Looking forward, looking back

With only four weeks remaining for this school year, we begin to turn our attention towards future planning. We are very grateful to have completed the school review process this term, which marks a transition point between the goals and targets of the last four years, and the new goals and targets set in response to student, staff and community feedback, to help guide our work in the long term.

In our last Newsletter, Amanda Williams highlighted the excellent work that contributed to Truganina P-9 College achieving an overall high rating in the 2024 school performance report. Ever seeking to improve what we offer to our students and families, next year sees a focus on improving student voice and agency, upskilling our school leaders to build stronger professional learning communities, supporting staff to use data to pinpoint your child’s point of need and continuing the work in supporting student health and wellbeing.

Building staff excellence

Staff excellence is one of the areas we are excited to be focused on as we move into 2025. All staff at our College have already been informed of the teams they will be working with and year levels they will be teaching next year, in order to support their team building and planning. Rhiannon Porter, as the Director of Staff Excellence, with my support as the Assistant Principal working in this space, have begun the professional development of our PLC Leaders and Learning Specialists, so that all staff move with confidence into 2025 with a strong understanding of best practice teaching principles. We are looking closely at the Attitudes to School Survey results, feedback provided during the school review and internal surveys, to provide staff the opportunity and community to bolster practice excellence in the teaching and learning of every child at our college.

Music, Maths and Mentorship

On Friday the 15th we hosted the latest Soundgarage. We are super proud of all the students who showed the beauty of music to our fantastic crowd of family, staff and peers. It is in these moments, away from the busy curriculum and day to day pen-and-paper work, that we get to celebrate the diversity of talents that each student brings to our community.

Speaking of community, on Wednesday the 20th our Year 2 and 3 students and families joined us for our now termly Family Maths Night. It was so encouraging to see so many students lead mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers by the hand with excitement to engage with mathematical thinking and problem solving. We had many families join us for the night. A fantastic crowd that fills us with pride. We hope those of you who had the opportunity, loved the night, and we open the invitation for all families to keep a look out for the next invitation.

As we engage in all these celebrations this term, the one celebration most front of mind for me as Assistant Principal for Year 9, is this year’s graduation ceremonies. Both our Year 6 & 9 students are fast approaching their moment to stand on stage and reflect on their journey at Truganina P-9 College. With rehearsals beginning next week, our Year 9 Transitions team have been organising every opportunity to support students with their next steps. Throughout the term, students have been able to opt into incursions regarding different trades, on the 20th, students participated in a careers incursion to better understand what the next few years may look like, and on the 9th of December, Year 9 students will take part in the Passion Project, a careers related program supported by the Department of Education itself.

There are still four more weeks with plenty of opportunities for learning and fun. Everyday counts, so we look forward to the bright smiles of every child right through December.

Regards,

Daniel Piacquadio- Assistant Principal: Staff Excellence

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