WHOLE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
It was great to conduct our whole school assembly online this week. This is a first one we have been able to achieve during lockdown. We have one more planned for the last week of school on Wednesday at 2.30pm, please come along and join us. A highlight of the assembly was hearing from the year 4s about their learning, and celebrating the qualities our learner profile award winners have demonstrated.
LEARNING DURING LOCKDOWN
Yet again we have achieved a great deal this week, there have been many examples of outstanding learning shared by our students below. I know parents are feeling worried and concerned about their child’s education and as teachers we all really want the children back at school learning together as well. However leading educators are working to alleviate parents stress and worry about their child’s learning. So please have a read of this article it may help you not to be too hard on yourself Memo to parents and carers on home schooling: ‘Don’t panic, and don’t feel guilty’ | Australia news | The Guardian .
Also watch out for the live specialist lesson next week!
2021 NAPLAN RESULTS
This week we received the Year Three and Year Five NAPLAN results. Our students have done remarkably well considering the challenges they have faced over the last eighteen months. Our overall school results have only improved with no evidence of the Year Three and Five, as a whole cohort regressing. This is a real credit to the teachers and the way they have worked so hard with the students during this time. Parents have also played a critical role in the way they have supported remote learning at home. It certainly has been a team effort! Well done to all our Year Three and Five students. The reports were posted to families today.
2022 CLASS PLACEMENT – OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Planning for the 2022 school year has begun. 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.
The rationale of our student placement process:
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 that 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 4, all considerations must be in writing and received before Friday 17th 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 17th September. When emailing your consideration please place 2022 Class Placement in the subject line and email to mckinnon.ps@education.vic.gov.au
STUDENTS LEAVING MCKINNON PRIMARY SCHOOL
Whilst we understand that the current Year Six students will not be returning in 2022; for other families circumstances may have changed and it’s very important for our planning purposes that we know as soon as possible.
Please email the school on mckinnon.ps@education.vic.gov.au or phone the office with the following information:
Child/ren’s name/s
2022 Year level
Reason for leaving
Parents’ names & contact details
We will continue to keep you informed as our plans for 2022 take shape.
AUGUST SCHOOL COUNCIL UPDATE
This month during our meeting we:
- discussed the letter sent to Nick Staikos MP for Bentleigh asking for a much-needed upgrade and development of our learning facilities
- shared the Mandarin resource for self-paced learning
- postponed the sexual education evening until a face-to-face session can be held
- proposed a new idea for fundraising involving local businesses which we will explore and share with the wider community in the near future
FATHERS’ DAY CELEBRATIONS
Our teachers have connected with the community this week and held special Fathers and Special Friends events today.
Wishing all our Dads a Happy Fathers’ Day on Sunday!
Simone, Suzanne and David