Welcome everyone to our very first online edition of the Teesdale Times!

We’ve spent time considering the feedback we received from parents regarding our newsletter and here we are; a fully digital and multimedia version to share what’s happening in our school with you. I am going to provide my Principal’s message in video format and also have a transcript below with the same information. This means if you don’t want to download the video or cannot you can still access the same information.

On the left hand side of this page you’ll notice the different categories of the newsletter. Feedback from parents was very strong in three categories. Firstly, they wanted to hear more about learning in classrooms. Each newsletter edition will incorporate information from the Junior and Senior Schools. Secondly, the most important information in the newsletter was dates and reminders. Again you’ll see a specific tab for dates on the left hand side. Finally, 100 percent of parents who provided feedback read the newsletter digitally. We believe going to a digital version makes the newsletter easy to disseminate and also incorporate video and multimedia objects to make it more engaging too. We’re very welcome to any feedback as our new newsletter takes shape.

Tables

Over the holidays we spruced up the Junior Learning Space with new table tops. They have brightened this space up nicely. We’ve also consolidated the desktop computers together as one ‘Lab’ in the middle gallery which has provided greater space in the classrooms. A big thanks to the parents and staff who gave a few hours on the last Friday of Holidays to have the tables changed over and ready for the start of term.

Parent Opinion Survey

Yesterday families should have received an email regarding participating in the Parent Opinion Survey. This provides the school with feedback on our performance, and allows us to investigate opportunities to improve. This year every family will be asked to participate in the survey. Schools are only required to select a sample of parents. However I am firm in the belief that the more respondents we receive the more accurate information we’ll get from families. I’d encourage all families to take the opportunity to complete the survey and provide the school with any feedback both positive or constructive that will help us identify what we are doing well, and what we can strive to improve. Please complete by Sunday 11 August.

Parking

In the Geelong Advertiser this week there was an article regarding parking issues at schools. Last year there were 250 injuries involving cars across Victorian Schools. The one area of concern that remains at Teesdale, is parents ignoring the No Standing area in Sutherland Street. We have this year seen near misses in this street caused by cars parking on the far side of the road. I have been in touch with Police regarding this matter and they will be actively patrolling this issue going forward. Please don’t risk injuring someone in our community or a hefty fine by avoiding this area. Earlier in the year we published a poster that suggested a range of ways to avoid congestion. This is displayed across the school and if you are unsure of ways to beat the rush spend a few minutes looking at suggested ideas.

That’s a wrap for our first newsletter edition! Be sure to visit all of the tabs to keep up to date and see you next time.

Mr Irwin

School Council Report

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