The Kids are Back!
It’s great to have the kids back and we are all so pleased and excited to see them. It is always so good to hear their news and stories about the holidays, and to see their happiness as they catch up with their friends. There were a few anxious tears about finding their new learning space but still we have had a very positive day, with the children settling into their new routines and learning. Those who are in their new school uniforms look very smart don’t they.
We hope that you have all read the letter from the School Chairman, Dr Marc Williams, regarding school expansion and leadership changes for the coming semester, however if you have not it is attached here.
The staff have been back at school planning for at least a week and the Executive Team have been back for almost two weeks, so having the kids back gives us a special sense of excitement and purpose too. First day of school butterflies, nervousness and excitement. It's lovely to see children reconnecting with their friends and staff, some with big confident smiles, whilst others taking comfort in seeing familiar faces amidst their reluctance to begin a new chapter of the unknown. It doesn't take long though, to see the children buzzing by recess time, eager to talk about who their teachers are and what they got up to over the break. Many love to say their new grade 'is really easy so far!'
This year, despite some uncertainty, we pray that you feel a stronger sense of hope, with lots of wonderful things to look forward to. Our Claremont College community is built on Collaboration, Innovation and Compassion. And this year will be no different. If changes need to be made as the year proceeds, we will hold firm to our Core Values and continue to communicate with you, so together we can move forward as a united community.
We welcome the following children (and their families) to our school: Chloe H (1), Lara R (1), Dylan A (2), Aveline B (2), Marlon F (3), Angela L (3), Magnus R (3), Sebastian R (3), Christopher W (3), Ariella J (4), Audrey Y (4), India D (5), Saxon O (5), Charlie RF (5) and Sophie R (5).
Wellbeing Initiatives for 2021
This year we will be working on the following initiatives:
- Our Student Leadership Program, through the teaching of our newly developed '10 Leadership Markers'. We would love for all our students from Kindergarten to Year 6 to have an understanding and a common language of what it looks like to be an effective leader;
- Our school-wide approach when working with students with challenging behaviours, through a Collaborative, Proactive Solutions (CPS) approach; and
- Continuing to teach our students about bullying and keep this as a high priority for the school;
- A school-wide understanding of the impact of Social Media and technology, with support given to parents to help navigate raising children in a technology world.
Student Learning 2021
As mentioned at the end of 2020, there is so much to look forward to for 2021. We have set so much in motion over the past few years that we plan to continue to grow the programs where we are seeing success through student outcomes, without introducing any new programs.
In 2021 we will:
- Continue to develop our programs for High Potential Learners, following our whole staff 2-day professional development (Mini COGE, Certificate of Gifted Education) in 2020;
- Remain focussed on our STEM Program in Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4), and spread this into Year 5 and 6, as well as within the Infants grades;
- Focus again on the ‘Challenging Learning’ work of James Nottingham, with a colleague of his joining us for our staff PD Day on 22 March, where we will continue to concentrate on ‘The Learning Pit’, ‘Challenging Learning Through Feedback’ and ‘Challenging Learning Through Dialogue’;
- Utilise the staff technology expertise, as almost 100% of our staff now accredited as ‘Apple Teachers’, to continue to develop the students’ IT skills using their iPads, to further enable technology assisted learning;
- Continue to utilise our Home Learning Program, with a focus on ‘Preview Learning’; and finally
- Each year we focus on a specific Key Learning Area, while all are important our focus helps us to revise and consolidate our teaching practices. In 2021 our focus will be the English syllabus, where we will continue to implement the Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum, which is a tool for assessment, planning and teaching. For many years we have used Fountas & Pinnell for reading assessment, however in 2020 we began utilising the continuum for reading as well, rather than just the syllabus documents, and in 2021 we will introduce the Writing aspect of this Literacy Continuum.
We are all naturally hoping, as we are sure you are, that teaching and learning is on-site all year in 2021, however be assured that the students (and teachers) will be prepared to continue our learning programs if we have to revert to Off Campus Learning again.
Induction of our 2021 Student Leaders
Next Friday 5 February we will hold our Induction of Student Leaders. This is a special event where our Year 6 students will make a pledge and will receive their leadership badge. We are very proud of our Year 6 students and look forward to continuing to support their leadership over the coming year. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents will be unable to attend, however it will be recorded and distributed to Year 6 parents.
It is a privilege for all of us to have this opportunity to lead this incredible school together. Serving your children, the families and staff is deeply fulfilling and meaningful and this year will be no different. We pray that this year will be a truly positive one for all of you, and that you may hold onto hope and positivity for a special year ahead.
Doug Thomas, Janelle Ford, Larissa Cameron & Tara Barr
The Senior Leadership Team
