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YWPS Newsletter

Greetings From the PrincipalReturn to SchoolWhat a difference it is to have ALL of our students back onsite! I have never seen such a happier bunch of kids! Catching up with lots of them during the day, the number 1 happiness factor for them is friends, friends, friends – in the flesh, being in class together with their teachers, and just feeling free to move around and be.

The staggered arrival and departure process has been very successful in minimising non-essential adults being in school. It has also resulted in all students being independent – walking in bikes, carrying bags and readers themselves, and knowing which gate to leave from in the afternoons. Our bike/scooter store spaces are chockers!

Staff have observed very calm and focused students coming straight into class and eager for the learning program to start. Reducing the gap between arriving at school and entering classes has reduced anxiety and social upsets for students AND parents.

Some parents have said to me and staff that it is an easier start to the school day when dropping children off at the gate and saying goodbye there. As one parent described, it eliminates what can sometimes be a long, drawn out goodbye, that unsettles both the student and parent.

The reduced congestion in the grounds has resulted in staff being able to see students clearly and assist them if needed. There is also less distraction for students in class caused by people looking into classrooms, or just hanging about chatting after 9 or before 3.30. Our school environment is calm and orderly, with happy and motivated students, reconnecting with friends and teachers, and enjoying the routine of learning together.

Naturally, the community vibe is less obvious inside the grounds, where parents/carers and teachers and students get to connect, share, and support. Going forward, a balance between this and our ‘smooth’ start/end of the day’s learning is desirable but tricky to achieve and meet everyone’s expectations and needs. Keeping the kids at the centre of the decision-making helps! Please add your views on this to the survey that was sent out on Compass yesterday.

Important Dates26th June • Last Day of Term 2 - dismissal 2.30pm

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What’s happened as a result of the Remote Learning experience?Our staff and students are reflecting on this at present, and your views can be added through the survey sent out yesterday. Some initial responses (casual comments from parents) and from teachers and students include:

- An increased sense of respect and gratitude for the work of schools- An enhanced connection between parents and teachers / school- An enhanced connection between teachers and students- Increased openness and collaboration between teachers

We are collecting feedback on the experience to identify what worked well and what we can retain and further develop as a result of this ‘disruption’.

ReportsStudent reports will be available on Compass from 4pm tomorrow. As you know, the Department of Education and Training has adjusted the expectations of Student Reports for Semester 1 in recognition of the transition to remote and flexible learning during Term 2.

Although the reports are not as detailed as past reports, for the first time they include a student reflection on their learning. This is something that we had decided to introduce this year, with our ‘new look’ reports. With the Covid-19 interruption, our new look reports will be coming out in December, but the student reflection was easy to include with this modified Semester 1 Report. Reading through many of these reflections, you get a real sense of how proud kids are in their learning and what they think is important to talk about. Their reflections also support our aim to provide more opportunities for student voice in the school.

You will see a QR code at the bottom of the report. To access your child's self-reflection, download a QR scanner app on your mobile phone and enlarge the report on your screen to be able to scan the QR code. This will provide you with a link to the work.

Our Semester 1 specialist programs – drama, visual arts, media arts, and PE – are highlighted in a fantastic showcase of student learning tasks and artefacts. Our kids are SO creative and their sense of humour comes shining through much of the work.

The Showcase of specialist programs can be accessed via this link http://www.ywps.vic.edu.au/?page_id=1540 and brava! to all of the Specialist teachers for their collaboration on creating this.

Minor Capital Works GrantWe are excited to start putting together an application for funds to develop the library courtyard. This is very much a community project, relying on parent support to pull together. We need help to draft a concept plan – if you are a Landscape Architect or have this type of expertise, please give me a call at school or email yarraville.west.pas@edumail.vic.gov.au The timeline is tight – due 14 August – so we’d love to get cracking now. If you can assist please get in contact.

Warm regards,Karen

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School Council UpdateIt’s been great to finally have all the school year levels come back together at YWPS! Thanks again to all students, parents, carers, teaching and support staff who have, together, all contributed to the transition.

By way of update, the School Council met on Tuesday 16 June, via Webex.There is excitement about the opportunity to undertake an application process for part of a Covid-19 stimulus package available to schools. The School Council Buildings & Grounds sub-committee is considering the most appropriate use of potential funding, within the guidelines of ‘minor capital works’, and has highlighted the Library Courtyard Project as an option.

This application also provides an opportunity for parents and carers in the community with the relevant skills to be involved in the application, in particular those with landscape architecture experience. If you would like to express your interest in this area please contact Karen by phone or email.

The Department of Education (DET) has this year provided a School Council Assessment Tool to schools, with the requirement that it be completed annually. School Council have reviewed this and found it to be a useful and reflective process.

School councillors also discussed the various online training modules provided by DET for school council members. As part of a broader discussion around best practice, School Council also reviewed Standing Orders, which is documentation that assists it to operate efficiently and effectively within the legal framework and DET guidelines.

Looking forward, School Council would also like to deepen community engagement and we are looking forward to developing this further – watch this space! With best wishesSchool Council President – Fleur Dow

Sport/PE NewsIf you haven’t had a go at the SSV Virtual Cross Country please give it a try. Leonie (1/2Christina) and Lyndon (3/4Christine) Pitt have entered their times after a number of runs. Their results are impressive. They have represented our school well. Amazing effort!Follow the link to get started.https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/Pages/VirtualCrossCountry.aspx

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