From Daniel 

The end of a big term…

Well, it is the end of Term 2 already.  And what a term it has been.  We have seen some fabulous learning this term.  I am so very proud of the work of our students in really nailing down our instructional routines in Literacy and Numeracy.  The efforts of staff and students in the classroom is truly paying its rewards.  We have seen more learning progress this term than we would usually expect to see in six months.  Well done everyone!

Lets keep it up next semester!

Last night I wrote a letter to all parents, sent through Sentral, highlighting some of the achievements we have made as a school this past term.  I wrote about our Learning successes and the strengths of our Wellbeing program.  If you have not yet had a moment to read this, I suggest you check it out on Sentral.

One of the things I mentioned in this letter is the data we collect and how we use this to inform what we do each day.  Early next term, we will be holding our 3 Way conferences.  This will be an opportunity for you, your child and their teacher to meet together and discuss the data we have collected specifically about them.  From this, as a team, you will set goals for the term and discuss ways to progress toward those goals and how we will monitor growth.

In our next newsletter, (to be published in the last week of July), I will be sharing the first of a series of short videos on how we gather and use evidence to inform our practices, both in student learning and wellbeing.  Keep an eye out for these.  I am sure they will be very helpful.

Building our Community…

Building a positive community is core business here at Kilsyth PS. We strive to embed our values of Excellence, Resilience, and Respect in every aspect of our community, from the classroom to the playground, between staff, between parents and between students.  We hold these values strongly.

…Starts with Respectful Communication!

THINK Before You Speak: Guiding Words and Actions in Our School Community

At our school, we believe that words matter — they can lift people up, show kindness, and create a welcoming environment for everyone. 

To help guide the way we communicate, we use the THINK acronym. Before speaking, students are encouraged to ask themselves:

T – Is it True?

H – Is it Helpful?

I – Is it Inspiring?

N – Is it Necessary?

K – Is it Kind?

The THINK message isn’t just about the words we choose — it also helps guide our actions and the way we treat others. If what we’re about to say isn’t true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind, it’s a good sign we should stop, rethink, and choose a better way to act or respond. This simple tool encourages students to be mindful, responsible members of both our school and the wider community. When everyone takes the time to THINK, it creates a positive atmosphere where people feel safe, respected, and supported — values that extend beyond the classroom and into everyday life.

We encourage all students, parents and staff to make use of this acronym when considering how they communicate.  A strong community starts with respectful communication.

New Resources to Support Positive School Communities

Last week the Department of Education released new resources for schools and refreshed their  Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy.  You can read more about it here, https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/Respectful-Behaviours-within-the-School-Community-Policy.aspx 

I have summarised this policy for you below. 

Working Together for a Positive School Environment: A Guide for Parents and Carers

Victorian Government schools believe students do best when families and schools work as a team. This guide explains how we can all contribute to a safe, respectful and supportive place for learning.

Building Strong Relationships

A positive school community starts with strong relationships, built upon:

• A respectful, trusting partnership between parents/carers and school staff helps children feel safe and supported.

• Open, honest communication is key to working together in your child’s best interests.

   

Respectful Behaviour Matters

All members of the school community—staff, parents, and carers—are expected to behave respectfully at:

• School events, camps and excursions

• Online platforms linked to school

• In-person or online communication with staff

You can help by:

• Speaking politely and calmly

• Raising concerns through the right channels

• Modelling respectful behaviour for your child

   

Raising Concerns

You have the right to raise concerns. Our school welcomes feedback when it’s shared respectfully.

• Start with your child’s teacher or principal

• Put concerns in writing if asked

• You can bring a support person or request an interpreter

Visit the Parent Complaints Policyor Family Engagement in Learning resource for guidance.

Unacceptable Behaviour

Aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour (in person or online) is never okay. Whether directed to staff, students or other parents, this will not be tolerated in our community. This includes:

• Yelling, swearing or threats

• Intimidation or physical aggression

• Harmful posts on social media

If this occurs, schools may:

• Issue warnings or safety orders

• Limit access to school grounds

• Involve the Department or police if needed

   

Let’s Work Together

We all share the responsibility to make school a safe, welcoming place for students to thrive. Respect and partnership help create a strong community for everyone.

New faces in Term 3

There has been a little change in the make up of our community.  A small number of families have moved on to new schools, and we have a few new families joining us.  We are also adding a few new staff members in Term 3.

In recent weeks we have been joined by Chevy S in Year 5 and Zoe S in Year 4.  From the start of next term we will be joined by Hunter S in Year 3 and Andrew L in Year 4.  Please extend a warm welcome to these new students and their families as they join our community.

From the beginning of Term 3, Ms Karina Ely will be returning from Family Leave.  Karina works as a part of our classroom support team and will be a valuable addition.  Having completed the next stage of his studies, Mr Nathan Shanks will move from a classroom support role, to a fully-fledged classroom teacher.  Mr Shanks will join the Senior School teaching team. Ms Lucy Morris will be extending her hours with us as a part of our classroom support team and we will be joined by a number of placement students.  These additions to our staff team will strengthen our ability to provide learning support in the classroom and social support in the yard.

Reminder: End of Term Dates...

Have a fabulous holiday break.  We look forward to seeing you in Term 3.

All the best

Daniel