Collaboration
As promised in last weeks bulletin edition, there will be a bit more information about Collaboration and why it is important. As a person who is relatively new to IEPS one of the biggest first impressions that is unmissable is the way that collaboration is embedded in our school.
Our students are absolutely outstanding at working together, helping each other and providing feedback. The way that our teaching teams are organised are based on collaborative structures. It is evident that our parents are keen to support the learning and well-being outcomes of our students as well.
So why is collaboration important?
There are a number of reasons - firstly the School-based reason comes from the Great Teaching Toolkit which rates “Promoting a positive climate of student-student relationships, characterised by respect, trust, cooperation and care” as one of its key high leverage actions. The second reason why, is its importance to the future world of work. The Phoenix Institute(mentioned last week) has social intelligence, transdisciplinary teams and virtual collaboration listed amongst its ten top skills for the future work force. This is also backed up by the OECD studies around this same topic (Google Andreas Schleicher OECD for more of this information).
One small step
We have had a look at the most recent DET Operations Guide which gives schools direction as to what we have to do to be COVID safe. The most recent relaxation of the rules means that we can have whole school assemblies that involves staff and students from the same school. See the section below from the guide.
If an event is held exclusively with students and staff from a single school during or outside of school hours, density limits do not apply to the venue or dancefloor, regardless of whether the event is held at school or at a hospitality venue, entertainment facility or community facilities.
Unfortunately though if we invite parents to attend, then the following limits have to apply (once again taken direct from the Guide) and this means that we can't all fit into the gym.
If an event is held with external guests (parents/carers/visitors) then the overall attendee limit (inclusive of guests, staff and students) must be based on available floor space of the venue; with the density limit of one person per two square metres applied.
Our whole school assemblies for staff and students only will recommence on May 17th.
Our leadership team however will be exploring ways in which we can have events that our parents can attend. Perhaps we can run events in sub -schools, perhaps we can have outdoor events , perhaps there are options we haven’t thought of.
If you have any questions about this or anything else feel free to contact me
brett.millott@education.vic.gov.au
Congratulations and an invitation
I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the way that our Grade 6 students are representing our school. Over the last couple of weeks I have visited our interschool sports games and have come away with the following observations-
- Our students are extraordinarily positive and supportive of each other
- Our students are respectful of the umpires and of the team they are playing against
- Our students behaviour is in the spirit of the game always
- Our teacher and parent coaches do a great job in developing the skills and attitudes of individuals and the group as a whole.
At times junior sport has received a bit of negative publicity but this is certainly not the case at IEPS in 2021.
Library Club
Last Tuesday saw the relaunch of the Lunchtime Library Club. There were over seventy students who turned up to read, draw, play chess, play jenga and engage in any number of fun activities. Library Club is an initiative that has restarted due to the efforts of our Principal Advisory Group .
A very special thank you to Hanka our Library Tech who will help me to run Lunchtime Library on a regular basis.
Brett Millott.