Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

These are indeed, very interesting days.  There seems to me to be natural disasters occuring with increasing regularity, and the Gold Coast has certainly received its share of them.  These tougher times tend to bring out the best of Australian character in our communities, and I know that this event will be no different.  We only succeed when we all succeed.  

Our young genius

Congratulations to Kayreen (6P) on completing the highest level of the UCMAS Abacus Extension Program.  She has achieved an outstanding score of 92% on the final exam (100 questions). UCMAS enhances students' mental arithmetic, memory and concentration through the abacus. Kayreen's remarkable achievement reflects her commitment and dedication. We are all incredibly proud of her success and look forward to even greater accomplishments in the future. Well done!

School calendar changes

The calendar events for the next couple of weeks are being reviewed as a result of TC Alfred.  Please check in regularly as we re-plan for these events.

Parent-teacher interviews are postponed

A new date will be determined at some point this week.  The probable date is Monday 17 March but this still needs to be confiremed.

Our school focuses for 2025

We have three improvement focuses for 2025.  They are:

1. Improve our standards in English  

• • Teachers are sending home either weekly or fortnightly newsletters containing a lot of information about the learning focuses at school.
  • We are dedicating professional learning and time to monitor the development of every learner.  While this may not be visible to families, it is a daily event at school.
  • You will see English Learning Walls in every classroom that support the sequence of lessons that students have completed.  Together with our Deputies and Heads of Department, I visit classrooms each week to speak to students about their learning.

2. Improve student behaviour

1. • We teach behaviour and expectations every day.  You will see Ready to Learn Walls in every classroom that support the sequence of lessons that students have completed.
   • Teachers are sending emails to families about the awesomeness of a student in their class each week.  Sometimes more than one student is recognised - which is even better! 
   • Staff are emailing families where they have managed behaviour at school.  These emails are just for your information as we have managed the reteaching of expectations at school.  Serious matters will always be managed by Deputies and senior staff at school, in partnership with families.
   • The teaching of student leadership is different this year.  We only have two set representatives - Emily and Nia.  All other leadership roles in sport, cultural groups, environmental groups and playground leadership is by application and it is open to all students in the selected year levels.  We teach students about service and commitment and acknowledge their contributions.
   • We are continuing with The Resilience Project to support the emotional development of every student.
   • We reward and acknowledge student behaviour standards with Rivers Rewards.  Students need to collect these in their passbook and when they reach a milestone score, they earn a prize.  Each term, a major prize will be offered to all students who reach the target.  The recent Free Dress Day was an example of a reward event.  The biggest prizes will be a slip n slide day, a movie day, and possibly a magic show.

Free dress day this term (Stripes theme)

3. Increase community engagement with the school

• • You will already notice more communication from the school each week.  Along with the weekly school newsletter, teachers are sending home either weekly or fortnightly class newsletters containing a lot of information about the learning focuses and events at school.  
  • Teachers and students are inviting families into classrooms to share learning and school together.  
  • We are planning and holding events for our community to come together.  These include the Christmas Concert and this year, the return of our community fete.  
  • We are investing heavily in the development our school facilities for school events.       

I encourgae you to speak with your children and your teachers about these focuses and let me know what you think.  

Kind regards

Vic