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Firstly, welcome back after lock-down 5.0. I would like to thank all in our community for their support over the last couple of weeks. This extends to our students who have done the best they could, the families that have soldiered on in very difficult scenarios and our staff who did incredible work. I was going to write a bit of a wrap up of the last two weeks in this edition, however an unfortunate weekend has meant that this has been delayed.
Over the course of last weekend, a group of teenagers (from all reports) congregated on our school grounds. Their purpose appeared to be to damage our school and making life difficult for neighbours, passers-by and other members of the community. I would like to re-iterate that if there are people who witness anything untoward occurring on our school grounds, they should call the police directly on 000.
Annual Implementation Plan
Every school has a document called the Annual Implementation Plan(aka AIP). This outlines the goals that the school sets for the year and the strategies that it seeks to employ. Throughout the year it is monitored by the Leadership team and externally through the Regional Office. Over coming weeks, I will include a section of the AIP so that the community is informed about our direction and progress. This week the focus will be on Student Well-Being. I would like to thank Sophie Herbert who is in charge of this work at our school through the AIP team and Amanda Dwyer who is our Student Well-Being Coordinator.
How we work
The school has a dedicated Student Engagement team that meets fortnightly to work on these actions and has a representative from each sub-school to lead the work in teams and classrooms.
What we have achieved
- Start-up program built around explicit exploration of the school values in classrooms is embedded as part of practice
- Smiling Minds parent information session to share mindfulness strategy to parents and connect our wellbeing approach with the community was conducted
- Smiling Mind lessons implemented as part of our weekly wellbeing activities, in conjunction with RRRR. Use of Smiling Mind meditations after recess and lunch to settle students into learning
- Revised the Behaviour Management Flowchart - to specifically address procedures that address high needs students
- Investigate the process of implementing the tracking of behaviour using Compass to be trialed in second half of the year
- Student Wellbeing and Engagement, Bullying, Parent Complaints policy updated
- Started lunchtime club options for students who need wellbeing support or different options during breaktimes.
Going forward
To start with - this indicates that a lot has been achieved in the space of the first half of the year. It indicates that all of the structure has been built to set up a cohesive and comprehensive Well Being program. The work will be to implement these actions consistently and with fidelity over Semester Two.
Research on Working Memory
In 2019 I attended a course at Boston University that focussed on the Science of the Brain and its implications for teachers. It was run by Andrew Watson, and it covered such topics as plasticity, memory and attention. The area of working memory was really fascinating. His book Learning Begins is always on my desk in the office.
Working Memory (WM) is where we hold information in order to process it and fit it into our existing schema. It really is the pivotal phase in the learning as we take information in, we make sense of it and then store it in our long-term memory as learning. It’s a critical stage because during this time the brain is susceptible to overload through too much information being held in the WM. If this occurs, then not only does the new information not get retained but information that is already held in the brain can be lost or scrambled.
Working memory capacity changes over time (Gathercole S.E. et al 2008) and develops as children get older. This is why teachers tend to deliver shorter chunks of information in primary settings which gradually increases as learners may go to secondary school and then on to tertiary settings.
At IEPS our whole school lesson structure recognises the importance of these concepts through clear learning intentions, specific introduction of new material (10-15 minutes) and an opportunity for students to integrate new learning.
Brett Millott.
brett.millott@education.vic.gov.au
PARENT/CAREGIVER/GUARDIAN OPINION SURVEY
WE WANT OUR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS/GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!
Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents/caregivers/guardians think of our school. The Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst a sample of randomly selected parents/caregivers/guardians (previously known as the Parent Opinion Survey). It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
Approximately 30 per cent of parents have been invited to participate in this year’s survey. All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year, the Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday 19th July to Sunday 22nd August.
Enrolments for Prep in 2022 are now open and we are taking bookings for School Tours for prospective parents on Thursday mornings at 10:00am. You may either collect an enrolment form at the office or download from the link below if you have a child commencing in Prep in 2022. Do not hesitate to book a tour for a Thursday morning, even if you already have a child at IEPS.
When lodging the enrolment form, we are also required to sight the original birth certificate and current immunisation history statement, which we will take a photocopy of for school entry requirements.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS
- valid for 5 years
- transferable between volunteer organisations
- free of charge for volunteers, but cannot be used for paid employment.
You can apply online using this link:
http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/applications/
When you have received your card, please bring it to the office so that we can make a copy and inform the class teacher.
For week ending Friday 23rd July and to be presented at Assembly on Monday 2nd August;
PK | Sophia |
PS | Natalia |
1C | Kate |
1E | Ollie |
2A | Leah and Oliver |
2D | Oliver |
3G | Isabella L |
3L | Asher and Maya |
5AP | Isabel |
5P | Audrey |
6P | Gracie S |
Dear parents.
We have had an increase in the number of children who have required a change of clothes.
We have run out of all small undies despite buying many pairs.
To reduce the stress for your child could you please keep some spare clothes (undies, socks and pants) in your child's school bag? Especially prep-2 years
If your child has had new undies and pants given at school, could you please replace the undies and return the pants/leggings washed?
THANKYOU.
Hilda
FIRST AID ROOM WASHING ROSTER - We need your help!
Term 3 Roster
Next term’s roster is now available online! We cannot do this without you. Please choose anytime that is free and fill in your name.
Volunteers & Hygiene
Please sign in at the front office upon arrival.
We will be practising social distancing in the canteen. Please wear a mask. No more than 2 volunteers will be in the canteen at any one time. All surfaces will be sanitised regularly and hand sanitiser is available for your use.
Sonia - Canteen Manager
Phone: 03 94992171
Email: canteen@ivanhoeeastps.vic.edu.au
NOTICEBOARD