The Australian Curriculum sets out what all young Australian's are to be taught, and the expected quality of learning as they progress through schooling. Currently, each state has its own curriculum although this will change over the next few years with the progressive implementation of the Australian Curriculum.
The Australian Curriculum is an online curriculum that provides flexibility in how the curriculum can be accessed and organised.
The Australian Curriculum is being developed progressively by the Australian, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). To view the Australian Curriculum go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
Thursday 25 August 2011
Friday 12 August 2011
Family Life
I am very aware of many of the issues that you face as a parent as I have four of my own children. The oldest has just started high school and the youngest starts kindergarten in 2012. My wife is also a teacher and must balance her time between work and home.
Like you, we face all the daily challenges of parenting. This includes things like: helping reluctant children do homework (often forgotten or neglected), looking for lost uniforms, throwing away uneaten school lunches, signing excursion notes, parent interviews, School Council meetings etc etc. Families with primary school aged children are certainly very busy places.
All of our kids are involved in junior sport. This means Saturday morning is always very busy preparing for games. During the week there are also a number of training sessions to attend. I also help umpire and coach from time to time. This activity helps our kids to stay healthy as well as provides them with social interaction.
As a family we make it a habit to sit around the table and eat dinner together. This gives us a chance to talk about the day (which is hard sometimes when you are also trying to get reluctant children to eat their vegetables without complaining about it). We find that it is important to provide our children with regular routines and patterns of life as this assists to bring stability and a level of predictability that helps get things done. We have daily designated jobs (chores) that each child is responsible for and we pay them pocket money as a reward for the jobs they do. We have rules that we regularly need to remind our children about and consequences for breaking them are given.
Holidays are always fun but also a challenge. We find that if we don't keep our kids busy on the holidays then they get bored and often argue more. We try to do a planned activity at least once every couple of days or we sometimes pay for one or two of them to attend activities like sports clinics or camps. Local community centres or sports clubs often offer very cheap sessions on the holidays. Visiting the city on the train is always a reasonably cheap but entertaining activity.
Parenting is challenge! It also has great rewards. There is nothing more important that we can do as parents then invest ourselves in helping our kids grow to be the best that they can be.
Thursday 11 August 2011
Wastewise Garden Grant
This week we were informed that our application for a $16500 Wastewise grant was successful. This grant will enable us to establish an environmentally friendly garden which is also part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. As you can imagine, we are very excited by the opportunities this will provide our students. Many thanks go to Mrs Snart who put together the final application on behalf of our school. Below is an extract from the application which gives you an idea about what the program will involve:
Our project is to create an outdoor classroom through the building, establishment and maintenance of a small sustainable, organic fruit and vegetable farm that utilises organic waste generated by the school for worm farming, composting and mulching. The farm will be used to teach students how to reduce, reuse and recycle waste while also providing opportunities for them to develop greater understanding of environmentally friendly gardening practices. Seasonal fruit and vegetables will be used in cooking lessons with excess being sold within the community. Castings and whiz from the two existing worm farms will be used to enhance plant growth and worm whiz will also be bottled and sold to the local community.
The site for the garden will need to be prepared well with kikuyu grass being removed and suitable soil and compost being added. Garden beds will be delineated with edging made from environmentally friendly products. Paths will be constructed using mulch created by green waste produced by the school and local community. Compost bins will be used to turn organic waste into soil improver. A worm/compost shed will be used to process waste so that it is ready for composting and/or feeding to our worms. The shed will have a work area containing benches and water troughs.
Reticulation of the garden beds will need to be developed in order to ensure optimal growth. Various water saving and retention strategies will be explored as part of the teaching and learning programs (experimental science and Technology & Enterprise).
The site for the outdoor classroom has been assessed by a specialist in garden designer. Through his recommendations the garden will require a wind break to the east which will be created by a row of Australian native trees and a second row of native shrubs. Passionfruit vines will also form part of the wind break. To the west of the outdoor classroom a ‘bush tucker’ garden will be established.
A chicken coup will be built within the farm area. Chickens provide opportunities for students to learn about weed and pest control. It also provides additional fertiliser to boost garden production. Egg carton recycling will be conducted in order to pack eggs which will be sold within the community.
Running in conjunction with this project will be other strategies which also promote and develop better waste management including:
• Battery recycling
• Phone recycling
• Printer cartridge recycling
• Paper recycling reduction targets
• Zero waste lunches
• Power reduction – hour without power
• Water waste minimization strategies
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Student Teachers/Education Assistants
It is important that we provide ongoing training and work experience opportunities for students wanting to become teachers or education assistants. For this reason you will regularly see students from TAFE and Edith Cowan University in our school. Occasionally we also accept students from other universities as well as local high school students who are doing work place learning.
Visits sometimes involve short stays (distributed days) while others are for longer sessions of between 2 and 10 weeks.
These training/work experience opportunities provide students with a chance to develop their skills and put the things they have been learning into practise. Occasionally, as part of their study, work samples are collected and used although no personal details of our children are recorded.
If you are interested in finding out who is in your child's class please talk to their regular classroom teacher or contact the school office.
Visits sometimes involve short stays (distributed days) while others are for longer sessions of between 2 and 10 weeks.
These training/work experience opportunities provide students with a chance to develop their skills and put the things they have been learning into practise. Occasionally, as part of their study, work samples are collected and used although no personal details of our children are recorded.
If you are interested in finding out who is in your child's class please talk to their regular classroom teacher or contact the school office.
Monday 8 August 2011
Our Playground Rules
We have two simple rules which govern student behaviour in the playground. Students are regularly reminded of these rules. Another rule which I communicate as 'Mr Bevan's favourite rule' is this: ALWAYS TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
These rules have hand actions which help students to memorise them. Most of our students know these rules well and playground behaviour is generally very good.
Trading Card Club
Interested students have been invited to participate in a Trading Cards Club which will be held every Friday at lunchtime in the Library. The club will involve students bringing along their card collections (e.g. Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Yo, AFL etc) and playing games, showing and/or trading cards. Other items such as magazines may also be brought to the club.
To be involved in the club students must be attending school regularly and their behaviour both in the classroom and playground must be consistently appropriate.
Trading cards will not be permitted in the school on any other day or time to this.
The trading of cards will be the responsibility of students although they must have permission from parents/carers to be involved. All trades become permanent and will not be reversed by school staff.
It is recommended that parents provide their children with an appropriate container or file for cards to be safely stored as it is each student’s responsibility to look after their own collection. All magazines or game items should be clearly labelled with each child’s name.
In order for children to participate in the club a permission form must be signed and returned to Mrs vanderWal. For more details please feel free to contact Mrs vanderWal or myself.
To be involved in the club students must be attending school regularly and their behaviour both in the classroom and playground must be consistently appropriate.
Trading cards will not be permitted in the school on any other day or time to this.
The trading of cards will be the responsibility of students although they must have permission from parents/carers to be involved. All trades become permanent and will not be reversed by school staff.
It is recommended that parents provide their children with an appropriate container or file for cards to be safely stored as it is each student’s responsibility to look after their own collection. All magazines or game items should be clearly labelled with each child’s name.
In order for children to participate in the club a permission form must be signed and returned to Mrs vanderWal. For more details please feel free to contact Mrs vanderWal or myself.
Newspaper Article
Congratulations go to the Surace family for their contribution to last weekend's Sunday Times.
Monday 1 August 2011
Independent Public School Success
It was announced today that Tuart Hill Primary was successful in its application to become an Independent Public School commencing in 2012. This is a very exciting opportunity for us to shape and mould our school to ensure it successfully meets the needs of our Tuart Hill community. Below is an outline of the benefits that IPS will bring to our students, staff and the wider community.
The ‘Classroom First Strategy’ outlines that every public school should be a distinctive school, with a level of flexibility and autonomy that allows it to best represent the needs and aspirations of its students and local community. The IPS initiative will provide Tuart Hill Primary School with the opportunity for a much greater level of autonomy, providing the flexibility to perform at our best and become as unique as the community we serve. The Tuart Hill Primary School community have high expectations for the achievement of all students. They expect that staff will be of the highest possible quality and fully dedicated to meeting the needs of their children. They also expect to be actively involved in the educational process. Independent public school status will enable us to more effectively respond to the expectations of our community through the provision of a distinctive curriculum, differentiated and flexible in its design and presentation yet specific and targeted towards the needs of our Tuart Hill students. The flexibilities and freedom provided through IPS status will ensure we provide the highest quality staff who have the knowledge, skills and values required to effectively deliver this curriculum. IPS status will also strengthen the active relationship we already enjoy within the local community through the establishment of stronger links with community leaders/members who have specific skills, qualities and resources which, when engaged in the planning and implementation of school based programs and strategies will greatly enhance outcomes for students. Ultimately, IPS status will ensure that Tuart Hill Primary School is a distinctive school with effective teachers and successful students.
Benefits for students: Being an independent public school will enhance the school’s capacity to ‘value add’ for students through the provision of a differentiated curriculum that is designed, resourced and delivered specifically to the needs of our students within the parameters of the Curriculum Framework and Australian National Curriculum. Specific flexibilities will enable us to re-profile our school staffing in order to create a more distributive leadership model and support structures that will engage the specific knowledge and skills of both new and existing staff in developing and delivering this distinctive curriculum. The flexibility to make regular, immediate and targeted decisions greatly enhances our ability to respond to specific student needs and plan ongoing teaching and learning experiences and programs that meet these needs. Having the capacity on an ongoing basis to employ staff with specialist knowledge and skills will enhance the depth and breadth of the curriculum that we can offer the students of Tuart Hill.
Benefits for staff: Having the capacity to select, develop and manage staff free from the bureaucratic restrictions of Central Office will further enhance staff morale, provide greater opportunity for leadership roles to be established and ensure that all staff have the opportunity to utilise and develop their individual knowledge and skills for the enhancement of student outcomes. Having the flexibility to develop our staff profile to match our school’s vision, values and strategic directions will ensure improved and sustained student success over time. This success will enable ongoing celebration and recognition of Tuart Hill Primary School as a distinctive and successful school. Having the capacity to employ specialist staff or support staff as they are required and within a specific (school determined) time frame will ensure that curriculum delivery is more effective, thus enhancing outcomes. Flexibility in staffing our school will enable staff to be provided with opportunities to take on leadership roles which will increase collaboration and continue to build a strong team of professionals dedicated to meeting the needs of our students. Through staff mentoring and collaboration important skills and knowledge (provided by specialists/support staff/teachers taking on leadership roles) will be shared, enhancing professional learning and further improving the educational program being offered to our students. The capacity to make school based decisions related to staff roles, leave, workload etc will ensure that issues and/or concerns are dealt with in a timely and site specific manner which enhances morale and builds positive relationships and confidence in staff.
Benefits for the community: As an independent public school Tuart Hill Primary will become a ‘distinctive’ school within the community and its reputation as a ‘good’ school will be enhanced. This will enable the school to successfully draw and retain students from the local area who may have been attracted to other low fee paying private schools. Continued growth in student numbers will provide additional resources that will be utilised to further enhance student outcomes. As an independent public school the current School Council, which is already an active body will be enhanced through increased representation from local political and business leaders. The creation of a School Board will promote closer ties with the Tuart Hill community and provide additional expertise and resources that would not normally be available to our school. Ultimately, as our school community celebrates with us the success of our students, community confidence and support for our school will grow.
Excellence in schools doesn’t happen by chance, it is forged by strong leaders, experienced and dedicated staff, confident, involved communities and motivated and focussed students. IPS status will provide the platform for these factors to come together and create a powerful synergy of teaching and learning. Schools should mirror the local community and its needs. The IPS initiative will provide the impetus for our school to evolve and develop with the community, to be a dynamic school that truly understands and reflects our local needs and to further grow in its recognition as a distinctive school of choice within the Tuart Hill community.
The ‘Classroom First Strategy’ outlines that every public school should be a distinctive school, with a level of flexibility and autonomy that allows it to best represent the needs and aspirations of its students and local community. The IPS initiative will provide Tuart Hill Primary School with the opportunity for a much greater level of autonomy, providing the flexibility to perform at our best and become as unique as the community we serve. The Tuart Hill Primary School community have high expectations for the achievement of all students. They expect that staff will be of the highest possible quality and fully dedicated to meeting the needs of their children. They also expect to be actively involved in the educational process. Independent public school status will enable us to more effectively respond to the expectations of our community through the provision of a distinctive curriculum, differentiated and flexible in its design and presentation yet specific and targeted towards the needs of our Tuart Hill students. The flexibilities and freedom provided through IPS status will ensure we provide the highest quality staff who have the knowledge, skills and values required to effectively deliver this curriculum. IPS status will also strengthen the active relationship we already enjoy within the local community through the establishment of stronger links with community leaders/members who have specific skills, qualities and resources which, when engaged in the planning and implementation of school based programs and strategies will greatly enhance outcomes for students. Ultimately, IPS status will ensure that Tuart Hill Primary School is a distinctive school with effective teachers and successful students.
Benefits for students: Being an independent public school will enhance the school’s capacity to ‘value add’ for students through the provision of a differentiated curriculum that is designed, resourced and delivered specifically to the needs of our students within the parameters of the Curriculum Framework and Australian National Curriculum. Specific flexibilities will enable us to re-profile our school staffing in order to create a more distributive leadership model and support structures that will engage the specific knowledge and skills of both new and existing staff in developing and delivering this distinctive curriculum. The flexibility to make regular, immediate and targeted decisions greatly enhances our ability to respond to specific student needs and plan ongoing teaching and learning experiences and programs that meet these needs. Having the capacity on an ongoing basis to employ staff with specialist knowledge and skills will enhance the depth and breadth of the curriculum that we can offer the students of Tuart Hill.
Benefits for staff: Having the capacity to select, develop and manage staff free from the bureaucratic restrictions of Central Office will further enhance staff morale, provide greater opportunity for leadership roles to be established and ensure that all staff have the opportunity to utilise and develop their individual knowledge and skills for the enhancement of student outcomes. Having the flexibility to develop our staff profile to match our school’s vision, values and strategic directions will ensure improved and sustained student success over time. This success will enable ongoing celebration and recognition of Tuart Hill Primary School as a distinctive and successful school. Having the capacity to employ specialist staff or support staff as they are required and within a specific (school determined) time frame will ensure that curriculum delivery is more effective, thus enhancing outcomes. Flexibility in staffing our school will enable staff to be provided with opportunities to take on leadership roles which will increase collaboration and continue to build a strong team of professionals dedicated to meeting the needs of our students. Through staff mentoring and collaboration important skills and knowledge (provided by specialists/support staff/teachers taking on leadership roles) will be shared, enhancing professional learning and further improving the educational program being offered to our students. The capacity to make school based decisions related to staff roles, leave, workload etc will ensure that issues and/or concerns are dealt with in a timely and site specific manner which enhances morale and builds positive relationships and confidence in staff.
Benefits for the community: As an independent public school Tuart Hill Primary will become a ‘distinctive’ school within the community and its reputation as a ‘good’ school will be enhanced. This will enable the school to successfully draw and retain students from the local area who may have been attracted to other low fee paying private schools. Continued growth in student numbers will provide additional resources that will be utilised to further enhance student outcomes. As an independent public school the current School Council, which is already an active body will be enhanced through increased representation from local political and business leaders. The creation of a School Board will promote closer ties with the Tuart Hill community and provide additional expertise and resources that would not normally be available to our school. Ultimately, as our school community celebrates with us the success of our students, community confidence and support for our school will grow.
Excellence in schools doesn’t happen by chance, it is forged by strong leaders, experienced and dedicated staff, confident, involved communities and motivated and focussed students. IPS status will provide the platform for these factors to come together and create a powerful synergy of teaching and learning. Schools should mirror the local community and its needs. The IPS initiative will provide the impetus for our school to evolve and develop with the community, to be a dynamic school that truly understands and reflects our local needs and to further grow in its recognition as a distinctive school of choice within the Tuart Hill community.
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