Learning and Teaching News
It is hard to believe we are just two weeks away from the end of a whole year of learning.
The last few weeks have certainly tested our adaptability, creativity and resilience as illness including another COVID wave has impacted both staff and students.
Amidst the 'busyness' there have been some joyful moments including the final orientation morning for 2024 students beginning their first year of school here at St Martin's.
Forty eight eager students listened to a Christmas story about Pig the Elf and created their own very unique faces of the main character. They were settled, engaged and very excited about being school kids.
Our current Prep students together with two of the Year 5/6 classes are in the middle of a daily swimming program. They are the final classes to participate in swimming lessons which are scheduled across the year for all classes. We are very committed to ensuring our students build on the water knowledge and skills they acquire each year and have the best chance of engaging in water activities safely, confidently and regularly.
Semester Two Reports and Parent Teacher Learning Conversations
Reports will be emailed to families on Friday December 8th using your OPEROO email address. Please ensure this address is current and correct.
Staff have set aside Thursday 14th December 3:30-4:30pm for learning conversations by request if you would like further clarification about your child's progress.
Contact your child's teacher directly by Tuesday 12th December to organise a time.
Looking Towards 2024
Our 2024 school year will begin with scheduled student/teacher/parents learning conversations on Tuesday January 30th 2024.
We are focussed on building relationships with every learner. As teachers, we are experts in education but families know their children far more deeply than us. We also know that when parents/carers and teachers work in partnership, learners thrive and their performance is enhanced.
We completed assessments in November and December this year that remain relevant to begin the 2024 year so we are not spending more time doing assessments with students as their first experience of school in the new year. We have also introduced a detailed student handover process so our priority to begin the year is to provide an opportunity for a learning conversation.
These learning conversations are an opportunity for teachers to get to know your child better, through you, their parent or carer who knows them best.
They will take place on Tuesday 30th January 2024 between 8:30am and 5:30pm.
Note that Year Prep 2024 conversations take place from 3:00pm and again on Wednesday February 7th between 8:30am and 3pm.
Students will attend the 15 minute conversation for the first 5 minutes and then move to the learning street to participate in some group activities. This enables the parent/carer and teacher to have a further 10 minute conversation.
Bookings will be made via www.schoolinterviews.com.au and will be open once your child has participated in Step Up Day on Wednesday December 13th and knows their 2024 class and teacher.
Look out for the flyer with a booking code they will bring home on Wednesday 13th December.
Denise Kelly
Co-Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader
Elise Coghlan
Co-Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader