Murrumbeena P.S. Newsletter

From the Principal

ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2023

Following a rigorous review of the students’ NAPLAN and formal assessment data, we are pleased to report that, once again, our students are working at an exceptionally high standard. Because our students achieve such high results in NAPLAN, our aim is to increase the percentage of students who are working in the top two bands and to maintain that achievement from year 3 to year 5.

Our AIP key improvement strategies for 2023 will focus on:

Learning

  • To enhance student achievement in reading 
  • To further achievement in numeracy, with particular emphasis on improving student confidence in numeracy (particularly in girls).

Wellbeing

  • To increase student engagement by developing agency in their learning through goal setting and feedback.  

At Murrumbeena Primary School, we want to develop students who are engaged in their learning because they are challenged appropriately and receive specific and timely feedback that enables them to be informed about their progress. 

This builds on from the work we have done this year in building staff capacity to help students to set their own goals and to use data to inform their teaching. Staff will continue to develop their ability to collect evidence to refine their lessons, identify misunderstandings, as well as pinpoint what skills their students need next. Teachers will also work to develop students’ metacognitive abilities so they can become self-directed learners and take responsibility for their progress. 

SCIENCE OF READING

A great deal of research has been conducted over the past decade to gain a deeper understanding of how we learn to read, what skills are involved, how they work together and which parts of the brain are responsible for reading development. 

Our staff will be involved in a professional practice day at the end of February so we are able to learn from this research, identify an evidence-based best practice approach for the teaching of reading. 

Throughout the month of February, as students settle into their new classrooms, teachers will be informally assessing students’ language and reading skills in readiness to identify the most effective reading pedagogies following our training in the science of reading. 

STUDENT ABSENCES- Missing out on the beginning of the year!

We understand that many families will be travelling overseas over the summer holidays, however it is imperative that students are back and ready to start school from the first day (Monday 30 January). 

The first few weeks of school are all about building relationships with new classmates and the teacher, and together establishing their desired learning environment. Students who are absent during this time miss the opportunity to build those connections. 

If there is a possibility that your family will NOT be back in time for the start of school, please contact the office by email with your reason and attach a copy of your flight itinerary indicating your return date. 

PARENT REQUESTS

Over the past month, parents have been invited to place special requests in writing to the school. These requests are taken into consideration when developing new classes. Due to the complexity of matching various criteria when considering which class to place a student in, it is not possible to accept further parent requests, as this has a roll-on effect which impacts on a range of students. It must also be mentioned, that while we do our best, it is not always possible to meet every request due to conflicting requests. 

*Parents will be informed of their child’s class placement and 2023 teacher in the second last week of school (7 December). 

PARENT (CLASS) REPRESENTATIVES

We will be informing parents of their child’s class placement this year so that we can organise the ‘Class Representatives’ before the holidays commence. We believe that not only should the school be a place where our students feel a sense of connectedness and belonging, but so too should our parents. 

Class Representatives help facilitate this by:

  • encouraging parent participation in school and class activities by reminding families of events and highlighting the benefits for both parents and students.
  • welcoming new families to the school.
  • organising the occasional play date in the park for families or a parent night out.
  • assisting the classroom teacher to organise extra helpers at times (e.g. excursions, reading with students, extra volunteers for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program).
  • liaising with the Social/Fundraising Committee on behalf of the class and encouraging others to be involved in school events eg. Easter raffle, working bees etc
  • being the class contact person for special events (e.g. Grade 6 graduation)

Please consider being a class representative in 2023 because, as soon as the classes are known, we will be calling for expressions of interest. 

BYOD- Bring Your Own Device  (Years 3- 6)

Next Tuesday 22 November (5:00 – 6:00pm), an information session will be held in the library to show parents how technology is used in the modern-day classroom. Technology is used to develop skills, such as information literacy, collaboration, creativity and innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, and of course ICT (Information and Communication Technology) literacies, all which have become an integral part of the education process. Parents will gain an understanding of how often ipads are used in the classroom and in what contexts, and will have the opportunity to ask and have questions answered. 

‘KIDS ON KEY’ INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM

This was our first year of providing instrumental music lessons through the company ‘Kids on Key,’ and what a highly successful program it has been. 

We now have over 50 students learning any one of a range of instruments including: guitar, ukulele, percussion, saxophone, violin, keyboard, flute and clarinet. 

Students will be performing a mini concert for our students and their parents in our library on 24 November. 

STARRY NIGHT AT MURRUMBEENA VILLAGE- Friday 2 December

This year, our school will once again be involved in the Murrumbeena Village ‘Starry Night’ event. 

In the past, our senior students have created colourful Christmas decorations and hung them on trees in Neerim Road, but this year our students will also be singing at the community village event on Friday 2 December. 

I would like to thank our Arts teachers Miss Marquis and Miss Nugent for providing yet another opportunity for our students to enjoy the Arts and connect to our local community. 

Please save the date and take the family to enjoy your local community and support our students.

 

Chellee Plumb