Principal  Message

This term has flown but along the way we have managed to achieve quite a bit and more importantly the students have achieved a great deal. Our Inquiry units are well and truly back in the classroom after a slow start reintroducing them after Covid-19. In 2023, the learning that takes place during the Inquiry Units cannot be underestimated. In addition to the Intercultural capabilities and focus' on Science, Humanities, Geography, History or Civics and Citizenship, the units support other areas of the curriculum as teachers intertwine the Inquiry projects as part of their Reading and Viewing and Writing outcomes throughout the term.  The expo was also an exercise in developing Speaking and Listening skills. Presenting their exhibit, they listened to feedback and articulated their thoughts and ideas to visitors. The peer feedback idea was particularly popular, and our younger students were so proud to receive sticky notes of positive feedback from our older students. 

There definitely has been a buzz around the classrooms when Inquiry was taking place and the teachers have reflected that teaching the units has been enjoyable and the level of engagement very high.  Students were able to research, record and present information they learn through explicit lessons and self-directed learning.  The culmination of this was the Inquiry Expo held last week. All week, as I moved through the classrooms, students proudly ran up to show me their projects as they added the final touches to them. 

The intrinsic reward the students feel when they see the result of work that has been created over a period of time is more important than ever. In the digital age, where information is always at our fingertips, students can lose sight of the benefits of working across a longer period of time before seeing the final results of their work. I know Eliza does a lot of work in this space also, encouraging the students to create quality art pieces in stages to build stamina and patience.

Inquiry-based learning is an education approach that focuses on investigation and problem-solving. It is different from traditional approaches because it reverses the order of learning. Instead of presenting information, or ‘the answer’, up-front, teachers start with a range of scenarios, questions and problems for students to navigate.

Inquiry-based learning prioritises problems that require critical and creative thinking so students can develop their abilities to ask questions, design investigations, interpret evidence, form explanations and arguments, and communicate findings. This approach also links in with our new Inquiry Numeracy Instructional model that follows the same principles.

Thank you for supporting the students and coming along last Thursday to see their exhibits. They were very excited to have so many people coming through their expos. 

Grade 3-6 Camp Program

A message went around late last week to confirm that WPS will be running a camp program this year.  The students in Grades 3 - 6 will all be attending the Manyung Camp in Mount Eliza on 2nd, 3rd, 4th August.  They will run 2 separate camps (3/4 and 5/6). 

We understand that some students find camps a time of uncertainty and they can be very anxious in the lead up to getting on the bus. If your child is worrying about what camp might be like and leaving their family for that period of time, please approach your teacher at the start of next term and they will begin working with you towards helping to relieve some of their worries. We encourage students to push through the uncomfortable feelings and to challenge themselves.  We find that those students who push through and learn they can do it and have fun, get a lot out of the experience.  

Our Grade 3 students will be having their first overnight experience and James and Rick will spend a lot of time in the lead up to the camp helping them to prepare and answer any questions they have.

Our Grade 2 students will attend a day camp in Term 4 and our Prep & Grade 1 students will participate in an extended day at school enjoying movies or games and dinner later in the year. This is part of a staggered approach to the implementation of camps which ultimately leads up to participating in overnight camps.

Term 3 Arts Festival

The teachers have all agreed on a format for the Art's Festival that will be taking place in Term 3. A whole school approach has been taken and students will be able to choose from a wide range of various art forms including, digital, graphic design, performance, dance, music performance as well as many visual art creations.  Multi aged groups will be formed using students' preferences and they will work on a project with that group each week towards a showcasing their talents and/or pieces or art.  

We will work towards a 'Festival' Day/Evening event that will take place towards the end of the term. Families will be able to enjoy performances, music, galleries and interactive workshops as we celebrate The Art's together as a community. More details about this will come out in early Term 3.  We are still awaiting confirmation for incursion dates before announcing the Art Festival official date.  We are also hoping to book some food trucks for the event.

Curriculum Day

The first day of Term 1 is a non-pupil day and the staff will be at school participating in professional learning. We have many competing priorities when we select our professional learning and we are guided by our Strategic Plan, Annual Implementation Plan and the priorities that the Department mandate for all schools. This year the mandate has been Numeracy and principals are responsible and required to support these initiatives. 

The focus for the first half of this curriculum day will be Numeracy and building teacher capacity in planning and delivering a Numeracy lesson using an Inquiry approach. This approach supports our Strategic Plan as the very principles of the instructional model embody student voice and agency, differentiated instructions and stimulated learning. 

The 2nd half of the day will focus on the next phase of our Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Program.  All schools will eventually be mandated to run Schoolwide Positive Behaviour, but we have adopted this program early to provide a consistent approach to the way behaviour expectations are delivered across the school. Friday's 'Fun Day' was the result of this programs implementation as students received their whole school reward for achieving the goal of more than 6500 Positive Behaviour Acknowledgements in Term 2. These PBA's are given by teachers and ES staff to reward a student when they have displayed a positive behaviour from the Matrix. From using manners, supporting a friend, being ready to learn or using the school equipment responsibly, we try to acknowledge these behaviours where we can.  

Renovations

We are moving along nicely with the senior building refurbishment. We came across a need to restump the pillars in the classrooms, but this has all been done and the doorway opening are currently being framed.  Already I can see how much more open the classrooms will be. Over the holidays that builder and painters will continue working on the project.

I wish you all a great holiday and hope that you are able to find time with family and friends over the two weeks. We look forward to returning in Term 3 and rolling out all the things we have planned as a school.

Take care,

Nieta