Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Families and Community members,

100 Days of ACS

Today we celebrated another milestone occasion, that being our First 100 Days as a School! While many Victorian schools are celebrating their Prep's First 100 days, we have taken it that bit further and as a community recognised how much our school community has developed, the achievements and successes of our students so far and really what a great place Armstrong Creek School is. 

Thank you to the families and community members that joined our staff and students this afternoon for special photo opportunity and some fun games and activities in the Games Hall. 

Can't wait to see what we can achieve in our next 100 days!

Parent Opinion Survey

A randomly chosen percentage of the schools’ parents have been invited to participate in the Parent Opinion Survey. Thank you to all parents and carers who have already completed the Parent Opinion Survey. The survey indicates areas of strength and areas where parents and carers believe the school can improve. The feedback that our parent community provides us will be used to strengthen our whole school community and also give direction to Armstrong Creek School. We therefore place high value on your feedback and urge all of our randomly selected percentage of parents to please complete the survey if you have not already done so. 

iPad Program

Our school has been exploring a variety of ways in which we can use digital technologies as part of the teaching and learning process to enhance student outcomes.We were provided with the opportunity to facilitate an iPad 1:1 pilot program with 20 students in the Grade 4, 5 and 6 Learning Community, to assist with this direction.

This program will further allow us to investigate where mobile technology fits into our teaching and learning environment and to gather information which will allow us to make informed decisions as we move forward. Each child in the selected group was provided with an iPad for the trial period and normal classroom teaching and learning occurred across the two week trial period, with the iPads used to support and enhance learning. The pilot program concluded today with the students inviting their parents and families to celebrate their learning over the past two weeks.

The program has been very successful, with the students finding different ways to demonstrate their learning and which has opened a dialogue pathway between home and school. Thank you to all of our students who showed responsible use of the iPad.

Over the coming weeks and months we will use information gathered from the trial to support us in developing our direction for the use of technology at ACS.

Please find below a link to the clips students have made:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWVVT1_9JQ6nN1IwHhw6WpROJLYDV2CbQ

Positive Climate for Learning

This term, our students will be focussed on exploring the the school value of Collaboration and what it means at ACS. We will focus on a different school value each term, during which students practise, role play and talk about the school values. 

Students will be learning about how to include others in play, support each other in learning, and listening to each other’s ideas and how to share resources appropriately. Students will also be identifying their personal strengths to develop and apply their social and emotional abilities. They will develop vocabulary to help them recognise and understand strengths and positive qualities in themselves and others. Social and emotional learning which uses a strength based approach, promotes student wellbeing, positive behaviour and academic achievement. 

We have included our schools ‘Expectations Matrix’ in the Newsletter if you would like to discuss the Matrix with your child. 

Artwork around School

Last week we shared in the newsletter some collaborative artworks that were on display recently at a school art exhibition.

It is also wonderful to see an increased amount of colour and creativity being placed around the school. We have included some examples here but be sure to check them out while you are visiting the school.

Well done to Mel and Lisa (the Art Team) for inspiring and supporting this creativity! 

Parking and Road Safety

ur school is a busy place in the morning and afternoon and it is only going to get busier as we grow and the area develops.

We all need to play our part in ensuring that everyone who is coming or going from ACS does so safely. Please only park in dedicated car parks onsite or on the street front.  We are fortunate to have a school with considerable parking options compared to other schools so please be patient and respectful whilst in the process of parking. Aside from being illegal, parking or 'standing' in the bike lane or across a driveway compromises access and visibility and ultimately safety.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school and students safe.

Curriculum Day - Monday 13 August

Just a reminder that our next Curriculum Day is on Monday 13th August and students are not required at school on this day.

Have a happy and safe weekend.

Evan Savage

Principal