Dear School Community Members,

The last four weeks has been a time of many extra-curricular activities that has complimented the curriculum our students are engaged in. Many of you will be aware of the following events our students have participated in in recent weeks: selected students participating in the North Geelong Secondary College STEM program, 9 students competing in the District Cross Country, our Grade 6 students participating in the Preparation for Puberty program, the Mother’s Day stall, our Victorian State Schools Spectacular team participating in their practice sessions at Western Heights College, the Winter Lightning Premiership for our Gr 5 & 6 students, Open Classrooms as part of Education Week, Reconciliation Week, the Mano Athletics Day and our Preps enjoying the ‘Toys Over Time’ incursion. These activities, along with our ‘formal’ curriculum, reinforces the high levels of engagement and opportunities our students participate in on a regular basis.

National Reconciliation Week:

As outlined last week, the theme for Reconciliation Week this year is: ‘Bringing Now to Next.' This has provided us with the opportunity to explore our collective history and to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and develop a deeper understanding of our national story. Our students have explored the concept of ‘reconciliation’ and what this means in the context of our history and for our Aboriginal communities and people. There is a rich and thriving Koorie culture in our area, and as a school, we are committed to prioritising and celebrating this. Through our Inquiry Learning units, we are working to ensure the Aboriginal history, culture, perspectives and continuing the reconciliation journey is part of our curriculum. Our assembly on Monday focused on ‘reconciliation’, with our student leaders sharing their understandings of Reconciliation. We look forward to sharing the Acknowledgement of Country each class will create throughout the remainder of the year.

School Improvement Plan:

Last week our Leadership Team undertook a ‘pulse check’ on our School Improvement Plan. I am pleased to report that each of our four Key Improvement Strategies are in good shape. Over the coming month, I will share an update on the progress of each aspect of our School Improvement Plan.

Key Improvement Strategy 1 - Wellbeing:

Develop consistency in using Tier 1 strategies, including Wellbeing Conferences, to support and enhance the wellbeing, resilience and inclusion of all students.

Leaders: Mrs Forsyth and Mr Beck

Achievements:

further development of our School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports (SWPBS) framework
implementation of the PERMAH survey (survey to measure a student’s wellbeing) and a deep analysis of each students’ results
further development of Wellbeing conferences
further development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

Current Work:

supporting teachers to implement Wellbeing conferences
exploring strategies to further develop the resilience of our students
promoting student attendance and supporting students with higher than normal absences from school
our Inclusion Outreach Coach providing weekly professional learning sessions for our staff

Maximising Learning Time:

During our recent Curriculum Day focussed on further developing the teaching of Reading and Writing, staff discussed the importance of maximising learning time. This included minimising interruptions to classroom programs – disruptions to classrooms can be regular and unsettling for some students. As a result, we have adjusted some of our school practices to ensure students and staff are not disturbed during their learning time. With this in mind, we encourage parents and carers to minimise messages to students via the office. Messages from parents and carers will only be delivered to students at 11:00am (recess eating time) and 1:30pm (lunch eating time), unless in extenuating circumstances. Thank in advance for your support of this.

Child Safe Standards:

All Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our school actively promotes the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all of our staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. Like all schools, Manifold Heights Primary School, has a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department of Education’s expectations. These are available on the school’s website. The Child Safe Standards are Victoria’s approach to ensuring a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse. For schools, the eleven Child Safe Standards will ensure that proactive systems and processes are in place to prevent and respond to child abuse.

Thank you for supporting our school and have a great week.

Christian Smith

Mano Market