Student News

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES

At South Melbourne Park Primary School, we aim to give students increasing responsibility and ownership for their learning so they can develop into independent, life-long learners. One of the best ways we could involve the students in their own learning is to have them conduct and participate in a ‘Student-Led Conference’.  This means that each child conducts a ten-minute conference with a parent/carer(s) and their teacher. The Student-Led Conference replaces a Parent-teacher Interview. 

WHAT?

A ‘Student-Led Conference’ is an authentic way to encourage the students to take responsibility for their own learning, actions and decisions.  This process also demonstrates to the students that we positively support their learning and acknowledges the value we place on their views and the respect we have for their opinions.  It also clearly demonstrates that, together, we will support their learning and celebrate their achievements.

Teachers will not be available for conversations with parents/carers without the students on the evening/day of the Student-Led Conference. This is an opportunity for students to be present. Along with the student’s mid-year report, the Student-Led conference allows for students to reflect on their improvement and learning.   Please note that if there is a matter that parents/carers particularly want to discuss without their child’s presence, they are welcome to make an appointment with the teacher via email or phone. Additionally, parents can request a Student-Led Conference in a specialist area. Teachers at South Melbourne Park Primary School are always available for a meeting with parents/carers when required. 

WHY? 

Advantages of student led conferences include: 

• Greater accountability by students for their own learning. 
• Increased pride in achievement among students and empowers them to take greater responsibility for their learning. 
• Increased confidence and learning independence by students. 
• More positive student teacher relationships. 
•  Increased parental participation. 
•  Increased communication with parents resulting in a deeper understanding and confidence in what happens in school and learning.
• Links to our school values. eg. Kids at the Heart and Learning doesn’t just happen at home.
• Alignment with our school vision. ‘A place to inspire the next generation of curious minds’. 

WHEN?

We are pleased to be running Student-Led Conferences in July in the beginning of Term 3. The learning conferences are a time when children can clearly describe their goals and achievements from Semester 1 and discuss with their parents and teacher their goals for Semester 2. 

HOW? 

The Student Led Conference will run for 10 minutes. To encourage active participation, our conferences include these five steps: 

1. The student begins the conference with a brief welcome. 
2. The student explains their personal or social goal. 
3. The student shares work samples in Reading, Writing and Mathematics that highlight their strengths and their future learning through learning goals. 
4. Parents/carers then respond to the presentation to clarify or expand the student’s thinking about the specific strengths and areas of improvement that were discussed.
5. The final word of the conference is reserved for the student to respond to any ideas that were discussed during the meeting.

Each year level structures the conferences according to the needs and developmental level of the children. However, in most classrooms you can expect to see students sharing their work with their parents, several families in a space at once, a student talking to their parent/carer and teacher. 

Student- Led Conferences are an important and valuable part of the rich student-led learning that occurs at South Melbourne Park.

We are all learning, so next term we'll provide you with more information about “what to expect”. 

We look forward to a most rewarding and positive exchange about your child’s learning journey. 

POLICY TIPS!

YEAR 3 - 6

LEGO CLUB

Students in grade 3-6 have been enjoying Lego club on Fridays. The students have been working in a team, sharing, turn-taking and negotiating appropriately with peers. They have had to give and listen to instructions as well as use eye contact and appropriate body language. Over the next few weeks they will be designing and creating their dream city.

Students in year 3-6 have been busy in the classroom. In Readers Workshop they have been exploring Cause and Effect. In Writers Workshop they have been publishing their writing and in Maths they have been exploring the world of Multiplication. They have also been continue to explore ‘how things grow’ in Curiosity.

GRADE 3-6 CAMP

This year we have another exciting opportunity for our grade 3 to 6 students to go on school camp to Sunnystones in Merrimu. Camp Sunnystones is owned by  two former school teachers who love the outdoors and want to share their brilliant 50 acres with our students (https://www.sunnystones.com.au/).

The 3-6 camp is from Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th October, 2022.

Students will participate in multiple activities from hut building, archery, canoeing, camping, and raft building with the aim of the camp being: 

• to build independence through being away from home.
• build on new and existing relationships with peers.
• develop communication, social skills and resilience. 

The 3 day camp will cost approximately $350 ( this may change depending on the number of students attending). A deposit of $150 to be paid to confirm your child's attendance at Camp due by 24 June 2022. Further payments will be required as follows:-

COUNTRY MEETS CITY!

Dear parents and carers,

On Thursday 16th June, nineteen Year 5/6 students from Nyah District Primary School will visit us at South Melbourne Park Primary School. They will spend some time in the morning completing get-to-know-you activities with our Year 5/6s and having an Indonesian lesson with Maestra. After having some play time with our students they will then head to Albert Park for more adventures. They plan to stay in Melbourne for four days. 

Please say hello and give them your best SMPPS welcome if you see them around the school. They are very excited about visiting us. 

STUDENT EXECUTIVE NEWS

House Spirit Week 14 - 17 June, more information to come, watch this space!!

EDUCATION WEEK IN YR 5/6A

Last week we celebrated Education Week. We were so lucky to participate in a wide variety of fun events, our favourite in 5/6 was our Maths open afternoon. Our afternoon of Maths was based all around one of Australia's favourite lollies - Minties.

We welcomed parents into our learning space and took on the task of solving 6 Mintie challenges. Our favourite was seeing who could enjoy a Mintie for the longest - some students even made it past 30 minutes! We also used our determination to see who could tear the longest Mintie wrapper, there was so much creativity by the students, who tried to glue their pieces together! It was a lot of fun switching on our Maths brains in different ways. We have included our challenges if you would like to have a go at home.