Some words from the Principal

With under four weeks remaining before our last school day for the year, we are committed to ensuring the academic rigor continues and high levels of learning for all students remain the focus. 

2023 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)

As the school year comes to an end, we take the opportunity to reflect and discuss with our staff and the school community how we have managed in 2023. We evaluate what we have learned including measuring student learning growth by comparing a student’s individual progress over time.

Our School Improvement Team (SIT) has lead the process of monitoring our 2023 AIP and regularly reflected on the implementation of AIP activities and key improvement strategies. The team have provided commentary on progress and impact to date, identified enablers and barriers, and considered next steps. This ongoing practice is facilitated by our reflective school culture, regular sharing of teacher practice, and a willingness to learn and adapt practice.

Through our clear vision each year, a culture of collective responsibility for improving student outcomes has been developed for all staff across the school and multiple sources of evidence has been collected. We have continued our journey of improvement and continue to identify areas of practice that require attention in order to deliver improved student outcomes in 2024. ​ We will continue with a focus on Reading comprehension and student led conferences and portfolios will be introduced in 2024, linked to personal learning goals. This is to enhance student agency and ownership for learning.  The School Wide Positive Behaviour initiative will also begin next year, with more information to come in 2024. 

2024 Student Leadership 

Over the past few weeks, the Year 5 students, teachers, specialist and leadership teams have worked with our current student captains to work through the process to help us identify next year’s school leaders. One of my favourite parts of my role is interviewing possible candidates, the standard is of such a high caliber.  While students are aware of successful candidates for some roles, I look forward to announcing all of the 2024 Student Leadership group with our school community at the last normal school assembly on 15th December. 

School Council

Our final School Council meeting for 2023 will be held at school on Tuesday 28th November at 7PM. I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution made by all members to our school and thank them for their ongoing support. The council is made up of the following parent members: Tony Khouri (President), Serryn Bryant, (Vice President), John Savinos, Sarah Elliott, Luke Michael, Tracey Collins,  David Ste, Tammy Culpitt, Betty Kouskousis and school staff: Simone Vitas, Robyn Harris, Ben McFarlin and Kylie Middlemiss.

Each year some members finish their time on council and we have a process to elect new members.  Please consider putting your hand up for a nomination as it is a wonderful way to learn more about how our school makes decisions and be a part of that process.  At the beginning of next year we will begin the new election period. 

Year 6/7 Transition

The Year 6’s are currently preparing for their move to secondary school and will have visits to their new schools to explore the unique way secondary timetables work, as well as how to be organised to change classes regularly through-out the day. We will continue to support our Year 6’s and celebrate their years of primary school as the school year comes to a close. We particularly look forward to their graduation ceremony which will occur on Monday 11th December. 

2024 Foundation Students

We have thoroughly enjoyed having our new Foundation students in for their orientation mornings.  While their children are at transition, we continue with our goal of partnership in education and provide learning sessions about our curriculum and wellbeing programs. It is very exciting to see our future Foundation students developing in confidence and becoming familiar with the school environment.  Their next session is on Tuesday 28th Nov and then on 12th Dec they will meet their 2024 teacher, along with the rest of the students in the school. 

Super stars! 

On Saturday 11 November a few of our Karoo students performed at the St Simon’s fete with their singing studio. Sophie B and Lucy V (grade 6) sang together “Shut up and dance with me” and Maddy G (grade 5) sang “What about us”. Congratulations to all three girls for pushing past any nerves to sing in front of such a large crowd - I know I certainly would find that challenging! 

Enjoy your week and keep reading Compass as the weeks are very busy as we head into the end of the school year, 

Danielle Heatley

Principal