From the School Leadership Team
Welcome to the midpoint of the term. Thanks to those who managed to join us yesterday for middle of term breakfast. As is the case in term 4 it continues to be a fun and busy term. This week we ticked of lots of fun and exciting events including Children’s University graduation, Connected Schools Athletics Carnival as well as Remembrance day, 3/4 chapel and an incursion to end the week.
Tomorrow, staff look forward to spending the day busy with activities including some training in the morning. Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow!!
Next week as we look ahead, we welcome Will back after his 3 weeks of study leave. The year 2 students head off for an overnight camp too on Tuesday.
Staff as you may be aware are deep into preparing for our IB Evaluation which is next year. This is a great way for staff to come together to ensure we are on track with all the requirements of the IB. These are not just things to tick off but policies, procedures and processes that make any place run successfully.
Tim Kriewaldt
Deputy Principal
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) and Primary Years Programme (PYP) school, GGLPS undertakes a process of evaluation every 5 years.
‘Programme evaluation:
• is both a requirement and a service provided by the IB to IB World Schools
• is a reflective process that involves the entire school community
• assesses whether a school continues to meet the requirements in the IB Programme standards and practices publication and will remain an authorized IB World School
• supports school efforts to continually improve the delivery of the programme(s) through an intentional process aimed at building school capacity for organizational learning.’
‘Guide to Programme Evaluation: 2022: updated 2023: ibo’
Evaluation is a process that takes place over a year to 18 months and involves:
A preliminary review that includes a review, updating and confirming of policies and documents that underpin all that we do as an IB school.
A self-study that looks at the standards and practices of the PYP seeking opinions of our community to ascertain where our strengths lie and where we can improve. The self-study will be completed in May.
A visit, either online or in person, by IB evaluators who listen to, and work with, members of the school to further explore the standards and practices of being a PYP school and how GGLPS has worked to develop and improve. This visit will be in early August 2025.
Works with the school to determine how we can move forward in a cycle of continual improvement, identifying factors that contribute to positive school outcomes along with addressing challenges to further develop.
Staff and School Council are currently working through the standards and practices, reflecting on where we are as a school and assessing GGLPS against these standards and practices. At the beginning of 2025, the school community will be involved in offering their opinions and reflections, so that we can further understand how we are doing.
This is an exciting time for us as a school as self-reflection offers us affirmation of what we are doing well and identifies areas where we can continue to grow. Please pray for our school community during this process, that we may gain fresh insights into how we can continue to serve our community and students.
Jayne Zadow
Director of PYP, Teaching and Learning