Sarah Joseph

Curriculum Learning Specialist

Information for parents, and carers

The Tutor Learning Initiative will support students in their learning throughout 2022.

We are delighted that the Department of Education has chosen to extend its funding for the Tutor Learning Initiative into 2022. This Initiative allows us to have extra teachers at Kingswood who support students across the school.

The Kingswood Tutor Initiative focuses on improving student growth in Reading, Writing, and Maths (Number and Algebra). The school has employed four highly motivated and experienced teachers as our tutors. They will work with small groups from Prep to Year 6. The tutors provide catch-up and extension support on a 6-week cycle to ensure that all students are making growth.

By engaging the tutors, Kingswood Primary School is supporting students with intensive learning. Therefore, the classroom teachers will have a greater capacity to ensure that all students’ achievement, engagement, and wellbeing needs are met; so that all students receive the support they need to continually make progress in their learning in 2022.

School achievement data and children’s feedback have indicated that the tutors are making a positive impact on students' academic growth and engagement. The tutors collaborate with classroom teachers to ensure the students are taught at their point of need and thrive in a small group environment.

The tutors and classroom teachers are always tracking students’ data to ensure that all students are progressing. Under the guidance of the teacher, the year-level tutor will upload a Compass chronicle for parents or carers, when a child has been selected to work in a small group with them. This could be to support and catch-up children that are working below the expected level or to extend children who may be working at or above the expected level but may have made lower than expected progress, potentially because of the effect of changing between onsite and remote learning.

If your child does not already have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), tutors will send a Tutoring Learning Plan with a few ideas on ways to support your child at home via Compass. For more specific information about your child’s next steps, please contact the classroom teacher.

We have included some more information about our tutors in this newsletter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the tutoring program.

Meet the KPS Tutoring Team…

Kara Bogicevic

My name is Kara Bogicevic and I am really looking forward to being a part of the Kingswood Tutoring Team this year. I have worked across a variety of year levels at Kingswood Primary School since 2015. Although I know many faces within our community, I look forward to learning more names and learning styles and teaching many how to pronounce my name (Mrs Borg-itch-e-vitch)!

Teaching and supporting students within a small group setting is my passion. I will expect each of my students to work hard, challenge themselves and respect each others’ differences. I will support them to develop their Growth Mindset, encourage them to participate and we will celebrate our achievements together.

I am married to Tony and we have two very active sons, Will (Year 6) and Henry (Year 4). Sometimes I see KPS families at local basketball games - make sure you say “Hello!” Or I might meet you at the beach walking our almost one-year-old Bordoodle puppy Leo!

Jacinda Galgano

My name is Jacinda Galgano and I’ve been a tutor at Kingswood Primary School since 2021. I discovered my passion for working with children through being an employee at a children’s play centre for 8 years where I hosted their parties. Throughout my teaching career in the last 6 years, I have taught both the junior and senior school and even Performing Arts. Being a tutor at Kingswood has been an incredibly positive experience so far due to the wonderful community here. The staff and students here are so welcoming, respectful and all display a Growth Mindset. As a tutor at Kingswood, I strive to support students in a positive, engaging learning environment and cater to their individual learning needs. Alongside tutoring, I also own a small beauty business and enjoy cuddling my two adorable Siberian cats! Thank you to the Kingswood community for being so supportive with our tutoring program.

Dahlia Fridman

Hi, my name is Dahlia Fridman and I am proud to be one of the tutors at Kingswood Primary School. I have been teaching for over 20 years and have experienced a range of roles, from teaching junior school to being a science teacher. My passion has always leaned towards students who require additional support. For the last 12 years I followed my passion and was a Literacy Specialist teacher, teaching individual students and small groups. I am so pleased to continue this passion at Kingswood as a tutor. It is a wonderful experience teaching at this fabulous school. The staff and school community have been so welcoming and supportive.

In my spare time I love to walk and take day trips with my family. I also love dancing and Calisthenics. This is my 5th year and I can’t wait to perform on stage in competitions later this year. I also enjoy drawing and painting. It is relaxing and rewarding seeing my “masterpieces” decorate my walls!

Thank you Kingswood Primary School for this amazing opportunity.

Natalie Potenzi

Hi, my name is Natalie Potenzi and I am delighted to be one of the new tutors at Kingswood Primary School this year. I am trained in both Primary and Secondary School, majoring in Special Education and Literature. I am extremely passionate not only about teaching students to read, but also instilling a love for reading. In my spare time, I enjoy going for walks and playing games with my sons. I am also in a community marching brass band - I play the tenor horn (which is basically a baby tuba!). Throughout my teaching career, I have worked in a variety of settings, including Prep, Year 3/4 and Performing Arts. The staff and students here are so welcoming and supportive, I can already tell that my time here at Kingswood Primary School will be a positive one. I am really enjoying getting to know the students and staff and look forward to the rest of the year ahead! Thank you for this opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful school community!

Mithuna Chadeyras

My name is Mithuna Chadeyras and I am the EAL Intervention Tutor for students in Prep to Year 2 at Kingswood Primary School. I have over 10 years in primary teaching experience with a strong background in Literacy, Numeracy and Science. As an enthusiastic and highly-motivated primary EAL teacher, I will use effective, high impact teaching strategies to enable students to develop their understanding and reach their potential. I will create a productive learning environment by incorporating positive psychology strategies into my teaching and by planning and teaching students at the zone of proximal development. I look forward to a productive year with students and supporting their EAL learning development. Thank you for welcoming me into the Kingswood Primary School community.

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