Remote Learning Newsletter

Greetings families and community members of MPWPS,

Week 5 and halfway through this 10-week term and my how different Term 3 is looking. The highlight for my week is our Monday Assembly.

The Virtual Assembly

Each Monday afternoon (2.30 for 2.45) we hold our whole school assembly virtually of course! This is the time where I get to see the faces of our community; children, teachers and parents. The virtual assembly is a bit scary for us, but really important as it gives children across the school glimpses of those they normally wouldn’t see at this time. The videos or photos that are being sent to and put together by Barb, capture the routines and shenanigans that sometimes occur in homes during Remote/Flexible learning.  What about the ‘air spoon’ performance with the adult in the background continuing with duties as if this AC/DC like playing was normal behaviour in this home! I did laugh! Good on you all.  How about the young girl who read her Japanese words from the skilfully created book (a Minihon - translated; Little book) that is entitled Oshougatsu （おしょうがつ = New Year) This young person (Camila) has only recently returned to MPWPS after a term at the English Language School so Japanese now becomes her third language!  An incredible example of transference of learning; learning one language and concepts, helps skills transfer.  The brain is an incredible muscle hey! Our young readers are sharing poems and stories both virtually and with families; many audiences, and strong gymnastic skills demonstrated by hanging upside down in such a correct form illustrates the diversity of students across the school. The last thing I mention from the Assembly was the sharing of learning from Room 7.  Speaking about a learning experience requires clarity about purpose and process. Yesterday we saw both of these elements from the children that spoke. If you get a chance please view the examples from Room 7, they are contained in this newsletter below for your convenience.

I also mention the skills that are being developed with the online platform, videoing, sharing screens and being visible to others.  All getting embedded as part of the tools for learning.  Thank you to Nash, Apostolos, Summer, and Lee for courage and confidence in your learning and as part of all opportunities, there will be things and ideas that work and don’t work but next time they will! You have risked yourselves to share and clarify your learning. My thanks. 

Please see below links to yesterdays assembly and attached items.

Room 7 Remote Learning

In Room 7 during Remote Learning this term we have been focusing on Reading, Writing, Numeracy and Inquiry each week. We have daily tasks for Literacy and Numeracy and a weekly task for Inquiry (which is a Science focus).

Lee

For Inquiry we have been exploring science experiments at home. We learned how to make simple ‘lava lamps’ at home. Watch my video to see how you can create your own.

Apostolos

In Directed Writing we have been learning about explanation texts. We have been planning out and researching ideas for our own explanation, my focus is AFL. My writing will explain how different parts of the AFL work. We learn about the text structure, word choice and language that we should use. Have a look at some of my explanation so far.

Summer

For Science we have been using a Science Journal to record our learning for our weekly experiments. I have created mine in PowerPoint, we use the Scientific Method to create a report of each investigation. This has a question, hypothesis, results and conclusion.

Nash

In Maths we have been learning about using the ‘bar model’ as a visual representation for learning about fractions. I have been able to use the bar model to solve a worded problem. 

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences on WebEx WEEK 7

We are now offering Three-Way Conferences on WebEx during week 7 of this term. Again, the bookings will be offered through COMPASS.  Each conference will be 15 minutes and there will be opportunity for follow up times if required.  The conferences have to be a little different because of the virtual nature of the interaction.  Parent and student will be on screen together with the teacher and there will be discussion on the learning and how your child is going from the child, parent and teacher’s perspective. There will be a chance to discuss learning goals for the student.  Please look for the COMPASS push so that you can book your time. COMPASS will be opened in the latter part of this week. 

The teachers of the Specialist classes will be offering open times for conferences with parents during Week 8.

Continuous Reporting

MPWPS commenced Continuous Reporting in Term 1 and then we went to Remote Learning and that was that!

Whilst teachers have continued to assess the learning of students, the sharing of this on a regular basis via COMPASS has been put on hold.  This term (Term 3) we are resuming our Continuous Reporting plan and will be posting samples of your child’s learning.  A contextual statement will outline the purpose and intent of the learning, and your child’s example will be assessed against a rubric of expected skill/knowledge from the learning task.  The learning rubric will show a progression scale which should be informative for you; where the child has come from, where they are against the skills being taught and what is the next step.  An assessment rubric provides real feedback to the student and guides them to what is to be next.  A progression rubric provides them with a pathway for improvement.

The Continuous Reporting timeline requires completed learning tasks to be uploaded to COMPASS in the Learning section week 6, 8 and 10.  Samples of assessed learning tasks in Reading, Writing and Number will be the focus and the teams will choose the order depending on the learning sequence they have planned. Look out for these and use them as a prompt for a positive learning conversation at your home.

Time is passing

As I showed at the Assembly the flower garden is growing so time must be passing. The yellow and blue flowers represent our school colours and I was pleased to see at the assembly that our students know this fact. The daffodils have buds so the next capture should show the flowers moving in the breeze! All we need is YOU!

Before we know it, we will be back at school for Term 4 a great term for all but especially our Year 6 students. They are experiencing a different Year 6 from other years but it will no doubt be memorable as all Year 6 groups will attest. The Teaching Team is working on a plan for Term 4 so let’s see what children and teachers come up with!

Well that’s about it from me for this week.  I hope you are finding that the Remote newsletter is keeping us connected to you. 

Stay well and safe doing your bit for us all. Together we make a difference.

Sincerely

Kerri Simpson

Principal.

SPOONVILLE Experience

What joy the Spoonville City is providing for everyone, children and adults alike!  I see many parents and children on bikes, scooters, on foot, running and stopping to admire the Spoonville community.  Day by day it is growing. Whilst our spoons have all become part of this community, it’s not too late to join in.  I am sure spoons of all sorts can still be found at your home. 

See the community below.  Colourful, creative and cute!  Get on board and decorate your own spoon as part of a relaxing activity at home.

SPOONVILLE Moonee Ponds West PS version.

Thank you to the Foundation/One team and especially teacher Melanie B from Rm 3 who took this on as a project ensuring there was  light and colour in the remote grey!

A Poem in your Pocket!

Our Junior school is studying poetry and as part of this I am challenging your family to choose their favourite poem and have it in their pocket in case you or another member of the family challenges them to a ‘poem off!’ 

In a poem-off you have to be able to recite your poem without reading!  Can you do this with your favourite poem?

The poem I remember most from Grade 5 at Stawell 502 with Mr Devine, is the Highway Man by Walter De La Mere.  Another poem I know sort of by heart is from ‘When I was 5’ about my favourite stair! See if you can find these and let me know by email!  You can send me your learning's on the following:

kerri.simpson@education.vic.gov.au

I would love to hear from you.

Kerri