Clifton Hill Primary School

A message from Gareth Buck, Assistant Principal

Hi everyone,

 

 

I would like to introduce myself to the many parents who may not know me. My name is Gareth Buck, and I am one of the assistant principals at Clifton Hill Primary School. I am fortunate that I spend the majority of the day in the classroom teaching my Year 6 students.

 

 

 

Another key role of mine is that of the Daily Organiser. As the Daily Organiser I am responsible for the day-to-day basis for the smooth and efficient operation of the daily routines of the school through the process of coordinating, managing and monitoring short term cover for teacher absences. This also includes making any daily adjustments to the school’s timetable.

 

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of this first term. As we have slowly been released from the shackles of COVID restrictions, it has been great to have had a sustained period of learning at school.  A complete term of learning at school has not happened since Term 4, 2019. Our students have had a fantastic start to the year. They have established class and school routines, are making new friends, and developing positive relationships with their teachers. As you walk around the school and chat with students you get a real sense of their engagement towards their learning. Such a different time compared to their learning throughout the last two years.

School Review

Over the last couple of weeks, Clifton Hill Primary School has been undertaking its school review. The Department of Education (DET) conducts reviews of schools every 4 years. This rigorous process is conducted by the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and the evaluation is completed with support from a DET appointed external reviewer. The school review supports each school to differentiate its improvement journey by building on current strengths and assisting it to respond to challenges. It emphasises continuous improvement and affirms that every student, no matter their background or circumstances, has a right to learn in a school committed to improvement. It maintains that every school can improve.  

 

Preparation for the school review began during Terms 3 & 4 last year. This involved School Review training for leadership, staff meetings, a parent forum, student forums, and a School Council report.

 

A range of documents have been looked at as part of the review, including:

  • reports related to the school’s academic achievement
  • reports detailing the results of surveys of key stake holders including students, parents and teachers
  • school policies.

Two weeks ago, our school had its Validation Day. The Review Panel met to acknowledge the work from our current School Strategic Plan (SSP) and discussed the school’s performance against the goals and targets set out within this plan. Classroom Observations were also conducted to validate some of the key elements outlined in the SSP. Validation Day enabled the Review Panel to concentrate on those areas of school performance about where decisions need to be made to secure further improvement.

 

Last week two Fieldwork days took place. During these days the Review Panel conducted forums and interviews with staff, student and parent groups as well as continued their classroom observations to further clarify the school’s improvement opportunities. 

 

This week the Final Review Panel Meeting will take place where the panel reaches conclusions about improvement outcomes. These outcomes become the focus for the next School Strategic Plan through the panel’s recommendation of goals, targets and key improvement strategies. All stakeholders in the school will have an opportunity to develop and endorse the 2022-25 School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan. 

 

Warm regards,

Gareth

 

Clifton Hill Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we come together to learn, and we pay our respects to Elders of the Kulin Nation past and present.