Remote Learning Newsletter

Greetings to all families and friends of MPWPS,

Thankyou for your diligence and support for Remote Learning 2.0 as we move into our third week. Learning in this way will have a number of challenges, some of which you will have worked through during the first round I expect, and I am hopeful of more celebrations than you would have imagined. Experiencing the learning of your child/ren; what greater experience can you have really.  Those little nuances that you may have overlooked or did not witness during homework sessions are now part of the makeup of your child. These are things you can more intentionally support, or challenge and celebrate. 

Remote Learning Onsite

Most mornings there is a role for me in assisting the students who need to work onsite for their Remote Learning.  My role of supporting the Teaching Team onsite means ensuring the children have a device that is fully charged, have a pencil or pen for their written work and for the younger ones their weekly timetable is available in their own pouch, so they can circle or tick off the tasks completed.  All of these structural processes help children be organised and successful as a learner.  It has been a joy to see how independent children can become in a supportive environment. Independence is expected behaviour for the upper primary child, it is those little ones that really excel when we the trusted adult work WITH them.  Some ways we have tried to foster independence in learning whilst here on site are:

• Have the devices names and ready to go from charging station to table.  Children put their device on charge at the end of each day.
• Have an established routine of logging on and completing the attendance form straight up or directly after the check-in.
• Having the child find and transfer their small groups for the week into a blank timetable (what a skill) keeping this with them to refer to each morning.
• Know where their check-in WebEx link is to be found, and be ready for their session.  This does require some direction but our senior students are helping by guiding the children with their voice not doing FOR by using their hands.
• Having the day board up as a focal point in the class with each child’s check-in time. This is becoming an authentic way to read and tell the time.
• Using their existing books to record their learning.
• Having mixed aged students working together so they can see and learn from each other.  It is amazing how children ‘lift’ in so many ways in such an environment.

The teachers continue to plan a range of learning activities. Not all are completed in front of a screen. More and more I am seeing the directions and instructions on the screen, but then children dive into their tubs for their writing books, spelling pads, or maths books.   Last week a young student was working on her directed writing piece; a letter.  She had chosen to use this learned structure to write to her mother.  She completed the editing with me and we chose some real writing paper for her to complete the task.  Simple spelling was attended to and during this process the student did the work, holding the pencil and rewriting above the correct spelling of the words she thought she would use again.  It was a moment! 

Why write of this? Learning takes many shapes and forms; digitally, learning the ‘old fashioned way’ and the best is the combination of all forms.  Right before me everyday I am seeing learning, its fun and frustration, but collectively we together make the difference.  At home, you are many things to many people and I hope you are relaxing into your family’s rhythm of learning remotely experience, building on what you did last time.  Keep supporting and being the coach at the side for your child. Without even seeing you I can tell you are doing a splendid job!

Landcare Grant

We are applying for a Landcare Grant to continue the re-development of Jack’s Paddock. Parents on the Environment Sub-Committee are completing the paperwork and the focus is on local indigenous plantings; imagine swaths of grasses common to this area, colourful ground covers and new rustic areas for sitting and learning outside. The grant is for the plants mainly, with other items sourced from donations and maybe the local Transfer Centre. With children being active in our planting and garden area, I am hopeful they will want to take care of what is in the ground, watering, nurturing and admiring what they know about such planting experiences.  Keep you posted!

A surprise! 

During Remote Learning 1.0, some of the younger children who were working onsite did some planting with me.  It was to be a surprise for when we were all back together, daffodils and blue Lobelia (Blue Eyes common name!)  planted of our school colours! Well these plants are growing.  Look at how far they have grown already!  Can you recognise where this garden bed is situated?  It is somewhere in our school grounds!  For children time is like the wind, you cannot see it, and as for looking at a clock well, that is one way!  Here is another way by which to measure time.  Perhaps by the time, the bulbs are up and fully flowering we could be at school again!

School Council Governance training

Last night your School Council members were involved in training for effective governance. Such knowledge is essential for an effective School Council and therefore effective school. The training is provided by the Department of Education and is a huge ask after a full day of work.  My sincere thanks to the Council members for their time and ongoing commitment to the school and its effective governance, and to their supportive families for holding the ’fort’ to enable attendance. 

Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) and Annual Report to the community: your school’s 2019 performance

These two items have been re-directed with extended timelines being applied to both. The school’s Annual Report for the 2019 (usually delivered at the AGM) has been shared with the Education and School Council. We are now considering the best way to share in this present climate. We have started   preparing an infographic representation of the important aspects. I am working on this at present and will share once Council have approved. In short, we have had a great performance year moving from RENEW to INFLUENCE particularly in the academic areas.  What was responsible for this improvement?  My guess is teachers working collaboratively together, supported by targeted professional Learning in both Literacy and Numeracy and  a positive mindset from staff, supported by a growing belief that collectively they can, and do make a difference. Collective efficacy built on trust and challenge means improved satisfaction and achievement. 

The mid-cycle AIP review of goals and targets will be completed by our School Improvement Team and communicated through the Education Committee before the end of the term.   This is usually represented by a’ traffic light’ style reflection and allows for some adjustment of actions. 

Enrolments for 2021

We are coming to the pointy end of the enrolment process.  If you are planning to enrol at MPWPS for 2021 please get those forms in.  For 2021 we have vacancies caused by families moving out of, or to other country areas so I have space for ‘out of zone’ enrolments. We are looking for 50 Foundation students for next year.

As part of our commitment to the enrolment process I will be offering another ‘meet the Principal Team’ on WebEx in the coming weeks. The information and link will be distributed through our Website, Facebook and COMPASS platforms. 

School Assembly

For Remote Learning 2.0 we will be offering aspects of both the recorded items and live WebEx Assemblies.  As most classes have check-in’s at 9.00 or 9.30, the thinking is that the Assembly will trialled at 2.45pm on a Monday.  Some schools have their Assembly on a Friday to recap the week and leave on a celebration. Further information will be sent this week via COMPASS so you can be informed and participate.  The most parents we managed to capture last time on live WebEx assembly meeting was 97 adults..  Let’s see if we can capture all our families!  Now that’s a goal!

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

Thank-you for your understanding as we rescheduled these from last week. Perhaps a little optimistic from me! We are working on the best structure to provide these important connections.   It is not easy to organise from this end, and I am sure you will be wondering exactly how these will look.  Of course, the conferences will be driven by WebEx as we will still be social distancing and having no adults onsite.   The structure will be finalised early next week with sufficient time for parents to be informed.  Again, this information will be communicated to you via COMPASS.  Lost your parent portal login?  Not a problem. Sandra in the General Office can assist you. 

Well its been a bit of an epic today!  Please stay well and safe.

Sincerely

Kerri Simpson

Principal of your school.