Newsletter Week 10 Term 3, 2024 – Message from Admin, Important Dates, Book Fair, Third Party Service Update, Inquiry Showcase, Art Showcase, Free VacSwim, PP3 Students, K-2 Athletics Carnival, Taylor Birthday, Netball, Children’s Crossing, ADHD Info Session, Teddy Bears Picnic, Soccer Holiday Clinic, Term 4 Before & After School Programs

Message from Administration

Dear parents and caregivers

What a wonderful, connected learning experience we shared on Friday afternoon at the Inquiry Showcase. We were overwhelmed by the support of parents, families and the P&C as our students had the opportunity to share and celebrate their learning across all subjects. Seeing families enjoying time and sharing dinner on the oval provided a real sense of community. Thank you! 

It has been a significant term of events, experiences, growing and learning for our school community. Thank you to those parents (116) who provided feedback in the recent School Culture Survey, while there were many improvements noted across the six domains in the past twelve months, there is still plenty of work to do. Your feedback guides our focus, improvement strategies and resource allocation. Some feedback is easily actionable, and some is not given Departmental policies, the school’s physical structure, facilities, and budget allocation. The 2024 survey data will be presented at the next Board meeting and key findings and future actions will be communicated to the community. 

Reporting to Parents – End of Semester Report Changes: On Thursday, 29 August Minister Buti announced a Department-wide initiative to reduce red tape and workload for teachers and school leaders.  

The Department has worked with the School Curriculum and Standards Authority to provide clarification of the requirements for end-of-semester reports. 

•            There is a requirement to provide an overall teacher comment.
•            There is no requirement to provide learning area comments.
•            There is no requirement to provide grades at the strand or sub-strand level.
•            There is no requirement to provide a learning area comment or attachments for students with special educational needs. Reporting for these students aligns with the individual education plan that was developed with parents.

As a result of these changes, the 2024 semester 2 reports for students in Pre-primary to Year 6 will look quite different to the reports you have previously received. I am currently working with the WPS Workload Advisory committee and local Network schools to overhaul our school’s Reporting to Parents plan to ensure a consistent approach is achieved. 

The new reporting plan for semester 2, 2024 and beyond will be presented to the School Board and P&C for discussion early next term and communicated to the wider parent body in the newsletter. 

Wishing you all a fun-filled holiday with opportunity to rest and reset. We look forward to welcoming all students back on Tuesday, 8 October. 

In the spirit of learning and community connection.

Donna Snow 

Principal