From the Principal
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
At yesterday’s assembly, the formal student leadership positions were announced, and students presented with their badges. These leaders will join the school captains, and vice captains announced at the final assembly last year.
Congratulations to:
School Captains: Bridget Chapman, Liam Ayres
School Vice Captains: Mia Kristensen, Cody Scrivener
House Captains:
Gold: Stephanie Tsitas, Lachlan Baxter
Green: Kiyani Sydnor, Sam McInerney
Blue: Lucy Dyer, Mitchell Simmons
Red: Jaimie Major, Alex Krekoukias
House Vice Captains:
Gold: Jasmine Shaw, Darcy Beamish
Green: Kate Mahoney, Harry Officer
Blue: Alex Piperidis, Lawrence Dimatos
Red: Jana Lianos, Emmanuel Efstathiou
Class Captains:
5/6 C: Miranda Abbott
5/6D: Paris Griffs
5/6G: Holly Blacker
5/6K: Mary Kalaitzis
5/6L: Christina Nelson
5/6P: Jack Bowser
Environment Captains:
James Crockett, Skye Blackshaw, Ned Hogan, Josh Caspersz, Maria Kantzas
IRC Captains:
Library: Kaylah Karpel, Bree Francis, Jai Szabo
ICT: Zoe Robinson, Josh Cousins
Art Captains:
Mark Skopakow, Maddy Latimer, Ella Cornelius
Music Captains:
John Mantle
Peer Mediation Captains:
Nick Stringer, Violet Bakes
Japanese Captains:
Meret Hau, Ayesha Mahek, Meg Edgley
PARENT INFORMATION WORKSHOPS
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we will be holding information workshops on Monday 2 March and Tuesday 3 March.
Parents will be able to attend up to six workshops across the two days. For organisational purposes, we would like you to indicate on the attached slip which particular workshops and sessions you would like to attend. (see the attached return slip and hard copy sent home)
The workshops will cover the areas of Literacy (comprehension), Numeracy, Inquiry, Data/ Assessment and ICT (Information and Communications Technology). There will be workshops in each of the areas for parents of the junior school (P-2) and senior school (3-6). See an overview of the sessions below. We encourage you to attend as many workshops as possible!
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Junior and Senior
These workshops will look at the different ways that both students and teachers use technology in the classroom, in junior or senior levels. Examples of how students use technology to communicate, create movies/animations, solve problems and develop important computer skills will be presented. Parents will also be shown examples of how teachers use computers to engage students, assess work and deliver curriculum to students in different ways. The importance of cyber safety will also be discussed.
Numeracy
Junior:
There will be an overview of the mathematics curriculum followed by an example of the structure of a typical mathematics lesson in the junior school. It will include a range of ‘hands on’ activities for parents, followed by a reflection session, which is integral to the learning of mathematics.
Senior:
This session will focus on how measurement is an integral part of mathematics learning. Activities linked to measurement, similar to those implemented in classrooms will be demonstrated. Links across all aspects of numeracy will be addressed. Parents will be encouraged to participate actively in the workshop.
Literacy (Comprehension)
Junior:
The importance of home reading and interactive conversations about books will be discussed. Parents will participate in a book introduction and learn how to support the reader (their child) to gain meaning from reading. A whole group reading activity will be demonstrated.
Senior:
This workshop will focus on the types of questioning techniques focusing on a range of text types used in the classroom. Ways that parents can provide support at home will also be covered.
Assessment/ Data
Junior and Senior
Parents will be presented with an overview of our assessment program appropriate to the level (junior or senior) and how we use assessment data to develop differentiated learning programs for our students. A range of assessment types will be demonstrated and parents will learn about the process used by teachers to aggregate and analyse data to formulate assessments. The important link between assessment and personalised learning will be emphasised and how we use this when planning for teaching and learning.
Inquiry
Junior and Senior
Parents will participate in workshops where they experience the inquiry learning process. The activities will encourage questions and discussion and related to actual units of inquiry (junior or senior) from the classroom. Links to the Primary Years Program will be made and explanations presented about how the inquiry activities develop in a range of ways within the classroom and make cross curricular connections.
STAFF NEWS
Congratulations to Miss Gabrielle Cukier (4M) who was married on Saturday. Our best wishes are extended to Gabbi and husband Jason. Miss Cukier is now known as Mrs Menche.
SCHOOL COUNCIL 2014
The final meeting of the 2014 school council was held last night, followed by the meeting of the new 2015 school council. We reluctantly accepted the resignation from council of our president, Angelo Piperidis. Angelo has been a council member for 5 years, the last 3 years as president. I would like to thank Angelo for his fantastic contributions as president, and previously as convenor of the finance committee. His balanced and professional approach has been widely respected and much appreciated. Angelo’s departure has left a one year casual vacancy on the 2015 school council.
SCHOOL COUNCIL 2015
The newly elected school council for 2015 met last night to co-opt additional members (community member and a DET member). Mia Synman was co-opted as a community member, and Sarah Renton was co-opted to fill the one year casual vacancy. The school council then met to elect office bearers.
Parent members: Cassandra Williams, Serren Schindler, Neil Moody, Phil Gardiner, Ravi Eranti, Kanchan Chandani, Kim Lucas, Sarah Renton
Community members: Andrew Osborne, Mia Synman
DET members: Heather Hill, Shirley Krongold, Gillian Large, Sue Riley, Nerida Burns
The new council elected office bearers for 2015 as follows:
President: Serren Schindler Vice President: Phil Gardiner
Convenors of Sub-Committees:
Education/Communication: Phil Gardiner
Facilities: Andrew Osborne
Finance: Ravi Eranti
Fundraising/Social: Cass Williams
Out of School Hours Care: Gillian Large
Canteen/Uniform: Nerida Burns
We encourage anyone who wishes to be involved with any of the sub-committees to please contact the committee’s convenor, the president or me. We welcome all involvement by parents and staff.
The first full meeting of the new school council would be on 16 March 2015 at 7.30 pm.
SPECIAL RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION (SRI)
SRI is instruction in specific religious beliefs and tenets and is not general religious education. SRI is authorised to be delivered by churches and other religious groups in government schools under section 2.2.11 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. In accordance with Ministerial Direction (MD141), ‘If a principal receives notification from an accredited and approved instructor that the instructor is available to deliver special religious instruction at the school the principal must offer parents of children enrolled at the school the opportunity for their children to be provided with special religious instruction’. We have been approached by one provider, United Jewish Education Board, offering classes for 2015. Attached is a parent consent form (CTMD141) for parents to sign if they are interested in Special Religious Instruction in Judaism. Forms must be returned to school by 24 February 2015.
Please note that the SRI program is not part of our school curriculum; it is presented by volunteers and is not planned or implemented by our teachers. Our school curriculum is based on the Primary Years Program (PYP), which has an international focus and acknowledges and celebrates diversity in a global perspective. Our units of inquiry are values and attitudes based. Several of our units of inquiry cover aspects of various cultures and beliefs. Some, such as Level 4’s unit on World Religions, compare and contrast religious beliefs and practices.
SRI classes can only be implemented if they fit into the school’s duty of care obligations, timetable schedules and space constraints.
SAFE PARKING
Parents are requested to adhere to parking signs and general rules when parking near the school. There are designated drop off zones, and limited time zones close to the school, and unlimited parking further away. Please be aware that our neighbours require access to their properties at any time. We have had concerns raised by a neighbour who has been unable to access their driveway due to cars parked over it. We ask your cooperation in ensuring safe and legal parking practices.
Heather Hill