Principal

School Review

Every four years schools participate in a school Review - which is the evaluate and diagnose part of the review cycle (see image below). 

We have been working for the last six months putting together the documentation for the Review. We have spent time looking at the data and identifying our achievements based on our Strategic goals set in 2016. This process involves a careful review of all data with an open attitude towards reflection and what has and has not been achieved. 

Thank you to our staff and School Council for their contributions. A special thanks to our School Improvement Team for their input and to Shannon Reeve and Randal Symons in particular who have assisted in putting together the main report of 110 pages.  

We will be working through a comprehensive program of review with a panel consisting of:

• An appointed external Reviewer
• Senior Education Improvement Officer (from Regional Office)
• Two Challenge Partners (principals from other schools)
• School Council President and Vice President
• School Improvement Team
• Leadership Team

Our Validation Day is May 5th and we will spend time observing classrooms, asking questions about the enablers and barriers to achieving our goals in the last four years. 

This day will also prepare us for the Fieldwork Day on May 19th. This will be a time for the panel to speak to students and staff about the school and to ask questions to gain more insight into the school's work towards achieving the strategic goals. 

The Final Day is on June 5th, this will involve the Reviewer presenting her report and the panel working on the development of the new Strategic Plan which will set out our work for the next four years. 

An exciting opportunity for us to ask what does our school need to do next so we can improve?

Athletics Help

What do you have planned for next Thursday May 6th? 

Our Senior Athletics Carnival is taking place at Tom Kelly Athletics Track in Doncaster East. We really need your help to make the day run smoothly. 

Could you volunteer to assist? We need help with long jump, shot put and discus, we need help to set up for the day. If you can come on the bus then there is a part to click on the form - thanks for helping us to make this a great school event! 

Please fill in the form to help with Athletics Day

Athletics Help Form 

Performing Arts

Lots of things happening in performing arts. We are preparing for the Junior School Concert 'Underneath the Big Top' which will be held on Tuesday 18 May 2021 at the Besen Centre. 

Our Senior School Production rehearsals have started and we cannot wait to see this extravaganza next term, on July 20th and 21st. 

Growing Up Digital 

This week we received an email with the results of the Growing Up Digital Australia Phase 2 research report from the Gonski Institute for Education. 

The following is taken from the results:

More than 9 out of 10 parents think digital devices negatively distract their own lives, and 83% think their children are also negatively distracted by digital gadgets.

While parents find digital technologies useful in staying connected with their children and keeping them safe, three-quarters of parents think it is difficult to control their child’s digital habits. As many as 65% of parents also admit that negotiating the use of digital media and technologies at home causes conflicts with their children.

About a third of families allow their children to use their digital devices after bedtime every single day. Furthermore, three of five children who struggle in school regularly sleep with their digital gadgets.

Growing up digital is also becoming an equity issue. According to the study, lower-income parents and lower-achieving students, in particular, are most at risk of distraction from interactive media use.

The study is also one of the first efforts to include grandparents’ views of their own and their grandchildren's digital media habits. Almost four in five grandparents feel they are in control of their own digital technology use, and most would rather see their grandchildren play sports than video games.

Key Facts 

• More than 4 in 5 children own at least one screen-based device that belongs to them, and children own, on average, three digital devices at home. Personal ownership of gadgets starts as young as four years old.
• Only 46% of parents felt that their child spends a day without digital technology.
• 73% of parents and grandparents think it is harder to control their child’s digital habits since getting their own screen-based device.
• 65% of parents agreed that ‘negotiating digital technologies use causes conflicts in our home’.
• 83% of parents, carers and grandparents felt that their child was negatively distracted by digital technologies.
• Half of parents said that they would welcome more support from their child’s school to help them and their child to manage digital media and technologies use at home.

If you would like more details about the report follow this link - UNSW Growing Up Digital

I have attached the infographic related to the final report for your information.

Student Engagement and Wellbeing policy

This week we are including our Student and Engagement and Wellbeing policy for your information. Our policies are on the website and are regularly reviewed. 

Our school is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for all students. This policy explains our expectations for positive student behaviour, the support available to students and families and our school’s policies and procedures for responding to inappropriate student behaviour. It is provided for your information. 

Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards are reviewed as part of the School Review commencing on May 5th. We will be assessed against each standard to ensure we are providing a safe environment for our students. 

Discover Balwyn - Balwyn HS

Balwyn High School is holding their annual Middle School event showcasing the Teaching and Learning Program to families interested in becoming part of the community. All details are in the Community Information section of this newsletter. 

Susanne Lowe

Principal