Dear Primary Families,
You may have noticed there was no Broadcaster message from me last week, as unfortunately I was unwell and absent from school for the whole week. I have been very pleased to be back this week and to reconnect with colleagues and, most importantly, our students. There is nothing quite like a few days away to remind you just how much energy there is in a Primary School!
Learning Across Primary
One of the things I have particularly enjoyed since returning has been getting back into classrooms and seeing how engaged our students are with their current Units of Inquiry.
In KG1, our youngest learners are exploring their Who We Are unit and developing their understanding of what it means to be part of a school community. At the other end of Primary, our Grade 6 students are well into their Where We Are in Place and Time unit, exploring migration and the different push and pull factors that influence why people move from one place to another.
Of course, there is plenty happening in all the grades in between! Visiting classrooms provides a wonderful opportunity to see the PYP in action and to hear students talking about their learning, asking questions, making connections, and developing new understandings.
Working Together as Teachers
Another highlight for me this week was joining our Primary teachers to moderate student writing samples during our regular team meeting.
Moderation is an important part of our work as a teaching team. Teachers come together to look closely at examples of student work, discuss the evidence of learning they can see, and develop a shared understanding of expectations and standards across the school.
These professional conversations are valuable for teachers, helping us to develop greater consistency in the way we assess and respond to student learning. Ultimately, this benefits our students too. A shared understanding of what progress looks like helps teachers identify strengths, recognise next steps, and plan learning that responds appropriately to the needs of individual students.
For parents, an important takeaway from this is that progress is about much more than a score or a single piece of work. We are continually looking at what students can already do, the progress they are making, and what they are ready to learn next. When your child shares learning with you at home, whether through Seesaw or simply by talking about their day, asking questions such as “What are you proud of?”, “What did you find challenging?” or “What are you working on next?” can help encourage that same reflective approach to learning.
Two Weeks to Go!
It is difficult to believe that we now have just two more weeks of school before the October break. It feels like only yesterday that we were welcoming students through the gates for the first day of the new school year!
Next week, we look forward to our Grade 3 and Grade 4 Learning Celebration Assembly, when students will have the opportunity to share some of their learning with the Primary community. We will then head towards the October break with our Grade 1 and Grade 2 Learning Celebration Assembly on Thursday, 15th October.
As always, thank you for your continued support and for the important part you play in your child’s learning. Wishing you and your families a wonderful weekend.
Best regards,
Matthew
Primary Principal
Dates Ahead
- Thursday, 1st October (12:20–1:00 pm): Grade 3–4 Learning Celebration Assembly
- Thursday, 15th October (12:20–1:00 pm): Grade 1–2 Learning Celebration Assembly