Principal Report

As we come to the end of the first term of 2021 and our school review, it is important to pause and reflect on what has been an incredibly busy start to the year.

The school review has been such a positive experience and has been a welcome reminder as to how far we have come in just over two years. As principal, I can often get caught up focusing too much on where I want us to get to and can run the risk of losing sight of how much change and progress our community has made. As a school, we have high aspirations and ambitions with regards to securing the best academic, social and emotional outcomes for our students and we recognize where our focus needs to be in order to achieve these goals. We are truthful with ourselves because this is how we will affect real and powerful change. It has therefore been incredibly encouraging to find that the school review panel completely endorse the work that we are engaged in, the direction we are going in and are impressed by the speed and momentum we are currently travelling at.

As well as recognition of the high level of professional learning that staff have been engaged in over the course of the last few years, the panel have highlighted the genuine sense of connection that staff students and parents/carers have towards our school. In every staff, student and parent forum, there has been a consistent level of engagement and positive atmosphere. Our community tells it like it is and the impression that we have left on the panels is something that can’t be faked. We have been completely transparent around this process because we want to learn and we want to get better. The feedback and subsequent strategic plan that we will receive as a result of this process will help us hone our focus and provide us with markers to plot the next stage of our development over a four-year period. What has been apparent is that we have a strong foundation on which to build something special here at Woodmans Hill.

And the things that we are doing well, we will continue to focus on and get better at: our students value the feedback that they receive because it tells them what they need to do and learn in order to make progress. When students receive accurate and effective feedback they know that their teacher values them and cares about what happens to them. The connections that we have developed within the Home Group system remind students that someone cares for them and is there to check in on their wellbeing every day. In so many lessons, the panel observed teachers adapting what they do in the classroom in order to meet students at their point of need. Education cannot be one size fits all and it is encouraging to see how far teachers have come in ensuring that we have differentiated classrooms where students receive instruction matched to their specific needs. Using assessment and feedback to improve learning is one of the most important things that we can focus on as it makes a massive difference; positive relationships in schools are not just about asking about someone’s weekend. Our students want more feedback and rubrics they understand so that they can be in control of their own growth and progress - as teachers, we will continue to try out new and better ways to do this.

Our next steps have to move us closer to students setting their own goals and involving parents and carers more in this process of learning in order to make the connection between home and school that much stronger. The school that I want us to be is a school that is based on authentic partnerships in which we are all pulling in the same direction. I want 2021 to be the year that we step up several gears with regards to student and parent/carer voice being a critical part in what we do here at Woodmans Hill. There has been a real buzz around the school this term with so much going on and so many highlights with regards to student participation and leadership. I’ve been really proud of our student leadership group, led by Jess Rainsford, and the events that they have organized so far this term. Seeing the picture in The Courier, taken by the school drone, of all our students who identify as female out on the oval was a really powerful indicator as to how far we’ve come as a school and how powerful a force for change our school captains are this year. This was followed on with our stand against bullying, another event that provides a platform for our students to have their voice heard and shape their school culture. It’s also brilliant to see students find their passion and create something for everyone to enjoy: a great example of this is the radio show/podcast that a group of students broadcast every Friday lunchtime. Aided by Mr Strachan, this has taken on a life of its own and is now an important part of our school’s week.

When visiting our feeder primary schools and, again during our recent small group tours for Y6 students and their families, I have been repeatedly asked whether or not we run this or that club. My response is always the same: find your passion and if we don’t run it now, come up with a solid plan and talk with me then. With our students on board, we can achieve anything.

Principal

Stephan Fields

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Country Bus Travellers

Reminder to all country bus travellers that you must catch the bus from the school to the interchange.

This is a Department requirement and students are not allowed to walk to the interchange due to Safety Concerns.

Personal Accident Insurance and Ambulance Cover

Parents and Guardians are reminded that the Department does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students.

Parents and guardians of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs. Please note that if First Aid trained staff at Woodmans Hill believe an ambulance to be necessary they will ring for one immediately. Parents and Guardians are not consulted prior to this decision being made.

Student accident insurance/ambulance cover policies are available from some commercial insurers.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.

New Portables arrive

More classrooms......

New Portables to address student numbers