Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Families and Community members,

The end of another week and plenty happening across the school.

We are really looking forward to our Grades 3-12 Swimming Sports next Tuesday and seeing which House takes out the coveted House Sports trophy this year!

Parent Teacher Interviews will be happening in Week 9 (we have just finished Week 6) and more details regarding dates, times and how to book will be coming out via Compass soon so keep an eye out. Please remember that families who recently had a Student Support Group (SSG) meeting do not need to book in for Parent Teacher Interviews.

Curriculum Day

On Wednesday staff at ACS spent the morning with Ollie Lovell, author of 'Cognitive Load Theory in Action', learning about cognitive load theory and the implications it has for our learners.

Ollie was highly engaging provided great evidence based information and strategies that will enable staff to implement strategies into their teaching that minimise cognitive load and maximise opportunities to learn.

In the afternoon we took our new knowledge and used it to help analyse our teaching practices to ensure that we continue to maximise the learning opportunities for all students by reducing unnecessary cognitive distractions.

It was a huge day of learning but well worth it!

Swimming & Water Safety Dry Swimming Program

In the lead up to the ACS swimming carnival, the Year 3 to 12 students have been participating in a Dry Swimming Program during their P.E lessons.  

Our dry swimming program involve lessons and activities that teach swimming skills and water safety knowledge to students within a land-based environment, such as our gymnasium.  

Why do we run a dry swimming program? There are many benefits to teaching dry swimming programs. These include, and are not limited to: 

• Developing muscle memory as students develop and practise Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS).  
• Maximising time spent in the water – dry activities can be taught at school, allowing for greater opportunities to achieve the Victorian Water Safety Certificate (VWSC) when attending water-based swimming activities.  
• Reduces anxiety in students, as they are provided with the opportunity to learn and practise some skills before entering the water. 
• Cross-curricular links – lessons can connect with various areas of the Victorian Curriculum. 
• Can be taught any time of the year, in any weather condition 

In week 6 the learning intention for the dry swimming program was: To explore and identify local waterways, beach rips and beach safety along with identifying beach/inland safety signs.  

The success criteria was: 

✔  I can identify different bodies of water in my local community 

✔  I can identify where to swim at patrolled beaches  

✔  I can interpret what safety signs and symbols represent  

✔  I can identify a RIP and know how to escape one  

✔  I can differentiate what equipment can be used for a reach and/or a throw rescue  

✔  I have knowledge in a ‘flutter kick’ and ‘breaststroke arms’ 

Students participated in a range of activities including: 

• Spot the rip 
• Detect the dangers  
• Safe entries  
• Signal for help  
• Water safety signs  
• ‘Dry’ swimming, flutter kick relay on scooter boards  
• Throw or Reach rescue  

Want to try out some dry swimming? Have some fun with these creative activities to do at home after school or on the weekends! No need to leave your house, all you need are some everyday materials and equipment, an outdoor area, and members of your family. 

https://lsv.com.au/toolkit/dry_swimming_programs_more.php 

Positive Start - School Holiday Camps

The Victorian Government is acting to re-engage primary and secondary students and to boost their physical and emotional health and wellbeing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Eligible Victorian students can attend a free holiday camp with the Positive Start program.  Camp providers are fully accredited and provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

To find out more about this initiative including eligibility, locations and to make a booking, please go to https://arc.educationapps.vic.gov.au/eventhub/channels/PSHolCamps

National Ride2School Day

National Ride2school day is coming up (week 9, Friday 25th March) and ACS is jumping on board!! 

We are encouraging students and staff to ride, walk, scoot or skate to school on National Ride2School day.  

Students who ride, walk, scoot or skate will: 

• receive 10 creek coins on arrival 
• receive a National Ride2school certificate  
• have the opportunity to ride their bike, scooter or skate board with their class during the day  
• have their name put into a raffle to win a prize at assembly  

Also....

• The class with the most participation will receive a prize  
• A City of Greater Geelong counsellor will attend assembly to talk about the benefits of riding and present the prizes 

Check out the 'Be Ready to Ride Checklist' to ensure you are ready to ride on Friday March 25th!  

Shave for Cure - World's Greatest Shave

On 18 March 2022, Grade 2 student Emily is cutting her hair for the Leukemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave.  

If you would like to support Emily and the Leukemia Foundation, donations can be made by following this link https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?RegistrationID=849992.

Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal

Grade 4 student Murphy will be chopping off his locks in the next few weeks to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.  

If you would like to support Murphy and this cause, donations can be made via the GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/ef7aadd4.

Take care and enjoy!

Evan Savage

Principal