Principal News
GLASSES FOR KIDS
On Wednesday and Thursday 97 of our students in Prep to Year 3 engaged in this program which involved free vision screening then testing and glasses (if required). Thanks to parents/carers of these children for allowing them to participate in this program. Today they took home a letter with more information from the optometrists.
GRANDPARENTS/SPECIAL PERSONS AFTERNOON
On Friday 22nd May, grandparents/special persons are invited to visit our classroom/s from 2.30 - 3.15pm. They can do some fun activities with the children and then they are welcome to visit our Book Fair until 4.00pm. Please meet at the office at 2.30pm to sign in.
WORLD EDUCATION SUPPORT (ES) PERSONNEL DAY
May 16th is World Education Support Personnel Day, a chance to celebrate and recognise the incredible contribution our Education Support staff make every single day at GWPS. Our ES team plays a vital role in creating a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment for our students. They assist in classrooms, support student wellbeing, manage resources, keep our school running smoothly and build strong, caring relationships with students and families. Their work is essential and our school simply would not function without them. We encourage families and students to join us in celebrating our wonderful ES staff. A kind word, a thank you or a small gesture can make a big difference. Thank you to our Education Support team for everything you do. You are valued, appreciated and truly make GWPS a better place for our students.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
On top of our classroom and specialist programs, we provide intervention and extension programs. Yesterday 15 students from across our year 5 and 6 cohorts became Palaeontologists for the morning. Supported by Mr Ramage, they engaged in a live 'on line' workshop run by a palaeontologist from the University of Queensland. She presented to them about her work in a dinosaur fossil dig at Winton before working with them on a problem solving challenge. The students enjoyed the experience and had to use a wide range of STEM skills and critical thinking skills to think about the problem they were posed. Each group were given information about a hypothetical dig site and fossils to examine. They then had to try and work out , and story board, what happened at their dig site and what the fossils told them about the animals and dinosaurs that might have lived their in the past. Next week we are hosting another STEM extension program run by the same group called ‘Ice Age -Cloning the Colossus’.
A DAY IN MAY
On Wednesday 27th May we are hosting a fundraiser to support children with cancer. Gold coin donation, with everyone encouraged to wear a splash of yellow.
PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS
We regularly get asked by universities to host pre-service teachers (university students studying teaching). This week we have hosted five pre-service teachers, who learnt how schools and classrooms operate.
ASSEMBLY
Our first whole-school Assembly for the term was held today to celebrate the wonderful things that occur at Grovedale West PS. Thanks to the students from Year 1, Year 3 and Year 5 for sharing information about their learning. Our next Assembly will be held on Friday 12th June with students from Prep, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6 sharing information about their learning.