IMPORTANT DATES!
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Attitudes to School Survey
WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!
A reminder that the Attitudes to School survey will be conducted at our school over the period Monday 31 May to Friday 11 June. The survey takes around 20-45 minutes to complete and occurs during your child’s class time.
The survey results will be reported back to the school in an aggregate form throughout the survey period. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified. Data suppression rules are used for schools with low student numbers per year level.
The survey results will be communicated to you through our annual reporting mechanisms.
If you would like more information, please speak to your child’s teacher or visit: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/data-collection-surveys/guidance/attitudes-school-survey
Portifolio Tasks and Semester 2 Reporting
This year has been all about improving our communication and one focus area has been through our reporting system. Prior to COVID we had commenced using progress reports and this year we have changed that a little. As we adapt our practice and get feedback from all stakeholders the process is evolving. In term 1 we tried to send the 6 annotated portfolio tasks and 4 other student choice pieces throughout the term. When our process has fully evolved we want our students to have the skills to upload tasks independently and reflect on their work so that they are able to have agency in goal setting conversations. We have discovered that supporting our students to reflect and goal set takes a little preparation from our end. There is some significant teaching needed to give students this exciting opportunity. We have determined that we need to slow the whole process down a little to ensure that it is successful and to make certain that we can effectively support our students to develop these important skills. In term 2 we will still send 6 portfolio tasks with annotations. These annotations are discussed with students so that we can show them what the next stages of learning are and begin to develop goal setting capabilities. They are also giving families the opportunity to continuously see the progress that their child is making.
As a staff we have had many discussions about these portfolio tasks and been clear that these tasks are not the most polished and supported pieces. We want to give parents a true indication of where their child is working so that all reporting is honest and supports our staff to pitch content accurately.
In term 2 we will also have our semester reports to conclude the term and in term 3 the 3 way conferences. These will be another great opportunity to reflect on what we have done thus far and continue to build upon our own practice.
Education Week
Now in its 77th year, Education Week aims to positively profile and celebrate the strengths and achievements of Victoria’s government education sector.
This year Education Week runs from 23-29 May. The theme ‘Building Connections’ focuses on how the community can act as a support network, support students’ learning and development and enhance social inclusion.
Education Week is an opportunity for all primary and secondary schools, higher education, and early childhood services to showcase how they are building connections with the community around them.
Rosanna Golf Links Primary School will be celebrating Education Week by holding an open morning with our parent community. On the 28th of February families are invited in to assist us with our building connections morning. Parents will help students in an actual building project and share their own skills to support the classroom build. We would love to have as many parents as possible as it is always a wonderful time for students to showcase their critical and creative thinking skills and in this instance share their expertise is STEM based learning.
A Message from the Chief Health Officer
I would like to take this opportunity to thank students, staff, teachers, parents and carers for ensuring a safe and successful start to the 2021 school year and to thank you for your cooperation during the short period of remote learning in February during the circuit breaker restrictions.
As Term 2 commences, schools continue to be able to operate with a largely normal program of activity, enabling important on-site activities to return, such as school open days and working bees, with appropriate health and safety measures in place.
Throughout the pandemic, Victorian schools have rapidly and successfully adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, embedding COVIDSafe principles by reinforcing good behaviours, creating safe spaces, adapting activities, and responding quickly to COVID-19 risk.
While we have seen outbreaks emerge in Victoria, we have also witnessed our capacity to respond quickly to limit the impact of these outbreaks.
Given the current very low risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community, continued high rates of testing and wastewater monitoring, and continued observance of health and safety measures in schools; those with medical vulnerabilities or their carers can feel reassured to continue to safely work and learn on school sites, and enjoy the benefits of doing so.
It is crucial, however, for everyone to remain vigilant by staying home when unwell, performing regular hand hygiene, wearing a mask when required and maintaining physical distancing from others when practical.
Should cases of COVID-19 increase again in the community, I am confident that with COVIDSafe plans in place, alongside our ability to quickly identify and respond to cases, schools remain safe places for all staff and students. I also continue to be reassured by evidence that children are less impacted by the virus and are less likely to develop severe illness.
The school community continues to have an important role to promote COVID-19 testing when a student or staff member has any symptoms, no matter how mild, and ensuring they remain home until they are well. Getting tested and staying home until results are known is critical to limiting community transmission.
Adj Clin Prof Brett Sutton
Victorian Chief Health Officer
Fundraising Support
As we crank back up our fundraising efforts in a COVID safe world we are finding that there are a number of items that require some assistance from our wonderful families. If you have some time and would like to assist us, please send an email through to the office outlining your willingness to support the fundraising efforts.
Take care,
Kirrily Lamers
Principal
STUDENT OF THE WEEK
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Screen Time
Increasingly I see parents who are worried about their children and their sleeping habits and concentration. After many of these discussions, we conclude that their children are accessing technology and social digital media platforms at bedtime or have an unhealth balance of screen time.
Parents need to set boundaries and expectations when it comes to screen time. Our students need a balance of play and interaction both on-screen and off. Raisingchildren.net.au has a handy checklist to use to see if you are achieving a healthy approach to screen time.
Is your child:
- – sleeping enough?
- – physically healthy?
- – engaged with school?
- – connecting socially with family and friends, online and offline?
- – enjoying a variety of hobbies and interests?
- – doing physical activity every day?
- – having fun and learning while using screens?
- – using quality content?
If you answer yes to most or all of these questions, your child is probably using screens in a balanced way as part of a healthy lifestyle.
If you answered no to many of these questions and are looking for more information to support you it can be found here: https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/play-media-technology/screen-time-healthy-screen-use/screen-time
Luke Franklin
Assistant Principal
TEACHING AND LEARNING
NAPLAN 2021
Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN will be held next Tuesday May 11th – Thursday 13th 2021 according to the following timetable:
The school requests that parents avoid making external appointments for any child participating in NAPLAN at these dates and times. Please note that makeup NAPLAN tests are required to be held for any student who is absent during the NAPLAN week. These makeup tests will take place on Wednesday 12th May, Thursday 13th May and on the Friday 14th May. Good luck to all participating students in year 3 and 5.
Keeping NAPLAN in perspective....
NAPLAN can be a time of high stress and anxiety for both children and their families. It is important to keep these assessments low key and stress that you are proud of your child and love them despite how they do on the national tests. Parents might say something encouraging such as ‘What matters to me is that you are learning and enjoying school’ or ‘Your test result is not as important to me as whether you are happy, healthy, and have good friends.’
I strongly encourage all parents to talk to their child in the lead up to NAPLAN to help them keep their performance in perspective. Explain that NAPLAN tests results reflect how students performed on a few hours of the school year and only in English and Mathematics. Point out that we can be smart and talented in many different ways and that NAPLAN tests don’t measure things like being kind, being organised, being a good friend, being a gifted artist, skilled musician or talented athlete. Reassure your child that their family, friends and teachers know them and their abilities far more comprehensively than any test could. Also point out that parents and teachers know that many things may impact on results such as anxiety, lack of sleep the previous night, illness, a disagreement with a friend/family member and missing lots of school due to COVID or other reasons. Essentially, help your child realise that their self-worth doesn’t hinge on their NAPLAN results.
Finally, be sympathetic and understanding that your child may be nervous and find NAPLAN daunting. Stress to them that you just want is for them to do their best. Help them get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast each day. Remember you can always contact myself or your child’s teacher if you have any specific concerns about your child and NAPLAN.
Maths Olympiad #2
Well done to the Maths Olympiad team who participated in their second Olympiad of 2021 this week!
It is important to recognise that the Year 4-6 students in the Maths Olympiad team are taking on a difficult challenge and attempting maths problems three to four years above their year level. Students are tackling complex secondary school level maths problems, often in areas they haven’t had explicit teaching in. All Maths Olympiad students should be very proud for attempting the questions and especially proud if they manage to solve any correctly.
The next Maths Olympiad test is on Wednesday 16th June.
Kerron Worsdell
Learning Specialist
SCIENCE NEWS
SPACE WATTLE
Wattle seeds sent to space late last year are still on the International Space Station (ISS), circling Earth every 90 minutes. The photo shows the seeds onboard the ISS.
You can check where the ISS is at any time here: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/Where_is_the_International_Space_Station
Our seeds will be coming back to Earth soon and we hope to receive them in July. Our Space Wattle Team (Ethan J, Yori K, Charlotte P, Ellie V, Kyle S, Allie G, Madeleine O, Luke E, Eva L, Lily J) can then start our Space Wattle project, growing and monitoring the Golden Wattle plants over days, months and years.
Best regards,
Ms Wheeler
FUNDRAISING
CANTEEN
HELP NEEDED ON FRIDAYS IN THE CANTEEN
Dear Parents
We are looking for help next Friday 14th May.
Volunteer times available are: 10.30am – 2.05pm or 10.30am – 12.30pm or 12.00pm – 2.05pm.
Please ensure you order from the WINTER MENU.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Many thanks
Margaret Groves
Canteen Manager
THEIRCARE – BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Disclaimer: Rosanna Golf Links Primary School (RGLPS) does not endorse any product or service advertised in this newsletter. RGLPS takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements or the quality and reliability of products or services offered in the advertisements
