PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Specialist Subjects at Plenty Parklands

As we near the end of Term 2, we are currently planning the Semester 2 Specialist Timetable, which will begin in July. You will soon notice that your children have a range of different specialist subjects that they are accessing each week. 

Some of the changes include the Prep students going to Oral Language sessions, the Year 1s involved in the Perceptual Motor Program, and also one of our upper school year levels being lucky enough to study Science.

Camps and Excursion Costs

With parents trying to balance the budget at home, can I take this opportunity to assure you that we are doing everything we can to keep the costs down where possible. We are trying to cost excursions to match last year’s amounts, and likewise with camps if we can. This is sometimes difficult if the venue hosting our students has increased their prices over the last twelve months. 

Our aim is to have as many students as possible sharing these wonderful experiences, so we will continue to do the best we can to support our families.

Trampoline

I have personally been spending a large amount of time alongside the new trampoline in the Prep/Year 1 playground, training the students to use the equipment and share. I have been amazed by most student’s preparedness to wait their turn, take their five jumps and then move along to allow the next person to take a turn. 

I have been delighted by the way students are currently showing the values. Please support us by ensuring your children (even if they are pre-school age) follow the five jump rule when you are with them before or after school. Training your little ones will make things easier in future years! 

Phonics Initiatives in Schools

There seems to have been some conjecture in the school community around our literacy program at Plenty Parklands. The Department designed Phonics Plus Program has been implemented in Prep and Year 1 since Term 1. These 60 minute lessons occur daily, and further reading sessions are planned and taught with a focus on comprehension skills. 

Year 2 are currently completing 25 minutes of explicit phonics instruction each day and will utilise the Phonics Plus Program when the resources become available from the Department for Year 2. 

Staff on Leave

This week we are delighted to welcome back Mr. Jeremy Matheson after his long service leave, which included a trip to Europe. We have a couple of other staff heading off on leave soon. These include Mrs. Mitrevski, who is on leave from the 26th June for her trip overseas, and Mrs. Kate Cugnetto, who is also traveling, and will be away from 30th June. 

As I have stated previously, we are very fortunate at Plenty Parklands to have a reliable list of replacement teachers that do a great job and are known to all of our students. Mr. Steve Janevski will cover 6-8 for this time and Mrs. Stephanie Hemsley will cover Oral Language classes.

New Program for Our Students

Recently we have added another small group program to our suite of supports for children at our school. Mrs. Krystal Ioannidis has returned to work after her maternity leave, and she is facilitating a social skills program for students with additional needs in this area. 

Krystal is an experienced educator who has undertaken further research in this area. We look forward to seeing another group of students benefitting from a program tailored for their development.

David Whewell | Principal