From the Principal

Dear Families,

I hope eveyone has had an amazing week, enjoying the last of this brilliant weather! It's been a busy week at school, full of exciting learning and opportunities.

School Review

Yesterday, we held the preparation meeting for our upcoming school review process, an important part of the improvement cycle for all Victorian government schools. School reviews take place every four years and provide an opportunity to reflect on the school’s progress, celebrate strengths, gather feedback from the community, and identify priorities that will shape the next Strategic Plan. The outcomes of the review will directly inform the development of Lysterfield Primary School’s new four-year Strategic Plan.

Today’s preparation meeting focused on reviewing preliminary data and evidence, clarifying the key areas of focus for the review days, and planning the activities that will occur during the formal review process, including classroom observations and focus groups with staff, students and parents.

Attending today’s meeting were:

• Adam Wight- Principal
• Kristine Roose- Assistant Principal responsible for Learning and Teaching
• Neil Butler- Assistant Principal responsible for Wellbeing
• Zahra Harvey- Learning Specialist
• Justin Butler- Senior Education Improvement Leader (SEIL) for the Knox Network
• Karen Patten- independent reviewer responsible for leading the review process and developing the final review report
• Stephanie Murphy (Director of Lesson Plans at the Department)
• Samantha Charlton (Learning Specialist- Templestowe Heights PS)
• Phillip Coloca (former Principal in Residence at The Academy of Teaching and Leadership)

Our challenge partners are experienced educational leaders who work alongside the reviewer to provide additional perspectives, ask questions, and help ensure the review process is reflective, evidence-informed and focused on continuous improvement. Their role is to support rigorous discussion about the school’s practices, student outcomes and future directions as we develop our next Strategic Plan.

As part of the review process, there will also be opportunities for staff, students and parents to share their experiences and perspectives. A parent forum will be held during the review days, giving families an opportunity to provide feedback about their experiences at Lysterfield Primary School, what we are doing well, and the areas that should be priorities for the future.  Parent voice is an important part of the review process and will help inform the goals and directions of our next Strategic Plan. Please keep an eye out for further information.

The formal review days will take place on Monday 15 June and Thursday 18 June.

Education Support Staff Day

This weekend, on Friday May 16, schools across Victoria will recognise Education Support Day, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible contribution Education Support staff make to our schools every single day.

At Lysterfield Primary School, our Education Support staff play an essential role in helping our school operate smoothly and ensuring students are supported to learn, grow and thrive. Their work is varied, often behind the scenes, and always incredibly valuable.

Across our school, Education Support staff work in many different roles. Our administration team are often the first point of contact for families and visitors, helping our school run efficiently while supporting students, staff and parents with care and professionalism. In classrooms, Education Support staff work alongside teachers to support student learning, helping students access the curriculum, build confidence and experience success. Other staff provide targeted intervention support, working closely with students who require additional assistance in literacy, numeracy or social development.

Our wellbeing staff also play a vital role in supporting students and families, helping students feel safe, connected and ready to learn. Whether supporting students through challenges, checking in with families, assisting with first aid, or simply being a calm and trusted adult, their contribution has a significant impact on the daily experience of many children.

What makes Education Support staff so important is not only the practical support they provide, but also the relationships they build with students and families. They are often the people who quietly step in to help, notice when a child needs encouragement, celebrate student success, and contribute to the strong sense of community that exists within our school.

At Lysterfield Primary School, we are fortunate to have a dedicated and caring Education Support team who consistently demonstrate our values of Teamwork, Kindness and Community through the work they do each day.

We look forward to recognising and celebrating our Education Support staff next week and thank them for the enormous contribution they make to our Pegasus Family.

Canberra Camp

Students from our Lysterfield Primary School recently undertook an educational tour of the national capital, our Grade 6 camp. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government contributed funding to our school in the amount of $45 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion and was factored into the costing of the camp.

Adam Wight

Principal