Principal's Report

By Frank Catalano

Dear Members of the Glen Waverley Primary School Community,

I trust all is well with you and your family and welcome to another edition of our school newsletter.

As per usual, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on 9802 9938 or via email at frank.catalano@education.vic.gov.au.

Congratulations to Mrs. Bird

It is always with a huge amount of excitement that I announce the safe arrival of the newest members of the Glen Waverley Primary School family. Recently Mrs. Alicia Bird informed us of the safe arrival of baby Lachlan who was born on the 17th of August, weighing 3.1kg and 51cm in length. Alicia wrote, “Lachlan has stolen our hearts. Everything went extremely well and now the three of us are settling in at home getting to know each other.

On behalf of our school community Alicia and Simon congratulations on the safe arrival of Lachlan and welcome to the Glen Waverley Primary School family Lachlan!

Victorian State School Spectacular (VSSS)

For quite some time, our school has been provided with the opportunity to perform in the Victorian State School Spectacular (VSSS) and this year we have children participating in the:

Principal Choir – Congratulations to Ayaan (Year 5) as this is a stellar achievement!
Mass Choir and the
Mass Dance.

The children have been incredibly busy rehearsing their songs and dances throughout the year. Next Thursday and Friday all their practice will culminate in two dress rehearsals at John Cain Arena followed by a matinee and evening performance on Saturday 9th September. I know all of the children; their families and staff are very excited about this year’s VSSS and we look forward to providing an update in our next newsletter. Well done and best wishes everyone!

School Visits

It is always a delight when other schools visit our school and recently we had a number of schools do so. On Thursday 17th August, staff from Syndal South visited to view the progress we have made with our Student Voice program. Mrs Garzberg-Grant (Assistant Principal, Curriculum) shared the following in our staff communication bulletin:

Our visitors yesterday were in their words "blown away" by student voice at our school. We began with our Student Voice captains sharing their roles, their projects and our whole school definitions before leading us through a school tour. The vibe and articulation of what student voice looks like and sounds like in each classroom was electric!

We then moved into the captains sharing our student voice approaches such as the Student Perspective Survey and our JSC roles, responsibilities, and action plans.

After recess we had learners from Years 1-4 and their teachers share learning that stemmed from student voice during the pre-planning and planning phases, leading to learning that is engaging and relevant. Even more impressive is that the learners could share their increased learning outcomes which absolutely spoke for itself.

Thank you to Sam D, Kimielle, Stacey and Dante for engaging in rich conversation pertaining to student voice in their year levels.

What did Syndal South take away from this experience?

The potential implementation of the Student Perspective Survey to increase student voice and satisfaction through collegiate practice.
The journey and strategic learning about the different between choice and voice
Having students as part of the planning process
Looking into and possibly forming a connection with the Quaglia Institute.

On Friday 18th August we had representatives from the Council of International Schools (CIS) Board and various Victorian CIS schools visit our school. The purpose of this visit was for:

The Victorian schools to meet and be provided with updates from the CIS.
Our school to demonstrate how we are using the newly developed Global Citizenship Continua and showcase the teaching and learning occurring throughout our school.

Overall, this visit was also a resounding success with the following feedback received:

The way our student leaders were able to connect and speak passionately about their school was outstanding.
The high level of consistent implementation of our whole school teaching approaches was very evident across our school.
The way the children were able to discuss their learning and just as importantly, their productive struggle, was great.
Our school looked and felt amazing! Colourful, welcoming, learning celebrated through displays etc.

A sincere well done, thank you and congratulations to all the children and staff who presented as you should all be incredibly proud of yourselves. Well done everyone!

Dr. Gihan’s Visit

As mentioned on numerous occasions, I am so proud of our current and past students! Recently one of our alumni, Dr. Gihan Jayaweera, who speaks regularly to the children, provided the staff an inspirational professional learning experience which focused on Happiness. Below is a LinkedIn post from Dr. Gihan and some resources that families may be interested in:

This week was a full circle moment as I was given the opportunity to speak to the teachers at Glen Waverley Primary School about #DoHappy. It was a full circle moment because I used to go to this school! We revisited the mental health epidemic through a new lens.1/5 Australian adults experience a mental health condition throughout the year.1/7 primary school children have a mental health illness. Approximately 9 Australian's EVERY DAY take their own life. Are we missing something? This is the question that we set out to answer in what turned out to be a fun and thought provoking session with a group of incredible human beings. Thank you to Frank Catalano and the staff of Glen Waverley Primary School for inviting me to speak.

An article that reinforces the Do Happy philosophy is available by clicking on the following link - https://drgihan.com/blog-posts/do-happy/

May I also suggest that you follow Dr. Gihan on LinkedIn as he has an array of other resources which you may find helpful.

Thank you Dr. Gihan and not only are we looking forward to the next session with the children, but also with the staff!

Celebrating Akshara's (3D) Triumph in 'Take the Mic' Singing Competition.

Congratulations to Akshara for dazzling the audience last weekend with her rendition of 'Girl on Fire' By Alicia Keys at the Take The Mic Competition!

We're absolutely elated to share that Akshara clinched the first prize , securing her well-deserved place in the Grand Finals slated for October.

The judges, Taylor Henderson and Cassie McIvor, were captivated by Akshara's exceptional vocal range and undeniable stage presence. Her performance resonated with the audience and the judges alike, underlining the growth she's achieved on this remarkable journey.

We invite you to witness Akshara's triumphant moment by watching her electrifying performance via this link: Akshara's Performance.

We're incredibly proud of her and can't help but share our joy with all of you. We're eagerly looking forward to the Grand Finals in October, where we're certain Akshara will continue to shine brightly.

Stay tuned for more updates and let's continue to support Akshara on her musical journey!

Calisthenics in 2E

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Aneel, Chloe, and Sophie from 2E for their outstanding performance at the recent Waverley District Calisthenics Competition. Their dedication and hard work have paid off as their club/team secured a remarkable second place in the competition.

These remarkable young ladies have exhibited immense commitment, practicing their routines for two hours each week since the start of the year. Their perseverance, teamwork, and passion for calisthenics have truly shone through, and we couldn't be prouder of their achievements. Your hard work and determination are an inspiration to us all. Well done!

Chess Update

I am thrilled to share some fantastic news on behalf of our Chess team who competed in the Northern Star Chess tournament held at Karingal Primary School last week.

Our school performed exceptionally well, achieving a collective score of 8.5. Our very own Senon from 2C participated with great determination and skill, achieving remarkable success!

Senon's outstanding performance led to an impressive score of 5/7 in the tournament, earning him a well-deserved gold medal 🥇.

I am pleased to share what Senon wrote to me as his passion, enthusiasm and joy is quite evident.

Dear Mr Catalano,

This is Senon from 2C. I am sending this email from my mom’s email.I have participated in Nothern Star Chess tournament held in Karingal Primary School today and I was able to score 5/7 and won a gold medal 🥇 and got distinction. The school scored 8.5. This is my best score so far. So I am very happy about it.

Best regards Senon

Congratulations to the Year 6 Children and Staff

Congratulations to the Year 6 children and staff who spent 3 fun-filled and action-packed days at Camp ADANAC. Everyone returned last Friday a ‘little tired’ however the exhilaration on their faces was something to behold.

Congratulations to the Year 6 teaching team for their outstanding organisation, a sincere thank you and well done to all the staff who attended and the Year 6 children for ensuring this year’s camp was a resounding success!

Victorian Principal Association Conference: "Shaping Future Schools and Leaders"

Last week i had the privilege to attend the 2023 Victorian Principals Conference. This provided me with an enriching opportunity to delve into the challenges impacting school leadership and the advancement of our educational institutions and profession.

The conference kicked off with an inspiring address by Natalie Hutchinson, Minister of Education. Applauding the remarkable NAPLAN achievements, Victoria emerged as a leader in 16 out of 20 key metrics across the nation, marking a historic milestone. Traditionally, such distinctions have been attributed to the ACT.

Here's a overview of some standout speakers and their insights that resonated with me:

Dr. Catriona Wallace - Navigating AI and the Expanding Digital Realms

Dr. Wallace, a captivating speaker and a new addition to the TV show "Shark Tank," took the stage. She introduced the concept of three intertwined "worlds" that characterise our modern existence:

Physical World: Our everyday experiences and surroundings.
Digital World: The realm of online platforms, TV, and radio.
Virtual World: An emerging space with over half a billion users, prominently including a substantial number of young people, even among primary school children.

Dr. Wallace illuminated the Metaverse, a hub of around 160 virtual worlds, accessible through virtual reality glasses or headsets. These worlds serve purposes like entertainment, education, and healthcare.

Currently the purpose of the Metaverse can be broken down as follows:

Entertainment: Innovative offerings like virtual concerts allow participants to engage from the comfort of their homes.
Education: Augmented and virtual reality offer immersive learning experiences, including virtual museum tours.
Virtual Healthcare: Professionals can teach others globally in real time, transcending geographical barriers.

Dr. Wallace also touched on generative AI, exemplified by ChatGPT, which simulates human intelligence, streamlining decision-making processes. This AI's potential to reduce workloads by around 40% is noteworthy.

Dan Heasler - The Power of Mindfulness and Leadership

Dan Heasler, a former teacher now working as a performance and leadership coach, presented his insights. He emphasised:

Performance: Excelling during critical moments.
Leadership: Effectively leading oneself and, by extension, others.

He highlighted Emotional Intelligence (EI) as pivotal, comprising three levels:

Level 1: Understanding one's emotions.
Level 2: Managing personal emotions.
Level 3: Managing both personal and others' emotions.

Dan illustrated how our brains handle EI, often confusing physical and ego-based threats.

His central message was about being "MAD" – Mindful and Deliberate – in how we present ourselves.

Interestingly, recent research has introduced four intelligences or quotients:

Intelligence Quotient (IQ): Problem-solving and memory.
Emotional Quotient (EQ): Nurturing relationships, responsibility, and empathy.
Social Quotient (SQ): Building and maintaining enduring networks.
Adversity Quotient (AQ): Resilience in facing life's challenges.

These insights underscore that high EQ and SQ often propel individuals farther in life than IQ alone. While IQ is vital, schools increasingly recognise the significance of fostering EQ and SQ.

We eagerly anticipate incorporating the Four Quotients into our Mind, Body, and Us program, enhancing the holistic development of our students.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A PRINCIPAL’S AWARD RECENTLY:

Prep E

Shrinika, Aiden, Anissa and Sunnia for writing amazing recounts about the Flying Bookworm incursion

Saanvi and Jamie for writing beautiful cards for my office
Edwin for being a very generous member of our school community

Aaron and Saum for learning so much about division and multiplication

Minadi, Hasan, Anay, Anu and Tasmira for being the most amazing and very helpful members of our school community

Ethan for writing an amazing quatrain poem
Sophie and Karan for working very hard to improve their writing skills

Abiru, Kevon, Dion, Harley and Sam for writing the very exiting narrative called “alien invasion”

Veer for receiving 2 first place trophies from a recent karate tournament. He placed first in the Under 9’s 1st and 6th Kyu (belt)

Akshara for working exceptionally hard on improving her singing skills
George for being a wonderful friend
Siya for drawing a beautiful picture for my office

Tanvi for receiving a trophy and medallion from the VSL for delivering speeches about the Indian Independence Day

Tharini for being a wonderful and outstanding friend

Ryan for writing an excellent information text about how dinosaurs became extinct

Samihan for writing a very detailed and elaborate memoir about the school production as featured in the Kids Corner section of the newsletter

Susanna for receiving a medal for Gym Star Level 3

Arya - A big thank you for your wonderful assistance to Mrs. Hassiotis in cutting up late passes for the office during your lunch break. Your willingness to lend a helping hand does not go unnoticed, and your efforts truly make a difference!

Yu Tong for creating a 5 x 5 square where each horizontal and vertical line equal 100 insert image
Lena for being a fabulous friend
Amelia, Sophie, Ranuga, Elshan, Tannay, Arham and Sayumi for writing the most elaborate and heartfelt poems. Some of which are featured in the kids Corner section of this newsletter

Wishing everyone a safe and happy fortnight.

Frank Catalano

Principal