Issue 4 Friday 21 March 2025
Principal Mark Winrow
It was wonderful to enjoy a full week of learning at school. The big event for us this week was NAPLAN. The mandated expectations in implementing NAPLAN do not allow for many of the usual supports to be in place, or for teachers to provide students with prompts and assistance. This can be very difficult for students and staff, so I truly commend both our students and staff for tackling the challenges of NAPLAN with courage. The results of these tests will take some time to become available and are only used as low stakes data. Our teachers have a far more intimate knowledge of their students’ strengths and areas for improvement than these tests provide. The results are not used for student reporting.
You will soon receive an invitation to attend a Parent-Teacher Interview. I strongly encourage you to take this opportunity to hear about your child’s current progress. This investment of time also demonstrates to your child the importance you place on their education.
Unfortunately, our play areas continue to be restricted while the potential contamination of our oval is investigated and resolved. The process has been delayed by contractor availability as a result of Cyclone Alfred. I do wish to reiterate our commitment to the health and safety of your children in keeping these areas restricted. We have been able to work with the team to map out a safe track for our Cross Country. It was advised that we give the track an extra week to dry out to ensure its safety. I thank the community for their understanding and patience.
This week we have celebrated Harmony Week. I spoke on parade about the intent of Harmony Week being to embrace and celebrate the differences of people from diverse backgrounds. Our school values of Caring, Curious, Collaborative and Courageous all focus on how we can embrace diversity to create a harmonious community. At Carbrook, we are very lucky to have families from an array of backgrounds. Today the children were encouraged to wear orange and participate in a range of lunchtime activities organised by our outstanding School Leaders. It was a wonderful culmination of our celebrations.
Each year our school uses our range of data sets to identify key priorities to guide our work for the year. This year we have identified the following priorities:
- Improve students’ reading outcomes by developing and implementing a consistent whole-school approach to the teaching of reading (aligned to the latest research).
- Improve students’ engagement with learning by reviewing our whole-school behaviour support structures, implementing high-impact teaching practices and delivering differentiated teaching and learning.
We look forward to reporting our progress against these priorities throughout the year. We have started strong by reviewing current practices and consulting the research for best practices for us to investigate. We hope to offer some parent information sessions through the year and updates in the newsletter.
With the end of term fast approaching, many classes are engaging in assessment over the next 2 weeks to measure students’ achievement. Teachers need students at school every minute of every day to maximise the learning and accurately measure achievement. Please make a concerted effort to send children for every minute of every day when they are well enough.
Arts Kat Boobyer
Senior students learned a neon technique combining oil and chalk pastels to collaborate on this amazing NAIDOC-themed artwork.
This year marks NAIDOC’s 50th year - don’t forget individual entries close on Tuesday April 1 and must include the text below.
Preps have had a great time designing and building their own musical instruments to play a traditional Torres Strait Islander song about the reef. They’ve also collaborated to construct this amazing glowing underwater mural, teeming with sea life!
Students from Years 1 and 2 have been honing their visual art techniques in impressive Melanie Hava-inspired mixed-media works, and building then testing their ‘mamandur’ spinning toys.
Year 3 and 4 learners have been upskilling their joining techniques in preparation for upcycling their textiles. A huge thanks for your support in supplying these!
Science Kat Boobyer
SLEEK GEEKS SCIENCE COMPETITION
Curious about science? Who isn’t? It’s fascinating! Creative with your media skills? I know you are, Carbrook legends! There’s a $2000 first prize up for grabs in the Australian Museum’s Sleek Geeks Eureka Competition. Students do a deep dive into any scientific concept that interests them and make a short video about it. Talk about another glorious blend of STEM and the Arts! Dr Karl has some ideas to help budding science presenters choose their topic on the site. Entries close on the Monday 14 April - check it all out here: https://australian.museum/get-involved/eureka-prizes/sleek-geeks-science/
Positive Behaviour Learning News
Positive Behaviour Learning
In Weeks 7 and 8 our PBL focus was
Rule: To Be Respectful
Expectation: I will play fairly and respectfully with my peers.
Fair play vouchers
Students are given fair play vouchers in the playground for playing fairly and displaying the 4Bs in the playground. * Be Responsible
* Be Respectful
* Be Safe
* Be a Learner
The fair play vouchers are all placed in a box and two students names are called out each week on assembly.
If your child wins a fair play voucher, they are given a voucher from McDonalds for a free sundae!