additionally, there will be a page titled Wellbeing which will include the capabilities of Personal and Social and Ethical, an assessment for effort and behaviour, and a general comment about each student as a learner. Each subject area will include the student’s current progression point as at semester 1 2025, a subject overview which outlines what units of learning were taught, and a list of content descriptions which describe the knowledge, understanding and skills covered.   

For each content description students will be assessed against a 5-point scale. 

Example of a typical report for Integrated:

Class Splits

In previous newsletters I have discussed our process for splitting classes when we are unable to secure a Casual Relief Teacher (CRT) due to staff absence. Recently there have been occasions when we were unable to get a CRT. This meant we did a class split.  

I would like to acknowledge teachers who are flexible and adaptable to ensure that for those couple of classes who were split, we were able to do it across their year level and all students continued their curriculum program as planned. 

Term 2 and 3 are traditionally terms when we see an increase in staff absence. Coupled with staff leave entitlements and the ongoing staffing challenges in education we envisage that we will need to split classes at times. 

We do not split Prep classes while they settle into school and develop their routines. We also endeavour not to split year levels where there are only two classes. Fortunately, we have a few year levels with small class sizes which can be effectively merged and continue with their curriculum programs.

Basketball court resurface

The basketball and netball court resurfacing has been completed, and students were very excited to test it out this week once the fences came down on Monday morning. Next term we will have new backboards, rims and nets installed to complete the upgrade.

Have a great holiday! 

Shane Wilkie - Assistant Principal

Alphington Primary School – Grounds Keeper Position Available

Alphington Primary School are looking for a Grounds Keeper to join the team.

Approx 8 hours per week - hours and days negotiable.

Job includes maintaining the schools outdoor and indoor areas as directed by the Assistant Principal. 

Roll includes:

• Gardening - Pruning, mulching, weeding, sweeping, using blower vac, and other activities where the use of gardening and electric tools may be necessary.
• General outdoor clean up and maintenance - Maintaining seats, benches, signs, playgrounds and other activities ensuring grounds remain clean, safe.
• General indoor maintenance - Furniture relocation and maintenance as directed by Assistant Principal. 

Applicant must have a current Working with Children Check suitable for Employee. (E)

Please follow the link below or contact Shane at APS on 94992200

Careers