TERM 3 DRAWS TO A CLOSE

This has been a wonderful but very busy term of school with the carnival and the success of our students in Athletics and production as key highlights. The students and their teachers deserve a restful holiday and for those who are travelling, please remember to build in some relaxation time in addition to the sightseeing.

PARENT/ CARER/ GUARDIAN OPINION SURVEY

The Education sub committee of school council reviewed the preliminary data from the Opinion Survey and are writing an article as a way of sharing the results with our families. They’ll report the highlights as well as areas where we can turn our attention as we commence planning for 2025.

One of the areas that was lower scoring was in response to the statement: ‘Teachers communicate with me often enough about my child’s progress’. As a result of this statement being one of our areas for attention in a previous Opinion Survey, we have developed a comprehensive system for reporting student progress to parents. This includes parent-teacher interviews, student-led conferences, unit shares, semester reports and the most recent ‘Compass Continuum’.

The Continuum provides parents with a list of knowledge, skills and understandings that are expected in each year level. Parents can see clearly what their child has demonstrated and the learning outcomes they are still to learn. The Compass Continuum is regularly updated by teachers and then open to parents to view every term.

Considering the many ways we report student progress to parents, the Education Committee would like to unpack the statement and parent expectations when we return to school next term.

CONTINUOUS REPORTING

The Compass Continuum was developed and introduced in response to parents expressing a desire to know on a more regular basis, how their child is progressing. Teachers review student learning outcomes in the context of the unit they are teaching. Each unit of inquiry runs for approximately six weeks and incorporates the subject disciplines (literacy, numeracy, science, history, geography etc) as relevant to the transdisciplinary theme.

Students enjoy celebrating their learning when parents visit the classroom for the ‘Unit Shares’ and teachers also report the learning outcomes achieved (through the continuum) at the same time.

THE COMPASS CONTINUUM IS NOW OPEN.

Parents are encouraged to review the learning outcomes your child has achieved since the first introduction of the continuum last year. A Compass post will be sent providing parents with instructions for how to access and read the continuum and once you are familiar with how it works, I’m sure you’ll see how valuable it is.

The continuum will be closed at the end of the first week back next term so teachers can resume the planning, teaching and assessment cycle.

BYOD – BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE

Save the date: An information session will be held on Tuesday 22 October (6:30pm)

Our school has been running the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program for many years now. Last year, we asked the parents of grade 3 students to hold off buying a device as the school wanted to move away from iPads and investigate other options.

As a result of using and comparing Chromebooks vs Laptops and exploring applications and monitoring software, we have decided to resume the BYOD program with Chromebooks.

If your child is in year 3 or 4 next year, the BYOD information session is for you. If your child is in year 5 or 6 next year, they will continue to use their iPads.

Please save the date and logistical details will be posted early next term.

FAREWELL STAFF MEMBERS

We would like to thank two of our staff members who will be leaving us at the end of this term.

Mrs Maxine Riley- we wish you all the very best for the birth of your first baby. We hope that when you’re ready you can pop in to introduce us to your bundle of joy.

Ms Maureen Delane- thank you for the work you have done with our students and staff as our Leading Teacher. We wish you all the very best with your promotion to Principal Education Consultant in Western Australia.

SAFE HOLIDAYS

Thank you for a wonderful term these past few months. We hope you all enjoy some quality family time over the break and look forward to seeing you all when school resumes on Monday 7 October.

Chellee Plumb

SAKG