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.

Learning with iPads in 2015

Our school has started to explore options for going 1:1 with iPads in Foundation to Year 2.  Already we have a number of iPads in the school and we use them to support our student learning.

We held a forum recently for parents, teachers and students to learn more about the benefits of using the technology and the ways we could move forward in the future.  Parents, staff and students all felt it was a great idea to have one iPad per student.  This would mean that:

  • students could follow their own progress of learning on their iPad
  • they could use it when needed rather than wait to borrow one
  • the iPad could go home and create a link between home and school
  • learning could be ongoing and supported between home and school

There will be more information to be shared soon as we try to develop a costing plan that could meet the needs of all families.  Our School Council members are supportive of this direction and also keen to see it being implemented in the school.

In the meantime, you can watch a video that was made about the introduction of iPads with my previous school.

Or look on the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website for other school case studies http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au 

To find out more call the school and speak with Helen Otway.

Which step have you reached today?

mals_which_step_have_you_reached_todayEvery day is a new day and with more things to learn and more things to try.  As a principal I do not know everything and sometimes I wonder if I can actually do the work I need to do!  Sometimes I might start the day thinking I can’t but mostly I think I can 🙂

Students experience a range of these thoughts throughout the day.  As educators we encourage our students to do the best they can and to give things a go.  We teach them not to give up and to think about new ways of doing things if they get stuck.

The graphic above is a great reminder of the steps we can make to reach our goals.