Dear Families,
This week is the beginning of Reconciliation Week which in 2020 is themed #inittogether there couldn’t be a more pertinent time to need to respond together.
National Reconciliation Week is about sharing culture, connecting with community and celebrating Indigenous success at every opportunity. Here at West Lakes Shore School we have 12 Aboriginal students. These individuals and their families are an important part of our school community. Our senior Aboriginal students take on the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and over the past year they have worked with the youngest Aboriginal students, the Learning Landscape Committee and Simon from Climbing Tree to create our very own Indigenous garden to be enjoyed now and in years to come.
A huge thank you to the key staff Kieran Davidson and Jacqui Thomas for their leadership of this key outdoor learning project. We thank Climbing Tree, our former ACEO Eva Wilson, and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families who helped to research and contribute ideas to the garden design. To each of the students involved in the workshops we are proud of your hard work and success. We look forward to a time when we can share this wonderful space with our families at our annual opening evening late in Term 3. This is when we will hold an official opening ceremony. For now, please enjoy watching the culmination over time of how this wonderful play space came to be. CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR RECONCILIATION ASSEMBLY AND TIME LAPSE OF ABORIGINAL GARDEN CONSTRUCTION VIDEO Via FACEBOOK
Semester 1 Reports
Staff are busy analysing evidence and using information from your child’s learning so our annual mid-year reports can be compiled. This year our semester 1 reports will include key achievement and effort grades for years 1-7 and an effort grade for Reception students. All students will receive this for English, Mathematics, Science and in specialist areas of Japanese, Drama, Visual Arts and PE. Other subject areas of the curriculum will be assessed as agreed by year level teams.
Teacher comments will incorporate individualised information about your child’s strengths and their next steps in learning. These are the areas we strongly encourage you to support your child with and practise further. Our focus on student general capabilities will be aligned to our 2 values of resilience and responsibility and whether students are showing these in age appropriate ways.
Reports will be sent home electronically in the last week of term with printed copies made available for those families requesting them. Please make sure your email addresses are up to date. If you have any questions around your child’s learning please do not hesitate to contact their teacher.
Uniform Policy 2020
Our new Uniform Policy is now available for all families to access. Student Leaders, Staff and families have all had a voice in updating and amending our uniform with comprehensive feedback used to shape the policy. Additional items that have been approved include a navy skort and a West Lakes Shore School navy beanie that can be purchased from Lowes for $14.95.
The student leaders were instrumental in supporting the introduction of our very own school beanie and we are enjoying seeing how toasty and warm these keep our students. (Children please remember that they are outdoor items as it’s toasty and warm already inside) Other uniform changes include socks which must be navy, dark or white in colour. Smart watches with internet or messaging capability are classed as per our school phone policy and are now added as items that need to go into classroom safes. As per any student owned item the school cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged items.
The Governing Council have had significant input in the new ratified policy which is now in effect with all students expected to adhere to this.
A second-hand clothing rack is made available on the first Friday of the month for families to access if required. If you have any second-hand uniform items, especially jackets, tops and long sleeve tops that your child has grown out of we appreciate and encourage you to donate these.
Lost property will temporarily be located outside the administration entrance so families are able to access this.
Be Strong, Be Kind and Stay Safe,
Carol, Helen, Fay and Rozika
