Home Reading Awards

Congratulations to the following Prep, grade 1 and grade 2 students who have reached 100 nights of reading in recent weeks.

These students were acknowledged with an award at assembly last Friday.

Well done to each of these students for their commitment to not only reading but also recording their books in their diary as part of their homework each week.

Homework

Please note, due to the pupil free day this Thursday, homework will be due on Friday this week. This may not allow ample time for teachers to provide feedback before sending out the new homework on Friday. If this is the case, please be assured that teachers will mark/provide feedback in the following week. If you have any questions, please speak with your child’s classroom teacher.

A new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model

As mentioned in previous editions of the school newsletter throughout the year, the Department of Education in Victoria has made some changes to their advice relating to teaching and learning. Set out below is some further information about these changes.

What’s happening in our classrooms: understanding the new ways teachers are teaching

From 2025, Victorian government schools are updating their teaching and learning programs to align with contemporary evidence about how students learn. This includes refreshing teaching practices, to provide the most effective support for student learning.

The department worked with the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) to develop the revised Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0), which sets out these evidence-based practices.

Why are things changing?

We are taking this step because contemporary evidence provides a better understanding of student learning. While students enter classrooms with different life experiences and prior knowledge and may learn at different speeds, the learning process is consistent. Research and insights from across the teaching profession have demonstrated that some teaching practices are more effective than others in supporting the learning process.

The Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0) sets out these insights. The VTLM 2.0’s refreshed teaching practices will be in place in all Victorian government school classrooms by the start of 2028.

What will this look like for your child/young person?

Your child / young person may tell you that they are:

experiencing whole-school approaches to routines and initiatives that support positive, culturally responsive classrooms where all students feel safe, included, and ready to learn
clearer about the learning objectives for each lesson and how each lesson builds on the last
finding it easier to access new information, concepts and techniques, because teachers are introducing them in small pieces and showing students how they work
experiencing more learning success, with teachers supporting them as they practise new skills and develop confidence and competence
enjoying applying what they have learned as teachers offer them opportunities to use it increasingly independently, in different contexts, and become more critical and creative thinkers.

Why is this good for your child/young person?

Research shows that the teaching methods set out in the VTLM 2.0 are the most effective approaches for all students, including high achievers and those needing additional support, to:

set their own learning goals
understand new things efficiently
remember what they have learned
use what they learn with confidence.

As students experience learning success, they become more confident and can learn even more. This helps them become lifelong learners who are ready for whatever the future holds.

For further information regarding the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0) see the link here https://www.vic.gov.au/victorian-teaching-and-learning-information-parents

STUDENT REPORTING

Towards the end of term parents and carers will be able to access a written report from classroom and specialist teachers for all students via Compass.

Bookings for parent teacher interviews will open via Compass on Tuesday, June 17th and will close on Thursday, June 26th at 4pm. The details below provide a summary of key dates:

Important Dates:

Bookings open on Compass for Parent Teacher Interviews- Tuesday June 17th
Bookings close on Compass for Parent Teacher Interviews- Thursday June 26th
Reports available on Compass - June 27th
Parent-Teacher Interviews-

June 30th: 4-6pm

July 2nd: 1:30-5pm (students dismissed 1pm)

As always, please give the office a call if you have any questions or require support to make your bookings.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge!

Teachers have provided students with their log-in details on a sticker that has been stuck in the home reading diary/student diary. Please see your child’s classroom teacher if you have any queries about logging in, or you can’t find the log in details.

Steps to follow:

Go to the Challenge application.
Select the School/Student button.
Select the VPRC login option.
Enter your username and password.
Select Login.

Community Events

SPARK

New Technologies/AI - Free family and community information session

Buninyong Mt Helen Lions Club Playgroup