School Improvement Planning

In 2021 we are keen to continue to improve our school to ensure our students have the best opportunity to be successful learners. Below is a summary of our key actions:

Getting to Know You Chats

Getting to know you chats will be offered to K-6 families during week 4, Monday 22 February to Friday 26 February.

Why?

• Get to know your child’s teacher
• See where they spend their days
• Tell us more about your child
• Discuss any additional needs
• Find out how your child has settled
• Let the teacher know if you would like to get involved or have skills to share

How to Book

Follow the link below:

https://ngunnawalps.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/7

Below is a guide if booking for the first time.

The link will be open from Thursday 11 February to Friday 19 February.

Students with ILPS

If you have a child who requires an Individual Learning Plan please book a double time slot.

Preschool

Preschool teachers welcome families to get in touch if you would like to meet. Teachers will also contact anyone they didn’t get to meet with at the end of last year. 

Seesaw

Class Seesaw will be up and running in week 3. Once you have created your account you will be able to see your child’s digital learning portfolio. You should expect a post from your child’s teacher introducing themselves, how to contact them as well as some classroom admin.

Across the school we are trying to maintain a similar experience for all students and their families by keeping to one post a fortnight for each child that reflects their learning journey.

Preschool parents can expect to receive a post called ‘the fortnight that was’ in weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 each term describing the learning that took place over the previous fortnight.

For kindergarten to year 6 you can expect to receive a post on the Monday of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 describing the learning ahead called ‘the fortnight ahead’.  

For years 3 – 6 the upcoming learning will include a learning challenge for the home learning component.

In the fortnightly posts, where appropriate, teachers will include a link to resources parents can access to help support student learning.

You can like a post or comment. Encouraging comments are welcome and will be approved by the teacher.

Ensuring all Students are Successful

At Ngunnawal Primary School, we are committed to understanding your child’s educational needs and making the required adjustments to support students to achieve their full potential. Each year, teachers undertake a process to ensure key information about each child is transferred to the new classroom teacher, including knowledge about their Individual Learning Plan, Adjustment Matrix, Integration Plan or Personalised grades.

What is an ILP and who are they for?

An Individual Learning Plan identifies the student’s individual needs, pathway, goals and priorities for learning. Any student who is in care, receives funding through Disability Education, is accelerated due to their giftedness or has a personalised program (P grade and report) will have an ILP.

If your child has an ILP, 2021 goals will be discussed at our Getting to Know You Chats in Week 4. Please make sure you book a double timeslot for these important conversations. ILPs will then be finalised and sent home in Week 9, this term.

In term 2, you will receive an annotated ILP with your semester 1 reports.

In term 3, the ILP goals will be reviewed with you for semester 2 and then in term 4, you will receive the final annotated ILP with progress towards achieving the semester’s goals.

What is an Adjustment Matrix?

The Adjustment Matrix supports schools to identify personalised adjustments  for a student to access, participate and achieve in learning. An Adjustment Matrix may be a first step before an ILP. Adjustments may include using a device for writing, sitting in a particular place within the classroom, or allowing more time to complete a task. 

What is an Integration/Inclusion Plan?

This year we have three Learning Support Units. During the week, most students from these classes will integrate into a mainstream class for identified areas of learning. The amount of time and areas of learning identified will vary depending on each child’s individual needs. Integration meetings are starting to take place now, and parents will be informed in the coming weeks of the integration plan and agreed learning goals set out by the LSU and mainstream teacher.

What is a personalised grade?

Students on ILPs, who are operating above or below their academic year level for areas of the Australian Curriculum, will have a P (personalised) grade for that particular area. If your child has been identified as requiring a P grade, you will receive a letter later this term outlining the personalised learning areas and the relevant links to the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards. Your child’s achievement of the personalised learning will then be reflected on the end of semester reports.  

Rebecca Turner

Principal

Year 5/6 Spotlight on Learning

Self portraits

As a part of our ‘getting to know you’ and identity activities, the Year 5/6’s created a range of self portraits in Art. Before we began we looked at the elements when drawing a face. Some of the portraits included a realistic half of the face and the other half was filled with objects and hobbies that reflect our personality.

Mindfulness
This year students in years five and six have been investigating the practice of Mindfulness. We are learning that with mindfulness practise the parts of our brain that help us deal with difficult emotions, impulse control and learning get more active. When we are mindful, we get to decide how we respond to life’s challenges and we can more easily make good choices.
Some ways that we can practise Mindfulness at school include
- Guided Meditation (Smiling Minds)
- Zen Walks
- Mindful Colouring (with a set focus)
- Gratitude Journals 

PE 

During PE, we have been focusing on team building within the 5/6 cohort. Students have been exposed to various combinations of fundamental movement and technical skills playing Ultimate capture the flag and soccer. These activities focus on developing students' ABC’s, Agility, balance and coordination.

Maths

As a prelude to our studies on place value in whole number during weeks 3 and 4, students have been investigating numeral systems. After discussing and defining the difference between numbers and numerals, students worked in groups to research the numeral systems used by other cultural groups and civilizations throughout history.

This fortnight, the students have embarked on activities to familiarise themselves with each other and their teachers through a variety of STEM activities. Students have discussed their goals and aspirations for this year and thought about actions to help them achieve their goals. 

Please make sure you follow the entry and exit signs in our car park. We have had some near misses with drivers exiting through the entry.

NGUNNAWAL PRIMARY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS 2021

We want YOU for the Ngunnawal Primary School Board!

If you’re keen to contribute to the governance of NPS, you should nominate for a position on the NPS Board. No prior experience is necessary.

The following positions are vacant:

• 2 x staff member positions; (2 year appointment )
• 1 x P & C member positions; (2 year appointment )

Nominations open 3.00 pm, Tuesday, 9 February 2021 and close on 3.00pm Tuesday , 23 February 2021.

The nomination form is attached or you can pick up a nomination form from the NPS front office, during normal business hours (9.00am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday), or request one be emailed or faxed to you.

You can submit your nomination by:

• hand deliver to the NPS front offices and place it in the secure box.
• email to larissa.davis@ed.act.edu.au 
• mail to ARO, c/- NPS front office

For more information, contact the Assistant Returning Officer, Larissa Davis on 614 21500.

Just a reminder that it is ACT policy that no dogs are to be brought onto school grounds with the exception of service dogs.

Under the Domestic Animals Act 2000, domestic animals may not be taken on to school grounds, (or fields or playing areas where training or sport is being conducted), without permission of the principal.

Assistance Animal
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA) in Section 9, sets out the legal definition of an assistance animal as a dog or other animal that:
(a) is accredited under a State or Territory law to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effects of disability; or
(b) is accredited by an animal training organisation prescribed in the regulations; or
(c) is trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability and meets standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place.

Grants of $1000 available now to help women return to work!

The ACT Women’s Return to Work (RTW) Grants Program is an ACT Government initiative which supports women who have been out of the workforce for an extended period onto pathways to meaningful and stable employment. Successful applicants can access a $1,000 grant which can be used for a range of activities and resources including: education and training fees, educational expenses such as textbooks, computers/software and transport to courses/study, or work-related expenses such as clothing, uniforms and equipment and childcare. The RTW Program includes wrap-around support and mentoring delivered by a community partner for eligible participants.

Enquiries about the RTW Program can be made at the below contact details:

Phone or text the Grants Coordinator on : 0466 856 760 or email CSDRTW@act.gov.au

Online application and more information about the Return to Work Grant is available at  communityservices.act.gov.au/women/return-to-work-grants-program