Industrial Action
The NSW Teachers Federation has directed members to take industrial action in the form of a 24-hour strike on Thursday 30 June 2022. As a result of the strike, we will still be open but will be providing minimal student supervision on this date. Minimal supervision means onsite teaching and learning continues however temporary class structures and a modified timetable are required to meet safety and supervision requirements.
The department has been negotiating with the NSW Teachers Federation since October last year to reach an agreement on the new Teachers Award.
As a department we are considering this change in relation to the Teachers Award, which is next before the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on 29 June 2022. Dates have been reserved in October 2022 for the Teachers Award matter to be arbitrated by a full bench of the IRC, and the department is hopeful for a swift outcome after this process.
New Playground Equipment
Following supply issues by the contractor, the last three pieces of equipment were installed in the infant's playground on Wednesday including the sway bridge, mini trampoline, and monkey bars competing the new playground. We have explained to the children how to use the new equipment safely especially that only one student should use each piece of equipment at a time. This will be closely supervised by staff until students become more familiar with how to use them safely. Would you please remind your children that with no staff on playground duty, the equipment is not to be used after school hours.
New Curriculum
Our Year 1 teachers namely Beck Cantlay, Georgia Apostolopoulos and Stacey Jane have been leading the way in implementing the Department's new K-2 curriculum due for full implementation by all K-2 classes next year. The Year 1 team met again on Thursday to plan and resource the lessons for their classes and to feedback to the Department on ways to improve the new content and pedagogy. This involvement of our Year 1 teachers in this project will greatly support our teachers across the school as the new curriculum will be implemented into the primary years from 2024.
New Sports House Names
Our SRC have suggested possible new names for our sports houses as we explore more contemporary and inclusive names of the houses. Their suggestions include great Australian athletes, Indigenous nations, and native flora and fauna. We also welcome suggestions from our parent community as part of this process of renaming our sports houses.
Student Reports
Next week the school will provide parents with a semester report on student progress. As you will see, the report provides information about your child’s learning in each key learning area. It includes teacher comments that seek to identify areas of achievement and areas for further development shown in wording like 'would benefit from' or 'is beginning to develop'.
The semester one report provides you with a snapshot of your child’s academic achievements using the descriptions of outstanding, high, sound, basic and limited in each key learning area.
These various levels of achievement are an important indicator of your child’s progress at school. As you know, these descriptors correspond to a five-point A-E scale. Remember that a ‘sound’ grade (C) means a child is on track.
As you know, the curriculum and therefore assessment is organised into stages i.e. Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten), Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) and Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6). Students who are in Year 1, Year 3 or Year 5 have completed just two terms of their curriculum stage of two years. As a result, their report grade will most likely indicate a lower level than they achieved in the previous year. This reflects the early part of the learning journey in that stage and means that much of the curriculum for their stage is still to be covered.
Also, as mentioned on the front of the report, reporting on student progress is not comparative but based on individual expectations and performance as assessed against curriculum outcomes.
However, you may ask the school to share with you information that shows your child’s achievement compared to his or her peer group at school. This will give you the proportion of children in the group in the relevant achievement levels.
If you would like this information, please contact the Assistant Principal for your child’s year. Our commitment is to provide a meaningful report to parents that focuses on what your child can do and fosters the wellbeing of all students. Please celebrate their efforts and achievements.
Magic Pebbles Assembly Talk
There is an old legend about a group of shepherds who were preparing to go to sleep one night when suddenly the sky lit up with a celestial light that shone down upon them. Being shepherds, they knew something wonderful was going to happen and they waited with eager anticipation. At last, a voice spoke from the heavens. It said to them, “Gather up as many pebbles as you can find. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day’s journey and tomorrow night I will find you glad and will find you sad”.
The shepherds were disappointed and angry. They had expected the revelation of something great for them and for the world. It had happened before for other shepherds. But instead they had been told to do something that made no sense at all.
Grudgingly, the shepherds bent down and picked up a few pebbles and put them in their saddlebags. Next day, they traveled their day’s journey and that night made camp. They decided to empty the pebbles from their saddlebags. To their astonishment the pebbles had disappeared and in their place were sparkling diamonds.
The leading shepherd turned to his companions and said, “The voice spoke the truth. Tonight we were glad and we are sad. We are glad because we have these precious diamonds. But we are sad because we did not pick up more pebbles.”
We do not know in life which pebbles are going to turn out to be diamonds. Everything you learn without knowing why you are learning it is a pebble. But others will turn out to be diamonds. So learn all you can now, pick up as many pebbles as you can, and you will be able to enjoy a rich future full of learning.
Student Representative Council (SRC) Mufti Day
Next Friday, 1 July, the SRC have organised a muftiday in support of Stewart House. All students are invited to dress in their PJ's or lounge wear and to bring in a gold coin donation.
Each year 1,600 public school children in need come to Stewart House from many parts of NSW and the ACT. During their stay, children are provided with optometric, dental and medical treatment as well as emotional support.
Children attend Stewart House at no charge. Your donation will help ensure that their program is accessible to all children in need from across NSW and ACT public schools and will be used to cover direct costs only.
Smart Energy Project
The photos below show the scope of works for the Smart Energy Schools Pilot Program including the proposed solar system on the roof of the school hall and COLA and location of the solar and battery installations behind the hall.
Work is estimated to begin in Term 3 with final commissioning to take place two to three months later.
