News From Mr Smith

Dear School Community Members,

Recently, all students completed the PERMAH survey. The PERMAH survey is an evidenced based tool designed by Professor Martin Seligman to help children understand and care for their wellbeing. Based on the PERMAH six elements of Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment and Health, the survey tool measures a student’s wellbeing. Ultimately, it provides practical insights and actionable steps to improve wellbeing. The data and information captured from each survey is utilised by teachers to conference with their students to maximise their wellbeing. We also use the data to glean whole school trends and patterns. Our students undertake the PERMAH survey three times per year and the overall wellbeing of our students is very healthy, as the graphic below indicates.

Recently, I engaged in a webinar focussed on supporting the wellbeing of primary aged students. One of the guest speakers was Mental Health advocate, Wayne Schwass. Wayne Schwass begun the session with his personal journey with mental health (and his darkest day) and shared his expertise in creating an environment where people are welcome and invited to talk about their emotions and feelings.  Below is a snapshot of Wayne Scwhass’ presentation on ‘Creating a culture to share our emotions’.

• 50% of 7-12 year olds show stress related symptoms
• Each year, over 65,000 Australians self harm
• Males have been taught to hide emotions and this is highly damaging
• Discussing emotions (how we feel) is so important
• Discouraging people, especially primary school aged children, from crying is harmful
• Asking people ‘R U OK?’ is a great start 
• Resilience is the ability to cope and return to “normal” as quickly as possible
• Telling students to be resilient is not effective

• Resilience is a learned skill and can be taught

   

Mrs Forsyth and the Wellbeing Team will continue to explore how we can continue a culture whereby students are comfortable in expressing and sharing their emotions and feelings.

Student Achievement – Evan Ubergang: 

Congratulations to Evan Uebergang in Grade 6, who was last week named an Emergency for the Victorian Under 12 AFL team. This is a fantastic achievement, with over 900 boys from across the State trying out for the final 24 spots. Evan has been travelling to Melbourne for a series of try outs during Term 2, this involved several stages of progress and practise matches. Evan will continue to train with the final team, in the lead up to the National Championships in Canberra later in the year. We are all very proud of his commitment and effort, well done!

School Improvement Plan: 

The next aspect of our School Improvement Plan that we would like to share with our community is: 

Key Improvement Strategy 4 – Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting: Review, develop and implement a curriculum-aligned reporting system that delivers timely feedback to improve outcomes for all students.

Leader/s: Nathan Gibson

Achievements: 

• Audited all Weekly and Term Planners.
• Led the regular updates to our Pacing Guides and Term Planners.
• Begun reviewing our current reporting to parents program.
• Co-ordinated our In-House AtoSS Survey, and facilitated class data discussion and consequent actions.

• Coordinated our JSC, including our Social Service events and compiling a proposal for the replacement of the ‘Wooden Playground’.

   

Current Work: 

• Continue explore contemporary Reporting systems.
• Coordinate the Attitudes to School Survey for all Yr 4-6 students. 

• Work with the JSC in designing our 100 year mural, and other school improvement initiatives.

   

Student Reports and Parent/Teacher Conferences: 

As many of you will be aware, our Student Reports and our Parent/Teacher Conferences are fast approaching.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Our Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, 25th June from 2:00pm until 7:40pm. Families are able to secure a booking for their Parent/Teacher Conference via Compass. We have approx. 70% of our families who have ‘booked’ their Parent/Teacher Discussion. Families who have not ‘booked’ their Parent/Teacher Discussion can do so via Compass.

A reminder that students will be dismissed at 1:30pm on this day.

Student Reports

Our Student Reports will be available via Compass on Friday, 19th June at 4:00pm.

The reports will continue to provide information in the form of a progression point about student learning achievements in relation to the curriculum. However, the general written comment will not be included because of industrial action taken earlier this term.

Families can request a ‘paper copy’ from the Office if required – please contact our office team if you would like a ‘paper copy’.

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

Christian Smith