Newsletter #2 February 25, 2021
Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow.
Principal’s Report
School Council and School Review
The first meeting for School council was on Monday 22 February and it was wonderful to be able to attend in the Library, having had the bulk of our meetings online in 2020.
On the agenda as part of general business, the Council discussed the School Review and contributed ideas how we can gather interest for participation in focus groups and invite parents, staff and students to have input into the process. I encourage you to become involved through the invitations as you are notified. Feedback from focus groups will build our insight into what highlights we can celebrate and a clearer understanding of the progress that has been achieved.
The School Review, which is undertaken every four years, will clarify and identify enablers that have led to sustained successful outcomes and identify barriers that may have prevented success. Collecting and analysing evidence from a range of sources is important for understanding GHPS’ performance and trends.
It’s going to be tight timeline for term 1 however we want to complete a strong pre-review self-evaluation during this time and see the Pre-review Self Evaluation (PRSE) as a collaborative effort that will form a collective view about the school’s progress against goals and targets in the 2017-2020 School Strategic Plan (SSP).
The Core School Review panel will be:
Principal: Libby Alessi
DET: Senior Improvement Leader (SEIL): Stuart Andrews
Independent Reviewer: Olwen Horton
School Council President: Ross Donnan
GHPS will have challenge partners who will add value through expertise and respectful challenge. Our challenge partners are:
Principal South Yarra Primary: Mr Neven Paleka
PLC Practice Instructor Bayside Peninsula Area: Ms Verity Sheppard
School community members: students, PLC Leadership Team, staff and other community members provide input at designated touchpoints. Through the six stages of the Review, there will be requirements, surveys, and reports to be completed that will create our story, including classroom observations and focus groups.
Curriculum Day (2) Term 1
Approval was given for the next Curriculum Day Tuesday 9 March, 2021.
This will be a pupil free day where staff are focusing on Self Assessment: The Framework for Improving Student Outcomes and how our school is demonstrating practices, and evidence of curriculum teaching, student voice, agency and leadership.
Please make a note in your calendar. A notice for parents who require Their Care on Tuesday 9 March will be distributed shortly. (NOTE: Monday 8 March: Labor Day Public Holiday).
2021 School Council Elections
An election has been called for members of the School Council of Glen Huntly Primary School
2021 Notice of Election and Call for Nominations
Parents and Staff are encouraged to see this as an opportunity to participate in the activities of the School Council and know that the school will highly value your contribution. We aim to continue to create a strong relationship and partnership within our school community and I am confident that we can get the numbers joining the fabulous GHPS School Council as we really need great staff and parents to help out. I look forward to receiving a full complement of nominations for Council and encourage people to feel free to contact me if they require any further advice or information.
If the number of nominations is equal to the number of vacancies, there will be no further call for nominations. It will also not be necessary to hold a ballot. If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted on Compass and in prominent positions at the school.
Here is a snapshot of some of the wonderful work and functions of the GHPS School Council:
- School council must meet at least eight times a year and at least once per school term.
- The President chairs all meetings and all members of the council are expected to attend
- Following the school council elections, council members will determine an appropriate time and location throughout the year. Eg. Monday at 7pm in the Library
- Meetings typically last between 1.5-2 hours
- The principal in consultation with the President will ensure an agenda is prepared for each regular meeting and will distribute the agenda, minutes from previous meeting and meeting reports such as sub-committee reports, Principal & Staff Report to school council members.
- Each member contributes to one or more Sub-Committee and leads/attends the meeting
Some sub committees, duties and key responsibilities:
COUNCIL General Business:
- Strategic Planning: participating in the development and monitoring of the school strategic plan
- Representing and taking views of the community into account
- Curriculum & Policy: Policy development and review: developing, reviewing and updating selected policies that reflect the school’s values and support school’s broad direction outlined in its strategic plan
- Finance: overseeing the development and expenditure of the school’s annual budget and ensuring proper records are kept of the school’s financial operation
- Out of Hours School care (OHSC TheirCare): Regulating and facilitating after-hours use of school premises and grounds including Out of Hours School care (OHSC TheirCare). Additional use of the premises include lessons in Cooking, Chess, Guitar, Keyboard, Tennis, Soccer, Cricket as examples
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
- Publicity & Marketing: promoting, stimulating and creating interest in the school
- Building and Grounds: maintaining school grounds and facilities. Monitoring and reporting on the progress of the Capital Works project/s
- Glen Huntly Parents Association (GPA): Raising funds for school related purposes, informing GHPS of community social events and projects
ALL members enthusiastically volunteer their time and expertise to provide opportunities that improve outcomes for our superstar students.
Nomination forms need to be received and lodged by:
4.00 pm on Friday 19 March, 2021
The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows
| Membership category | Term of office | Name of nominees required |
| Parent member
2 year vacancy |
From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll on Thursday 25 February 2021 to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2023 | 6 |
| DET employee member
2 year vacancy |
From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll on Thursday 25 February 2021to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2023 | 3 |
Please complete the self-nomination form 3 or have a member of the school community nominate you form 4. (see links below) Additional forms are also available:
- East Site: At the Main Office
- West Site: TheirCare Before/Afterschool Care in the Activities Centre
Six parent vacancies need to be filled for School Council as of March. Thank you very much to the outgoing Parent Members of the School Council whose term of office will conclude:
- Ross Donnan (Amber 6), Nicole Verginis (Stephanie 5, Lauren Newstead (Austin – new school), Kathryn Dench (Elke 4) Kalai Selvi Karthikeyan (Ajaai 5) Satya Tharana Surireddy (Raghav 5 , Sindhura 2)
Three staff vacancies: (Three) David Jenkins, Claire Piscioneri, Emma Murnane
Three Staff Member Vacancies: Thank you very much to Ms Emma Murnane, Ms Claire Piscioneri and Mr David Jenkins whose terms of office will conclude after February.
Please find the following on our website at this link: https://www.glenhuntlyps.vic.edu.au/school-council/
FOR PARENTS:
- Fact sheet 1: school council elections- information for parents
- Form 3: self-nomination form for parent category
- Form 4: nomination form for parent category
Members of Council who still have one year to serve in their term of office and will be continuing on are:
- Nicole Bishop (Brody year 5) Supriya Arikarevula, (Aditya year 4/Kiara Prep) Arthur Le (Marko Year 6) and Maitreeyi Khire (Dhruva Year 1)
The first newly formed school council meeting will be on Monday 29 March, 7pm in the Library on the West Site which newly elected members will attend.
School Support and Parent Information for each year level
We greatly appreciate the teachers in each year level providing a pre-recorded Information Session for parents which was viewed last week, Tuesday 16 February.
Information covered a broad and extensive range of material to help you understand how and what all students will be learning this year and how this can assist students to feel confident for their next phase of their learning. We have high expectations for each student to achieve success and trust that you were able to feel more informed about the diverse programs for each student and how as parents, you are critical in the partnership.
Within the box below are 5 Questions that we encourage that you ask teachers and your child/ren to explore how your child is learning. Very importantly is the question to your child: What are you most proud of?
1. What is my child learning? 2. How is he or he doing? 3. How do you know? (how she or he is doing)? 4. How can she or he improve? 5. What supports can I provide and can you provide if she or he is struggling? When will we check in again?
1. What did you learn today? 2. How did you do? 3. What did you do if you didn’t understand? 4. How can you improve on your learning? 5. What are you most proud of? |
Source: CLARITY by Dr Lyn Sharratt
If you haven’t already watched your child’s 2021 information presentation, we highly recommend that you do. All presentations are available for reviewing on the school’s website so please access these throughout the year and thank you very much all the Staff for their collaboration in this work.
Parent & Teacher sharing information through Compass
On Wednesday 17 February teachers invited parents to attend Parent/Teacher and Student Information interviews on Tuesday 23 February for year 1-6 from 3.40-7.30pm or Wednesday 24 February from 3.40-5pm. Bookings opened with an opportunity to meet via a webex link. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or the office on 95712931.
2021 Little Book Worms (LBW) and our Library
The wonderful world of GHPS Little Book Worms started back on Tuesday 23 February in the Library on the West Site. It will be on at 9.15 – 10.00 am with Lisa and Ms Amy Tinetti who are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming another group of little book worms to GHPS.
We would love to see little sisters and brothers and friends at LBW each week. It will run until the end of term 3 and then in term 4, it will be for 4 year old kinder kids who are enrolled at GHPS. Children must be 3 in order to attend as the activities are pitched for this age group. I look forward to seeing our current families attending and bringing a friend along too. Spaces are limited so make sure your child is between 3 and 5 and register at the office on 95712933.
School Uniform
At GHPS we promote a smart dress code, believe that school uniform teaches students to dress smartly and take pride in their appearance. Wearing our school uniform is like a badge of honor, it creates an identity for our school and is an important feature of being a member of our school community. If your child is wearing the uniform correctly, we thank you, however if there are parts of the uniform that are not correct school colors, we ask that you improve on this and see how you are helping our school.
Can you self- assess how you are sending your child to school:
- Extremely well – my child wears the correct uniform including the tops with the school logo on them every day- fabulous no changes required! Keep up the great workJ
- Very good – my child wears the correct uniform most days- please aim for every day which may mean you need to get another piece of the uniform such as jacket in maroon
- Good – but I need to change 1 thing- please purchase from the Uniform Shop – no black leggings or black track pants or black jackets. Its navy or maroon.
- Fair – there is more than one thing I need to change- please purchase from the uniform shop. NO pink, grey or pale blue and no long sleeve tops under the dress may be examples to improve on.
Our aim is for all parents to be able to self-assess as a one by the end of next week – Friday, 5 March and enact any changes needed.
I would ask each parent to look closely at what their child is wearing and ensure:
- She/he doesn’t wear other colored leggings or other colored pants. Blue or maroon Leggings ideally are worn only under a dress, not as a pant
- She/he doesn’t wear a long sleeved top that is not maroon or white.
- She/he doesn’t wear a colored t shirt under the polo top
- Wear only the maroon jacket (Prep – year 5)
- Wear a named maroon sunsmart hat
- You make the necessary change/s.
The uniform shop is open Thursday morning from 9.00 – 10.00am. If you can’t make it to the uniform shop you can download a form from the website or collect a form from the office and return with payment so the goods can then be taken home by your child.
New and good quality second hand uniform is available and if families are experiencing difficulties, please contact the school for further assistance.
OUR uniform is:
Navy Blue or Maroon Track pants/Bootleg pants
Maroon Long Sleeve Polo with logo
Maroon or White Short Sleeve Polo with logo
Maroon Bomber Jacket/Polar Fleece Jacket with logo
Navy (Grade 6 ONLY) Bomber Jacket – Grade 6 ONLY (special order in Year 5 to come in Year 6) with all names
Maroon or Navy Shorts / Skorts / Cullottes
Summer Dress
SUNSMART Maroon broad brimmed hat
Winter beanie Maroon
Grade 6 Jackets
It was a very special moment when we called all the Year 6 students to collect their new Grade 6 jacket. They are always picked up with such joy!
It gives us so much pleasure to see their appreciation.
Thank you in anticipation.
Libby Alessi Principal
School Council News
Hello all,
I hope all families had a wonderful Christmas break and a Happy New Year. The year is flying by already. We are all ready for a big year ahead at GHPS. Fingers crossed cases stay at zero and all the kids can continue going to School which I’m sure every parent will be pleased with!
School council met for our first 2021 meeting on Monday 17 February. Topics covered included;
Capital works progressing
The Victorian School Building Authority, Architects and GHPS have been involved in a number of meetings. The tender process to select a builder is now underway and it won’t be long before the administration works begin on the East Site. The School is working very hard to ensure there is minimal disruption to students and staff.
Enrolments
Our 2021 enrolments have dropped a little due to COVID, with 335 children attending GHPS. We are working hard in the publicity and marketing sub-committee on some initiatives including visiting kindergartens. Any positive word you can spread about our School would be very helpful. A google review would be even better!
Chromebook update
The Finance committee has approved 40 new Chromebooks for the School. These are superb devices that assist in delivering the School’s high quality digital literacy program.
School review
The School will undertake a review this year, which was postponed from 2020 due to COVID. This is a process that each Victorian Government School is required to participate in every 4 years to ensure we are continuously improving and improving student outcomes. Thank you to all the parents who filled out the Parent Opinion Survey in 2020. This feedback is crucial to ensure we are heading in the right direction and your feedback is extremely valuable.
We will announce some further opportunities for you to be involved in providing feedback in the coming weeks. Some of these opportunities may include focus groups, surveys and other measures to gather feedback across a wide variety of classes and topics. It is a huge undertaking every 4 years and we are looking forward to it!
GPA – get involved and have fun!
There are many fantastic events coming up at the school for parents and children to be involved in. Be sure to read the GPA newsletter released fortnightly and read notices sent home to make sure you don’t miss out on the fun!
Nominations for School Council
I would also like to encourage any parent thinking of joining the School Council to place your nominations. There are 6 vacancies available for parent nominations this year. It is a 2 year term and involves meeting 8 times per year in addition to being involved in various sub-committees like curriculum and policy, GPA, buildings and grounds, finance, publicity and marketing. If you have any skills in these areas or want to be involved please fill out a nomination form. If you have any questions please pop into the office to see Mrs Libby Alessi who will be able to answer any questions you have. We need great parents to participate and highly value their contribution.
Annual General Reporting meeting
Our Annual General Reporting meeting is on Monday, May 3, at 7pm. This meeting will inaugurate the 2021 School Council. Due to COVID restrictions it is likely parents will be unable to attend however if restrictions change we will let the school community know.
If there is any issue any member of the school community would like to raise with School Council, please email glenhuntly.ps@education.vic.gov.au or myself directly ross.donnan@education.vic.gov.au
Stay safe and well.
Ross Donnan,
School Council President
Congratulations to the following students who received a ‘Student of the Week’ award.
Suhana 1E – For being an excellent listener in class. You have put in your best effort in all your work. Thank you!
Kanishk 2C – For always giving 100% in all learning areas and contributing your thoughts and ideas to class discussions. It has been a brilliant start to 2021!
Mahanya 2C – For always being organised and ready to learn each day. Your effective work habits are inspirational!
Isla 2K – Working with determination, displaying teamwork and showing organisation – being an excellent corridor monitor.
Abigail 2K – Always displaying beautiful manners, expressing her feelings clearly in classroom discussions and showing leadership.
Harvey 2S – Excellent application to all classroom tasks this week. A marvelous start to the year.
Nanditha G 2S – Wonderful contributions to our class discussions.
Mia 3F – Making such a wonderful start to the school year. She exhibits a positive attitude and enthusiasm towards all learning tasks.
Sahara 3O – for being a kind, empathetic friend. You have made our new member of 3O feel welcomed at Glen Huntly.
Rashmi 3O – For her wonderful reading during our guided reading session this week. Well done!
Atharva 4R – For working hard this week to complete your learning tasks, and sharing some interesting facts from your home reading book. Keep up the great work!
Bilva 5/6J – For her organisational skills and her enthusiastic attitude towards learning. Wonderful start to 2021, Bilva!
Sanjeev 5/6J – For confidently explaining his thinking when identifying triangular numbers.
Nandini 5/6J – For ensuring that her submissions reflect a high standard. Keep striving for excellence, Nandini!
Hasini 5/6OP – Demonstrating exceptional bookwork and detail displayed on the “Bump it Up” wall as a model for classwork.
Riley 5/6S – For being an organised, polite, and determined Year 6 student. Well done!
Our Student Leaders
School Captains Emma 6S and Marko 6J Sports Sullivan 6J and Hasini 6OP
Hume House Hari Krishna 6OP Batman House Sharannya 6S Flinders House Rafael 6S Mitchell House Archie 6J
E-Smart Amber 6OP and Ishaan 6S
Music Arnaud 6S and Nefeli 6S Sustainability Austin 6S and Siddharth 6J
Tutor Learning Program
The TLP is well underway with STEM, Literacy, Numeracy and extension programs running twice a week.
Students are having a great time, building on writing strategies, reading focus areas, extension problem solving, all capped off with some fun Science to refine oral language skills and promote reflective discussion.
Sport News
This year, Glen Huntly P.S held our annual House Swimming carnival at GESAC’s outdoor pool. It was great to see lots of students dressed up in their house colours, ready to compete and cheer on their teammates!
Our Grade 6 House Captains did an awesome job of encouraging their houses on the day.
Well done to all who competed and especially our Grade 3 students for attending their first house sporting event of the year. Notable mentions to Marko in 5/6 J and Stephanie Verginis in 5/6 S for finishing first in all their events! An awesome effort.
The House Shield was awarded to Mitchell and the Spirit Cup given to Hume for having the best chant.
Thank you to all the staff and student teachers who helped run the event.
The district swimming team have been announced and notices have gone home to parents. The district swimming carnival will be held at GESAC on Thursday 4th March.
Our next 3-6 house sporting event will be Cross-Country early in Term 2.
Miss Kasambalis Sport/PE Teacher
Cooking
Our Cooking Program has started off the year very well with everyone enjoying themselves and learning some new skills while looking fabulous in their Apron and Chef’s Hat.
Please remember to put your name on all uniform/property.
Lost property will be sorted every month and any uniform without a name will be put into the second hand uniform shop.
Other unnamed items will be donated to charity.
If your child attends before or after school care, please check their lost property as well.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund applications
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.
Payment amounts this year are $125 for eligible primary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
If you would like to apply for the first time, please collect an application form from the school office.
You can also download the form, and find out more about the program and eligibility, on the Department of Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page.
Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.
Calendar
March
Mon 8 Labour Day Holiday
Tue 9 Curriculum Day
Fri 26 School Photos
April
Thu 1 Final Day Term 1 – Early Dismissal 2.30pm
