PBL focusing on Reporting issues immediately to Teachers

PBL Award Lucas De Vries, Tyler Wilkinson, Reef Mason Fernando,

Hamish Green, Cody Hudson, Chadrick Lang, Joseph Lulham and Kobi Murray

Important Dates to Remember Term 1 2020

Kootingal Public School

STAR NEWSLETTER “Caring, Learning and Achieving Together.”

Phone: 02 6760 3332 Email: kootingal-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: https://kootingal-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Term 1 Week 8 Wednesday 18th March 2020

Executive Team - Principal - Cara Cracknell Assistant Principal - (Kinder to Year 2) - Nicole Chegwyn Assistant Principal (Yr 3 to 6) - Casey Kelly

P & C Executive President: Rebecca Pollard Vice President - Vanessa Johnson Secretary: Tina Sipple Treasurer: Scott Cracknell

Friday 20th March - Bookclub due, online and at school office Friday 20th March - Harmony Day Tuesday 24th March - Parent/Teacher Interviews Friday 27th March - Yrs 4,5 & 6 Cyber Safety Police Talk Tuesday 31st March - Parent/Teacher Interviews Wednesday 1st April - KPS Cross Country Thursday 9th April - Last day of Term 1 Monday 27th April - Staff return to school (SDD) Tuesday 28th April - Students return to school

Gold Awards

Hope Sichter and Abby Stokes

Silver Awards Abby Stokes

Uniform Awards Madison Bennett, Isabela Robinson, Noah Saunders,

Xavier Siemsen, Dustyn Swadling, Chloe Cannon, Sophie Hogg and Nate Symons

* Parents are able to make payments online by going to our website www.kootingal-p.schools.nsw.gov.au and then clicking on make a payment (located on front page). Please email or send into the office a copy of the online receipt. If payments are made online signed permission notes must still be returned to the front office.

* Voluntary contribution fees can be paid at the front office or online. They are $50 per year per student.

* Years 3 & 4 Dubbo Excursion (21st Oct to 23rd Oct) - Expression of interest note and $60 non refundable deposit due Monday 6th April 2020

* Years 5 & 6 Canberra Excursion (19th Oct to 23rd Oct) - Expression of Interest note and $100 non refundable deposit due Monday 6th April 2020

Breakfast Club will again be providing toast and juice to all students in 2020. It will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Mrs Kate Blinman Breakfast Club Organiser

Jesse Adams - Excellent knowledge of all single sounds Angela Hobbs - Excellent counting and number identification skills Zara Steers - Working well in all learning tasks Mackenzie O’Neill - Neat bookwork Joshua Holliday - Demonstrating a strong work ethic during literacy time Lacey Felsman - Making valuable contributions to class discussions Talarah Berrell - Excellent effort in handwriting Lilly Cook - Being a helpful and kind class member Hunter Barnett - His wonderful use of similes Arla Dines - Her contributions during class discussions Joshua Corbett - Impressive ideas in persuasive writing Phoebe Capel - Working hard to complete writing tasks Alijah Siemsen - Improved planning in writing Kaitlyn Hope - Improved effort in writing Isaac Hetherington - Application during Mathematics lessons Lochlan Watts - Excellent effort and improvement in writing Hope Clarke - Increased participation in class discussions Raymond Sydenham - Great work in writing and being an active listener William Lulham - Successfully completing the MiniLit program Addyson Vernon - Working well in Mathematics, great effort with fractions, decimals and percentages Braidy Cork - Persistence in Mathematics

School Banking Thursday

Weekly Awards

Message from the Front Office

Weekly Bronze Awards

Breakfast Club

Clothing Pool will only be open on: Tuesday and Wednesday mornings

9am to 9:30am Please come to the office.

As you are aware the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic. At Kootingal Public School, we have put in place precautionary measures, as suggested by the NSW Department of Education, to lessen the potential for infection. Most measures were taken a number of years ago due to experience in my previous school. I’ve outlined these below. * A meeting with our school's Assets Service Officer was conducted recently in regards to upgrading our hand washing and drying facilities in our student toilet blocks. * We have liquid hand soap dispensers located in all student and staff toilets. * All classrooms have hand washing and drying facilities with liquid soap and paper towels. This has been in place since 2014. * Hand sanitizer has been in classrooms since 2013. All supplies are regularly restocked and/or replenished. * All classrooms have posters regarding safe and effective hand washing procedures and these were both taught to and placed near handwashing facilities in all classrooms.

Until further notice, all community-based events at Kootingal Public School will cease. This includes but is not limited to weekly assemblies, excursions, prize giving ceremonies, sporting excursions, Playgroup etc.

As of last night, the department will include the following: * Enhanced cleaning in all schools from 18th March 2020. * The department will maintain regular contact with all school principals to understand current levels of supplies of soap and hygiene products. * All schools will receive additional provisions of soap and hygiene supplies, such as hand sanitizer. * Principals are to report insufficient soap and hygiene products to the appropriate department personnel. At present, this is a day-by-day situation as principals are constantly updated. Kootingal Public School will continue to notify our school community via text message, notes home and Facebook of the changes. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to make contact to speak with me.

Next week, Kootingal Public School is scheduled to commence its first round of Parent Teacher Interviews. As yet, we have not made a decision in light of the precautionary measures the department is taking in regards to COVID-19. Until this is done, please note we have kept the same process as last year with interviews scheduled over the two weeks (two Tuesdays – 24th March and 31st March) between 4pm and 6pm to cater for families and their increasing demands. Families can schedule the interviews using the School Interviews hyperlink here. The code is a7qh6. If you have any issues, please contact the school. Please note the option to secure an interview will close 9am each day of the interviews. This is so teachers are aware of appointment times and can plan accordingly.

This week our PBL focus is the third of our five whole school expectations, Report issues immediately to a teacher. This expectation is underpinned by the core values Safe and Effective Learners. This expectation is the blue poster.

This week we had a change in the way in which we introduced our PBL focus for the week. As we cancelled our usual Monday afternoon assemblies until further notice, classroom teachers are now introducing the PBL focus for the week.

Last week, our school performed the emergency evacuation well. It was wonderful to see our youngest students following teacher instructions and moving seamlessly to the evacuation area. Following each practice evacuation, the staff review our procedures and identify possible areas for improvement so these can be included in our teachings.

Below is our scope and sequence for Term 1.

Library Borrowing Days KL - Mrs Lawrence - Thursday K/1M - Miss Magann - Thursday 1/2B - Miss Booby - Friday 1/2S - Miss Semmler - Friday 3/4L - Mrs Lulham - Tuesday 3/4W - Miss Warden - Tuesday 4/5B - Miss Bennett - Wednesday 5/6K - Miss Kelly - Wednesday

All students must have a library bag to borrow books to take home. Thank you Mrs Dunn and Mrs Chegwyn

Notice from CommBank School Banking

The heath, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly developing situation with coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused until the start of Term 2. Please don’t bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school and we will notify you when banking will recommence.

Week 8 Five Whole School Expectations - Report issues immediately to a teacher SAFE (follow teacher instructions) - Lockdown procedures

Week 9 Five Whole School Expectations - Accept consequences

Week 10 Five Whole School Expectations - Show concern for others

Week 11 Lesson based on termly data review

PBL NewsMrs Cracknell’s Message

Library News

Student Banking

Issue 2 has arrived at the school, please check your child’s bag. Orders both at the school office and online will closed on Friday 20th March 2020 at 3:30pm.

Canteen Menu Term 1

Cheese Pizza $2.80 Ham & Cheese Pizza $3 Cheeseburger $4 Chicken Burger (cheese, lettuce & mayo) $4 Meat Pie $4 Sausage Roll $3.50 Chicken Nuggets

• Pack of 3 $1.50 • Pack of 6 $3

Ham & Cheese Toastie $2.50 Chicken & Cheese Toastie $2.50 Cheese Toastie $2.30 Milk

• Chocolate $2 • Strawberry $2

Popper • Apple $1 • Tropical $1

Tomato/BBQ Sauce 30c each Other items available for sale during 1st break are:

• Chips 50c • Quelch – 99% fruit juice 50c

All orders must be on a clearly labelled lunch bag with the student’s name and class.

Friday 20th March 2020

Online orders close Friday 20th March

Book Club

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION E cese@det.nsw.edu.au www.cese.nsw.gov.au

Tell Them From Me student survey: Information and consent form for parents and carers

Dear Parents and Carers

In Term 1 2020, our school is taking part in the Tell Them From Me student survey. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve. The survey is completed online and is run by an independent research company, The Learning Bar, which specialises in school-based surveys.

Staff in schools will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. To ensure confidentiality, participating students will receive a unique username and password. Where fewer than five students respond to a question, the results will be suppressed. The survey typically takes 30 minutes or less to complete and will be administered by the school during normal school hours. Once the surveys are completed by students, reports are prepared and in most cases are available to schools within three business days.

As well as schools getting student feedback, the Department of Education, through the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), has access to data from across NSW and is running a research project to look at state-wide patterns of student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices. The research is looking at how these things impact on student outcomes, including academic performance. Individual students will not be identified in any CESE publications, and all information will be handled in accordance with the relevant privacy legislation. Students’ personal information will not be disclosed by the department to any other person or body other than as required by law.

This research will help schools in New South Wales to better understand how to improve student wellbeing and engagement. It will also help teachers and principals discuss what works to improve student outcomes.

Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child will not take part if either you or your child do not wish. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable, he/she can choose to stop the survey at any time. The majority of questions in the survey can be skipped.

If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please complete the attached form and return it to the school by Friday 27th March 2020.

More information about the survey and the research is available in English on the CESE website: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents

Mrs Cara Cracknell Dr Jenny Donovan Principal Executive Director Kootingal Public School Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION E cese@det.nsw.edu.au www.cese.nsw.gov.au

Tell Them From Me Student Feedback Survey non-consent form

If you do not want your child to participate in the student feedback survey, please sign this form and return it to the school by Friday 27th March 2020.

I DO NOT give consent for my child/children to participate in the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. Name of student 1 Roll class of student 1 ………………………………………………………………… ………………………………. Name of student 2 Roll class of student 2 ………………………………………………………………… ……………………………….. Name of student 3 Roll class of student 3 ………………………………………………………………… ………………………………. Name of student 4 Roll class of student 4 ………………………………………………………………… ……………………………….. Name of parent/carer ………………………………………………………………………... Signature of parent/carer ……………………………………………………………………. Date …………………...................

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION WWW.CESE.NSW.GOV.AU

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation

Tell Them From Me student surveyFrequently Asked Questions (parents and carers)

1. What is the Tell Them From Me student survey?The Tell Them From Me student survey asks questions about factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other outcomes. It aims to help improve the learning outcomes of students. The survey is designed to measure, assess and report insights from the student point of view at the school and system levels. The focus of this NSW survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

2. What kind of questions will the survey ask?The survey questions relate to the following measures for primary schools:

Participation in sports and extra-curricular activities

Behaviour at school

Effective learning time

Use of ICT for learning

Homework behaviour

Teaching relevance and rigour

Sense of belonging

Interest and motivation

Perseverance

Positive relationships

EffortExperience of being bullied

Valuing school outcomes

Skills and learning challenge

Advocacy at school

Positive teacher- student relations

Expectations forsuccess

Positive learningclimate

The survey questions relate to the following measures for secondary schools:

Participation in sports and extra-curricular activities

Homework behaviour

Expectations forsuccess

Skills and learning challenge

Academic self-concept

Behaviour at school

Experience of being bullied

TruancySense

of belonging

Interest and motivation

Effective learning time

Aspirations: finishing Year 12, University, TAFE

Positive relationships

EffortTeaching relevance

and rigour

WellnessValuing

school outcomesPositive learning

climate

Academic buoyancy

Advocacy at school

Advocacy outside school

Positive teacher- student relations

Use of ICT for learning

Perseverance

3. How have schools been selected to take part?The survey is open to all NSW government schools at no cost to them. Your child’s school has decided to participate.

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION WWW.CESE.NSW.GOV.AU

4. How will taking part in this survey benefit my child’s school?The Tell Them From Me student survey will provide school principals and school leaders with insight into student engagement, wellbeing and effective teaching practices at their school, from the perspective of students.

Data collected from the survey responses are quickly compiled into reports for school leaders. Principals can then use this information to help them identify emerging issues and plan for school improvement.

5. What does my child need to do to participate in the survey?The survey typically takes less than 30 minutes and is conducted entirely online through a secure website operated by the survey developers, The Learning Bar. Schools will make computers or laptops available so that students can complete the survey during school hours.

6. Does my child have to participate?No, participation in the survey is optional. Your child will not take part if either you or your child do not wish. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable, he/she can choose to stop the survey at any time. The majority of questions in the survey can be skipped. Parents/students have a right to apply for access to, and correction of, a student’s information.

7. Will the school be able to identify my child from their responses?Staff in schools will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. To ensure confidentiality, participating students will receive a unique username and password. Where fewer than five students respond to a question, the results will not be made available.

A small number of staff in the department’s Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) will have access to individual student responses for the purpose of state-wide

analysis. Individual students’ data will be held on a secure server with access strictly limited to CESE researchers. The researchers are interested in trends only – not in individual student responses. No student will be identified in any publication. No school will be identified unless they have given permission.

8. What sort of analysis will be done on the survey data?Once the surveys are completed by students, reports are prepared and in most cases are available to schools within three business days. School leaders can use the data to better understand the experiences and views of students at their school.

CESE will undertake state-wide analysis of the survey data in conjunction with existing student data held by the department, including performance data.

The results will help all schools better understand the relationship between wellbeing, engagement, effective teaching and student learning. Results from CESE’s analysis of this data will also help teachers and principals discuss what works to improve student outcomes. This supports the department’s continuing focus on quality teaching and leadership. The data will be retained for future analysis to help us better understand the nature of student engagement and wellbeing over time.

9. Can all school students participate in the survey?The primary school survey is designed for students in Years 4 to 6. Schools are encouraged to allow as many students as possible in these year groups to participate. Secondary schools are encouraged to allow as many students as possible in Years 7 to 12 to participate.

10. When will the Tell Them From Me survey happen?The surveys will be conducted in all participating schools at the end of Term 1 and (optionally) Term 3/4.

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION WWW.CESE.NSW.GOV.AU

What is CESE?The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) is part of the NSW Department of Education.

CESE has been established to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of education in New South Wales. CESE will identify and share what works, creating new opportunities to improve teaching and learning across all of education.

More information about CESE is available at: www.cese.nsw.gov.au

What is The Learning Bar?The Learning Bar specialises in research-based design and facilitation of student assessments and survey solutions for both primary and secondary students. The in-house research team led by the President, Dr J Douglas Willms, undertakes extensive projects used in the school system to affect national policy. It is against this research that the survey, Tell Them From Me, has become the largest national school survey in Canada, used in nine of the ten provinces. Globally, more than 6,300 schools and 5.4 million students have participated in the survey over the last twelve years.

Dr Willms recently held the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Literacy and Human Development. He plays a lead role in the development of questions on student engagement for the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

For purely administrative purposes, The Learning Bar will also have temporary access to identifiable student responses to the survey questions. Other than The Learning Bar and CESE researchers within the department, identifiable student responses will not be disclosed to any other person or body other than as required by law.

More information about The Learning Bar is available at: www.thelearningbar.com

If you have any questions about the parent survey, please contact CESE via email: TTFM@det.nsw.edu.au or by telephone: 1300 131 499.