Heard on the Hill T1, W7
- From the Principal
- P&C AGM
- Behaviour and Relationships
- Leadership Minutes
- Understanding Learning Difficulties - eLearning Course available, limited places
- Workload Advisory Committee - submissions
- Workplace Standards
- Asbestos Awareness Management
- Year 7 Immunisation
- Student Services Update
- Senior School Update
- What's On
The Squeeze is on
If it feels like you are busier than usual – you are! Take a 10-week term, put Easter in it and reduce it to 9 weeks. Then stay home for a week due to a COVID outbreak and suddenly you have 8 weeks to get a terms worth of work done. Please take a breath.
What you may have noted also was that all the extra “stuff”, that disappeared last year with COVID has returned. A silver lining in the COVID cloud was that we found out what was important. The non-important stuff dropped off and despite things, we still managed to teach kids. Channel a little of that thinking now. Focus on the important things only. If you have forgotten to do something, if it is important it will still be there seeking your attention, if not it will disappear.
Recently the HOLAs have had individual review meetings with the deputies and I. The review meetings have looked at last years performance and progress with the school business plans. They all submitted the learning area plan. To move forward we must focus on bite-sized chunks. What are your focus areas for 2021? Follow the link below and fill in the form to give us feedback.
En Avant
Mike Sinagra
Principal
The P&C AGM will be held on Wednesday 17 March at 6pm in the school library. We welcome all parents and carers to come, join the association and vote. The P&C plays a major role in
- Developing cooperation between parents and the school
- Assisting in providing resources and facilities for the school
- Fostering community interest educational matters
We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. There will be a coffee, biscuit and a chat afterwards.
As we continue to establish our safe and orderly learning environments there are a number of skills that assist us. This week is the Signal, Pause, Insist. This is one of the most important routines in teaching it allows teachers to move from one lesson phase to another calmly and efficiently.
Choose a signal
Select a clear and easily reproducible signal. It could be raised hand, two sharp claps, standing in a particular spot. It doesn’t matter as long as it can be used freely and is repeatable.
Give the signal
During the lesson when you want to transition to a different activity or teacher input, stop what you are doing stand facing the class give the signal and scan the room making eye contact with everyone.
Pause
This is crucial. Give students time to make the transition. Hold eye contact all the time. When the students are ready, affirm their positive response with a simple, “thank you”.
Insist
Before you move on you must be sure that you have the agreed response from everyone. If you can’t get 100% response through body language and eye contact, low level reminders “when you are ready please” or “John I need you to listen now”. Don’t forget to affirm their positive response.
Acknowledgements:
- Staff who helped with HASS market day set up and pack up. Thank you.
- Graeme, Geoff and Dave – school grounds are looking great.
- Nick Mulligan, Neisha Copley, Adam Bond and Sharna Mason – attendance and organisation of the Year 7 Maths Parent Night.
- Brad Hicks and Ann Deighton for organisation of students for OLNA and OLNA catch up sessions
- Melissa Spencer for organisation of the first VASP camp
- Renee Dowling, Siobhan Maiden, Craig Bourne, Peter Barrett and Brooke Cleggett for their work with student engagement in enterprise and PBL.
- Michelle Maher for running extra lessons for SHED students in Art.
- Rory Stewart and Kim Nimmo – Year 7 BEST Camp in trying weather conditions.
Executive Update:
Mike:
- IPS review will be in Term 3. Writing of ESAP will take place in conjunction with review meetings. Leaders may be invited to review meetings.
- Exclusion report for Ethan Fuentes is complete.
- There is increasing pressure on enrolments at the school due to the increase of interstate movement to WA.
- Specialist programs (exc GAT) may be restricted to take local intake area students in the future.
- Exec to visit Comet Bay and John Curtin on 23 Marchto look at STEM, GAT and Timetabling.
Andrew:
- HoLA's/PC's were reminded the Data Monitoring document is constantly updated and this can be found in the Shared Drive.
- Year 11 & 12 Progress Reports will be sent out – could Senior School staff ensure data in RTP is up to date.
Kelly:
- Planning for SDD Term 2 underway.
- Leader information due to Kelly ASAP.
- Internal Relief– Kelly advised there is a shortage of relief teachers at the moment. Vicki Martin is continuously seeking new relief teachers to alleviate the need for internal relief.
- Relief Lesson Template Document – staff are reminded to use the Relief Lesson Template document in the School Templates folder. Could you please ensure information of high risk students is included in this document as relief teachers cannot always access Academy information.
Kylie:
- Year 11 & 12 Exam Timetable draft available to Leaders on Teams. Please provide feedback to Kylie asap.
Sue:
- SHED Lease due to expire end of the year. The Department is looking at options for this program moving forward. More information to come.
- Leadership Minutes summary will be shared to all staff via Heard on the Hill each week.
In recent years, some of our staff have completed the Understanding Learning Difficulties eLearning course offered by the Dyslexia SPELD Foundation. Their PL is evidence-based and offers really practical strategies to support students. It deals with a range of learning difficulties, not just dyslexia. They also run face-to-face workshops and they sell a range of products from their online store and at their office.
If you would like to complete the eLearning course, we have up to 10 places available for staff. We will pay the registration, which gives you access to the six modules for 12 months. You will be able to work at your own pace and you will receive a certificate of completion. See the link for more information.
Please contact Kelly if you would like to be enrolled for this course.
Kelly Anderson
Deputy Principal
Workload is an ongoing issue in the world of education. As part of our support for staff wellbeing, we have set up a Workload Advisory Committee, which considers submissions from staff outlining workload concerns.
The Workload Advisory Committee meets at least once a term if submissions are made. We have staff representatives on this committee.
If you have a workload concern, please provide information via the survey link.
We also recommend that staff speak with their line manager about workload issues, to see if these can be resolved.
Kelly Anderson
Deputy Principal
Unfortunately, we have had some complaints recently about inappropriate conversations between staff, either in the course of their duties or in office spaces. Whilst it is great that we have strong relationships with our colleagues, it is really important to remember that we are in a workplace.
Please refrain from conversations about inappropriate topics such as those of a sexual nature. It is important that all staff feel comfortable and safe in their workspace. Complaints are taken seriously and there are strict processes in place to deal with these concerns. If you have a concern, please speak to your line manager or a member of the Executive team.
Kelly Anderson
Deputy Principal
Principals are responsible for ensuring the asbestos awareness management plan is followed to minimise the risks to students, staff, volunteers and visitors.
It is mandatory for the Exec team, cleaners and gardeners to complete the asbestos awareness training, and all staff must be provided with the Asbestos Containing Material Awareness Factsheet. (Doc is located on the right hand side under "related resources")
Sue Gledhill
Manager of Corporate Services
Staff Information & Schedule
- Year 7 Immunisations will be given in the Library Conference Room. Students will be given up to 2 vaccines on the day.
- PLEASE ESCORT YOUR CLASS TO THE LIBRARY. Your class should be assembled in front of the Library. When directed, the class should enter the first entry door in a single file. A staff member will be in charge of movement through the conference room.
- Students should exit via the rear door of the conference room and will be required to wait 5-10 minutes after the vaccine is given.
- After 10 mins the students will then be directed to move directly back to their classrooms.
If students are unsure if they have agreed to the immunisation they should attend and check with the health nurses on duty.
YEAR 7 – Wednesday, 17 March Period 1
Period 1
8.50 7ASCI GREGORY
8.50 7ASCI ALFIERI
9.00 7ASCI GREENE
9.00 7ASCI CARR
9.10 7BMAT MULLIGAN
9.20 7BMAT BOND
9.30 7BMAT COPELY
Kylie Ward
Manager Education Services
There are a number of key events occurring over the next few weeks.
- Hawaiian Ride for Youth on Friday 26 March from the beginning of P1 – Year 10 students
- House Meetings: Wednesday 24 March from the beginning of P3 – all students. Please note that it is optional for Year 12 classes. Attendance would be fantastic if possible. Staff are encouraged to wear House colours and a badge on this day. There might be some fantastic prizes!
- Prefect Event: Clean up Australia and Boardies Day in Week 8.
The term continues to pass very quickly. It seems that the overall tone of the school is very positive. Don’t forget to keep acknowledging positive student behaviours through online merits and Letters of Commendation.
Tim Fry
Head of Senior School & Student Services
Thank you to those teachers who have entered assessment data on RTP. This information is critical to allow Andrew Healey and myself to provide academic feedback to our students. Please continue to make this a priority task from this point on.
There continues to be a small number of predominantly Year 11 students who are not totally engaged. Can I please request the following steps to assist in the management of behaviour.
- CW can be used but a phone call home on the day to explain the incident and request parent support is strongly recommended.
- Document all issues (no matter how minor) onto Academy.
- Maintain ongoing parent communication eg phone calls, Letters of Concern and Commendation etc.
- Involve your HOLA if behaviours/engagement continue to be an issue.
- Implement appropriate CMS and Instructional Leadership strategies as normal eg informal contracts, seating plans etc.
- A parent meeting with teacher, parent and HOLA is the next critical strategy to be implemented if a student is either not engaging or is misbehaving.
Tim Fry
Head of Senior School & Student Services
What’s OnTerm 1, Week 7 |
|
|
Monday |
|
|
Tuesday |
|
|
Wednesday |
|
|
Thursday |
|
|
Friday |
|
|
Coming Soon |
|
Principal's Calendar
|
Monday |
|
|
Tuesday |
|
|
Wednesday |
|
|
Thursday |
|
|
Friday |
|