Happy Holidays
Recently, Miss Greene and I travelled to Horsham to attend a Numeracy Conference, where we had the privilege of presenting to hundreds of educators from across the West Grampians Network. We were proud to share the outstanding work our staff and students have undertaken to improve numeracy outcomes through the implementation of PRIME Mathematics. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the great learning happening at our school and to celebrate the hard work of our teachers and students.
Our Grade 6 Football Team represented the school with pride at the Regional Championships in Ballarat. We congratulate the team on their efforts, sportsmanship and commitment throughout the season.
Students have also enjoyed a range of exciting learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Our Grade 5 and 6 students participated in Discovery Days at Stawell Secondary College, while our Prep to Grade 2 students enjoyed a special performance at the Town Hall. Our Grade 5 and 6 students also attended the Mega Music Day hosted by Stawell Secondary College.
As part of our ongoing commitment to school improvement, Miss Greene and Treen recently visited a school in Ballarat. The visit formed part of our research into strengthening writing instruction across the school as we continue to refine our teaching practices and provide the very best learning opportunities for our students.
As Term 2 comes to a close, I would like to wish all students, staff and families a safe and enjoyable school holiday break. I hope everyone has the opportunity to recharge their batteries, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy plenty of fun activities. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting term of learning in Semester 2.
The 502 Way – Opportunities to Repond
One of the key teaching practices in ‘The 502 Way’ is ensuring students are actively involved in their learning as often as possible through ‘Opportunities to Respond.’ Rather than sitting and listening for long periods, students are regularly asked to think, discuss, read, write and respond. Teachers use strategies such as mini whiteboards, Pair/Share discussions and choral responses. We aim for at least one every 2 minutes. These opportunities allow teachers to quickly check what students have understood, provide immediate feedback and adjust their teaching when needed. Research shows that students learn more effectively when they are actively involved in lessons.