Leadership

School Structure - 2023

Today’s newsletter contains our 2023-year structure and classroom location. For the past four years, we have structured the school based on an F/1, 2/3 and 4 to 6 model. Recently as part of our school review process, we looked at our student survey data and spoke with a range of students in the 4 to 6 area. We also reviewed our academic data sets and discussed what our 2023 structure could look like with teachers.

We acknowledge there have been concerns from some parents with the current structure, which is perfectly fine. However, it is a school-based decision that ultimately falls to the principal. The students, particularly the year five students, were the group that informed our decision to modify our new class structure. We believe this modified version addresses the year five student concerns about greater teacher engagement. The structure, we believe, will also allow the year sixes to take on more significant leadership roles through student agency as classroom content co-designers and mentors to younger children.

The other element of our school reflects the DET student well-being initiative for 2023. We have created a new position for 2023, supporting our new school's strategic plan for student wellbeing. The new role of a Leading Teacher - Student Well-being will help the school continue developing and refining our whole school approach to supporting students and families.

We understand it is essential for families to feel the school provides the necessary educational and support opportunities for their children. For families considering relocating to another school, we hope you reconsider and continue to be a part of the Newlands community.  If this revised model is still not meeting your needs, we would appreciate you informing the school of your intention not to return to Newlands in 2023 and complete our exit form.

Student / Class placement - 2023

Student grade placement will be completed before the whole school transition day. Teachers will arrange grades based on our usual criteria to guide our process. If parents have any concerns regarding friendship groups, then please inform your current child’s teacher. Regarding teachers, we do not place students with specific teachers based on parent requests. 

Classroom Location

Next year we will be relocating all the classes to different rooms in different locations across the buildings. The main reasons have been the growth in the 2/3 area and access issues for the Foundation student in the recently relocated portable.

• The 6 x Years 2/3 classes will relocate to the current six F/1 classrooms.
• The 8 x F/1 classes will be grouped into two groups of classes. One group will relocate the current 2/3 area, and the other group will relocate to the existing 4/5/6 classrooms.
• The last re-location will be the 3 x 4/5 classes, and the 1 x straight year six will be relocated to the two portables where the 2/3s and the F/1s are currently located.

ILP Meetings

Throughout this year teachers have developed Individual Learning Plans and engaged in meetings with families for particular students that were identified as needing extra support or extension. The aim of these meetings has been to provide goals and strategies to families through individual meetings with the intention of supporting our students' learning. We are in the process of reviewing our ILP practises and are seeking feedback on your experience. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete and will provide much appreciated feedback on your experience and provide us with an understanding of ways we can refine this process. If your family was not a part of this initiative, please do not complete this survey. 

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pH9kM1K8NEe4txMVd9gj2ovRWvqNe8RFpAMqlhzkI2dUNUNSMkZSUDg0UVVRQ1BHTDVKWFI2MUVaRC4u

The survey will close on Wednesday 30th November.

Library Book Returns

After a bumper year of borrowing from the library, it's that time of the year when we ask you to make every effort to return all your books.

The library closes for the year from 5 December for the annual stocktake, so we need all books back by then.

More overdue notices have been distributed this week, so please check bags for these and have a good look around at home.

4/6 Transition Information Session

Below is a response to the questions that were asked during the transition presentation. 

“Through relationships we build success” is our school motto and we understand the power of relationships. Due to this, we have created opportunities for students in year 3 to build relationships with students in the senior school by eating lunch together each week and engaging in weekly Friday activities together. Additionally, we have a focus on building strong teacher-student relationships to support student well-being throughout the year, with a strong focus on this during Term 1. 

Our Term 1 Inquiry program is designed to support students emotional and social wellbeing. This includes developing our students emotional literacy, self-regulation, resilience, positive relationships, diversity, conflict resolution, effective collaboration and communication and our school values and keystones. The language, skills and strategies explored in this unit form the basis for classroom wellbeing throughout the year. When our students need additional support, they have access to a range of members in our school community such as their teachers, the wellbeing leaders and leadership. As the needs of our students vary, our responses differ based on the individual needs and experiences.