Student Wellbeing Advocates

This year we have created a new team of Wellbeing Advocates.  The advocates represent each of the learning teams in the school and help us to create a whole school inclusive environment where students can feel safe and connected, as well as feel confident, motivated and challenged to learn.

Our 2016 Student Wellbeing Advocates are:

  • Foundation: Jessica Stevens / Debbie Carr
  • Year 1/2: Victor Pody
  • Year 3/4: Roxy Clarke
  • Year 5/6: Molly-Rose Clifton-Williamson
  • Specialists: Angela Huber
  • Leadership: Hayriye Ali, Rebecca Bubeck, Helen Otway, Julie Leech

As a team we can work together to create the right conditions for learning in our school, and look deeply into the programs and initiatives that we have on offer to support a range of different needs, such as:

Miss Rodrigues taking circle time.

Miss Rodrigues taking circle time.

The team has now met twice this year and we will continue to meet every fortnight.

Swimming Champs

Last week I attended the District Swimming Competition with three students from our Year 5/6 – Luuly, Tina and Victor..   I was privileged to attend the competition at the St Albans Leisure Centre with these three star swimmers. Each one of them did their very best and was able to win a ribbon, either first or second in their event. Luuly, Tina and Victor were great ambassadors for our school, demonstrating respectful manners, positive sportsmanship and team spirit. They made me very proud to be their principal.

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Our 5/6 students are demonstrating a range of very positive behaviors across the school. As our leaders, many younger children look up to these students and learn from their beahviour and conduct. When I see students walking respectively through corridors and playing fairly in the yard, I know that these students are practicing to be good citizens. Also when I hear these students use their manners, speak politely to others and interact in discussions in the classroom I know they are working hard to demonstrate our school values.

I am grateful to our staff in the school, who also model and teach respectful behaviours and attitudes throughout the school day, whether it is in the classroom or in the yard. As adults, we play a big part in the education and wellbeing of our children. We provide our students with many examples of how to communicate effectively and get along with people.

Our assembly provides an opportunity for our students to be recognized for their achievements, whether in class, sport or with their demonstration of our values:

Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Belonging

Once again, congratulations to our swimming champions and good luck with the next level championships.

Old Delhi – Day 3

To learn more about the culture and history of India we had a fantastic tour of Old Delhi.  The tour was conducted by outstanding guides from Itihaas Tours, director and founder Smita Vats and Mohsin. We began at Jama Masjid, a very impressive mosque built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees.

We then wove through the old city streets exploring historic architecture and town planning.  We stopped to visit Jain Naya Mandir place of worship which was serenely quiet. We continued along pathways, ducking riders on motor bikes and scooters, admiring the colorful doorways.

green doorred door

blue door

We strolled through Paranthe Wali Gali, where we tasted lovely pastries made fresh on the spot.

 

Paranthe Wali Gail

We emerged at Chandni Chowk Rd where we boarded a rickshaw and wove through chaotic traffic to get back to our bus.

Ilja , one of the other leaders on the exchange program created this wonderful movie of the day.

Trip to Taj Mahal – Day 2

Helen at Taj

Before we embarked on our home stay and school visits, Asia Education Foundation organized a cultural excursion to the Taj Mahal, a grand mausoleum made of white marble and built in Agra between 1631 and 1648.  It was built by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite and most trusted wife. Both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried at the mausoleum.

The trip there and back took up most of the day with an unplanned stop when our bus broke down, and a camel ride!

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Ilia, one of other leaders, created the short movie that sums up our trip.

Our new school goals – 2016-2019

IMG_0172This year the school has seen a considerable amount of growth and development. We have just completed our four-year review which has been a year long process consulting with staff, students and parents.  Our review panel day included an independent reviewer, school staff, a school council member, our SRC and three other Department of Education and Training leaders.

The review day went particularly well, with deep discussions about the continued high degree of emphasis on quality teaching and learning. Our teachers have gained increased knowledge to progress student learning, and our students have learnt to be more accountable of their own learning goals and next steps. We will continue with this good work and build these aspects of teaching and learning into our future goals.

Peer Review Report
Our goals for 2016 – 2019 are:

Student Achievement:

To improve the learning growth of every student with a focus on numeracy and writing

Student Engagement:

For all students to be confident, motivated and challenged

Wellbeing:

To foster a cohesive school learning community where every student thrives and feels safe and connected

Productivity:

To manage and align the allocation of the existing resources according to school goals and priorities and identified student needs.

These four goals will help to drive the work and improvement strategies over the nest four years. The School Council met and has agreed to take accept these recommendations from the review panel.

India – Australia leadership exchange program.

On Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November, Prity Saxena, the Principal, from Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Amalwas, Delhi joined us at school. She is part of a leadership exchange program to Melbourne organized through the Asia Education Foundation.  The Exchange Program aims to provide Indian school leaders with the opportunity to:

  • Build knowledge and understanding of the Australian education system, its initiatives, innovations and models of schooling.
  • Increase knowledge and understanding of school leadership and school management issues in Australia.
  • Develop and expand understanding Australian society, history and contemporary and traditional culture.
  • Strengthen Intercultural understanding between India and Australia leading to increased capacity to develop school linkages.
  • Foster the development of professional networks of Principals in India and school-to-school relationships.

Our zumba dancers providing a warm welcome for Prity Saxena

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Parents providing the welcome morning tea.

Cake

Meeting with parents and Hub Leader in our Community Hub.

Hub

EAL learners providing a yummy lunch as part of our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

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Taking Prity to the Museum of Modern Art and learning about Australian art, history and bee keeping!

Heidi Museum

A Melbourne icon – Luna Park in St Kilda.

Luna Park

Door to Imagination

Feeling inspired with so many wonderful artworks across the school as part of our 2015 Art Show, I created a door that took me back to my European holiday to Spain, Portugal and France.  The theme of the Art Show was Door to Imagination.  Having loved my holiday to Europe in 2014 I decided to recreate some of the scenery and doorways that were so warm and inviting.

Helen's door

To create my door I used Mediterranean blue crepe paper and individually made leaves by students across the school, as well some bits and pieces from home including my own still life artwork resting on my easel.

Meeting Chrissie Perry

Well you could say I met Chrissie Perry, author of Penelope Perfect, Whisper and Girl vs. World, as part of our Book Week 2015 event.  However, I met Chrissie back at Templestowe High School, when we were both students in the same year level.

Chrissie came to talk to our Year 3-6 students about the writing process, her characters and her books. Many of our students had already read a number of her books, and is was great to see interest in her new series about a very ‘perfect’  little girl.

Dressing up as Penelope for our Book Parade.

Penelope

Dressing up as Penelope with Chrissie when she came to visit. photo

Thank you Chrissie for a great event and inspiring a number of young readers and writers.

 

Learning about Japan

This year our F-2 students begin learning an additional language at school.  After a long consultation process, our school community has agreed to introduce Japanese as our language of choice to study.

Our teacher is still in Japan now and will start in March working with our Year F-2 students,

Here is a short look at Japan and its four seasons.

Enjoy!

Community Market Day @ SAHPS

Did you make it to our Community Market day?  If you didn’t you missed a great day!

Market

Our maths extension students developed a whole school event as part of their Think Tank program.  Each class participated in the Hour of Power each week and planned their market stall in terms of product, cost, size of the stall, and budget spending.  The outcome was a celebration of real life maths learning with many eager students, staff and families participating in a very successful Community Market Day.

We raised around $1400.00 as a result of the good work of all involved.

Thank you to Ciara Stewart and her team of students, and to the rest of the school community for their active participation.