From the Principal
PREP TRANSITION- for our new 2023 prep students
This Friday will be the first of four transition sessions for our new prep students. One group will be attending the morning session and another in the afternoon. There will be signage to help guide our new parents to the prep line up area, however, if you happen to see some adults with their littlies looking a little lost, please welcome them and show them the way.
CLASS PLACEMENTS FOR 2023
As mentioned in the last newsletter, teachers will soon be developing the new classes for 2023, which is quite a lengthy process. Teachers consider a range of factors to ensure each class is balanced with students ranging in academic abilities, and learning, social and emotional needs and we also ensure each child has a friend.
On occasion, parents have particular requests when considering the most suitable class for their child. We ask that parents make their request in writing and email the school at Murrumbeena.PS@education.vic.gov.au no later than Friday 11 November. Requests after this date will not be considered.
Parents, please note; we are NOT able to take requests for particular teachers. For further information, please refer to the Class Placement Policy found on the school website.
THE SWIMMING PROGRAM
Primary school students across Victoria participate in an annual swimming program with the aim of being able to achieve the ‘Water Safety Certificate' by the end of year 6. The Department of Education provides funding to schools which subsidises the cost of lessons for all of our students.
Questions: Are all year 6 students able to pass the Water Safety Certificate? What further support (or funding) is required to help year 6 students achieve this?
Are you willing to participate in a research survey about swimming?
Life Saving Victoria is aiming to identify the number of students who are ‘at risk’ of NOT achieving the minimum benchmark of the Water Safety Certificate by the end of grade 6. They will collate information from surveys with the intention of exploring ways to increase the success rates.
If you are able to participate in this survey, please let the school know so we can provide you with the information.
It’s a simple paper survey (one for the student and one for the parents) which truly won’t take a lot of time. Your involvement can make a big difference to improving the swimming abilities for primary school students through increased funding.
YEAR 4 CAMP
Last week, despite the torrential rain, the year 4 students thoroughly enjoyed their first camp experience. Fortunately, when the buses arrived at the camp, the rain had stopped so the students immediately dived into their adventure activities: ropes course, giant swing, extended flying fox and rock climbing wall. They were able to do all activities as the rain stopped again on Friday and the schedule was modified so the students didn’t miss out. Students participated in a range of team building challenges throughout the very wet Thursday and it was brilliant to see students getting to know each other in a whole new way and recognising the resilience and courage in their classmates.
Camps are all about providing a range of activities for students to build independence through being away from home and increasing self awareness, self development and building on new and existing relationships with peers. This particular group were amazingly confident, enjoyable to be with and had the heartiest appetites I’ve seen in a long time.
Thank you to the teachers: Mr Lowe, Ms Kepa, Mrs Lancia, Mr Pullar, Mrs Baker and student teachers: Miss Abrahams and Miss Collard for giving up their own family time to provide a wonderful camp experience for our year 4 students.
YEAR 6 EXHIBITION
Year 6 students across International Baccalaureate schools showcase their learning in the final year of the Primary Years Program (PYP) through their Exhibition.
This year, our students explored real life issues related to the transdisciplinary theme of ‘Sharing the Planet’ with students exploring their own lines of inquiry related to the central idea of, ‘Purposeful action provokes responsible change for a sustainable future’.
While the inquiry process culminated in attractive displays of student work, it is the process of learning and application of transdisciplinary skills (eg. collaboration, thinking, communication, research etc) that was truly evident on the night.
Students competently spoke about their work with passion and understanding and with ideas of how society can make changes for the better.
Our teachers would like to thank family members and guests who attended, not only for visiting their own child’s display, but also for engaging with students across the year level. Your questions and active participation was valued by our students and staff.
Thank you to the year 6 teachers for supporting our students to make the Exhibition a highlight of their primary school learning.
Thank you also to Miss Nugent, Miss Marquis, Mrs Sewell and Mrs Houghton for their support on the night and to all classroom teachers for taking their classes to visit the Exhibition as our year 6 students clearly inspired our younger learners.
BYOD- Bring Your Own Device (Years 4 to 6)
No matter what our personal views are in regard to the use of technology, digital technologies are threaded through the curriculum and it’s our responsibility as educators and parents to teach students to be ethical and responsible ICT* users.
While literacy and numeracy remain key to a child’s success in primary school, school is no longer just about learning content, it incorporates how to learn and habits of mind that will allow students to become successful life long learners, collaborators, innovative problem solvers and critical thinkers all of which will help them to prepare for jobs that are yet to exist.
ALL students from years 4 to 6 are asked to bring an ipad to school every day to support the child’s classroom learning. An information session for Year 3 and other interested parents and carers, will be held in the next couple of weeks to show parents how the devices are used within the classroom, why our school has chosen ipads along with an opportunity to have questions answered.
* ICT - Information Communication technologies
Chellee Plumb