Upcoming Events & Principal's Report
Dates to Remember
JUNE
Friday 27th End of Term - 2:30pm Dismissal
JULY
Monday 14th Term 3 Begins
Wednesday 16th Year 5/6 African Drumming
Tuesday 22nd Yr 3 Camp Information Night
Wednesday 23rd School Council Meeting
Year 5/6 African Drumming
Thursday 24th Student Banking Resumes
Wednesday 30th Year 5/6 African Drumming
Bike Education Begins
Friday 25th CURRICULUM DAY
AUGUST
Monday 4th Book Fair 8:30am & 3:30pm
Year 4 Science Incursion
Tuesday 5th Book Fair 8:30am & 3:30pm
School Photo Day
Wednesday 6th Book Fair 8:30am & 3:30pm
Year 3 Science Incursion
Year 5/6 African Drumming
Thursday 7th Book Fair 8:30am
Book Week Character Day
Saturday 9th P&F Trivia Night
Wednesday 13th Year 5/6 African Drumming
Thursday 14th Year 3 Camp Departs
Friday 15th Year 3 Camp Returns
Monday 18th Year 6 Camp Departs
Wednesday 20th School Council Meeting
Friday 22nd Year 6 Camp Returns
SEPTEMBER
Friday 5th P&F Father's Day Breakfast
Wednesday 17th School Council Meeting
Friday 19th End of Term - 2:30pm Dismissal
OCTOBER
Monday 6th CURRICULUM DAY
Tuesday 7th Term 4 Begins
Wednesday 15th School Council Meeting
Thursday 16th P&F Student Treat Day
NOVEMBER
Tuesday 4th MELBOURNE CUP DAY
Wednesday 19th School Council Meeting
Friday 21st P&F Twilight Market
Prep 2015 School Tours
July Monday 21st 9:30am
August Monday 4th 9:30am
September Monday 8th 9:30am
Curriculum Days 2014
Tuesday 28th of January
Tuesday 10th of June
Friday 25th of July
Monday 6th of October
Term Dates 2014
Term 1 - January 28 to April 4th
Term 2 - April 22nd to June 27th
Term 3 - July 14th to September 19th
Term 4 - October 6th to December 19th
Principal's Report
Parent /Teacher Interviews
The Mid-year Reporting Process has been completed with the Parent/Teacher interviews held earlier this week. This is a valuable component of the reporting process as it enables teachers and parents to work closely together to recognize student achievement and to agree on learning goals and strategies for the second semester. Thank you to everyone who gave generously of their time in this process.
Reports – How can they be developed and improved?
The school leadership team and the teachers will now move to reviewing the report format. We have been using the government sponsored QuickVic program for about nine years now and it is time for a change to meet the current requirements of teachers and parents. Schools are now able to design their own unique report formats using commercially available platforms. We believe that there are aspects of the report that should be retained but there are certainly elements that can be replaced, or modified, in order to better serve the purpose of communicating student achievements. I am interested at this initial stage of review in the opinion of parents – the audience.
The A – E grading structure will remain as this is a regulatory requirement agreed to by the Commonwealth and State governments. Education funding is linked to this agreement.
I encourage parents to email me their thoughts regarding the various elements of the reports and the language used. Contact me on:
butler.glenn.d@edumail.vic.gov.au
Parent Occupation Data
Letters have been sent home today with the 'youngest' child in each family regarding the collection of Parent Occupation Data.
Schools are required to update Parent/Guardian Occupation Data so it can be correctly applied to the Commonwealth and Victorian Government School funding formula.
In order that each school receives the appropriate level of funding to support student learning, the data must provide an accurate record of the current occupations of all parents and guardians.
Please complete this form using the attached guide and return them to the school by Wednesday 16th July.Please ensure that you do not overstate your occupation. While you may be qualified to do a range of occupations it is extremely important you only state the occupation that you have undergone for the last 12 months. If a parent has not been in paid work for the last 12 months please compete the form with 'N'
All information is strictly confidential and only aggregated data will be used. Individual parents or guardians will not be identifiable.
If you do not receive this letter or if you have any questions regarding this form, please contact the office.
Brick Shed and Bike Shelter
The work will be completed tomorrow on this significant School Council initiative with the connection of the storm water to the system and the removal of the temporary fence. Children will then be able to use the Rebound Wall for the first time. The stainless steel bike stands, similar to those seen in parks and shopping strips will be installed over the next few weeks. Students may use the shelter as well as the existing concrete bike stands on the embankment in the meantime.
Safety in the Yard
With the wild weather this week parents may have had concerns about safety in the playground. The school manages these matters on a regular basis through both precautionary action and organizational changes on the day. To ensure the safety of the trees, arborists are employed annually to inspect and service the major trees. These works were completed last school holidays and earlier this term. All dead branches were removed from the gum trees at that time.
The Brick Shed was designed by an engineer and so the double brick rebound wall is supported to its full height by appropriately placed piers within the shed. It is engineered to withstand very strong wind loads.
Because of the wild weather on Tuesday the decision was made early to bring the students into school before 9 am to ensure they were dry through the day. Lunchtime was called a wet/windy day timetable so all students remained in the classrooms, playing indoor games and sharing passive leisure activities.
Parents can be confident that the maintenance of student safety is an ongoing goal of the school.
End of Term
The term will end with an assembly in the Hall beginning at 2:20pm on Friday. I would like to wish everyone a great break and we look forward to the start of Term 3 on Monday, 14th of July.
Glenn Butler
Principal