Principal News
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Thought for the week...
You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Simple Abundance
Our school has a strong learning culture in place. Teachers expertly plan, teach and assess in accordance with the Australian Curriculum. Each class contributes to the school targets, I am proud to say that in 2019 90% of students reached the reading goals set for the year. One way to assess how we are making a difference for each student is to check for deep use of assessment “for” and “as” learning by asking five critical questions:
What are you learning?
- How are you doing?
- How do you know?
- How can you improve?
- Where do you go for help? (Lyn Sharratt Learning Walks and Talks Training Materials, 2008-2015)
The Power of Five Questions is in answer to the question “How Do You Know All Students’ are learning?” As the Principal of SSPS this process of asking students the five questions gives me feedback on how explicit the instruction is and improvement is progressing. As a staff we use this feedback to become a large and focused part of every Professional Learning session, which is critical for all teachers and leaders to craft collaboratively. Regular Learning Walks and Talks to ask learners the five questions is essential. Similarly, ensuring that teachers have the time to reflect on the firm foundation necessary for all students’ mastery of reading, writing, oral language, and problem-solving skills to answer the five questions provides the springboard needed to incorporate the 21st-century learning skills into the curriculum content.
The Leadership Team have committed to visiting classes and spending time with the children asking these 5 critical questions throughout the school week.
Here is a snapshot of some learning conversations:
Grace (Year 6): I am learning about Area in Maths. I am doing a maths investigation to design a Safari Park, calculating how many square metres we are using and justifying our reasons for the size.
I think I am going fairly well, I just have to do a few more calculations and justifications.
It’s starting to come together well and I am close to using the 50 000 square metres. Mrs Ward has given me feedback along the way to help me stay focused on the task. I ask others for help to get feedback as well.
Arwyn (Year 6): I am learning how to use area, scale, algorithms and mental strategies in the form of a maths investigation.
I am doing fairly well. It is hard using the scale but I can get help from the ‘BUMP it UP' Maths Wall. I can compare my work to the different grading levels to try and improve and get to the next level.
Maya (Year 5): I am learning about the beliefs of the communities and features of a community that shows us how to care for each other. I think I am going well. I know this because my learning intention is to research the different features/symbols needed to make a caring community. I have used a Venn diagram to help make a comparison between two schools’ vision and mission statements. I get feedback from my teacher about how I am going with my presentation.
Emma (Year 5): I am learning about factors, multiples and rounding. The factors and multiples I am working hard to understand. I know I need to learn my number facts so that I can work these problems out. I think I can improve by learning my tables, asking questions to help me go the extra mile. I keep having a go so that I can get better at what I need to do.
Eve (Year 4): I am learning how to divide and multiply numbers by 100s, 1000s and 10s. I can use a slider to help how to work these out. I understand how to do these because Mrs McHugh can see these on her screen and she gives feedback to my answers. I can ask an elbow buddy for help and then I can ask my teacher.
James (Year 5): I am learning how to multiply three digit numbers by one digit and four digit numbers by one digit. I am doing pretty well. The teacher checks my work and asks how I am going or if I am having trouble I can ask my teacher how I can improve.
Elijah (Year 4): I am learning about place value. I think I am going pretty well with this because Mrs Conway checks in with me and I am get it all right! I can use the place value chart to help if I get stuck.
Lacey: I am learning how to use comprehension strategies to help me to understand what I am reading. I am going well at this as I am getting most of the questions right so far. I can get better at this by finding the answer right there in the text.
The ability of a student to self- assess is the ultimate goal in teaching. When students can answer questions confidently and accurately about their learning, then we know that self-assessment has taken place. Teachers help this process by being explicit about their learning expectations and making the success criteria for a task visible and transparent. It is important to be clear about what and why we are learning.
An example of this to help you understand...Let’s say, for example, students are learning how to express their viewpoint or persuade others in an oral presentation.
The learning intention might be:
We are learning about how to deliver a successful oral presentation.
An example of the success criteria:
In order to be successful, I need to:
Consider the audience
- Look interested
- Make it interesting by using pictures or diagrams
- Keep it short
Easy to follow
- Identify the topic straight away
- Be mindful of pace of speech
- Use specific examples to get the point across
- Use small cards for notes
- Have a conclusion
Speech and manner
- Look up at the audience
- Speak clearly and so they can hear you
- No fidgeting
- Stand straight
By making this clear to children, they know exactly what they need to do in order to be successful. They are also more likely to be able to self-assess and answer the learning questions (what are you learning, how are you going (and how do you know), and what do you need to do next in order to improve?
Keep supporting your children by asking them these good quality learning questions. We aim for all children to be effective learners at St Saviour’s Primary School.
P & F NEWS
Last Monday night, the annual general meeting for St Saviour’s Primary School Parents and Friends Association was held.
All positions of the Executive were declared vacant and the following parents were successfully nominated and endorsed:
President: Mrs Danielle Hart
Vice-President: Mr Terry Sanders
Treasurer: Mrs Christine Scott
Secretary: Mrs Renae Campbell
Diocesan P & F Representative: Mr Brendan Zimmerlee
Congratulations to these new members.
I take this opportunity to extend a huge thanks to the outgoing 2019 executive:
Mr Adam Prust, Mr Michael Darvall, Mr Stephen McDonald.
These giving parents have made significant contributions throughout the 2019 year to help support the families, staff and children of St Saviour’s Primary School.
This tireless, hardworking group gave of their own time to ensure that families and children were engaged in activities to help strengthen the community of St Saviour’s Primary School.
On behalf of the staff and students they provided the following activities and raised monies to support our great school:
Pizza treat days each term were a highlight and well enjoyed by the children with a profit of $1952.36
The Colour Run held in Term 1 was once again well received by staff and students raising a profit of $5367.00
The Trivia Night was enjoyed by all in attendance and a fun way to relax on a Saturday night. Raising added bonus funds of $680.00
The Mango Drive was another fundraiser totalling $864.50.
Dance Fever was the highlight of the year and thanks to the P & F for helping cover some of the funds for this event. The students were able to show off their dancing and performing talents.
The SSPS P &F of 2019 should be very proud of their achievements and what they provided for the students and staff.
I look forward to working in partnership with the executive in 2020 and to continue to engage parents in their children’s education.
Warm regards
Madonna Sleba
Principal