Dear Parents and Caregivers
This will be the final newsletter for Term 1 2021. It is hard to believe that we have almost arrived at Easter. It has been a great term with the school feeling really settled, allowing staff and students to focus squarely on teaching and learning.
School Planning
Throughout this term, the school has engaged in a rigorous process to develop our Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) for the planning cycle that runs from 2021 to 2024. This planning has involved extensive collaboration between school staff and consultation with students, staff and the community throughout Term 4, 2020 and Term 1, 2021 The specifics of the plan have been tabled at P&C Meetings for discussion and feedback. The following outlines the main components of the SIP to date:
School Vision Statement - articulates our aspiration vision for the new four year planning cycle:
At Lithgow Public School we prepare young people to be confident, resilient and engaged members of society. Teachers focus on ongoing improvement using reliable data sources, research and collaboration. This leads to quality teaching and targeted learning experiences resulting in academic growth, wellbeing and social success. We aim to work with our community to develop high expectations and a supportive environment that ensures our students reach their potential and are authentically known and valued.
Strategic Directions
Our three Strategic Directions that will lead us towards achieving our vision will be:
1. Student Growth and Attainment
In order to ensure ongoing improvement in student learning outcomes in reading and numeracy, Lithgow Public School will develop and sustain whole school processes for collecting and analysing data to ensure the implementation of appropriate curriculum provision for every student is underpinned by evidence-informed strategies and embedded evaluative practice.
2. Excellence in Teaching and Learning
In order to ensure ongoing improvement in student learning outcomes, highly capable teachers will pursue continual improvement in excellence in practice through collaboration, inquiry and ongoing reference to the Australian standards for teachers. This will result in our students being provided with engaging, personalised and rich learning experiences that lead to individualised achievement and success.
3. Excellence in Leadership
In order to ensure our school is a self-improving and self-sustaining community, strong strategic and effective school leaders will foster a school wide culture of high expectations and a shared sense of responsibility for student engagement, learning, wellbeing and success. The leadership team will model instructional leadership to build and sustain a culture of effective, evidenced based teaching and ongoing improvement.
These strategic directions will drive the activities that teachers and administrative staff will engage in through the course of the next 4 years to achieve our vision.
Special Award Assembly
On Friday last week, we held our first Special Award Assembly for the year. Well done to the following students who received awards at this assembly.
25 - Awards - Isla, Lydia, Preston, Braxton, Mason, Sarah and Gemma, Zach, Indy, Marlee, Cooper, Rebecca, Sophie
50 - Awards - Khiana, Letti, Merryn, Lara, Rebecca, Grace, Freya, Hannah, Layla, Cameron, Kyra
75 Awards - Lara, Shelby, Mia, Hannah
We are very proud of your efforts and achievements.
3-Way Interviews
Over the last few weeks, teachers have been busy meeting with parents and caregivers to discuss student learning goals for 2021. These are a valuable opportunity for parents, carers, and students to engage with classroom teachers to discuss individual student progress and set learning goals for the rest of the year. Thank you to all of the parents and staff who have participated. It has been wonderful working closely together again after the COVID challenges in 2021. These conferences conclude this week. Please remain aware that our teaching staff are always available to meet with you and discuss the progress of your children. If you wish to speak with your child’s teacher, please make an appointment through the school’s office.
Modification to break structure
Our school will be trialling a new structure during our breaks during Weeks 9 and 10. This will involve students playing first and then eating under the supervision of their class teacher.
This approach has been adopted in other schools, where the following benefits have been observed:
· Teachers are better able to ‘check in’ with their students after play and address any concerns that might have originated during play before returning to the classroom.
· Students are more relaxed and focused on eating rather than hurrying to be ready to play.
· More food eaten; increased fluid intake.
· Students return to the classroom more quickly and are settled and ready to learn.
The trial schedule will be as follows:
First Break
11:10am: Students are walked to central seating areas. Duty teachers will set expectations.
11:15am: Play begins supervised by duty teachers.
11:40am: Bell; Students move back to seating areas. Duty teachers will debrief on play session.
11:45am: Class teachers take their class to eating area (a special outdoor area for their class, or inside classrooms if poor weather).
Teachers use this time to check in with students and debrief on play session
12:00pm: Class time resumes.
Second Break
1:30pm: Students are walked to central seating areas. Duty teachers will set expectations.
1:35pm: Play begins supervised by duty teachers.
1:55pm: Bell; Students move back to seating areas. Duty teachers will debrief on play session.
2:00pm: Class teachers take their class to eating area (a special outdoor area for their class, or inside classrooms if poor weather).
Teachers use this time to check in with students and debrief play session.
2:10: Class time resumes.
At the conclusion of the trial, we will survey students and classroom teachers to determine evidence of impact and whether these practices will continue into Term 2.
Bridge Street Gate
We are currently trialing the opening of the Bridge Street gate in the mornings. This gate will be opened at 8.40am and closed at 9.00am. We are monitoring how many students are using this option to enter the school to determine the viability of continuing to open the gate into Term 2.
Easter Hat Parade – Thursday 1 April – 1.00pm
The school will host an Easter Hat Parade on Thursday 1 April at 1.00pm. All students will have the opportunity to show off their Easter hat via class parades and this event will incorporate our first P&C fundraiser, the Easter Raffle. Parents and caregivers are invited to share this experience with us. Entry to the school will be through the Eskbank, Short and Bridge Street gates which will be opened at 12.40pm. Please note that entry should be through these gates and not through the school’s office. As usual, all visitors to the school will need to sign in using the Service NSW QR code and the External Visitor to School Site form. We look forward to the opportunity to share the Easter spirit with our community.
Colour Run – Wednesday 24 March
On Wednesday 24 March, the whole school will participate in our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) whole school reward day that recognises the collective great behaviour or our students throughout Term 1. The P&C have kindly donated materials for a Colour Run. As per previous Skoolbag communication, we advise that students wear a white t-shirt and alternate clothing that parents are happy to have stained in the event that this occurs.
School holiday dates
Please note that the last day of Term will be Thursday 1 April. School will resume for students on Tuesday 20 April.
Kind regards,
Mark Davies | Principal | Lithgow Public School
