Teaching and Learning 

Welcome back to everyone and what a brilliant start we have had to Term 3.

I personally wanted to thank our community for providing such valuable feedback on our Student-led Conferences. We always strive to develop and improve at Karoo Primary School, and we value all of our teachers, students and community' feedback.

Here are a few quotes to celebrate.

"The students were much better prepared this year. Last year felt like a rushed, token effort at presenting goals and reflections, whereas this time, goal setting and reflection appeared to be a more embedded process in students' learning"

"Great idea to have students get to share their chosen work and showcase what they are proud of and what their goals are. The 5mins with just the teacher was beneficial too.

The format of the conference, the student presentation and then the opportunity to ask questions at the end"

"I was impressed how he could discuss and use vocabs to express himself and what he used to do in school, he is learning how to be emotionally independent apart from reading/math with all the credits to his teacher and the school curriculum"

"Teacher support and encouragement- it was good that I was informed through the semester report of what my child had learnt and my child knew that I could understand what work was referred too. The displayed folder contained the goals and these referred well to the outcome demonstrated"

2025 NAPLAN Results 

This week, students in Years 3 and 5 received their NAPLAN results. We are extremely proud of all of our students who participated and gave it their all. Over the coming weeks, teachers and the Leadership team will be analysing our data to celebrate success, which we have a lot to celebrate. and as always to seek areas for growth. If you have any further questions regarding understanding your child's NAPLAN results, please do not hesitate to see your child's teacher or myself. 

Change to Video Policy

Please click on the image below for further information regarding an update to the policy on Teaching and Learning Resources- Selecting Appropriate Materials. You will notice that consent is not required for students to watch G or PG films / videos at school.

Semester Reports 

At Karoo Primary School, our teachers, supported by the Leadership team, invest significant time and effort into crafting comprehensive semester reports. These reports reflect students' current achievement levels and outline areas for future learning to maximise their progress at school. We use a variety of data and moderate student work collaboratively across the school to ensure accurate teacher judgments, making these reports a product of considerable dedication and teamwork.

Semester reports and student-led conferences complement each other by providing a holistic view of a student’s progress. Reports offer a structured summary of academic performance, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. In contrast, student-led conferences empower students to present their achievements and set goals, fostering engagement and self-awareness. Together, these methods ensure detailed assessments while actively involving students in reflecting on their development.

Reporting Requirements

• Schools must report student achievement and progress to parents/carers at least twice per year.
• Reports should be written in an accessible and understandable format.
• Reporting must align with the Victorian Curriculum F–10 achievement standards set by the VCAA.
• Reports should include:
  • Teacher judgments
  • Indications of progress since the last report
  • A five-point scale for each curriculum area
• Opportunities must be provided for parents/carers and students to discuss student achievement and progress with teachers and/or school leaders.

Format and Accessibility

The department does not prescribe a specific reporting format, which allows us the flexibility to tailor our reports to better meet your needs. Our goal is to make reports as parent-friendly and useful as possible. We strive to present information in a clear and concise manner, making it easy for you to understand what your child has been taught throughout the semester, outline what they have achieved and specify their most important areas for improvement. 

We Want to Hear From You

Recently, many of you provided feedback on your experiences of the introduction of Student Led Conferences. This feedback has been important when considering how we can refine this initiative. We are now seeking your thoughts on the semester reports. Your insights will help us to enhance the clarity and usefulness of semester reports, as we continuously seek ways to improve our reporting process and communication.

Please share your feedback through the survey linked below:

The survey is open now and will close in two weeks’ time, on Friday 22nd August. 

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make the best possible educational experience for our students.

Book Week Parade

This is always a favourite day on the calendar for Karoo Primary School.

On Friday 22nd August from 9:15am all students will be parading their Book Week costumes.

Look out for a Compass Post. I CANNOT WAIT!

I look forward to seeing you all around our wonderful school.

Warm Regards,

Assistant Principal

Peta Phillips