The Link

From the Principal

Teaching and Learning

At the beginning of this term, our classroom teachers were provided with clear expectations on what our focus would be for the teaching of Literacy and Numeracy. There have been two priority focus areas in these key learning areas:

  1. Small group reading sessions (F-3) and reciprocal reading (4-6). Brenda Petkovic has been working with teachers in their classrooms to model these teacher approaches and she led lunch time PD sessions on reciprocal reading. These teacher approaches are highly valuable, so teachers can explicitly teach the reading skills students require.
  2. Brooke Cincurak and Jo Smith have worked with PLCs to ‘unpack’ the Maths curriculum, so there is clarity on what is essential for students to be able to understand and do. When this is done effectively, PLCs are then able to build sequences of learning that meets the needs of all students.

Mr Tim Harper (current AP at EMC), has been working with a team of teachers on engaging in coaching conversations. We see that coaching has an important role in building teacher effectiveness and expertise. Tim is an accredited GROWTH coach trainer and his expertise has already greatly benefited our teachers in this area.

 

Wellbeing

Deb and the wellbeing team have done a huge amount of work to ensure the wellbeing needs of everyone in our school community is looked after.

As Deb has detailed across this year, we have a highly comprehensive wellbeing team:

  1. Deb Haddow- Wellbeing AP
  2. Luana Lane- School Welfare Officer (3 days per week)
  3. Sarah Roney- THRIVE Network Leader ( 1 day per week)
  4. Adrian Burrage- Langwarrin Network Inclusion Leader (1 day per week)
  5. Fiona Biss- Speech Therapist (1 day per week)
  6. Sharna Dean Wright- School Inclusion Leader (1 day per week)
  7. Inclusion mentors in every year level (Mentor gets 50 mins per week- Berry St/IEPs).
  8. Bella the Dog (Therapy)

To maintain an orderly learning environment teachers consistently use our THRIVE behaviour management framework. Teachers are also using different Berry St strategies- such as having a class meeting to start each school day and students building strategies that will support regulating their behaviour.

Teachers are currently updating student IEPs and they will continue to work closely with parents with the implementation of them.

 

School Review

We are well underway with our initial work for our school review. We have almost completed the school compliance aspect to the review. This component was on ensuring all school policies met DET requirements. We are now working through the Pre Review School Evaluation (PRSE). Between now and half way through Term 3, we will be seeking parent involvement in this process and we hope you will take the opportunity to help us with this important work.

I would like to thank all parents and carers who have responded to the Highlights Google Form that was sent out at the start of the week.

 

Staffing

Staffing is becoming increasingly difficult. Teacher shortages is now receiving more media attention and at this current point in time, we are managing teacher replacements without dramatic interruptions to school programs. This is something that we have no control over. DET is providing the best possible support when it is required and we will continue to communicate promptly with the school community if and when this situation changes.

 

Parent Involvement

It has been fantastic to have parents/carers back within the school to assist with different school activities. We have PMP each week where a band of parents help out. We have recently had the Grade 5 and 6 camps, where parents volunteered their time. We are getting parents back into classrooms to assist with reading. Our recent Open  Night was a massive success! We need to build on the momentum of these kinds of events and continue to look for ways we can better engage parents with their child’s learning.

PFC has continued to be a vital driver to re-connect our community and this has been highlighted in our Google Form sent out earlier this week.

 

School Tours

We are well underway with our school tours. We have done a brilliant job this year to engage with our local kinders and childcare centres. We are having plenty of new families attend these tours and they have been so impressed with what we have to offer. Hopefully this translates into enrolments for next year. 

 

Grade 5 Camp

I had the pleasure of making a surprise visit up to the Grade 5 Camp at Sovereign Hill. This was the first ever school camp for this group of students and I would like to thank the Grade 5 team, school staff and parent volunteers who attended. These are such rich and positive experiences for all our kids!

 

Queens Birthday

Just a reminder that on Monday it is the Queens Birthday long weekend. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday.

 

End of Term

As we draw closer to the end of the term and marking the half way point of the school year (which is difficult to believe), I would like to thank you again for your continued support and advocation of Langy Park Primary School. We have done the best possible job in making the start of our school year a positive one for all our kids. Schools are now highly complex environments and teaching has never been more challenging. We need to continue to be kind, empathetic and resilient, as we continue to navigate this complex landscape. We have all the resources in place to achieve this and we look forward to enjoying the last couple of weeks of Term 2.

 

Best wishes,

Richard