From the 

Assistant 

Principal

SeeSaw and Feedback

 I would just like to share these numbers that I was looking at today regarding SeeSaw and the amazing work that our teachers have been doing with your children. Our message has been to ‘be involved and be connected’ and all I can say is that you have done an amazing job of this!

There have been over 55,757 pieces of student work that have been posted and looked at by our teachers. This is not even reflective of all the work that our students have been putting up or sharing. Furthermore there have over 24,312 individual comments left on student work over this time period.

Amazing work everyone! Keep it up and stay connected.

Weekly Family Check In

Our Weekly Family Check In goes out each week, and we spend quite a lot of time going through the results and considering how we might need to refine our processes. You can find the write ups of the results so far below:

• Family Check In – Week 1 Write Up
• Family Check In – Week 2 Write Up
• Family Check In – Week 3 Write Up
• Family Check In – Week 4 Write Up

Parent Wellbeing Webinars – Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

On Wednesday we had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Lightening the Lockdown Load Webinar for Parents’ which was focused on strategies to support you at home.

Next Tuesday the 25 of August, the Department of Education and Training is presenting a free webinar for parents and carers by renowned child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, on building family resilience during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children feel safe through uncertain times.

Dr Carr-Gregg’s webinar is aptly named Managing the Coronacoaster – Tips for building resilient families in the coronavirus era.

In this webinar, Dr Carr-Gregg provides tools and strategies for parents and carers to help manage the lockdown and remote learning. Topics include:

• your supportive role
• setting the emotional tone
• focusing on what you can control
• how to deal with disappointment
• further resources and where to get help.

Dr Carr-Gregg’s presentation will run for 45 minutes. This will be followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session in which parents and carers can ask Dr Carr-Gregg questions.

Webinar details

• When: Tuesday 25 August
• Time: 7:30pm
• Duration: 45-minute presentation followed by 15-minute Q&A session
• Format: online via Webex
• Cost: free

 How to register

To register and for more information visit the Managing the Coronacoaster – Tips for building resilient families in the coronavirus era eventbrite page.

School House System        

Last Thursday a few of the teachers and I chaired a lively discussion on names for our School Houses with a group of students from across the whole school. What amazing ideas they have shared! Our prep to Year 6 students have had fantastic input to the development of our school house system. The ideas for names ranged from the indigenous names of native endangered animals to different parts of the solar system, and everything in between. The reasons the students gave for their thinking were deep and clearly well-reasoned, as were their ideas for how we can celebrate the houses across the school. This is only the start of the process but we would like to thank all the students who participated and we really look forward to updating you with the next phase of this process.                                

Literacy Leaders

At SMPPS it is our commitment to provide the highest standard of education to all our students and inspire education for life. Our teachers are continually involved in workshops and courses to keep current with the latest in education excellence. Last week our Literacy Leaders completed the first of five modules run by the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership. The Literacy Leaders course explores the cutting edge research on the teaching of literacy, and supports teachers in developing a researched based, best-practice approach to reading and writing.

This is normally quite an expensive course that we would only be able to send a small number of teachers to. Being able to have all our classroom teachers involved in this training online is a fantastic opportunity for our school and our students.

Auslan Introductory Course - Expression of Interest

Auslan is short for Australian Sign Language, a language developed by and for Australians who are deaf or hearing impaired. It's a visual form of communication that uses hand, arm and body movements to convey meaning.

We are looking for Expressions of Interest in a short course to be run virtually as an after-school activity for students. This would be run from 4:00 – 4:30 pm over three weeks on a Thursday, starting Thursday the 3rd of September. 

This would cost $20 per student for the three session course if we have enough interest to go ahead.

If this is something you would like to participate in please email claudette.llapitan@gmail.com

2020 Student Attitudes to School Survey 

Each year we participate in the Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS) for the Department of Education. The survey is for students from years 4 to 6 and is conducted over the period of Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September.

We have sent out detailed information about the survey via Compass to all parents, please refer to this, but these are some of the key points of the survey:

About the survey

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of your school.

This year, the survey also includes some questions about student health and wellbeing and student perceptions of COVID-19.Understanding health and wellbeing needs has always been important, but especially so this year, and the Department is providing this survey to allow schools to capture this information to support students. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, family, friends, health (including mental health) and wellbeing, and bullying.

What are the risks?

While we do not anticipate many risks of participation, some students may find the survey questions to be more personal and sensitive in nature this year. Should you agree for your child to participate, they are still free to skip questions or to withdraw at any stage if the survey makes them upset or uncomfortable.

What are the benefits?

In our experience, the majority of young people enjoy having the chance to have their say. Your school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

Options for participation

Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your child to do the survey, please opt out via email to your school: south.melbourne.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au. Please do so before Monday the 31st of August, stating that you wish to opt out of your child’s participation, along with their name, school and year level.If your school does not receive a Refusal of Consent email from yourself before the survey commencement date, it means that you give your consent for your child to participate in the 2020 Attitudes to School Survey.

A copy of the survey that we are asking your child to complete is available from your child’s school. Please contact the administration office - 9498 3396, if you would like to see the survey before making your decision about whether you would like your child to participate.