Principal’s Report

Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

Our school strategic plan and annual implementation plan have a clear focus on the Professional Learning Communities work. This term, all class and specialist teachers have been on a collaboration journey to further focus on improving learning and student outcomes. The school timetables has allowed teams to meet at least once per week for at least 50 minutes to discuss the curriculum and determine the best student learning applicable. From the curriculum, term planners and unit planners Area leaders and teams have evaluated the progression of their students. The Professional Learning Communities Leadership Team has evaluated and diagnosed the overall progress of term 1 and ensure that the students are at the heart of every decision making process.

During the term we have prioritized using a Department of Education Maturity Matrix to focus on three of the seven criteria: Vision, Values and Culture, Building PLC’s through a culture of collaboration for improvement and Curriculum Planning and Assessment – this third criteria will be a focus each term.

The remaining criteria will be a focus over terms 2-4 with information being conveyed through our communication channels. The Victorian Teaching and Learning Model also includes a Vision for learning to help create a unified set of values and beliefs to drive a high performance learning culture.

Whilst the work is very extensive, broadly speaking:

• Staff and students have revisited the shared vision for the school, including talking about this at the Student Council meetings. The next step will be to communicate this with members of the School Council via the Sub- Committee meetings and then the wider community.
• Staff has further articulated what it is we want our students to behave like, look like and sound like as learners when they leave our school.
• Have used school data to lead staff to further understand how we all have collective responsibility for ALL students
• Have led an identification process with staff of what “high expectations” means which has been clearly communicated to the community at the term 1 Information sessions for each level and Three Way Conversations.
• Professional learning for staff has been informed by building their understanding of the continuum of learning and assessment, inducting new staff, with a focus on Mathematics and Literacy

During term 2, our goal is to have the vision and values appear more broadly and frequently on school documents, in the school office and all learning spaces throughout the school.

Easter Hat Parade

On Wednesday, 3 April, the annual Easter Hat Parade for the Junior Prep – 2 students took place on the East Site in the WW Hall. The students paraded and sang Easter songs which Mr Aitkens taught them this term during Music, and the Student Councillor reps from Grades 3-6 enjoyed helping out when they were parading. The Easter Bunny (aka School Captain Imogen) handed out eggs to the visitors with Veer, also our School captain.

All the hats looked very colourful and creative! The raffles were drawn and we hope it was a fun event for parents and everyone to attend.

Thank you very much to everyone who donated to the raffle, bought tickets and to the wonderful GPA members who prepared all the wonderful Easter Egg Hampers, and to Tina (Max Prep F & JP- 3F) who did a great job helping with extra tickets!

Student Council

The 20 members of Student Council and I have enjoyed our meeting this term and I am highly impressed by their thoughtful approach to GHPS and what they consider both with their teachers and independently.

Thank you to the Student Councillors for supporting the casual dress day and gold coin donation, which will go to the Royal Children’s Hospital. We had to change our meeting time till Friday this week and so there will be a report in the next newsletter.

Send off Term1 and start of term 2

I wish everyone a lovely and safe holiday and as there is a public holiday on Easter Monday, school will resume on Tuesday 23 April.

The first week of the term will also include ANZAC Day on 25 April.

We wish Mrs Murnane an extra special holiday as she will be on Leave until Monday 29 April.

Libby Alessi    Principal

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A message from your Assistant Principal Amy Tinetti

Monitoring Screen Time:

Screens are a wonderful tool to use with children, however I hear from many parents that they are becoming increasingly difficult to monitor and manage.

Here are a few great examples of questions you could ask yourself to see if the child’s screen time is under control.

• Do you have a plan to ‘manage’ screen time? Is it being followed?
• Does screen use interfere with what your family wants to do?
• Does screen use interfere with sleep?
• Does the child easily transition between screen time and non-screen time? (ie will they get ‘off’ when directed?)

If after asking these questions, you are wanting to put in place some strategies to manage screen time, below is a link to some tips to get you started.

https://elearning.suelarkey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/managing-screen-time.pdf

I hope everyone has a relaxing and safe holiday!

Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.

Amy Tinetti

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Congratulations to the following students who have received a Student of the Week award

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or foster parents are eligible to apply for the Education State Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund.

To be eligible for the fund, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending a Victorian Primary School MUST hold a Pension or Concession Card or Centrelink Health Care Card.

This form is available from the office and must be filled out each year.

For more information, contact the office

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SCHOOL UNIFORM

We now have long leg Cotton Gabardine Pants available to order from the Uniform Shop.

Great for these cooler days.

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Notices distributed to parents

March 26            Year 3 & 6 Students                     NAPLAN information

March 29               Year 6 students                           Movie permission

March 29                All students                                eduPass information

April 3                     3K students                                 Phone List

April 4                      1E students                                   Ms Murnane on leave

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Calendar

2019

April

Fri 5 – Last Day of Term 1  Early Dismissal 2.30pm

Mon 22 – Easter Monday Holiday

Tue 23 – Term 2 Begins

Thu 25 – Anzac Day Holiday

Tue 30 – School Photos

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