Part of our ‘new normal’ is becoming familiar with the technology available to keep us connected and communicating effectively outside our personal ‘bubble.’ During lock-down staff and students were thrown in at the deep end and discovered the delights of Google Classrooms to facilitate on-line learning. We are continuing to explore blended learning options and feel confident that we are well placed to maintain momentum and embed our newly honed skills into daily teaching and learning. Through Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, I have been able to connect with my Principal colleagues state wide and attend Professional Learning seminars. It is becoming easier and definitely the new norm. We are currently looking at ways to trial a Zoom session for parents who might not be able to get to P&C meetings. If this is successful, we could extend the service to parent/teacher interviews and possibly information sessions around transition to school and high school. While technology is NOT my strong point, I am fortunate to have a great support crew amongst staff who can steer us all in the right direction. Watch this space!
As part of our new School Improvement Planning cycle, we are currently undertaking a Situational Analysis and we need your help. Over the coming weeks, school based focus groups consisting of teaching and non- teaching staff are looking at programs that have worked well at Old Bar School; programs that have been completed and offered positive results and programs/strategies that we might need to decommission. It’s about ‘Looking Inward, Looking Outward and Looking Forward.’ Reflection is a powerful tool when it is honest and used to improve our practice. Your feedback on our performance as a school is vital. We value your opinion and your voice. Shortly, a ‘Tell Them From Me’ survey will be available online for you to complete. It covers areas of school leadership, information exchange, school support services, safety, inclusion, behaviour and engagement. I urge you to participate – it only takes 10 minutes – as it will help to inform future directions in teaching and learning and ultimately impact on the educational outcomes of your children. Students and staff at Old Bar School will also take part in surveys to give us the most balanced view possible with which to work.
Next week, we are having our bell system upgraded. As well as providing an efficient means of delivering announcements across the school to staff and students, it will also allow for music to be played in place of a bell. I’ve seen this used in other schools where students are given the length of a selected song to get to their room or lines. I’m looking forward to watching the response of the children to the music. I’m imagining a little dancing happening across the playground.
Are you reading with your children at home? Are they reading to you? A few years ago, a decision was made by staff and parents to minimise the amount of homework we were expecting children to do. We looked at the amount of extra-curricular activities students were involved in – sport, dance, music – and reinforced the notion that these provided rich learning outcomes and a balanced lifestyle for students. (Research continues to reinforce the notion that homework in primary school has no positive impact on their learning outcomes.) We did however ask that parents encourage their children to read for 10 – 20 minutes each night. This was – and continues to be - the only mandatory homework we expect students to complete. During ‘lock-down’ in term 2 it was evident that many students were reading for pleasure and statistics showed a pleasing increase in reading skill and confidence. Reading is the single most important skill to develop in children. Reading to and with your child daily is the greatest gift you can give your child. Keep up the great work!
Next Tuesday, 18th August is Vietnam Veterans’ Day. Under normal circumstances, we would be hosting veterans at a special assembly and joining them in a march outside the school. Sadly, this is not to be – COVID again preventing us hosting visitors in the school. Commemorating the sacrifice of these amazing returned servicemen and women has become a tradition at Old Bar School. We will miss them this year but remember them with gratitude and fondness in our hearts.
Deborah Scanes
What works best for student outcomes? VISIBLE LEARNING
Through 2019 and 2020 staff at OBPS have been participating in professional learning about the research conducted by Prof. John Hattie, and the impact it has on our understanding of student learning. We have embraced this learning through the Visible Learning program. Visible Learning aims to have students become more aware of, and actively involved in, their own learning, rather than seeing learning as a passive activity where ‘sitting up straight and listening to the teacher’ is all that is needed to be a good learner. We aim to have our students ask themselves the questions of:
· What am I learning and why?
· How will I know I am progressing and how do I show it?
· Where will I go next – what are my next steps?
Through 2019 staff spent time understanding the research and planning the steps to be taken to introduce the most relevant components of the program – 2020 has given us some challenges around implementing these but we are getting there! The focus is currently on our students thinking of themselves as both teachers and learners and becoming more actively engaged in their learning, which links so well with our Core Value of Engagement! We have introduced:
· Learning Partners – students take part in short, focussed structured conversations as part of their learning
· OBPS Active Learners behaviours – this has been introduced at the start of term 3, and classes are currently focusing on two behaviours each week. Last week Thinking About Learning & Ask Questions were introduced; this week Take Risks & Solve Problems are the focus
Along with active learner behaviours staff will also be learning about Dispositions – or the mindsets that support learning. As our learners become more confident with talking about and engaging in their learning, Feedback – giving it and acting on it - will be another ‘next step’ for staff and students.
Take the opportunity to talk to your children about their learning – we have had some very surprising and positive responses already!!
Congratulations Chloe Hicks in Year 6 on being selected as a lead role in Stacey Lee's Centre Stage musical theater production "High School Musical - JR.".
Chloe will be playing Gabriella Montez in the production held on December 12 2020 at Manning Entertainment Centre. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to watch you perform.
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**Please ensure original copies of supporting documents are presented on or before enrolment.**
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