Teaching and Learning 

Dear Karoo Community,

Policy Updates 

Mobile Device Policy- Formally known as Mobile Phone Policy

Over the term, our Education Sub-Committee, in collaboration with School Council members, staff, and students, reviewed the Mobile Phone Policy. This process led to an updated version, now called the Mobile Device Policy, which includes all personal devices such as smartwatches.

Please see policy below:

To support responsible use, we’ll be trialing a change for the remainder of Term 4. During school hours, smartwatches will now need to be set to school mode and stored securely in students' classrooms. 

The current process for mobile phones — switched off and stored safely during the day — remains the same.

Staff and school leaders will monitor how the trial goes, and we’ll review it before the end of term. Secure storage options are being arranged for our Foundation–Year 2 students.

We’ve also updated several other policies, which families can view via the school’s Website:

• Sun Protection Policy
• Attendance Policy
• Parent Dispute Policy

Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep our school a safe and focused learning environment. As always, please come and see me if you have any further questions.

Reports

As we move further into the final term of the year, our teachers are busy gathering a range of information to prepare your child’s Semester 2 report. This includes formal assessment results, classroom observations, and teachers’ knowledge of each child — what they know, understand, and can do.

I’d like to take a moment to explain what you can expect to see in your child’s report.

The classroom teacher report will include:

• Description of the Curriculum: This section outlines the learning that has taken place over the semester. Curriculum areas include English, Mathematics, Integrated Studies, and Wellbeing.
• Progression Points and a 5-Point Scale: These are linked directly to the year-level achievement standards in the Victorian Curriculum.
  • One progression point each for Reading and Viewing, Writing, and Speaking and Listening
  • One progression point for Mathematics
  • One progression point for each of the Capabilities taught this semester
  • One progression point each for Health and Physical Education, Science, and the Humanities
• Personal Comment: This section highlights your child’s overall learning achievements, growth, and areas of strength across the semester.

Teachers will also use a rubric to provide feedback on your child’s Effort and Engagement, as well as their Respect and Safety within the classroom and school environment.

The Specialist report will include:

• Description of the Curriculum: This section outlines the learning experiences and focus areas taught throughout the semester.
• Progression Point and 5-Point Scale: These are aligned with the year-level achievement standards set out in the Victorian Curriculum.

For Semester 2, the Specialist report, students will receive a rating from ‘Needs Support’ to ‘Excellent’ across five key Work Habits. These provide valuable insight into how your child approaches their specialist subjects. The five areas are:

• Effort and Engagement 
• Individual and Group Work
• Organisation and Time Management
• Respect and Safety 
• Communication and Feedback

The Work Habits rubric will also be included in your child’s report. The purpose of the rubric is twofold:

1)  to provide clarity to staff when assessing a student within the 5 Work Habits and ensure consistency and fairness.

2) to provide parents with clarity and transparency on the skills and dispositions within each of the 5 Work Habit categories. 

There are a number of statements within each Work Habit area, teachers will select the area that represents the majority of the skills and dispositions displayed by the student. 

I hope this information assists you in understanding the upcoming Semester 2 reports.

Warm regards,

Peta Phillips 

Assistant Principal

Peta Phillips