Dear Parents/Carers,

SURVEY RESPONSE

Thankyou for the fantastic response to our Digital Learning and Device Usage Survey. More than 50% of our parent/carer cohort invested more than 15 minutes each in providing  rich feedback which was representative across all year levels. Statistically this allows the survey findings to be considered reliably. Our parent/carer committee leads are currently using the raw data to come up with the recurrent concerns and recurrent ideas for action, to consider when we meet again in Term 3.

SCIENCE OF READING: HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

• Make it fun: Keep reading activities engaging and positive. 
• Keep it short and consistent: Short and regular practice is more effective
• Provide appropriate materials for younger children: access to decodable texts is helpful. As they progress, introduce more diverse and challenging books.
• Be patient and supportive: Celebrate small successes
• Avoid guessing words based on pictures, context or the first letter. If your child is guessing, redirect them to sound out the word. 

By implementing these strategies, parents can effectively support their child's reading development at home, aligning with the evidence-based principles of the Science of Reading. 

FACILITIES

We are currently working with the Department of Education's Central Office around some facility upgrades. This includes 6 replacement classrooms for two of the older classroom blocks which currently house LOTE, our Speech Language Pathologist and the 4L and 4W classrooms adjacent to the MPC. The two Year 2 classrooms that sit on the rear corner of the oval near Horizon Drive are hire buildings and they will be replaced. The school is still working out with the department as to where the new buildings will be sited. 

Additionally, the admin, library, Year 4, Year 1 and the Prep V classroom will most likely receive new roofs. To facilitate this there will be some tree removal taking place in the coming weeks to ensure our gutters are not impacted by the trees. Between now and the start of next year, this work may require some temporary classroom relocations and we will come up with a plan that is the least disruptive but with the fantastic goal of having upgraded facilities. 

LONG SERVICE LEAVE

I will be taking Long Service Leave and will return to work on July 28. Scott Matthews will be capably leading the school in my absence. Lyndel Ivory-Lisle returns from leave next week and Mrs Rae Welch will take up Scott's Deputy responsibilities while he backfills the Principal role.

Have a great week and I will see everyone at the end of July!

Kind regards,

Kathy