You’d be forgiven for thinking some of our students were part sea-animals if you saw them performing at our school Swimming Carnival on Monday March 1st. The students were well behaved, enthusiastically supporting their peers and enjoying the day in the sun. Congratulations to all students who participated, earning valuable points for their house. Huge thanks go to Mrs Lobb for her tireless work organising and running the day.
The Zone Swimming Carnival was held on March 3rd, just 2 days after our school carnival. Mrs Lobb worked throughout the evening to ensure our amazing swimmers were able to represent Beresford Road at this event. Our students performed admirably, with Daniel Vicic, Georgia Strachan and Samantha Terry moving on to further represent our wonderful school at the upcoming Sydney West Swimming event on March 17th. Well done Daniel, Georgia and Samantha, and to all our wonderful student competitors. Thanks to Mrs Strachan for supervising and coordinating our swimmers on the day.
The latest P&C meeting was held on Tuesday March 2nd where there was a strong turn out of parents and friends. Mr Herbert was in attendance, where he as pleased to be able to conduct a live Q & A session for those present. The P & C provides a great opportunity for interested community members to get involved with our school. If you’re interested in joining us, meetings are held at the school on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
On Wednesday in week 5, Scripture classes resumed at Beresford Road Public School. It has been wonderful to be able to welcome more external groups into the school, and I’m sure students were pleased to be able to return to these lessons. Scripture times have changed this year; Infant Scripture runs from 2:00 – 2:30pm, and Primary Scripture runs from 2:30 – 3:00pm. If you wish to alter the scripture class your child attends, please send a written note in to the office so their details can be updated in our systems. I’d like to extend a big thank you to Mr Orr for all his work in coordinating scripture lessons this year.
What Works Best
At the end of 2020, the Centre of Education Statistics and Evaluation announced eight teaching practices that make the most impact on student learning in the document ‘What Works Best 2020 Update’. All staff within the school have been involved in professional learning to improve their understanding and practice of these eight teaching methods.
It is the schools aim that all students are taught by teachers with deep knowledge and practice of the eight best teaching and learning practices identified in this document. These methods have been tested, measured and proven to best support student learning. We have also ensured that our new school plan is guided by these evidence-based teaching practices.
In newsletters to come, I would love to share with you these strategies. I will summarise one at a time. Please, adopt any of these methods at home, if you feel they are appropriate, for fostering your child’s learning at home.
The first method is High Expectations.
High expectations are linked with higher achievement and performance for all students. Those students in NSW who report their teachers having high expectations are often ahead in their learning by 3-6 months.
This means that when students feel that the teachers around them have high expectations of their learning they are more likely to reach those high expectations. All children need to be challenged to improve and reach their set learning goals that match their individual learning needs. At home, families can also set high expectations for their children’s learning. Conversations about school, learning and celebrating learning successes helps children have a high expectation of their learning both at school and at home.
Mrs Jade Leverett
Deputy Principal
Please see the diagram that highlights the impact of high expectation on student learning.
