SUNSMART SCHOOL HATS
It is hard to believe that we are talking about sunnier weather arriving soon. However, we want to take this opportunity to remind you that all students must wear their school hats from 1st September. School hats are available to purchase from PSW on North Rd and the school office. Please remember to bring and wear your school hat from the 1st September.
Preparation for 2023 Class Structure and Student Placement
As we begin our process of deciding on the class structure for 2023 it is extremely important that we confirm student numbers for 2023.
Student numbers this year have grown unexpectedly in some year levels and have remained consistent in others. It is hard to manage unexpected enrolments during the year, that is why confirming the numbers before we begin class structure is critical. In 2023 we will be focused as always on keeping class sizes as low as possible, working within the DET budget for classes and the needs of the year levels and their current numbers heading into Term Four.
Confirming if your child is leaving greatly assists us in determining class structures across the school. This together with the new students who are arriving for the 2023 school year informs our plan for the upcoming year.
This is the time to share considerations you would like reviewed about your child’s learning before decisions are made about their class structure and placement. So please take the time now to put your considerations in writing and submit them to the school email address by no later than the end of the term. We understand this is early, but class placement takes a considerable amount of time and it is extremely unlikely that considerations raised after class placement begins are able to be considered.
The rationale of our student placement process:
This task is always challenging and complex and must take into account a range of factors including numbers of students, staffing requirements and of course financial resources.
As students at McKinnon Primary progress from Foundation to Year Six it is expected they will learn to work and relate to a range of teachers and students. We strive to make home groups harmonious in design with a wide variety of talents, abilities and interests. Please note that home groups are not allocated to teachers until groups are formed, in other words it is the dynamic of the student group that is the focus, rather than the teacher.
We endeavour to ensure that students are placed in year level groups that maximise, social and emotional development, learning potential and engagement. Our teaching staff put a lot of time and effort in creating balanced, positive learning environments with consideration for all students within each year level.
The criteria below, acts as a guide for consideration and discussion and are not intended to be inclusive or exclusive of any other. The criteria stated are not prioritised.
- student academic performance
- social and emotional development
- student friendship groups (students will be asked to nominate five learning friends which they feel they work well with, we will endeavour to place them with one of these students)
- equitable ability spread across all home groups
- gender balance
- student-student interaction
- student learning styles and needs
- previous teacher placements
If you, as a parent wish to provide input into your child’s placement, please write an email to Ms Simone Eirth. In your considerations please outline specific strengths, attitudes toward school, learning styles and learning needs of your child. You may also indicate successes your child has experienced in school. Please do not request a particular teacher for your child. A written consideration will be carefully reviewed as one of several criteria used when assigning students to home groups. It is important to note that it may not be possible to meet a consideration as stated.
Forming balanced home groups is in the best interest of ensuring optimal learning for all students. Since we are involved in a consultative process (consisting of many hours) to facilitate the placement of students, we do not anticipate making changes to class placements once they are set. Please do not approach individual teachers regarding student placements in Term Four, all considerations must be in writing and received before Friday 16th September. Like all new relationships, it can take time for students to learn to trust and demonstrate growth with their new teacher and in their new setting. The vast majority of children adjust very quickly to their new classroom with the help of your encouragement and support.
*Please note that emails received after the deadline may not be considered. The date for considerations to be received is Friday 16th September. When emailing your consideration please place 2023 Class Placement in the subject line and email to mckinnon.ps@education.vic.gov.au
PROVIDING EMERGENCY SANDWICHES TO STUDENTS AT LUNCH TIME
Mckinnon Primary School has for many years been providing emergency sandwiches to children who may have forgotten their lunch. Unfortunately, what we are finding is that students are using it for other reasons. For example, some students are still hungry after eating their lunch and come for a sandwich, or don’t like what their parents have sent to school or just forgot to take their lunch from the classroom. Regrettably the range of reasons students are using, has drastically increased the demand for sandwiches and the cost to supplying them. As a preventative method to ensure children are only accessing an emergency sandwich when they have legitimately forgotten their lunch, we will be informing parents and there will be a cost for each sandwich. The proceeds from the sandwiches will go to assist families who may need additional financial support.
To ensure that we have approval from parents to provide sandwiches where a lunch has been forgotten you will need to provide permission via Insights on Compass.
The permission reads:
I consent to the school to provide my child with a jam/vegemite sandwich in the event that they advise the teacher that they:
– did not have lunch in their school bag
– their lunch has been spoilt/ become inedible
With this consent I understand that I will be charged $5.00 for the sandwich provided to my child.
I understand that no further sandwiches will be provided to my child if I have an outstanding balance of $10.00 for unpaid sandwiches.
This new process will commence from Monday 29th August 2022 and you will be able to acknowledge this on Compass Insights from Monday 22nd August.
We thank you for your understanding.
BOOK WEEK IS COMING
We are all so excited about upcoming Book Week. There is a lot of planning around costumes for our dress up day. The day we will all be dressing up is Monday 29th August. So please start planning with your child as it is always a day of fun and celebration of stories.
REMINDER: STUDENTS NOT REQUIRED AT SCHOOL ON TUESDAY 3OTH AUGUST
For Semester Two, 2022, the Department of Education and Training has provided schools the opportunity to hold each teacher’s allocated professional practice day on the same day for all staff. This is to enable the most effective and efficient use of this day.
As a result, we have scheduled our professional practice day for Tuesday 30th August and with the final day being finalised with staff this week being scheduled for Monday 28th November in Term Four. Students will therefore not be required to attend school on these days.
Team Kids are available for care on these days. Please contact them on 1300 035 000.
Hope you all have a great weekend,
Simone, Suzanne and David