From the Principal
Dear Families,
I hope everyone is well and surviving the freezing, cold mornings. Morning yard duty hasn't been quite as enjoyable as it will be once spring comes around.
Looking Ahead: Our Strategic Plan 2026–2030
One of the things I love most about schools is that they are never finished.
Just as we encourage our students to continually learn and improve, we challenge ourselves to do the same. Every four years, every Victorian government school undertakes a School Review. This process celebrates what is working well, identifies opportunities for improvement and shapes the School Strategic Plan that will guide our work over the next four years.
Following our recent review, I am delighted to share the direction for Lysterfield Primary School over the next four years.
Perhaps the most pleasing outcome from the review was that it confirmed the significant progress our school has made. The reviewers recognised the strong foundations we have built through our knowledge-rich curriculum, explicit teaching, calm and purposeful classrooms and our commitment to student wellbeing. Rather than recommending a change in direction, the Strategic Plan builds on these strengths and challenges us to make an excellent school even better.
Goal 1: Maximise learning outcomes for all students
Our first goal is ambitious but simple: every student should experience success, make excellent progress and be challenged to achieve their very best.
Key Improvement Strategy 1a: Strengthen staff capabilities in alignment with the VTLM 2.0 to maximise learning outcomes for all students.
This strategy focuses on continuing to improve the quality of teaching in every classroom.
Over the past four years, we have established a consistent approach to teaching and learning across the school. The next stage is to strengthen teachers' understanding of the curriculum, increase their use of responsive assessment and ensure every lesson provides the right balance of support and challenge for every learner.
For students, this means learning that not only helps them remember important knowledge, but also challenges them to think deeply, solve problems, make connections and confidently apply what they know in new situations.
Key Improvement Strategy 1b: Build the capabilities of middle leaders to drive school improvement and lead high-performing teams.
Outstanding schools are built by outstanding teachers, and outstanding teachers are supported by outstanding leaders.
Over the coming years we will continue investing in instructional coaching, collaborative planning and leadership development so that every teacher is supported to continually refine their practice. By strengthening leadership throughout the school, we ensure improvements are sustained across every classroom and every year level.
Goal 2: Maximise wellbeing outcomes for all students
Learning and wellbeing go hand in hand. Students achieve their best when they feel safe, connected, valued and know they belong. Our review recognised wellbeing as one of the school's greatest strengths. Our next challenge is ensuring every student continues to receive the support they need to thrive both academically and personally.
Key Improvement Strategy 2a: Strengthen the whole-school multi-tiered system of support to enhance students' wellbeing and engagement in learning.
Every child is different.
Some students need additional support, others require greater challenge, while most will move between different levels of support throughout their time at school.
Over the next four years we will continue refining our Multi-Tiered System of Supports so every student receives the right support at the right time. We will also continue strengthening our behaviour curriculum and ensuring our classrooms remain calm, safe and engaging places where every child can learn successfully.
Key Improvement Strategy 2b: Strengthen school community partnerships to enhance student learning engagement and outcomes.
We know children achieve the best outcomes when schools and families work together.
Over the next four years we want to strengthen parents' understanding of our Vision for Learning and the evidence that underpins it, create meaningful opportunities for families to provide feedback and continue building the strong partnerships that have always been a hallmark of Lysterfield Primary School.
Looking to the Future
While strategic plans often focus on goals and actions, at their heart they are really about children.
Everything in this plan is designed to ensure every student experiences an education that is challenging, engaging and supportive. It builds on the outstanding work of our staff over recent years while providing a clear roadmap for continued improvement.
We are incredibly excited about what lies ahead. Together with our staff, students and families, we will continue striving to provide the very best education possible for every child at Lysterfield Primary School.
Adam Wight | Principal
