9 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message

At our recent Board and P&C meetings, the decision to organise split classes in Year 3-6 this year was discussed. At Mullaloo Heights, we endeavour to listen to parent feedback and, at the very least, provide an explanation for our actions. With this in mind, I would like to outline the many reasons behind this year’s organisation of classes.

The Creation of Well Balanced Classes

Our first aim is to create balanced classes, with social, behavioural and learning issues evenly spread across rooms. Input regarding these issues comes from classroom teachers, parents and students - see Process for Allocating Students to Classes below. The creation of 3 classes of mixed age groups, as in the current Y5/6 classes, gives more scope for this. We believe the current classes are well balanced and fair, giving equal opportunities for all students to succeed at their level.

Promoting Collaboration Between Teachers

A very important product of the way in which we have organised classes this year is that it enables teachers to work collaboratively. Collaboration between teachers results in consistency in teaching approaches, allowing students to build upon and extend skills as they move through school, and ultimately supports the adoption of whole school processes. This is a clear school objective as iterated on our previous and current business plans. This commitment to collaboration was seen as a strength by our school reviewers during our independent review in 2017. During our final exit meeting, attended by our Board Chair and the school leadership team, the reviewers commented that other schools played lip service to this, whereas at Mullaloo Heights collaboration was embedded and part of the teaching culture. It was also noted in the report as a strength. The reviewers felt that this was something that needed to continue. The following extracts from the report underline this.

Areas of Strength (extracts from p8)

• The ongoing development and adoption of whole-school teaching and learning strategies along with strong encouragement and support for professional learning that support the achievement of targets
• The strong collaborative culture that ensures the adoption of innovative practices and consistency in the implementation of teaching and learning strategies linked to ongoing monitoring and support to meet the individual needs of students

Summary (extracts from p16)

• The school has a positive and collaborative teaching and learning culture characterised by strong relationships among its staff that is conducive to optimising student learning and ensuring ongoing school improvement.
• The move towards a whole-school approach to curriculum planning and pedagogy is manifest. The professional knowledge and enthusiasm of the leadership and staff in creating an environment where students build confidence and social skills, and staff are committed with a genuine interest in the students, was evident throughout the review.

Please click on the link below to access the report summarising the findings from our Independent Review. Pages 6, 8, 12 & 16 of the report refer specifically to the school’s commitment to collaboration.

Consistency between Classes and Teachers

Collaboration results in all students having a good experience in their class and also achieves consistency in teacher expectations. Of course, aiming for consistency in teaching addresses the issue of parents requesting particular teachers because they perceive them as being better. Moreover, we all know that being part of a team brings accountability. Each team member is expected to do their part and this is true for teachers in our current phase teams. The expectations are set by their peers, not the Principal, and contribute to a shared responsibility for the children in their cohort.

Mixed Age Classes are not an inferior option

There seems to be a general belief that children in mixed age classes are disadvantaged. This is not true and is backed by research.

I concede that students would be disadvantaged if they were in a class where the teacher used a textbook to teach and /or and required all children to work at the same level. However, this is not the approach we use at Mullaloo Heights. Our aim is to develop an ‘explicit methodology for teaching implemented in each classroom’ and ‘differentiate the curriculum as guided by assessment data’ to meet the need of our students. This will be an objective on our new Business Plan. Good teachers assess their students and teach them at their appropriate level regardless of their age. This is true whether they are in a mixed age or straight class. This does not mean we only appoint teachers who can teach multi-age classes. Rather, we expect all teachers to be able to teach multi-age classes because catering for a range of abilities is a non-negotiable part of the job.

Leadership Opportunities

One of the other benefits of multi-age classes is they allow older students to develop leadership skills, while younger students can use the older students as role models. The opportunities for peer to peer learning are vast and this is a true benefit to students. Students learn a great deal by being able to articulate their learning to a peer and participating in activities in which they can learn from one another.

The organisation of multi-age or straight classes is something we evaluate every year and the final decision is always made with the best interests of the students in mind. If you have any other queries or concerns regarding multi-age classes, I am more than happy to discuss them with you. In the meantime, have a great long weekend.

Caroline Booth
Principal

Caroline Booth

Dates to remember

Room 12’s Assembly

Room 12 have clearly got down to some serious work this term judging by their assembly presentation last week. As part of their Talk 4 Writing, they have already learnt a whole text and analysed the structure and language features associated with it. Their presentation of Dear Mrs la Rue was not only entertaining, but it also taught the audience a few techniques for improving our powers of persuasions. We are looking forward to the writing that the students produce as a result of this initial work. Watch this space as we will definitely be publishing this in a future newsletter. Meanwhile, have a look at their wonderful costumes.

Reading 100 Club

Some of our students who have achieved 100 points in Literacy Pro

Merit Certificates

Aussie of the Month

Aussie of the Month for February is Tom.

Tom is an enthusiastic and reliable student who has shown great maturity in Year Five in his dealings with all his peers. It is admirable to see him looking out for all his classmates and assisting them to make good choices. This is a great leadership quality to possess. He is a great role model to have at Mullaloo Heights Primary School.

Congratulations, Tom.

School Photo Day

French News

Chaplain’s Corner

Dear Parents,

I hope you are having a great start to 2018; I can’t believe that we are halfway through the term already. I would like to welcome all the new families to Mullaloo Heights Primary School. I hope that you are settling in well and I look forward to meeting and getting to know you all!

We have had a great start to 2018 so far and the programs and activities I have been running have been well received and enjoyed by the students.

This year, I am excited to support the whole school Values Program by running classroom activities and discussions on important values to help the students apply them both in and out of school and as a part of their life. I will also be running some small group programs which the students are very excited about. I am looking forward to seeing how the students apply the skills and strategies they are learning.

And of course, by popular demand, I will be running the Girls and Boys Club at lunchtimes for each year level!

I am available every Thursday and Friday from 8.10am-3.20pm if you have any questions or if I can help in any way. I can be contacted through the school or by email: jessicas@youthcare.org.au.

Please see the attached article on “Raising a little shrugger” from the Parenting Ideas website:

‘Everyone knew a shrugger when they were young. They seemed to be everywhere in my neighbourhood. Shruggers are the kids who can shrug off the teasing and negative comments from peers and siblings. If you have a sensitive child who wears his or her heart on their sleeve, or a child who reacts impulsively to taunts and witticisms alike, then it may be wise to introduce the art of shrugging into their repertoire of responses.’

Kind regards

Jess Smith
School Chaplain

P&C News

All P&C Committee positions become vacant at the AGM being held on Wednesday 14th of March, at 6.30pm in the staffroom. We welcome everyone to attend and participate in this great group in 2018.

Community News