West Lakes Shore School Newsletter

It is nearly the end of a fabulous semester of quality learning at West Lakes Shore School and what an excitable and engaging two terms it has been. Students have been focused on problem-solving in mathematics and have achieved many wonderful learning outcomes. They have worked hard to improve their automaticity of number facts and do their personal best. Please encourage and support your child/ren to continue using mathematical language when they discuss the world around them. The practical math we discuss in everyday life increases your child’s numeracy capabilities. ‘Talk for Learning’ is a strong part of our actions to improve children’s achievement. A dictionary popular with children to explore what mathematical words mean is: http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com How many new words can your child challenge themselves to learn this holiday?

Our staff go above and beyond to provide rich, connected learning experiences that motivate and engage your child in their learning. This semester, all teams planned a range of active learning linked to ‘Our Big Backyard’. Next Term’s Connected Curriculum is focused on the theme: ‘Out of this World’.  With ‘Destination Moon’ as our Science week theme, we have an exciting term of learning ahead!  We are looking forward to seeing all of our student and staff secret powers come to life at our annual book parade in Book Week.

What’s your child’s secret power and how can you help them to know these strengths? When you read your child’s report this week please look at the effort they have displayed, alongside their achievement and values. Seek to affirm the good and discuss the next steps they believe they could work on. Reports will be brought home today with your child. For duplicate copies please send a request to Rachel.roe536@schools.sa.edu.au who will email these to you in a PDF format.

We wish all families a safe and enjoyable holiday. Stay warm and enjoy some quality time in the fresh, winter weather.  See you all in Term 3!

Kind regards

Carol Press

Principal

 Please find attached a copy of our draft Strategic Plan 2019-2024. Alongside staff and student input, the plan incorporates a wide range of the family feedback that you provided through the 2018 opinion survey and the 2018 Open Evening community forum.

It includes a strong emphasis on our school being community-focused. This was the overwhelming response that was provided when we asked what you value about our school. In regards to what you wanted our school to ‘be’ in the future and what you wanted your child to gain from being at WLSS, many of you told us to build your child’s confidence and ensure a strong balance between academic achievement and the whole-school teaching of wellbeing and social and emotional intelligence. It was evident that you wanted a safe, happy and inclusive environment and a focus on developing children’s awareness of themselves as global citizens who show empathy and concern for others. You acknowledged our school strengths and the quality relationships staff build. Ensuring we support every child’s growth and partnering with you in your child’s learning is strongly featured as part of our focus on ‘Learning in Partnership’.

We aim to ensure strong achievement, wellbeing and engagement for all. Our goals will be measured against a wide-range of data sets and ongoing school evaluations. We look forward to sharing the progress we make. If you have any feedback regarding this draft plan please send an email with the subject: Strategic Plan Feedback to carol.press854@schools.sa.edu.au 

Our 2019-2021 School Improvement Plan is strongly aligned to the Strategic Plan through a focus on improving achievement and building strong writing and numeracy skills, knowledge and dispositions for every child. Excellence in teaching and learning and providing challenging learning is a core feature. 2019 site and staff actions are summarised in our strategic plan.

This will take place on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30 July. A pre-review meeting determines the lines of inquiry and the panel will meet with the Governing Council to discuss their role in providing feedback about the school improvement and strategic plans. The panel also reviews progress against previous External Review directions. An open parent forum will take place on Monday 29th July at 2.00pm. The review panel will ask questions about your child’s learning and seek your feedback on improvement areas for the school. Please click on this link to register your attendance: EXTERNAL SCHOOL REVIEW PARENT REGISTRATION

STUDENTS LEAVING END 2019 - We require families to inform us if their child will be leaving WLSS at the end of 2019 as soon as possible.  This then allows us to see where we have vacancies within the school for parents wishing to enrol at WLSS for 2020 and also helps us plan our class structures.  We understand that you might still be deciding or awaiting acceptance into a private school for Year 7 especially for those Year 6 students.  This does Forward any information to Janet Massey - janet.massey644@schools.sa.edu.au 

• FRONT OFFICE - This is a very busy place first thing in the morning and after school - please encourage your children to walk around the admin building instead of cutting through the office at these times, unless they need to talk to office staff or drop paperwork off.  Please do not bring bikes or scooters through the front office either. 
• GATES - We endeavor to open the gates by 8:30am, but on the rare occasion we might be slightly late.  The gates will be closed every evening during the winter months at 3:30pm - if you are still on the premises after this time the Main front gate will be open until 4pm - after this time you will have to exit via the Staff Car Park.
• STAFF CAR PARK - Just a friendly reminder to all families that the Staff Car Park is not for your children to walk through - either under your supervision or not.  We want all of our children to be safe at WLSS.  The only time parents and children are able to exit via the Staff Car park is if they are on site for a parent teacher meeting and the other exit gates have been locked.

Please make a note of the following dates on your calendar:

PUPIL FREE AND SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS FOR 2019

• 30th August 2019 - Friday - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
• 2nd September 2019 - Monday - TERM 3 - PFD
• 20th November 2019 - Wednesday - TERM 4 - PFD

Please make sure you have booked your child/ren into OSHC if you require care for any of the Pupil Free Days or the School Closure Day.  

TERM 3 CALENDAR - 22 JULY - 27 SEPTEMBER 2019

• Term 3 Start - Monday, 22nd July 2019 - 8:50am start
• Governing Council Meeting - 5th August and 9th September 2019
• Science Week - 12 - 16th August 2019
• Book Week - 19 - 23rd August 2019
• Pelican Unit Camp - 26 - 28th August 2019 
• Senior Choir - Magic Millions - 27th August 2019
• SCHOOL CLOSURE - 30th August 2019
• PUPIL FREE DAY - 2nd September 2019
• Year 7 Camp (SD6,7 & 8) - 23rd - 25th September 2019
• PAT M & R Testing - 3rd - 27th September 2019