Principal's News
Welcome to Term 3 and I hope the mid-year break enabled all families the time to slow down, relax and prepare for the second half of the school year.
As mentioned in my welcome letter, Term 3 is the only term of the school year without the interruption of a public holiday; we have many exciting learning opportunities planned for the students, with a key highlight being preparation for Finding Nemo Jr.
As the Performing Arts form our main topic this term (with a secondary STEM topic happening in the classrooms) we have ramped up the rehearsals this week. As in previous years, our rehearsals do not interfere with our English and Maths lessons, and take place in the afternoon. Whilst our teachers are conducting Parent/ Teacher interviews on Monday, Mr Earl and I will be conducting a whole school run-through of where we are up to with the show and our students are very excited to share their scenes with the rest of the school.
Exciting Staff News!
Congratulations to Jasmine Victoire and partner and Kirsten Daws and partner who were engaged during the holidays. We wish both couples every happiness for the future!
360 Feedback and Goal Setting
For the past term, the teachers have undergone a feedback process that has involved several lesson observations, student feedback and self-reflection. In the 360 feedback cycle, teachers received valuable feedback on their work performance, teaching practice and skills from students, curriculum leaders, peers and other staff members. A self-evaluation was included to highlight perception gaps. When taken together, this information has allowed our teachers to develop a real plan of action based on their strengths and weaknesses. Each staff member has received a comprehensive report containing areas of strength and opportunities for growth; this week, it has been an absolute pleasure to begin one on one meetings with teachers to support them in setting a SMART goal for Term 3. These goals will guide teacher professional development in a targeted and personalised manner and I am so proud of the professionalism and insight shown by our staff during these meetings.
Speaking of Teaching Practice...
It was very interesting to note the call to action in overhauling undergraduate teacher education. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has announced that initial teacher education (ITE) providers have two years to make substantial changes to what they teach and how much classroom practice they give teaching students or suffer penalties.
The four areas of 'core content' universities will have to teach are as follows:
The brain and learning: content that provides teachers with an understanding of how the brain processes, stores and retrieves information
Effective pedagogical practices: literacy and numeracy teaching strategies, as well as teaching in a way that supports how students' brains work
Classroom management: ways to manage and foster positive learning environments, such as establishing rules and routines and modelling desired behaviour
Responsive teaching: content that ensures teachers teach in ways that are culturally and contextually appropriate and responsive to student needs
It is with some relief that I read this over the holidays and I am reassured that 'the science of learning' has formed the cornerstone of our professional practice and development since 2018. This year we formed a structured literacy collective with St Joseph's Elsternwick, St Joan of Arc Brighton, St Agnes' Highett and Sacred Heart Sandringham. The aim of our collective is to share evidence/ research/ resources in the area of literacy and increase the collective efficacy of our schools.
Click here to find out more about the changes to undergraduate teaching degrees:
Needed:
- If you have any old pool 'noodles' or foam piping we would happily take them off your hands to make Nemo set pieces.
- Be sure to read the P+F call out for auction/ raffle prizes for our big social night on the 19th August.
Important dates for the next two weeks:
| Week 2 | ||
| Monday 17th July | Prep 2024 interviews begin | |
| Monday 17th July | Parent Teacher interviews 1.30pm-7pm School finishes at normal time of 3.30pm | All families |
| Wednesday 19th July | Year 5 and 6 Parent/ Student Confirmation Information night 6pm-7pm | Yrs 5-6 Confirmation students/ parents only |
| Friday 21st July | Year 5 and 6 Hooptime at MSAC | Yrs 5-6 |
Saturday 22nd July Sunday 23rd July | Confirmation Commitment Mass 6pm Sat Confirmation Commitment Mass 10am Sun | Yrs 5-6 |
| Week 3 | ||
| Tuesday 25th July | Beachside Soccer LP | 5/6 Boys’ Soccer team |
| Tuesday 25th July | P+F Meeting 7pm | All invited |
| Thursday 27th July | Year 3 and 4 Hooptime at MSAC | Yrs 3-4 |
Have a restful and relaxing weekend,
Michelle