09 Apr 2013
Term 1
As we near the end of the term we remember that it has been a busy but very successful term. This term was 11 weeks and Term 2 will only be 9 weeks concluding on Friday, 28thJune, 2013. We managed to settle our classes quickly and established 21 mainstream and 5 Special Education classes. We have had some changes in personnel but only a relatively small number considering the size of our staff inclusive of teachers, support and ancillary staff. The preschool is running its full complement of students with names on a waiting list. The operation of our Instructional Leader position is in full swing with the support of our Literacy and Numeracy coach across the Infants School. Our Learning and Support teachers, under the Every Student, Every School strategy are also working tirelessly with teachers to identify and develop personalised learning plans and making program adjustments to cater for a wide variety of learning needs. Our Kindergarten teachers are involved in intense professional learning in L3 (Learning, Language and Literacy) and 3-6 teachers have given a two year commitment to their professional learning in "Focus on Reading". Our management planning and the Annual School Report (2012) are available on our website and everything is geared to making a difference to achieving learning outcomes that are appropriate to our students' development. The School's Learning Support Team continue to meet weekly to coordinate support for students with a focus which monitors the social / behavioural, emotional, academic and general wellbeing of students. The Department of Education and Communities is undergoing a major realignment and soon we will see the implementation of new Learning, Management and Business Reforms (LMBR).
Our teachers and support staff, again, deserve recognition, for many program and system changes impact on our everyday functioning. We are hopeful that when the dust eventually settles, teachers will feel less pressure or at least accept that we belong to a profession that expects so much of our energy, time and resources. Yet the teaching and learning continues at a high standard, six key learning areas are still delivered in classrooms and great care is taken in looking after the welfare of our students.