Principal's Report
uGrandparents' Day
Tomorrow we will be celebrating Grandparents' Day. As mentioned in a recent Compass alert, Grandparents (or special friends) are welcome anytime between 11.30am to 1.30pm (or 2.15pm for those who want to stay and have lunch/afternoon tea with their grandchildren).
We will provide tea, coffee and a light afternoon tea for our visitors in the art room.
World Teachers' Day
Tomorrow is World Teachers’ Day. All Spring Gully PS teachers are very dedicated and they provide great support to their students (and their families). Brett and I are very proud of each and every one of our teachers, and we feel very lucky to work with them.
Thanks to those families who have expressed their gratitude towards their child’s teacher/s. Your ongoing support and appreciation is greatly appreciated.
Be Awesome Day 2024
This special day on our calendar is taking place on Friday 3rd November. Please read the details about this day on the Engagement and Wellbeing page of the newsletter.
Student Attitudes to School Survey Results
Our Student Attitudes to School Survey results were released recently.
The 2023 Year 4 to 6 results for Spring Gully Primary School are set out below. The table below sets out the % of students who recorded a positive response to the questions in the survey, based around the five domains. I have also included our results from 2022. To enable our results to be compared with other schools, I have them alongside Similar School % for 2023. Similar schools are those schools that are most comparable to SGPS i.e. schools that are considered to have a similar level of advantage/disadvantage.
These results demonstrate that our Grade 4-6 students are extremely happy at the school and are thriving in a safe, engaging and stimulating learning environment. We are very proud of these results and it demonstrates that our focus on student engagement wellbeing is making a real difference. This survey is only conducted for Grade 4-6 students across the state.
| Domain | Factor | Our School in 2023 | Our School in 2022 | Similar Schools in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective teaching practice for cognitive engagement | Differentiated learning challenge
| 97% | 96% | 84% |
Effective classroom behaviour
| 97% | 92% | 79% | |
Effective teaching time
| 94% | 94% | 83% | |
Stimulated learning
| 88% | 93% | 77% | |
| Learner characteristics and disposition | Attitudes to attendance
| 92% | 92% | 83% |
Motivation and interest
| 90% | 91% | 75% | |
Perseverance
| 92% | 89% | 76% | |
Self-regulation and goal setting
| 91% | 94% | 82% | |
Sense of confidence
| 91% | 90% | 76% | |
| School safety | Advocate at school
| 98% | 98% | 88% |
Managing bullying
| 97% | 92% | 77% | |
Respect for diversity
| 98% | 95% | 79% | |
| Social engagement | School stage transitions
| 96% | DNP | 81% |
Sense of connectedness
| 93% | 89% | 77% | |
Sense of inclusion
| 98% | 98% | 89% | |
Student voice and agency
| 91% | 86% | 67% | |
| Teacher-student relations | Effort
| 90% | 91% | 77% |
High expectations for success
| 98% | 99% | 94% | |
Teacher concern
| 92% | 90% | 74% |
NAPLAN Results
The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results were released last term.
The 2023 Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN results for Spring Gully Primary School are set out below. Given the changes to the way NAPLAN results are reported, it is not possible to compare our results to previous years. It is also not possible to measure growth from Grade 3 to 5, given these changes.
The table below sets out the % of students who achieved 'Exceeding' (i.e. above expected outcomes) and 'Needs Additional Support' (i.e. below expected outcomes). To enable our results to be compared, I have them alongside the Similar School % for 2023.
| Subject | Exceeding | Needs Additional Support | ||
| Spring Gully PS 2023 | Similar Schools 2023 | Spring Gully PS 2023 | Similar Schools 2023 | |
| Numeracy (Grade 3) | 12% | 13% | 3% | 6% |
| Numeracy (Grade 5) | 15% | 9% | 6% | 5% |
| Reading (Grade 3) | 23% | 23% | 8% | 6% |
| Reading (Grade 5) | 22% | 23% | 12% | 4% |
| Writing (Grade 3) | 8% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
| Writing (Grade 5) | 20% | 13% | 11% | 6% |
2024 Placement Requests
Throughout the rest of October and November we will continue to work on our class structures and student combinations for next year.
In the past we have worked to ensure friendship groups remain together in some capacity, however, it is equally important to recognise the need to establish productive environments that support learning, as well as maintaining or building new friendship groups. If there are any concerns about friendship placements for students in 2023, please let me know in writing or via email Francis.Trezise@education.vic.gov.au by Friday, 10th November. No late requests will be considered. Please note that it is not possible for parents to request specific teachers, as it would be impossible to accommodate all requests. Our process is to develop matched classroom groups, based on social and educational needs, and then we match teachers to each class. In this way, all classes are developed equally.
Currently we do not know who will be teaching which grades next year and several factors will determine how this is finally decided. Our Prep teachers will be confirmed before the Prep Information Night on Tuesday 14th November.
Staffing News
We recently completed a recruitment process and now have all teaching positions filled for 2024. I would like to congratulate Mrs Tegan Edwards on her teaching appointment for 2024. Tegan has been an Education Support teacher at our school for the last two years.
Other staffing changes for 2024 include:
- Mr Luke Crawford will be taking 12 months leave
- Mrs Ash Lockett will be taking a further 12 months leave
- Mrs Von Garmey will be returning from family leave in a part-time capacity
- Mrs Amy Arthur will be taking 12 months leave, having worked in a part-time capacity this year.
Thanks Jayme
Jayme, our office assistant, worked her last day at SGPS on Tuesday. She has been a friendly, caring and valued member of staff, who has always been quick to learn new skills and apply them. We will miss having her as part of our team. We wish her well as she takes on a fulltime role at Quarry Hill PS.
Final Curriculum Day for 2023
Our final Curriculum Day for 2023 will be held on Wednesday 15th November. I will contact Camp Australia and see if they can offer a service on this day.
Change of Plans for 2024?
Accurate enrolment numbers are crucial when it comes to planning for 2024. If your child/children will not be with us next year, please contact your child’s teacher or the office as soon as possible.