I have had the pleasure this week of visiting all classrooms and sharing the energy your children have brought back to school. We understand this holiday has been an unusual one, and I am so proud of the commitment to creating a learning environment and joining in class activities that is evident across the school.
Personally, I am also thrilled to be back at school after so much time away last year. While I am physically much better, I will be at school for 4 days each week this term, just to ensure I build stamina to keep going all year.
To support your understanding of the start of year, please take some time to read the following information. The beginning of the year is a time filled with information. Please make sure you are accessing Skoolbag and the newsletter as your key sources of information. Effective communication with families is a staff priority this year and Skoolbag and the newsletter are our major communication tools.
Welcome BBQ
Thank you to our amazing P&C for organising this event, which has now been postponed from this Friday until Friday 21 February. Please take the time to meet other families and our staff.
Learning to Learn
In the next three weeks, all classes are engaging with mini unit, based around our 2020 inspiration word, Build. This involves building class communities, learning routines, class rules, learning skills and excitement for the year. Embedded through this unit is a focus on building friendships and personal safety through protective behaviours. All classes will build curiosity and imagination through the robotics incursion program described in Skoolbag. Each teaching team will also have a day out of the classroom to create the learning plan for the first conceptual inquiry. You will receive a unit overview with specific information related to this inquiry.
Information Webinars
On Monday 17 February, you will receive a link to watch the information session for your year levels. The video will include information about organisation, curriculum and learning in your year level. Feedback from 2019 indicated that the online information night gave families the opportunity to prepare questions for teacher interviews, watch the information as a family and revisit several times.
Aspiration Interviews (formerly Goal Setting)
From week 3, you will be invited to attend an interview with your child’s teacher. In most cases, children will attend the interview. This is your chance to talk about the classroom, hear about your child’s progress in the early weeks of term and then to participate in establishing learning aspirations. The aspirations are long term goals that establish personal priorities for you child’s personalised learning at school. The aspirations will be used to set shorter, measurable goals in the classroom. Goals will constantly change as children work to achieve their aspirations. At the end of the semester you will see your child’s reflection on their progress towards their individual aspirations. These interviews are scheduled for 15 minute blocks. If you would like a longer meeting to discuss specific concerns, please email your child’s teacher to arrange a suitable time.
As always, we value your input to the learning partnership that occurs when families and school communicate effectively. We encourage you to offer expertise, volunteer or contact us at any time to ensure a strong partnership for each child.
Yours sincerely, Merryn.