Principal Update

Welcome to Term 2! 

We visited classrooms on Monday and were so pleased to see all students settled and keen to be back. Many students shared their holiday experiences and were enthusiastic to talk about these with friends.

We have planned another busy term featuring the Fair on 4 May, the STEM Expo which coincides with Education Week and our Open Day on Wednesday 15 May. 

We have the Fun Run next week which is the precursor for the older students to qualify for the district cross-country competition. There are two public holidays and we have combined Student Free Days with these so families can make the most of a longer weekend. The teachers will be writing reports throughout the term with the distribution of the written report to parents on Friday 21 June.

With so many events please keep a regular watch on Compass and the newsletter to keep abreast of information. 

We have many deciduous trees dropping their leaves at the moment. We had a large group of volunteers helping Shane collect them up on Monday. They become slippery with the dewy mornings so please be careful. Thanks to those students who helped - they were awarded with House Points. 

We have recently purchased a program called Elastik, which collates and analyses our student’s assessment data and allows us to form a picture of each student by comparing data sources. This platform is relatively new to the market and also utilizes Artificial Intelligence to analyse student writing samples and provide next steps for teachers and students to consider. Teachers are currently learning about the new program and there is professional learning provided to support teachers. The collection and analysis of data is critical in our work. We work hard to collect high quality data that provides teachers with information about learning in a timely manner. This new program will support teachers with their work in this area. 

The APS Fair planning and preparation is in full swing. Kylie and her team of parents are putting in hours of work for this event and it is sure to be a success. There are many opportunities for families to contribute. Donations of Trashless Treasure (please ensure it is not trash), silent auction items, time and products are all welcome. We are working towards a low cash event with wristbands and a card system to enable all patrons to purchase goods as well as an increased number of card terminals. We have sponsors who are giving generously to this event. The money raised will go towards the replacement of the Year 3/4 equipment, there is a team of students who have been working together to select the preferred design. This process is nearly complete and the successful company will meet the students and decide the final aspects and then we wait for the production. The installation will happen later in the year. 

Please see below an information graphic that School Council have published on the different ways we communicate at APS. 

I hope you have a lovely first week

Kind Regards

Melissa Mackenzie 

Principal