Senior School Parent Information Session

Wednesday 18th February, 2015

Overview – Whole School (Steve)

• Strategic Plan 2015 – 2019• Specialist• Values Program• Sustainability • Compass• New Website• Skoolbag App• Individual Learning Plans

• TPS Student News• Netbook Program• Assessment Schedule• Levies

TOORAK PRIMARY SCHOOL

STRATEGIC PLAN

2015 - 2019

Achievement Engagement

Wellbeing Productivity

• Develop professional community• Meet all staff and students curriculum

needsAchievement

• Improve students’ learning confidenceEngagement

• Develop and provide opportunities for students to become resilientWellbeing

Productivity

. Strategically allocate resources to

grow the learning community

Our Art teacher is Mrs Lynne Ring

Our French teacher is Madame Anderson

Our Librarian during Term One is Mrs Lisa Almond

Our Music teacher is Miss Kathryn Sinker

Our Physical Education teacher is Mr Michael Holden

Declan

TPS Values & Smiling Mind

• Ethics class once a week by VAPS• ‘Bounce Back. ’ - developed by Dr Helen McGrath and Dr Toni

Noble and is based on both Cognitive and Positive Psychology• It is a resilience program in line with Toorak Primary School’s

values of ‘Tolerance, Persistence and Success’• This is integrated across all curriculum domains, including

homework, achievements and during recess & lunch periods. • There is a different unit each term and a different focus each

week. You can access more information on our Parent Information Sheet, found on our website• A children’s meditation module, ‘Smiling Mind is completed daily

Declan

Sustainability (Sharon)

• Students from Grades 1 to 6 make up our ‘Green Team’, a group of students active in creating and maintaining sustainability projects.• We are a nude food school• Handy hints on how to make your food nude:

– Put your child’s snack and lunch in a Tupperware container.– We recommend you label all your child’s Tupperware in case it gets lost.– If you wish to wrap your child’s sandwich, use a tea-towel or some cloth.– Buy a lunchbox with compartments, available at department stores.– Think about foods that have natural packaging like bananas and nuts.• Each class will additionally use the outdoor classroom and gardens on a weekly

basis

COMPASS (Steve)

• COMPASS provides parents with access to important student information using an online software package.• As a parent, you will be able to access a variety of information including your child’s excursion forms and

notices. Therefore it is important that you become familiar with this facility.• COMPASS will enable you to:o Access school newsletters and noticeso Access your child’s attendance data and enter absenceso Approve your child’s absences onlineo Provide parent consent for excursionso Pay for School Fee’s Excursions and Camps securely onlineo Make appointments for Parent/Student/Teacher conferences.• To access COMPASS, go to https://toorakps.vic.jdlf.com.au/ or use the link on the Toorak Primary School

webpage located at www.toorakps.vic.edu.au.• Click on the link and follow the prompts using your login details below. It is important that you retain your

login details and keep them secure at all times for future use.

Compass

• Stuart and Steve

Compass

• Stuart and Steve

This parent has one event to pay for

This child was late or absent

This is a button here to approve absences

Payment and consent can now be given online

Homework will also be available on Compass

New School Website (Sharon)• http://www.toorakps.vic.edu.au/• “Parent Info” - Lots of useful resources such as Tuck Shop/Lunch Orders, Uniform, Extra Curricula, Parents & Friends Association, OSH Club, Netbook Program. • “News & Events” - Upcoming Events, Newsletters, Gallery, Term Dates and the link to the Student News. • “Junior School (F-2)”, “Middle School (3-4)” and “Senior School

(5-6)” -Useful resources such as Year Level Newsletters

SkoolBag App (Sharon)

The Skoolbag App is the ultimate school to parent communication tool. On this app you will find information such as, newsletters, upcoming events, class timetables, student absence forms and much more.

It can be downloaded via the App Store for Android and Apple devices. More information can be found on the school website.

You can turn on/off notifications. Simply select “Setup” and select the Year Level alerts you wish to receive.

Individual Learning Improvement Plan (ILIP) (DECLAN)

TPS Student News (Sharon)

Link can be found in “News & Events”- “Student News”

Password: tps2015

Weekly news is updated regularly, usually at the end of the school week or over the weekend.

The news is student created and a strong emphasis is placed on students independently writing, reporting, filming and editing the news.

Netbook Program (3-6 only) (Sharon)• All students use netbooks from Grade 3-6 will be using netbooks as part of their learning at Toorak Primary

School.

• It is recommended that all student have their own personal device.

• Devices are supplied by CentreCom and parents are given the choice of 3 devices.

• There is a link to the CentreCom portal on the school website. Please visit the site if you require a netbook for your child.

Levies (Declan)

• Mathletics & Reading Eggs. Usernames and passwords will be distributed by classroom teachers early this term. If you have any questions/issues please see your child’s classroom teacher

Senior School Overview

• Curriculum in Year 5 and 6- Literacy- Numeracy- Inquiry (Science & History)- ICT- NAPLAN• Leadership• Camps• Transition to High School• Homework• Mobile Phone Usage• Behaviour & Protocols• Questions- welcome throughout

Curriculum- Literacy (Sharon)

• Literacy- Reading Groups- Whole Class Reading Sessions: Lisa K Reading

Comprehension Strategies- Independent Readers• Reading Structure: • Editing and Spelling/Grammar focus on Mondays• Reading Group lessons over a two-week cycle• Weekly teacher-led group and daily independent activities• Reciprocal Reading• Teacher group: Guided reading and developing needs

based comprehension skills• Students work with students with similar needs as well as

mixed-ability groups

Curriculum- Literacy (SHARON)• Writing- Choice Writing, Writer’s Notebook,

Genre Focus, Teacher Modelling, Teacher Conference, Author’s Chair• Writing:• Conditions for writing and expectations• Structure of lesson • Genres will include choice writing, information

reports and persuasive pieces• Skills will include planning, brainstorming,

editing, structuring pieces to match a specific genre, self and peer assessment, inspiration for writing

Curriculum- numeracy (Steve)• Numeracy:• Monday: Number Groups 1 (Students are grouped

according to their needs in number based topics)• Tuesday: Number Groups 2 (Follow up lesson to

Monday)• Wednesday: Number Groups 3 (integrating

Measurement & Geometry and Statistics and Probability) • 1 Session: Problem Solving focus (Inquiry-based

maths problems)• Homework will be assigned through Mathletics and

match the Number group students are in.• Assessment: Pre and Post testing, groups are fluid

and changing based on topic

Inquiry- science & history topics (Declan)

• Focus on Science & History• In depth investigations• Science:• Investigations into Extreme Environments

• History:• Year 5: Batmania• Year 6: Australian Government

ICT (Steve) • Student Netbooks/ Chargers/ Expectations- Bring their netbook every day- Bring their netbook charged• School Netbooks- For students who do not have their own netbook• Cyber Safety http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/ • Incorporation of Netbooks into daily lessons- Netbooks are used daily & need to be at school

ICT (Steve) •Rotations• 10 Week Cycle with each teacher• Stop-Motion Film• Programming • Excel

Leadership (Steve)

Transition (Sharon)

• Paperwork – issued towards the end of Term 2. To be returned to school• School Choices – Parents to choose 3 options that are in their zones

(unless attending a private school). Zones can be found on secondary school website• Entrance Exams – necessary at some schools if outside residential

zone

Mobile phone policy (Declan)• Is your child carrying a mobile phone to and

from school?• Please provide a written note to inform the class

teacher of this.• Phones must be switched off during the hours of

9.00am-3.30pm.• Contact and messages to students must be

made through the office during these hours.

Homework (Sharon)

Updated from Term Newsletters• Handed out on Friday• Due back the Thursday of the following week• It is an expectation that students will work on any projects at home• Numeracy will a mixture of tailored number group needs (set by number

teacher), and Mathletics. • We recognise the added pressure of many students having extra curricular

commitments outside of school hours. Please see your child’s teacher if your child is struggling with the workload.• We are very conscious of ensuring the students are prepared for the heavy

workload they are soon to face in secondary school.

Camp – Mt Buller (Steve)• 2015 Camp is to Mt Buller – 18th August 21st August• Will involve a mixture of instructor lessons and free-ski (teacher

observations)• Cost for the 2014 camp was approx. $700 – keep in mind the

discount of 25% will no longer apply • Tentative cost for 2015 is $720 (including Fundraising)• Meeting early in Term 2 with further details• Recommended to keep an eye out for cheap snow gear (Aldi, K-

Mart, Target, etc.)• Camp in 2014 was extremely fun for students of all abilities and

I highly encourage students to attend

Behaviour & protocols (Sharon)• Expectations of senior school students• Behaviours & consequences • Reflection Room• Representing the school• As in all year levels at Toorak Primary School, the

teachers have very high expectations for the behaviour and conduct of all Grade 6 students. • As leaders and role models in the school to the younger

students it is of the utmost importance that they follow and adhere to the protocols developed as a group at the beginning of the year.• Please encourage and discuss the below protocols with

your child. We appreciate your support in this area of your child’s development.

Protocols & consequences• Protocols:• We are respectful of everyone and all materials we use.• We stay on task and strive to extend our learning.• We are active and respectful listeners.• We are responsible, mature role models.• We will think, act and speak positively.• Consequences:• General hint given in relation to the protocol.• Verbal warning given to specific student in relation to protocol.• Student moved to another area in the classroom.• Student sent to another classroom to work. Restorative

Practices conversation with teacher. • Student sent to office to speak with principal or assistant

principal. Parents called and informed.

NAPLAN (Sharon)

• Grade 5 is a NAPLAN year

• Dates: Tuesday 12th May – Thursday 14th May 2015• Language Conventions• Writing• Reading• Numeracy

Graduation (Sharon)• 4th Term• Will require parent volunteers to help with• Graduation book• Film• Decorations• Hall set-up• All families to contribute to refreshments

• Meeting to be held in later in school year• Fundraising Support• Guest Speaker

Other/Questions:

• Late Arrivals/ Absence Notes• Class Reps needed please

• Parent Volunteers (Gala Days, Displays, Resources, Reading with students etc)

• We are currently investigating the use of Student Diaries to assist with workload management and parents communication

•Thank you for attending, we appreciate your time and support of the Grade 6.