3-Dec-2021
Dear Families
“Difficult times make us develop determination and inner strength.” – Dalai Lama
With December comes great excitement and energy in schools. Our students have been magnificent adapting to the new timetable this week where they have enjoyed the slightly longer morning learning sessions and the shorter afternoon ones. Throughout this week’s transition sessions our current, and new students who will start with us at Edithvale Primary next year, have successfully and seamlessly embraced their new classmates, teachers and classrooms. It is a credit to the positive mind set and resilience of our students and reflects the hours and hours of preparation undertaken by every staff member to ensure these sessions help us all start 2022 in the best way possible.
BREAKFAST CLUB
The start of the school day for ALL students is now 9:00am and we have tweaked the open times of Brekky Club to reflect this. Breakfast Club will revert to the original times of 8:20- 8:50am every day for the remainder of the year.
ASSEMBLY
Assemblies, at this point in time remain “exclusive to staff and students from a single school only” Our student leaders will continue to run these on Friday afternoons and we are hoping to be able to run our FINAL assembly outside on Wednesday December 15 at 1:30pm – with parents and carers. Once we get confirmation on what is possible, we’ll pass this on. Fingers crossed we can indeed end an interesting year on a high.
STAFFING
We have finalised our staffing for 2022 and the table below provides a snapshot of where each of our classroom, specialist and support and extension staff will be focussing their efforts next year. We have tried to limit teaching staff movement as much as possible and we welcome 4 new team members for 2022. We are very fortunate to have a great mix of experience and youthful exuberance that combines a vast knowledge of learning with skilled practises.
| Foundation | Belinda Ahern | Rachael Clements | Verona Keogh | Sienna von Menge | |
| Year 1 | Amy Cain | Craig Heywood | Jess Iaconese | Jaime Rohan/Catherine Grimwade | Emma Ruwoldt |
| Year 2 | Hayden Callahan | Scott Chalwell | Mel Hatton/Kerrie Evans | Rachael Seedsman | |
| Year 3 | Julia Cockburn | Mel Davis | Jane Humble | Ash Whitnell | |
| Year 4 | Dinelle Bates | Nathan Pearson | |||
| Year 5 | Lachlan Howes | Bec Laver | |||
| Year 6 | Lisa Haines | Ryan Murphy | |||
| Specialists | Science -Ash McCarthy | French- Sylvie Snow | Art – Claire Harden | Phys Ed – Brad Winters | |
| Support and Extension | Maths Extension Seniors – Britt Trotter | Maths Extension Juniors – Amy Lapthorne | READ- Troy Wood | Disability Inclusion – Kerri Harridge |
SEMESTER TWO REPORTS
A modified written report of each student enrolled at the school for Semester 2, 2021 focusing on what progress has been made and what has been achieved by each child, will be available from Friday December 10 via the COMPASS portal. The Department of Education and Training has adjusted the expectations around student reporting for Semester 2 in recognition of the disruption caused by COVID-19 throughout Term 3 and at the start of Term 4.
Reports will include:
- a description of the areas of the Victorian Curriculum taught;
- for English and Mathematics:
- student achievement information represented on a continuum of learning;
- progress made since June when the last time these curriculum areas were reported on;
- a five-point scale
- for all other curriculum areas taught:
- a brief outline of the content covered during both Remote and Flexible Learning AND Face to face Learning across the semester
- student achievement information ,measured against specific skills on a five point scale (Well Above, Above, At, Below, Well Below – expected levels)
Tip of the Week –
The Wellbeing support for students during the school holidays guide provides tips and resources for parents, carers and families to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in their care during the school holidays. This includes services to reach out to if more support is needed as well as actions that support positive mental health.
Key Dates and Events
December 6-10- Year 5 and 6 School Camp
December 7- Year 6 -7 Secondary School Statewide Transition day
December 7 – Final 2022 Foundation Transition
December 10 – Semester 2 Reports go ‘live’ on COMPASS December 13 School Fun Run
December 14- Class parties
December 14 – Foundation – Year 3 mini–Christmas Concert December 14 – Year 6 Graduation
December 15- Final Day of Students’ school year and Final Assembly. Early dismissal at 2:00pm
Take care and have a wonderful weekend
James Whitla
