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
Achievement
•Develop professional community
•Meet all staff and students curriculum
needs
Engagement
•Improve students’ learning confidence
Wellbeing
•Develop and provide opportunities for
students to become resilient
Productivity
. Strategically allocate resources to grow the
learning community
Declan
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
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 notices
o Access your child’s attendance data and enter absences
o Approve your child’s absences online
o Provide parent consent for excursions
o Pay for School Fee’s Excursions and Camps securely online
o 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)
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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.
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It can be downloaded via the App Store for Android and Apple
devices. More information can be found on the school website.
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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)
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Link can be found in “News & Events”- “Student News”
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Password: tps2015
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Weekly news is updated regularly, usually at the end of the school week or over the
weekend.
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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
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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
Inquiryscience & 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)
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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 freeski (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)
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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
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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
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Language Conventions
Writing
Reading
Numeracy
Graduation (Sharon)
• 4th Term
• Will require parent volunteers to help with
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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.