2023 Annual Report

Our school’s Annual Report was presented at the Annual General Meeting last term. The Annual Report provides principals and school councils with an opportunity to share the year’s achievements and progress with the school community. This includes reflecting on the school’s performance and explaining the impact of school improvement efforts on student outcomes.

The report provides details about our school improvement strategies and the impact that these strategies have had on student outcomes. The report also includes a selection of important measures that we use to determine areas for improvement and to monitor our progress.

We are really proud of our school achievements in 2023 and the resulting student achievement data. The data presented in the report aligns with our other school-based assessments and shows that our improvement plans are improving the academic and wellbeing outcomes for our students. Most pleasingly, we are seeing a trend where we are continuing to increase the number of students working above their expected level whilst reducing the number of students who are working below.

You can see the full data set and further information about our progress in the Annual Report found on our website or through the link below:

Special Weeks & Events

Education Week

Last week was Education Week and the theme was 'Spotlight on STEM', which highlighted the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in our everyday lives, in the classroom and beyond. Throughout the week the students engaged in different activities centred around this theme and celebrated all things education. Here are some pics of some of the STEM activities that the students engaged in during the week:

National Simultaneous Storytime

We also participated in the 2024 National Simultaneous Storytime this week. This event occurs every year when a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. This year's book was Bowerbird Blues.

First Aid in Primary Schools

All of our students recently participated in the First Aid in Primary Schools program hosted by St John. The program aims to develop first aid knowledge, skills and awareness and highlights the importance of first aid and what to do in an emergency. It was great to have all of our students engaged in such important lessons. Thanks to Eugene for organising this.

Reconciliation Week

Next week is Reconciliation Week. This year's theme is 'Now More Than Ever' and is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue. Next week students will participate in a range of activities to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Student Achievement

Isabelle M

Isabelle recently participated in School Sports Victoria Western Conference trials in Ballarat for the Vic Schools State team. This was after she was successful at the Western Metropolitan Regional trials where she was one of 20 picked to progress from the 101 girls who trialled in the region.

We are incredibly proud of Isabelle's achievements so far and can't wait to find out if she made the state team. Well done, Isabelle!

Library Leaders

All of our student leaders do a great job and this fortnight we are focusing on our Library Leaders. This week I took 1H to library and was extremely impressed by our Library Leaders in how helpful they were both to myself and the students and the efficiency in with which they returned and borrowed out books for the class. The library is in pristine condition which is largely due to the commitment of the leaders to look after the library - well done.

2025 Prep Enrolments

2025 Prep enrolments are now open. All enrolment applications from parents/carers are to be submitted by Friday, 29 July 2023 and we will notify parents/carers of the outcome of enrolment applications by Friday, 9 August 2023.

If you have a child beginning prep in 2025, please contact Jenny as soon as possible as this assists us greatly with planning.

Additionally, please also let us know if you are not expecting to be at AGPS in 2025.

We are offering school tours for any families that are considering Altona Green for their 2025 prep child. The tours will be held on the following dates:

9:30am Tuesday 11th June
9:30am Tuesday 23rd July

Please register your interest in attending any of these tours by completing the form here, contacting the office 9360 0777 or via email altona.green.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Maths Olympiad - Home Challenge

Have a go at this fortnight's Maths Olympiad questions!

When I open my Mathematics book, there are 2 pages that face me and the product of the two pages is 1806. What are the two page numbers?
The average of five numbers is 6. If one of the five numbers is removed, the average of the four remaining numbers is 7. What is the value of the number that was removed

If you attempt these problems at home with your child, please ask them to visit me. I would love to discuss how they went about solving these problems.

Pupil Free Day

A reminder that in a fortnight, Friday (7th June) is a pupil free day. As part of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, all teachers are eligible for 1 professional practice day in 2024. These days are allocated to enable teachers to focus on the improved delivery of high quality teaching and learning.

In consultation with the staff and the school council, we have allocated the professional practice day as a pupil free day. Teachers will be working on areas such as planning, assessment and reporting. TeamKids will be available for all day care on this day.

School Saving Bonus

You may have seen the recent announcement of the School Saving Bonus, as part of the Victorian Budget 2024/25. We are sharing more information about how families will be able to access and use this support.

This one-off support will include $400 for each eligible student to help families cover the costs of school uniforms and activities in 2025.

It will be available to parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian government school in 2025.

Cash will not be paid directly to individuals or families. Instead, families will receive the bonus as credits on their school accounts that will help meet the costs of your children’s activities and uniforms.

Existing supports:

The School Saving Bonus support will be in addition to existing and continuing means-tested supports for camps, sports, excursions and uniforms.

The application-based Affordable School Uniform program, through State Schools’ Relief, will continue to be available to families experiencing financial hardship or other forms of vulnerability and short-term crisis. This program allows schools to make multiple applications for support on parents' behalf throughout the year if needed.

There will be more information and guidance about the School Saving Bonus in Term 3, 2024, ahead of its implementation in 2025.

Thanks for a terrific fortnight, everyone.

Take care,

David & Cam

Team Kids