Principal's Report

By Frank Catalano

Dear Members of the Glen Waverley Primary School Community,

I trust all is well with you and your family and welcome to the first newsletter for Term Three where so much is shared about our fabulous school.

As per usual, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on 9802 9938 or via email at frank.catalano@education.vic.gov.au.

Beginning of Term Three

I always find the beginning of a new term extremely exciting as the children and staff share their holiday stories with enthusiasm and joy. Regardless of what everyone ‘got up to’ the real issue is that the children and staff have returned to school with a ‘bounce in their step’ for a new term of learning.

As per usual there are so many things planned for our school community, may I encourage you to diarise events by scrolling through the “Important Dates for Your Diary” section within our newsletter.

Novel Coronavirus Update

It is very pleasing to note that the number of confirmed cases throughout our school has remained quite low with reported cases spread across the year levels. Naturally this is a result of everyone being vigilant by ensuring the children remain at home if they are feeling unwell and also utilising the Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT’s).

As per my previous Compass Post, it is the Department of Educations’ expectation that, through to the end of winter, students aged 8 and over and staff will wear masks when in class, except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication or when a particular activity requires the removal of a mask.

Masks are not required to be worn outdoors but can be worn when physical distancing is not possible. This expectation should not constrain student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances.

In terms of parents and visitors entering the school buildings – we kindly ask that a face mask is worn indoors.

Once again, thank you everyone for the manner in which the entire GWPS community have supported one another.

Welcome to the following new students and their family to the GWPS family

May I take this opportunity to welcome the following children and their families to our wonderful school:

Year Prep: Aria, Mahoor and Oliver

Year 1: Lucas and Charlotte

Year 2: Jake, Menuli, Parmin and Gabrielle

Year 3: Sarah and Sarvang

Year 4: Ellie and Sean

Year 5: Hayden

Year 6: Ruwin, Aayushi and Chintan

What has happened across our school during the break?

The school holidays are the opportune time to have tasks completed across the school and these holidays the following were undertaken:

Replaced the carpets in 5A and 5D’s classrooms
Refurbished the bathrooms near the library – replaced the toilets and painted the walls
Minor structural building works in the Art Room
Increased the amount of sand in the sandpit and soft fall material around the adventure playgrounds
General gardening such as pruning, planting and spreading of mulch
Replaced the sink and drain in the cleaner’s storeroom and
A detailed clean of the classrooms and external windows.

Once again, the above is possible due to families settling their school fees, on behalf of the staff, the children and School Council thank you everyone as your contributions do make a considerable difference to our school’s facilities.

Congratulations to the following children for their achievements:

Daivik (Year 6), recently entered a song writing competition and I am thrilled (and very proud too) to report that he placed 2nd. As a result Daivik has won $250 and he will also attend a ceremony at Parliament House later in the year; below is a copy of an email Divik sent Ms. Cecconello and I:

Dear Mr Catalano and Miss Cecconello,

Recently, on the 16th of April, I entered the Moving Forward Together Song Writing Competition where you had to write a song on the topic “Harmony”. I wrote the song “Just Give it a Try". I composed the song on Garage Band. I asked my friend from my cricket club to sing the song for me. This song won second prize in the competition!

Here is the link for the song writing competition

https://movingforwardtogether.org.au/songwriting-competition/

Attached are the lyrics and the song as sung by my friend.

In September, we have been invited to the Parliament house in Sydney to perform. I can’t wait!

Thank you for reading!

From,

Daivik

The lyrics are:

Just give it a try

One creator made us all

Love or judge you make a call

The same song - for you n me

Let’s celebrate - in harmony

There are seven notes in a song

Its a happy world where we belong

Our differences make us strong

We are all one, one and the same

We can be one nation

with so many variation

You know it - so do I

Just give it a try

We just need more tolerance

No prejudice No difference

Beauty in unity

Let’s Celebrate ‘humanity’

The rainbow has seven stripe(s)

Then why on earth do we divide?

Our differences are our pride

We are all one, one and the same

We can be one nation

with so many variation

You know it - so do I

Just give it a try

Chess Update:

Amaya (Year 2) and Vidushi (Year 5)

Over the holidays the Victorian Junior Chess Championships were held with the Under 8 and Under 10 categories completed on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June. I am incredibly thrilled to report that:

Amaya placed first in the Under 8 Girls and
Vidushi placed first in the Under 10’s Girls.

Naturally, this is a phenomenal achievement but what makes it even more special is that this is the second year in a row in which the children have achieved this. Amaya and Vidushi, on behalf of the entire Glen Waverley Primary School community, I cannot express how proud we are of you and look forward to seeing you continue to achieve amazing things in your chess career. Well done and congratulations!

Saheli (Year 2) competed in the Canterbury Chess Junior Rookies tournament, and I am thrilled to report that Saheli also placed 1st. I asked Saheli if she is proud of herself and she responded, “Yes, because I tried my best and I also beat some older kids”

Well done and congratulations Saheli as it is also wonderful to see how much your chess has improved. I also look forward to hearing all about your achievements in the future.

Year 4 Camp

This week the Year 4’s are enjoying their annual camp at Cave Hill Creek, which is located in Beaufort approximately 30 minutes from Ballarat. We look forward to sharing their recounts in our next newsletter.

Alumni Visit

One of the many highlights of working in schools is that we have the joy and pleasure of past students visiting us. Recently we had three alumni, Megha and Alicia from the Class of 2012 and Amasha from the class of 2015 come back to reconnect, reminisce and see how much their school has changed.

Below is a snapshot of what our alumni have achieved after graduating from our school:

Megha (2010 Art Captain) went to Brentwood Secondary College, then PLC before her family moved to Germany where they still reside. She has had to learn German (is now fluent in it) and is currently studying engineering. Due to having to learn a new language, she is scheduled to complete her university degree within the next 12 months.
Alicia (also one of the 2010 Art Captains) went to Glen Waverley Secondary College, then Monash Uni and is now a software engineer.
Pooja (who was not able to attend the visit) is Megha’s older sister and is also an alumni. She is currently completing her PhD at Harvard University in Boston, studying Immunology.
Amasha (the 2015 School Captain) moved to Tasmania and has recently returned to Victoria to study Dentistry.

It really was an absolute delight to not only catch up with the alumni but also a joy to feel the passion and deep connection they have for our school! If you are interested in learning more about our alumni please refer to the alumni section on our school website.

https://www.glenps.vic.edu.au/page/157/Alumni

Student Learning Awards

As a school community it is very important that we acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful achievements of our staff, parents and students. One way of accomplishing this is by participating in award ceremonies throughout the year and also at the end of each term. Our end of term award is provided by the Kiwanis Club of Waverley and we are extremely grateful for their continued support to our school in the form of the Terrific Kids program. The program is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance. At our school the teachers nominate one student from each area of the school – Preps, 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6.

Congratulations to the following students who received The Terrific Kids Award for Term Two 2022:

Prep A – This term, Jaydan has showed great personal growth with confidence in his learning and embraces challenges whilst being in the in the Learning Pit. He consistently aims for his personal best every time, completing his learning with thoughtful reflections and sharing his growth with his peers and teachers. Jaydan is courteous and polite and shows the utmost respect to all his teachers and fellow learners. He has a strong sense of integrity and applies this to friendships and learning. Every day, he arrives happy and excited for the day to begin. Well done Jaydan we are so proud you are a member of Prep A and GWPS!

2C - Congratulations to David for receiving the Kiwanis Terrific Kid Award this term! Wow, what a transformation he has had this term! David has been an outstanding learner, working extremely hard in building his self-regulation skills, building his independence and by applying a consistent positive attitude to his learning. His engagement in learning has increased by the way he interacts and connects with the learning intention and success criteria. David will often be the first one with his hand up with a suggestion for the success criteria and what success would look like. I commend him on building his commitment to applying his best effort and for striving for accuracy and success by applying feedforward and by using the learning intention and success criteria to guide his thinking and learning. Not only has he shown tremendous growth in his learning but also in how he interacts with his peers. David has shown empathy towards others by offering support, sharing his strategies and giving words of encouragement. Keep up the fabulous learning David!

4A - Congratulations to Chris the Level 4 Kiwanis recipient for Term Two. You continuously display integrity with an open-mind by expressing your caring mannerisms and inclusiveness. If you find a peer that is challenged in their learning, you offer support in a respectful way, showing your commitment to your peers and your own learning. Chris you truly deserve to be recognised for this award, not only for your empathy towards your peers but with how you tackle new concepts by travelling through the learning pit with confidence and determination. You always show an eagerness to learn, grow and achieve in all academics through your daily life. Well done and congratulations Chris.

6E - Anuram is an enthusiastic student who proactively seeks extra challenge to further his learning. He approaches all learning tasks with a growth mindset, and he is willing to step outside of his comfort zone to find success. In addition to this, he is always happy to provide his peers with support to ensure they are best set up for success. His persistence and resilience have been on full display both in the classroom, and during extra-curricular activities such as cross country, athletics and interschool sports. Anuram has been an embodiment of the school value of ‘Respect’. He always treats his peers with kindness and empathy, making him a popular member of our learning community. He encourages and enables others to succeed, and his positive attitude is infectious. Anuram has been a role model, not only to his peers in Level Six, but to the whole school community. His creativity has shone through during our Inquiry and Mathematics program, displaying a willingness to think outside the box. He has also demonstrated excellent commitment and leadership in his role as LOTE captain, attending regular meetings and fulfilling his other duties. Congratulations, Anuram, on a fantastic start to the year. You should be proud of your effort and growth throughout Semester One!

Principal Learning Awards

As Principal, I also believe that it is very important that I acknowledge the wonderful learning the students complete and as a result I have a term award for each class.

Congratulations to the following students who received The Principal’s Learning Award for Term Two:

Name	Class	Reason
Ray	Prep A	Congratulations to Ray! Ray has made such wonderful progress over the course of the semester. It is such a joy to see Ray arriving to class every day with enthusiasm for learning and connecting with his peers in a positive and friendly manner. He has built on his independence and confidence and consistently aims for his personal best in every session. Ray’s positive can-do attitude has promoted his growth as a learner, and he is a leader in Prep A when demonstrating orderliness, respect and listening. Ray shows great collaborative and cooperative skills and will often share his understandings with his peers and offer assistance to those around him. Well done Ray you are a worthy recipient of the Principal Learning Award! Congratulations Ray!
Sithuka	Prep B	Sithuka demonstrates the school value of ‘Integrity’, by continually following instructions and giving his best effort in all areas of learning. He displays helpfulness and a willingness to keep our learning space safe and respectable by cleaning and tidying the area without needing to be asked. Sithuka is courteous and polite and shows the utmost respect to all his teachers and fellow learners. He has made such wonderful progress and enthusiastically participates in all areas of his learning, approaching new tasks with a positive ‘can do’ attitude. He is a wonderful role model and respectful team player, demonstrating ‘Getting Along’ skills when collaborating and cooperating with others. Sithuka, we are so proud you are a member of Prep B! Well done and keep blooming with your new found confidence.
Sarayu	Prep C	Congratulation’s Sarayu! Sarayu is a dedicated and hardworking learner who has demonstrated our school values of integrity and respect. She is a well-mannered and honest learner, who has built positive relationships amongst her peers. Sarayu approaches her learning with a ‘can do’ attitude, especially when challenged. She graciously listens to feed forward to improve her learning and skills across all learning areas. She has demonstrated independence in her learning and completes her work in a neat and timely manner. Sarayu’s friendly nature has allowed her to interact with her peers in a positive manner, where she often celebrates their successes with positive comments. Well done Sarayu on your achievements to date and I am so proud of you.
Eric	Prep D	Eric is an integral member of Prep D who has shown wonderful success this term. He is to be commended for his increased motivation this term which has allowed him to take challenges in his learning, even when there were distractions in his surroundings. Eric used his initiative to ask the teacher for feedforward to extend himself in English and Inquiry. While exploring our inquiry unit on sustainability issues that impact our environment, he further investigated the topic at home and took action by creating a book on how he could look after the environment. Furthermore, Eric shared his book with his class and Mr Catalano. Eric’s determination and attitude towards learning is incredible. Well done Eric!
Mevinu	Prep E	Congratulations Mevinu! This term you have consistently shown engagement in all areas of learning. You have shown show empathy to your fellow peers, offering a hug and even getting toys to comfort them when they are upset. You displayed whole body listening and you were the first person on the floor ready to learn each day. You participated in all lessons and enjoyed sharing your ideas with the class. You apply initiative and help to put down the chairs in the morning and helped other students pack up their belongings. Well done for completing your first semester in Prep Mevinu. Keep up the amazing learning in Term 3!
Hasan	1A	Congratulations Hasan on a wonderful term. You have showed so much determination in your learning and consistently showed a high level of engagement in all learning areas. It has been fabulous to watch you take on each new challenge that comes your way. In particular how you learnt to write an information report and created marvellous and insightful pieces about bees and sharks. You made sure to include sub headings and diagrams. You displayed kindness to all and can be relied upon to demonstrate the school values at all times. Well done Hasan, keep up the fantastic effort!!
Kisal	1B	Congratulations Kisal on a fantastic term of learning! It has been incredible to see your progress across all curriculum areas this semester. During maths learning tasks, you were not afraid to eagerly jump into ‘The Learning Pit’ to challenge yourself and tackle new concepts confidently. This was particularly evident in Measurement when you discovered how to use a ruler to measure objects. You estimated the length of classroom objects and then used a ruler to find the exact measurement. Impressively, you demonstrated understanding of formal units of measurement when you converted centimetres to millimetres. Keep up the fantastic enthusiasm!
Aditya	1C	Aditya of 1C is receiving the Term Two Principal’s Learning Award. He is a kind and bubbly learner who enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of factual information about various animals to his peers and teachers. Aditya has continued to develop his social connections with the classroom and is seen thriving during engaging collaborative learning. A highlight was when his group was showing turn taking skills while using the digital coding application ‘Scratch Jr’. He cherishes every individual and group conference with his teacher as he is able to showcase his learning and receives the opportunity to apply feedback and feedforward. It is wonderful to see Aditya improve on his mental stamina throughout the learning day, as he engages the speaker with eye contact and whole body listening. He further applies his focus towards his learning, by ignoring any distractions and puts in his best efforts when travelling through the Learning Pit. Congratulations on your growth and achievements through this term!
Zaiden	1D	Zaiden is a kind, caring and hardworking learner who has consistently demonstrated our school value of Initiative. He proactively organises our classroom learning space every day and shows kindness by offering his assistance to others during independent learning time and when packing up. Furthermore, Zaiden demonstrates perseverance through an "I can do it" attitude whilst he is in the productive struggle of the learning pit. Congratulations Zaiden!
Devanshi	1E	Devanshi’s enthusiasm for learning is contagious. She willingly shares her thinking and learning with the class and will always help out others in both the classroom and playground. She has shown she is a conscientious learner who is dedicated and focussed in class and consistently shows deep thinking in all her learning. She approaches learning challenges with a growth mindset and a ‘you can do it’ attitude, asking for help when she is unsure. Congratulations on a fantastic term or learning Devanshi!
Tanvi	2A	Tanvi, is a conscientious and hard working student who consistently displays the school values of Initiative, Respect, Integrity and Global Empathy in her actions. She always utilises her learning opportunities efficiently and effectively demonstrating a growth mindset. Tanvi models an exemplary attitude toward learning and her relationships shown by being respectful, assisting others when they need support and showing gratitude to her teachers and peers. She shows confidence as well as optimism and brings out the best in others by encouraging and motivating them to achieve to their potential. Tanvi is an exceptional and worthy candidate to receive the Principal’s Learning Award. Congratulations, Tanvi Yadwad.
Oliver	2B	The Principal's Learning Award for 2B is awarded to Oliver. Oliver is a jovial and motivated learner who demonstrates resilience and persistence in his learning. He is a highly regarded member amongst his peers who frequently and confidently contributes to class discussions. Oliver has shown particular success in mathematics this Term by using an array of efficient strategies to solve multiplication equations, then articulately explaining his thinking. I am very proud of your efforts this term and I'm excited to see your continued development, both academically and personally.
Abaan	2C	Congratulations to Abaan from 2C for an extremely well-deserved Principal’s Learning Award. You are such an independent and driven learner Abaan! Your passion for learning is clear for everyone in 2C to see, particularly in class discussions. Thankyou for always helping our class to develop a deep success criteria and for being a fantastic and kind leader during collaborative learning experiences. It is wonderful to see that you are always open to feedback and feedforward to get to the next step in your learning journey as well. Keep up the wonderful thinking and positive mindset towards challenges!
Eva	2D	What a tremendous effort Eva has put into her learning this term. She has thrived in all learning by applying learned strategies to a variety of situations. Eva is creative in her thinking and learning, and takes extreme pride in the presentation of her pieces. She is always committed to applying her best effort to everything she does, striving for accuracy and success. The way Eva approaches challenges with a growth mindset and persistence, is something to be admired. Congratulations Eva, I cannot wait to see what you achieve in Term 3!
Avyukt	2E	Congratulations to Avyukt for demonstrating persistence and whole body listening. You have persevered through challenging learning tasks, presenting your best learning each time. You ask questions to clarify information and contribute insightful ideas and thoughts to our class discussions. You strive to focus during each session and respond well to feedback from your teacher and peers. You are constantly seeking ways to help the teacher around the classroom and proactively clean up the classroom and locker area. It has been wonderful to see you apply yourself so well this term and I look forward to the rest of the year!
Kavya	3A	Congratulations on receiving the Principal’s Learning Award, Kavya! You are such a caring, thoughtful and considerate member of 3A. Thank you for always demonstrating our School Values and respecting your teachers, peers and your learning time. It has been wonderful to see your confidence blossom throughout the year and I value hearing your contributions during class discussions. The effort that you consistently put into your learning is going to put you in good stead for your future, as you are constantly doing your best and looking for ways to improve. Keep up the magnificent effort, Kavya! You are an absolute star and I am so proud of you.
Ethan	3B	Congratulations to Ethan on receiving this terms Principals Learning Awards. Throughout Term 2 you have become a principled and responsive learner who continuously seeks feedback to enhance your learning. You have done an incredible job of displaying a Growth Mindset when faced with a challenge and demonstrating flexibility in your thinking when explore new strategies. Ethan you should be extremely proud of all the progress you have made over the term and the development of your leadership skills within the classroom. Keep up the awesome job mate!
Johfrit	3C	Johfrit has been a pro-active student in all area of his learning. He constantly seeks opportunities to learn new knowledge and skills by asking questions, to improve himself by applying feedforward and suggestions to his learning and to help around the classroom by offering his assistance and time. Johfrit demonstrates our school values with his action as he is kind and caring towards his peers (Global Empathy), modelling our expectations both in and out of the classroom (Integrity) and collaborating with others (Respect). Well done and congratulation Johfrit for all the effort you have put in this term!
Shayan	3D	Shayan, you have settled in so beautifully to GWPS! It has been wonderful to see the incredible initiative you consistently take in all areas of your learning, and the drive you have to improve your English skills. You show confidence on a daily basis by being willing to share your thoughts and ideas with your teachers and peers, and ask questions even when you’re unsure, and are always willing to lend a helping hand to those who need it. Thanks for being such a great role model to others, and well done on a wonderful term!
Xinyi	3E	Congratulations to Xinyi for being an outstanding member of 3E this term. The positivity and enthusiasm you bring to our classroom each day has truly been a highlight. Your curious and conscientious attitude to learning reflects strongly in the high standard of achievement you display across all subject areas. You articulate your ideas clearly when sharing in class discussions, and your ability to build onto other people’s ideas showcases your excellent listening and critical thinking skills. Additionally, you demonstrate terrific self-motivation and persistence in learning as you always seek challenges to extend your thinking. Above all, you are humble when praised by your peers, a quality that you should be extremely proud of. It has been wonderful having you in 3E this year and keep up the outstanding work for the rest of the year, Xinyi!
Oscar	4A	Congratulations Oscar on an exceptional Term of learning both inside and outside the classroom. You truly deserve this award for your consistent dedication when deepening your understanding and the eagerness you have. Your willingness to do your very best is inspiring and we see this through the initiative you take when asking challenging questions and building new strategies. These strategies are clearly evident when you move through the Learning Pit and overcome a Productive Struggle. You work through these with determination, to achieve that Eureka moment. Oscar you are a fantastic role model to your peers, and always willing to support them in their learning. Thank you for being a generous and reliable member of 4A! Congratulations Oscar!
Aishani	4B	Congratulations Aishani, for demonstrating incredible efforts in Term 2, 2022. You have consistently exhibited a growth mindset and persistence throughout all aspects of your learning journey in Level Four. You have shown inspiring dedication through the use of questioning, and any inquires that you may have, which displays your initiative in your learning to grow. Aishani, you should be proud of yourself and the way you have utilised our 2022 Foci of Respectful Relationship when interacting with your peers, buddies and staff. Your empathy and considerate nature are clear examples of your positivity towards your peers, always ensuring everyone feels included and having a fun time when you are around. Keep up the fantastic efforts Aishani, you truly deserve this Principal’s Learning Award this term!
Kelvin	4C	For being a respectful, kind member of the 4C classroom community. Kelvin has been nominated by his peers and teacher due to his caring nature and willingness to always assist a classmate in need. He is a role model learner, always seeking the next challenge and persisting with determination. Kelvin frequently applies any feedback or feedforward and academic rigor to his learning and in social situations. He shows deep levels of respect to his peers by listening to others thoughts, steering them into the path of success. Kelvin bounces back from challenges with positivity and a ‘Can Do It’ attitude. Well done, Kelvin we are all so proud of you!
Sayumi	4D	Sayumi has been a fantastic member of 4D this term and she demonstrated great learner in all subject area. She has applied great resilience when learning all about Glen Waverley Primary School. Sayumi has applying her best effort to her learning and implemented strategies to stretch her thinking. She embraced challenges with a positive and open attitude in both learning and building connections with her classmates. Sayumi articulated her thinking effectively when learning with others and in class discussions. Well done and congratulations Sayumi.
Tanmay Patel	4E	Tanmay has been an exceptional learner in 4E this term, working hard and exhibiting enthusiasm towards all aspects of his learning journey. He is always committed to applying his best efforts and strategies to everything he endeavours and has embraced challenges with a positive and open attitude. Tanmay is a thoughtful and caring learner who strives to support his peers both inside and outside of the classroom. Well done and congratulations Tanmay!
William	5A	Principal Award awarded to William in 5A for: Being voted by your peers for consistently displaying courtesy, pride, respect and kindness in our school community. Your work ethic and focus has been of a high standard. You consistently strive towards being an incredibly self-regulated learner by challenging yourself and modelling this attribute confidently to others. You always apply a growth mindset to every thing you tackle and power through challenges with persistence and inspiring determination. You have proved yourself to be an outstanding role model of leadership, integrity, initiative and striving for excellence. Congratulations William Z!
Faria	5B	Faria has demonstrated tremendous dedication and pride towards her learning throughout the term. She values deep thinking, as demonstrated when tracking her reasoning during Mathematics sessions. Faria displays the school value of ‘Respect’ at all times, showing her kind and caring nature to everyone in the classroom. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement. Keep up the effort to pursue all learning opportunities offered to you, Faria!
Raavi	5C	This Principals Learning Award is proudly presented to Raavi. You always join our learning space with a big smile and resilient thinking. You are gracious with your time and energy as you include others in conversation and learning by explaining your thinking or asking them metacognitive questions. When engaging in any learning task, you always reflect on your self-talk and think about strategies you can trial to move through the learning pit. It has been a pleasure to hear you reflect on your amygdala and frontal cortex during learning time and also recess or lunchtime as you always transfer our learning! You are truly a lifelong learner and a role model to those around. You should be extremely proud of yourself. I look forward to seeing you continue to grow and evolve as a inspirational global citizen.
Seyara	5D	Seyara is an inspiring learning who is always eager to aim high. She is continuously kind and sensitive to those who may have different thoughts and opinions. Seyara provides support to others and embraces all classroom responsibilities in a mature manner. She is a happy and enthusiastic member of our class who approaches all tasks with enthusiasm and produces quality work. Seyara’s positive attitude, warm nature and compassion towards others truly make her a delight in the classroom and school community. Congratulations, Seyara! Keep up the wonderful effort, you are a capable student who can learn and achieve whatever you set your mind to!
Agampreet	5E	Agampreet is a kind and considerate classmate who takes great pride in her learning. She is a supportive classmate who regularly takes the initiative to recognise and assist her peers when they need it. She is always willing to collaborate with any member of the classroom community and is trusted by her teacher and fellow students. She has a great sense of fun and shows enormous respect to everyone she interacts with in and out of the classroom. Congratulations on a fantastic achievement, you should be proud of what you have achieved this year so far.
Shreya	6A	Shreya is a very worthy recipient of the Principals Learning Award for 6A. She is a vigilant student who is thoughtful, polite and articulate. Shreya should be commended for her positive, self-driven approach to learning. She is a role model to her peers and always makes choices that benefit her learning. She is not afraid to work independently to maximise both her time and understanding. She consistently strives for her best in all areas of learning and is focused on achieving her high academic and personal potential. Shreya always asks questions to clarify her thinking and utilises Feedback from her teacher to deepen her understanding and extend her thinking.
Austin	6B	Throughout Semester One, Austin has embraced Year Six exceptionally well. He has deliberately challenged himself through Robotics and Mathematics and made social connections within our class. It is clear he always follows the school values, Respect, Integrity, Initiative and Global Empathy, both in the classroom and the playground. It has been a privilege to watch how Austin has taken control of his learning through questioning and self-reflection, while always putting in maximum effort. Congratulations Austin, you should be incredibly proud at how you’ve approached and directed your education this term.
Ahana	6C	Congratulations to Ahana, 6C’s recipient of the Principal’s Learning Award! Ahana displayed exceptional strength and aptitude within all facets of her schooling. She was a confident, daring, and driven member of the class, who developed numerous connections across the cohort. Ahana continued to be an upstanding leader with the school and her classroom communities, thoroughly impressing all the teachers who have had the pleasure to interact with her. Finally, this comment would not do justice to her achievements this term, without mention of her accomplishments during Mixed Netball interschool competitions. Ahana solidified her status as one of our star players, not only with her prowess as an offensive player but through her encouraging nature towards her fellow players. It has been an incredible privilege for me to be part of Ahana’s final year of primary education and I look forward to her many future triumphs!
Kaesitha	6D	Congratulations to Kaesitha of 6D for receiving the Principal’s Learning Award for Term Two. Kaesitha is an engaged learner who approaches all opportunities across the curriculum with enthusiasm. She consistently displays our school values by demonstrating initiative and integrity in her learning. Kaesitha regularly reflects upon her personal learning journey and seeks both feedback and feedforward; considering the relevant next steps to take. She is often the first person to submit her home learning tasks each week, usually before the due date, and they are consistently completed to a high standard. Kaesitha is kind and willing to help her peers and teachers; regularly tidying up and putting away resources even if she wasn’t the only one using them. She shows global empathy and respect in her role as a school leader and is an exceptional role model for her Year 6 peers, and the entire school in general. Kaesitha should be commended on her achievements, and I am very lucky to be her teacher. Congratulations, Kaesitha, on a wonderful term!
Chathuka	6E	Chathuka Liyanage of 6E has received the Term Two 2022 Principal’s Learning Award! Chathuka is a thoughtful and incredibly caring member of the school community. He is an embodiment of the school values of Respect and Global Empathy. Chathuka went out of his way to demonstrate politeness and kindness to everyone throughout the term, making him the perfect role model to his peers and younger students across the school. Chathuka gave 100% effort in the classroom and during extra-curricular activities such as interschool sport. He challenged himself to go deeper with his learning, striving to improve at every opportunity. He demonstrated excellent work-ethic and self-regulation to block out external distractions, and find success in his learning. Chathuka also prioritised the learning of those around him. He worked exceptionally well in a team environment, valuing the ideas and opinions of his peers. His creativity shone through during our Inquiry unit, where he co-constructed an accurate diorama detailing the cause and impact of earthquakes in Japan. Chathuka’s hard work and fantastic attitude are highly valued in the 6E learning environment. Congratulations, Chathuka, on a sensational Term Two!
Ayub	6F	Congratulations Ayub on a much-deserved recognition! This semester you have demonstrated a high level of intrinsic motivation. You have applied the tools and strategies available to you to challenge yourself and go deeper in your learning. You understand that being 'done' is not the final goal of learning and that learning does not occur unless you are challenged. You have experienced a shift in your attitude where in addition to doing your best, you also support others in achieving their best. In this process you demonstrate empathy and care towards your peers. Keep up the incredible attitude as it's making you shine more than any joke ever will!

Principal Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving a Principal Awards recently:

Prep A

Samiksha, Seth, Jenul, Max and Jacob for writing all about how to protect the environment
Jacob, Owen, Myraa, Ishana and Max for making the most amazing progress with their learning
Onalee, Saaral and Tyler for making the most amazing progress with their writing
Ishana and Rishaan for writing grateful and thankful cards
Saaral for her wonderful story about a pickle!
Ishana for her amazingly well written story about the fairies and the monster!
Myraa for her very scary story!

Prep D

Adorna and Eva for making excellent progress with their maths learning
Amasha for making outstanding progress with her ability to write cohesive narratives that engage the reader

Prep E

Ryan, Merinu, Thidas, Eddie, Abisshna, Nicholas, Prabhav and Reyashi for writing letters about being grateful and thankful
Millie for making her very own and rather creative Christmas tree

Sandaru for writing his very first email about a pet dog he wishes

Sineysha for writing an amazing narrative that hooks the reader
Chloe, Ashley and Anuki for being wonderful friends
Kivain and Ajay for being really supportive members of our school community
Sam and Kisal for continuing to make outstanding progress with their writing skills

Eesa and Evelyn for creating comics different areas of our school
Hasiru for drawing a picture of a rocket from a book in our school library
Nethanya and Eesa for writing amazing pop-up books about bees

Minadi for creating a beautiful poster for my office
Arnav for being a really responsible member of our school community
Ritisha and Pratham for writing terrific recounts about their excursions to CERES and incursion about Bees as featured in the Kids Corner section of this newsletter

Anya, Anjaliya, Pooja, Mindi and Anaya for making outstanding progress with their learning
Shruthi for working really hard to keep improving her writing skills

Ivan for writing a procedural piece about how to step into a car
Veer for continuing to make excellent progress with his karate skills. Veer participated in a recent tournament and placed 1st in the under 7 section

Nishita for making fabulous improvements with her writing skills
Mehar for sharing strategies all about saving our planet
Sanaaya for writing a very detailed procedural text about how to make your very own bookmark

Suditi for making amazing progress with her ballet dancing, she has just her midterm demonstration in Classical Ballet with the Jacinta Murphy School of Ballet

Siya, Sakthi and Jasleen for colouring in a beautiful picture of Bluey for my office
Ayaan for making enormous progress with his ability to hop and jump
Siya and Sakthi for drawing a beautiful picture for my office
Rudra for teaching himself how to play Jingle Bells on the keyboard
Tiana and Jasleen for being very thoughtful by providing a lovely picture for my office

Avyukt for making amazing progress with his concentration and commitment to learning
Diyon for being an amazing friend

Aseli for writing a wonderful narrative titled, “Kind Lyla and Baddy McBad”
Akeesha for writing a beautiful piece about our school
Meenu for being a wonderful friend

Agam for writing a very creative book about different types of fractions
Jason for being a great friend
Hridu for creating the most elaborate and detailed poster about water pollution and recycling

Stuti and Ngo Shun for creating a presentation about the effects of pollution and how to address this

Yehara, Deyana and Methasha for being a really responsible member of our school community by assisting in the library

Krisha and Aanya for developing the skills to solve problems independently which includes the creation of strategies that they implement when they need to solve a problem
Vinushi and Thamika also for being a really responsible member of our school community by assisting in the library

Sihath for creating his own speaker by soldering an old speaker with an iPad connection and for also building a Star Wars Wally out of Lego

Mohamed and Senula for being awesome friends
Anuki and Izzy for creating very descriptive Learning Portfolios on their iPads which they will share with their families during the Student Led Conferences

Alyssa for developing a slideshow all about White Dwarf. Her presentation was very detailed and extremely engaging
Seeret for creating a very detailed slideshow about the planet Saturn
Neervi also for creating a slideshow. She chose to learn and share the information about stars, her presentation is exceptional
Ellie for drawing amazing pictures about her new transition to her new school

All of the Year 5 Student Voice and Environment Captains for writing very deep reflective comments about their local excursion to Hinkler Reserve.

Take care and wishing everyone a safe and happy fortnight.

Frank Catalano

Principal