Principal's Report
Newsletter Launch
I am pleased to announce the launch of a new format for the fortnightly school newsletter. The new format utilizes up-to-date presentation and user interface standards that enable readers to quickly access the information most relevant to them. For a number of years the newsletter has been produced in PDF form and then emailed to all of the Ormond parents. That strategy was successful in ensuring that all parents received the newsletter directly rather than searching through the students’ school bags for the newsletter.
The new newsletter maintains the advantage of being sent directly to the parent audience while presenting all the information from newsletter article contributors in an easily accessible format. From the front of the newsletter readers will now be able to click on articles and go directly to them. I am sure that readers of the newsletter will also appreciate the use of photographic images throughout the newsletter.
The improvements inherent in the new format are a further enhancement of the school’s communication strategies in line with the School Council’s Strategic Plan.
Proposed Shed & Bike Shelter
The Facilities & Environment Sub-committee of School Council is progressing with plans for a Shed and Bike Shelter to be built this year in the north-western section of the school grounds. The Shed will be constructed of brick and will incorporate a brick Rebound Wall, adjacent concrete pads, concrete-floored and steel-framed/ steel-roofed Bike Shelter. Please find the plans for the proposed shed below.
First Aid Training
All teaching and educational support staff will be involved in First Aid Training over the next two weeks. Anaphylaxis training will take place on the two Monday evenings while First Aid & CPR Training will take place on Tuesday evenings 4:00pm to 7:00pm. It is important to acknowledge the professionalism of the Ormond staff in ensuring that their first aid knowledge is current with annual updates and certification.
Level 2 Soiree
On Wednesday 28th of August all students in Years 1 and 2 will be performing in their Soiree. This event will take place in the Hall from 6:00pm until 7:00pm. All parents of these students are encourage to come along and be entertained.
'OrmonFest' - Level 4 Film Festival
The students in Years 5 and 6 having been working in small groups producing short films for the inaugural 'OrmonFest'. Based on the well known 'TropFest' Short Film Festival,'OrmonFest' will take place in the Year 5 and 6 classrooms on Tuesday 10th of September and will replace this year's Level 4 Soiree.
It has been uplifting to find the students working enthusiastically in school and away from school as they have developed their ideas into these short and engaging films.
Ormond Debating Team
Congratulations to the nine students from Years 5 and 6 who represented Ormond in the district Debating Competition held recently at Brighton Secondary College. This was a rigorous competition which allowed our highly skilled debaters the opportunity to achieve their very best in a competitive forum. Thank you to Felicity Hall-Shulman for facilitating and mentoring the Ormond team.
Victorian Principals Association - Annual Conference
On Thursday 5th and Friday 6th of September Lorrie Dell, Helen Fraser, Jay Tucker and I will be attending the VPA Annual Conference in Melbourne. As Deputy President of the VPA I have been a member of the organizing committee. The focus on ‘Optimising Public Education – Research and Renewal’ will feature;
- Pak Tee Ng – Head, Policy & Leadership Studies, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
- Dennis Shirley – Professor of Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College, USA.
- Yong Zhao – Presidential Chair & Associate Dean for Global Education, University of Oregon, USA.
- Pasi Sahlberg – Director General, Centre for International Mobility & Co-operation, Finland.
I look forward to sharing our learning with the Ormond community through the newsletter following the conference. Sandra Johnson will be the Acting Principal for these two days.
Glenn Butler
Principal