Buninyong PS Newsletter

Teaching & Learning

Reports and Parent – Teacher Interviews

A huge sense of gratitude is extended to all parents who have downloaded and discussed their child’s report. Although it is very different this semester, there were many celebrations and future learning opportunities identified. Hopefully your child has a good sense of what their goals are for Term 3. If you are experiencing difficulty with your Compass student reports, please give the school office a ring.

 

Additionally, our very first virtual Parent-Teacher conferences were held last Thursday and will continue again tonight. We have had over 400 interviews booked, which is wonderful. Initial feedback has been generally positive about the organisation of these interviews and that they worked surprisingly well, given the current situation. Thanks to all parents who have engaged in these interviews.

 

Lastly, these interviews are the culmination of a massive semester of work that has turned teaching and learning upside down. We are so incredibly lucky to have such professional staff who have taken all the challenges and turned them into opportunities for learning. Our heartfelt thanks goes to the staff, who I know will be enjoying a well-earned break during the holidays.

 

Self-Reflections

This Thursday, all students will be bringing home an envelope with their reflection of remote learning. This is an important part of the assessment and reporting process that will allow every student to look back on this period of learning. It is the intention that this reflection be a ‘keepsake’ that can be added to the student report.

 

Along with the student reflection, there will be a blank parent reflection form. Parents have the option to fill in this reflection to add to the collection of memories being formed from the period of remote learning. This reflection is not mandatory, nor do we require them at school, they are simply a chance to add a parent’s perspective of the learning that has taken place this term. Add it to your child’s ‘keepsake’ to look back on in the future. 

Parent Survey and Student Survey

During the past week we have been collecting feedback from parents, teachers and students about the period of remote learning. We have asked for celebrations, challenges and suggestions regarding the following:

  1. The experience of video conferencing.
  2. Using Compass Learning Tasks.
  3. The feedback process.
  4. Transitioning in and out of remote learning.
  5. Maintaining community connections.

From the results, we hope to collate a number of strategies that will help should we ever go back into remote learning but also identify strategies that have worked and could be implemented into our everyday teaching and learning practice.

 

Over the coming weeks, we will be wading through the feedback, analysing the responses and creating actions moving forward.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences.

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading challenge is well and truly underway with many students across the school already registering completed books.

 

Congratulations to Penny R who is leading the way from Buninyong with her 10 challenge books completed and 3 of the 5 ‘choice’ books finished. Great work Penny and I hope to see your challenge complete by next week.

 

Here is Penny’s score card and some of the books Penny has read.

 

Looking for STEM Based Tools 

We need your help. While we received a grant to create the physical space, we now are looking for tools to allow students to be the innovators we would all like them to be. We have sourced the majority of resources required, but are always on the look out for more specific tools that will enable students to design, cut, connect and shape their designs.

 

Innovation means tinkering and tinkering requires tools. If you have any spare tools lying around the house or shed that you would like to donate, we would be extremely grateful. 

 

The list below is a helpful guide:

  • Hammers
  • Screwdrivers
  • Spanners
  • Shifters
  • Levels
  • Pliers
  • Hacksaws
  • Wood saws
  • Vices
  • Allen keys
  • Cordless drills
  • Tape measures

There will be a box at the front office of the Buninyong campus for any donations to be placed.

Thanks Greg

Last week Greg Storer, guitar teacher, informed us that he will not be continuing his program in Term 3. Greg has been teaching guitar privately at the school for a number of years and is now off to pursue other ventures. We thank Greg for his time and patience over the years and wish him well for the future.