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The NSW Department of Education's new School Success Model replaces Local Schools, Local Decisions. The new model complements other school improvement work currently under way such as the curriculum review reforms and will help ensure that every student, teacher, leader and school improves every year.
The School Success Model delivers greater clarity on school improvement and system responsibility, as well as better guidance on best practice teaching and learning to lift student performance across the NSW public education system.
The School Success Model builds on existing foundations - particularly the School Excellence Framework and the Strategic Improvement Plan. The School Success Model balances stronger support for schools to make evidence-based decisions with clearer responsibilities for performance targets.
Our schools are responsible for improving student outcomes and have signed up for ambitious student performance targets.
The School Success Model commenced Day 1 Term 1 2021, with a phased implementation. In 2021, Phase 1 delivers student performance targets, tailored and triaged support for schools that need it the most, a pilot program for high performing schools, strengthened system guidance, and reduced administrative burden. Schools will complete the School Excellence in Action planning process by the end of Term 1, which will set out their strategic improvement plans for achieving their student performance targets. This process links the school planning process with the School Excellence Framework self-assessment and external validation processes.
In addition to the targets outlined here, all Year 1 students will be required to undergo a compulsory Phonics Screening Check from 2021. Student wellbeing targets will be baselined in 2021.
Target area | Department targets | School Targets |
NAPLAN | Increase public school students in top two NAPLAN bands for literacy and numeracy by 15%. (Premier's Priority 2023) | Individual school targets in place from 2020. |
Attendance | Public school students attending school at least 90% of the time from 79.4% (2018) to 82% (2022) Primary and 64.5% (2018) to 70% (2022) Secondary. | Individual school targets in place from 2021. |
Student growth (equity) | Public School students achieving expected growth in reading and numeracy from 62.3% (2018) to 66.4% (2022) | Individual school targets in place from 2021 |
As part of our new 2021-2024 Management Plans now known as School Improvement Plans - SIP Blackwell has targeted three main Strategic Directions.
The school will focus on Literacy and Numeracy to ensure all our students reach their potential and achieve all outcomes required at their respective stage. We want every student to show one year's growth for one year attendance at school.
Our next target is attendance. We want 90% of our students to be here at school 90% of the time. That is the minimum requirement as we would hope that every student was able to attend every day. Not realistic I know, especially when we are asking that sick children should not be at school but we can often have nearly 80 students away on any given day.
Our last focus area is on Student Engagement. Effort builds Reward! We are striving to build GRIT, determination, resilience, whatever term that fosters that willingness to "Have a go," accept a challenge and persist. If we could master all these what a wonderful place this would be!!!
These are the goals we have set ourselves and, as usual, we are not in this alone. Your continued support and encouragement are invaluable in building the necessary paths to success.
Our P&C AGM held on Monday night was a great opportunity to discuss our goals and plans and will continue to be a focus for the meetings to come. It was the first time in a year that we were able to meet face to face. Although few in number, a new executive team was elected and I would like to again thank those parents that accept the opportunity to meet and rise issues that support the school community. I have included the President's Report as well as mine and welcome the newly elected 2021 team.
Congratulations to our swimmers on both a successful School Carnival and District Carnival held last week. The weather allowed both to take place and a great time was had by all. Special mention to Mrs Reed for her organisational skills behind both scenes.
Thanks also to our SRC who attended Longneck Lagoon last week. The Principal did take the time to call us and commend the behaviour of our students. A very pleasant phone call and one we appreciate.
PSSA Trials have also been completed with Mr Brown and Mr Samuels participating as coaches and sport coordinators. Never an easy task with sometimes 80 keen players trying out for a team of ten!
Well done to all students who participated in these events!!! Congratulations on your personal successes!
Kristine Hudswell
Principal
A note from the Deputy Principal
What a few busy weeks we have had! Our students have participated in the Swimming Carnival, District Swimming Carnival, District PSSA trials and SRC have attended the Longneck Lagoon Leadership day. Our students were a credit on each of these days. When the Principal from Longneck Lagoon rang it was wonderful to hear that Layne, in particular, were so cooperative, well-mannered and respectful. This is the great news we like to hear. Well done boys and girls.
Coming Up:
Stage 2 – Riverside Theatre Excursion – “The Midnight Gang”. Tuesday 9th March – Please arrive at school on time to have rolls marked.
Selective High School 2022 Testing – Erskine Park High School, 9.00 – 1.30pm – Thursday 11th March - Students go straight to the High School. Parents are to leave once your child is in the exam centre. Students need to be picked up at 1.30pm. Ensure recess and lunch is brought along on the day. Information about this should have been sent to you. Any queries please ring Mrs Wilson.
Harmony Week – 15th March to 19th March.
School Photo Day – Thursday 18th March. Class photos will be taken as well as Sibling photos. Please see information for payment in this newsletter. Please have your child wear FULL school summer uniform. Black shoes and white socks are only to be worn. No jewellery or other adornment is to be worn. Shirts will have the collar unbuttoned (parents have requested this). Sibling phots will be taken on the day. Families will be called down to the Hall when it is their time to be photographed. Each family will wait in a line to get their names marked off before they are photographed. I’m sure your child will look Spic ’n’ Span on the day.
SRC Induction Assembly – Monday 22nd March. A note will be sent home to invite one parent to attend this assembly. QR coding and COVID 19 check in is required.
This year our school and staff will be looking at establishing a schoolwide Learning Culture of aspiration and good learning so there is a focus on student skills that demonstrate good learning where each student and teacher have high expectations which includes having a Growth Mindset.
Professional development for our teachers in Term 1 will concentrate on what good learners are. Do you know what a good learner is or does? Most of our students respond with the rules and expectations that have been set up e.g. listen to the teacher, put up your hand, work quietly.
A GOOD LEARNER is more than that. To be a good learner all students (including adults) need to have a Growth Mindset and show certain dispositions of learning. The staff is focusing in on Growth Mindsets at the moment. Many classes have spoken about this in previous years, but we want to have an overall expectation of each child having a Growth mindset, each child showing the following characteristics:
- Believing in myself
- Reaching
- I haven’t figured it out yet
- I am brave enough to try
- I can do difficult things
- I learn from my mistakes
- I put in effort
- I stick with things and don’t give up easily
- I ask for help when I need it
- I focus on my own results and don’t compare myself to others
- I will try a different strategy
- I strive for progress, not perfection.
- I can dream it, I can do it!
- I am brave
- I Love to Learn
Using this language at home, talking about making mistakes, keeping on trying, putting in effort will help consolidate this with what is being taught at school.
Over the next few newsletters I will give you some ideas, books, films and videos, to use at home.
In this newsletter I have “A Parent’s Guide to a Growth Mindset”. I hope it is helpful for you. The message is that our brains can grow, we do not have to be limited when we think we can’t do something or we are not good at anything. Having a mind frame with positive thoughts and messages of yourself is the key. Let’s all hope we can develop this in ourselves. I know, I’m still learning and learning from my mistakes but get up again, and keep on trying. How about you? How about your family or child?
For more information, a great site to visit is Big Life Journal – biglifejournal.com.au
The P&C Executives for 2021 are:
Presidents: Mary Geddes
Esta Shortland
Secretary: Brooke Crelley
Treasurer: Jo Dawes
P&C Meetings are held once a month on the
1st Monday of the month.
The next P&C meeting will be held on:
When: Monday, 3rd May 2021
Time: 7pm
Where: Blackwell Public School
New members welcome
Make sure you add yourself to the new P&C Facebook Page.
Don't forget to answer the security questions so we can approve your requests.
School Invoices for Term 1, 2021 have gone out to students today, outlining any outstanding monies owing.
Parents are able to make online payments to the school for amounts owing for students, via a secure payment page hosted by Westpac. Payments can be made using either a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, and can be made via computer. The payment page is accessed from the front page of the schools website by selecting $ Make a payment Button below.
Items that can be paid include the school pack, excursions, creative and practical arts activities (these include choir, drama and dance). There is also a category called ‘Other’ to cover items not covered in the previous headings. Other can be used to make a complete payment of a school invoice.
When you access the $ Make a payment you must enter:
- the students name and class, date of birth
- contact details-full name, phone number and email address
- payment item-other, then description
These details are entered each time you make a payment as student information is not held within the payment system.
This is a secure payment system hosted by Westpac to ensure that your credit/debit card details are captured in a secure manner, these details are not passed back to the school.
You have the ability to check and change any details of the payment before the payment is processed
Details of the payments are passed daily to the school where they will be receipted against your child’s account. For any enquiries regarding the Online Payment process please contact the School Administration Office.
**PLEASE NOTE** Please do not pay any online payments which should be paid to a third party provider. For Example, School Photographers; P&C Fund-Raising etc. If unsure please call the school to check. CASH Only when paying at the Front Office.
Upcoming Events
Book Packs - 2021
Yarramundi YMCA Camp
Who: Year 4 Students
When: Thursday, 17th June & Friday, 18th June 2021
Cost: $200
Balance due Friday, 21st May 2021.
Stewart House Donation
If any family/student would like to make a donation to Stewart House. Please return the envelope (envelope has been sent home today to all students) by Friday, 7th May.
Medication at School
Please ensure that the front office has ALL of your updated medical information and any medication required.
All Anaphylaxis & Asthma Plans need to be updated annually.
If prescribed medication is to be given to students at school, a blister pack either supplied from the chemist or in its original packaging is now required. Medication that needs to be cut will need to be done so by a pharmacist and delivered to the school in a blister pack.
Contact Information
Please ensure your contact details are updated at the front office so we can to contact you.
A Letter from Our World Vision Sponsor Child
Phiri Grace
WEBSITE
https://blackwell-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
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Tuesday 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Thursday 8.30am to 9.30am