Principal's  Report

Learning Walks

On Thursday 11th August during period 3 and 4 the leadership team (Principals, Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists) conducted a learning walk. The purpose of a learning walk is to observe or “check the pulse” of a whole school improvement initiative rather than individual performance.

Our focus was on student connection to school and learning. We were in pairs, visited every class and randomly selected two students from each class to ask them how their day was going and whether they had come to school “ready to learn”.  We had a checklist of behaviours we were looking for.

We debriefed and collated our results. These will be brought to staff for further analysis, discussion and action planning.

Our initial findings revealed that most of the students we spoke to were having a good day at school and had come to school ready to learn. 

Berry Street Education Model (BSEM)

Last week, members of the leadership team undertook training in the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM). The model provides strategies for teaching and learning that enables teachers to increase engagement of students with complex, unmet learning needs and to successfully improve all students’ self-regulation, relationships, wellbeing, growth and academic achievement. The BSEM’s pedagogical strategies incorporate trauma-informed teaching, positive education and wellbeing practices. 

The BSEM complements our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Framework and Respectful Relationships Strategy.

Next year we will receive our Mental Health funding which will enable the whole staff (Teachers and ES) to receive the training.  The training will take place during our pupil free days over 18 months.

Semester 1 Awards

Today (Friday 19th August) we held the Semester One Awards Ceremony to celebrate the outstanding achievements of students form all year levels. Students were acknowledged for high levels of academic achievement, commitment to learning and consistent demonstration of the College values of Courage, Aspiration, Respect and Equality. It was the first time we had given values awards. The recipients of the values award also received a values badge to wear at school with pride.

Whilst not everyone received an award, in our school we have high expectations of all students to strive to be the best they can be in all aspects of school life and we encourage students to reflect on their own achievements and growth in their learning during semester one.  It is important for all students to set goals for themselves, in semester two, to aspire to achieve their own personal best by the end of the year.

The Awards ceremony was a great community event with many parents and family members able to join in the celebration with their children and teachers.

Congratulations to these students on their fantastic efforts during Semester 1.

Production – We Will Rock You 

We are excited about the production next week.  This is the first time we have performed for live audiences for a number of years. The show is We Will Rock You, which is based on all the well-known songs by Queen.  There will be a matinee performance for Greensborough Primary School and Watsonia Heights Primary School on Wednesday afternoon with opening night on Wednesday evening.  There are some tickets still available for opening night.  To all of our cast members, backstage crew and support team “Break a Leg”.

Pauline Barker

Principal