Preparation for 2023

As 2022 is winding down, we also finalising our preparations for 2023. Along with organising class groups and their configurations, we are very excited to welcome new teachers to the Campbell Community. Joining our team is, Esther Riebe, Sally Jones and Yani Wilson who all completed their internships at Campbell. We also welcome Max de Kievith, who is joining us from Margaret Hendry Primary School.

Our class structures will look as follows*:

 Our class configurations are carefully considered and factor in a range of things. We consider:

• the needs of the cohorts
• maximising the use of our contemporary learning areas
• the experience of the teachers and providing structures that allow for mentoring and coaching

*As families are aware, we can make every attempt to lay out the plans for 2023, however, we do have a rather transient community and may have an influx of students in January. If this is the case, and class configurations need to change, we will communicate those changes with families before returning to school in 2023.

During Week 10 students will participate in a transition visit, where they will spend some time with their 2023 classroom teacher (subject to availability) in their new learning areas. A welcome letter from their 2023 classroom teacher and a social story with photos of their new learning areas will be emailed out to families after that transition visit.  

The last three Terms in our new learning areas have certainly offered a steep learning curve for all of us. The students, staff and community been incredibly resilient and understanding. We are very excited to start next year, drawing from our experiences and building upon the ways we utilise our spaces with a focus on innovation and student-centred approaches.

On the note of staffing, I will take this opportunity to farewell four staff members. Rebecca Whalan has been at Campbell since 2014. During her time at Campbell, she has worked as a classroom teacher and in specialist teaching roles. Over the last couple of years, we have utilised Rebecca’s knowledge around students’ global/fine motor development and implemented adjustments and whole cohort programs. In her next adventure, Rebecca will continue to work supporting children with additional needs and their families.

Lauren Corcoran who is currently our physical education specialist in the year 3/4 team but has worked across the school in specialist teacher and classroom teacher roles has accepted a position in the public service. Lauren is very passionate about the physical needs and improvements of our students’ fundamental movement skills. I believe there are some photos of Lauren leading our students in a whole school aerobic fitness class on the old quadrangle. We wish Lauren the best of luck in her new adventure.

Flo Wellfair is leaving us as she is moving to Darwin. Flo has been working with the year 3/4 team and even though she has only been with us for two terms, we are certainly going to miss her. Flo inherited the 3/4C class and instantly built a safe and calm space with her students. We are so thankful for the short time we have had with her.

Angela Brown has officially retired! Angela has been a part of the Campbell Primary School Community since 2012. During her time, she has taught across the school and been an incredibly calm and caring teacher with has always been happy to share her wealth of experience. Not long ago, Angela visited the school and was inundated with cuddles and smiles from the students. They, just like the staff, have clearly missed her. We wish Angela a retirement full of adventure, travel, and time with her loved ones.

2022 Satisfaction Survey Data Results

The staff at Campbell has spent some time during a recent staff meeting to look at the results from our 2022 Satisfaction Survey. As mentioned in last newsletter, we had 129 students, 27 staff and 126 parent/carers complete the survey. Data from the survey helps us develop the school’s Annual Plans.

There was a significant drop in some of the student data. The teachers have spent time unpacking the results with the students, gathering ideas/reflections as we move forward. One question which was revisited and explored was ‘My teachers give useful feedback’, which received a 12% drop from our 2021 results. The students identified that there were some misconceptions to the difference between verbal and written feedback, that feedback wasn’t consistent from teacher to teacher and that sometimes feedback was hard to find. The teachers worked collaboratively to identify some actions to address these misconceptions when establishing their learning areas in 2023.  Teachers will:

• have a more consistent approach when providing verbal feedback, for example, referring to marking rubrics
• give feedback through rubrics
• explicitly teach students ways to implement feedback
• organise a booking system for students to access further unpacking of feedback
• provide students will lots of opportunities to practise reading and implementing feedback

We were very excited to read our Parent/Carer responses. Across the 25 questions, the percentage of families answering ‘Agree/Strongly Agree’ was above, across all questions, compared to other ACT Primary Schools. Please see the table below for some highlights:                       

 Thank you all who completed the survey.

 Take care

A/g Principal

Erin Minehan

Transitions 

Our transition period into 2023 has well and truly commenced! Children have visited preschool for a Come and Play session, and our Preschoolers have been visiting Kindergarten in preparation for the new year. On Thursday of Week 10, our Kindergarten to Year 5 students and staff will shuffle into their 2023 cohorts to spend some time together in their new spaces. 

Effective transitions are a way for us to support our learners to have a settled start in 2023. After our transition morning in Week 10, students will receive a letter (with a photo) from their 2023 classroom teacher. We are hoping that this may be a way to ease nerves over the summer holidays and to support children to return to school feeling confident and ready to learn! 

Semester 2 Academic Reports 

On Tuesday, Kindergarten to Year 6 families received a TEST email, to ensure that we have correct email addresses for families to receive academic reports on Monday 5 December. Much like last semester, Kindergarten to Year 6 Reports do not contain teacher comments again this semester. This is a key part of the measures the Education Directorate have put in place to manage teacher workload since the Covid-19 pandemic.  Families may request to meet with teachers for further clarification of grades if required. Preschool reports will be sent home on Wednesday 7 December. We look forward to sharing and celebrating the learning that our students have done this semester with families. 

P-2 Community Picnic

We are looking forward to getting together as a ‘junior school’ community and celebrating the big and wonderful year that 2022 has been for our little people! We are so proud of their achievements and they are very excited to share a picnic lunch with families and perform a mini concert for everyone. The P&C has organised yummy picnic boxes for families to order if they wish, available for $15 through Flexischools. 

Pupil Free Day

This Monday was our final ‘pupil free day’ for 2022. Whilst we missed the children very much, it was a wonderful opportunity for staff to meet new team members who are joining us next year, as well as to spend time planning, working in committees and preparing for 2023. 

Staff participated in a Professional Learning (PL) about Disability Education, ran by Mrs Imogen Micieli. The focus of this PL was the Education Directorate’s Discussion Paper on their commitment to strengthening Inclusive Education in the ACT. We explored potential action areas for bolstering Disability Education within a mainstream setting and reflected on our own positions as Educators. Thank you Mrs Micieli! 

A/g Deputy Principal

Kate Herrington

We love to celebrate the achievements of our students both at school and in their other endeavours. 

Below is a report about Jake in Year 6, whose hard work and persistence in gymnastics is being rewarded! Thank you to Katelijne for sharing! 

Jake started gymnastics as a recreational activity (1.5 hrs) on a Saturday morning at Lyneham in term 4 of 2017.  By the end of term 2 in 2018, he tried out for the national stream and was found suitable, so he joined Canberra City Gymnastics Club in Belconnen as a member of the Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) team. MAG is what you usually see at World Championships or at the Olympics, where athletes must complete routines on 6 different apparatus being: rings, high bar, parallel bars, vault, pommel horse and floor. Since joining 5 years ago, Jake is in his final few weeks of level 6 and takes part in several competitions throughout the year. In October, he took part in the National Clubs Carnival held on the Gold Coast. There, he competed against gymnasts from other clubs in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Jake and his team mates won 5th place on pommel horse and 6th place on rings. 

Recently Jake was invited to attend the MAG Team Future Advanced Camp in early December, which consists of 3 days of intensive training with a national coach at the Australian Institute for Sport. Participants include top gymnasts from level 6 to 8 from NSW, Queensland and Victoria. It is quite an achievement to be invited to this camp because gymnasts are not automatically selected. The invitation depends on how well the athlete has performed throughout the year and on his scores during competitions. Jake is the only gymnast in the ACT from level 6 to be invited to this special camp. He is looking forward to it. 

If you think gymnastics is something that you might like to try, then be ready to bring your determination, dedication and perseverance. Each year as you move onto the next level the hours of training will increase, so the higher the level of gymnastics, the more hours you will train. Not only that, but you will also continue training throughout the school holidays. In level 6, there are 18 hours of training per week, 3 days of a 4-hour block in the afternoons (including Saturday afternoon) and 3 days of 2-hour training from 6 am (before school). 

Below is a story about Arabella in 3-4W who is a member of our student newspaper and clearly well appointed to the task.

Congratulations to Arabella who was excitedly chosen as just one of 24 Junior Journalists selected from a pool of over 930 entries Australia wide to join the media team at Just Kidding Magazine. 

Arabella will be doing celebrity and author interviews for the publications - rumour has it, she will soon be meeting comedian, artist and author, Anh Do!  So she is excited to share this journey with her school mates who can read her work in the magazine when it comes out.  The magazine gets distributed to any interested school across Australia. Campbell Primary students can look forward to each receiving a free copy next year. 

Dear Parents and Carers

RATs to be distributed to ACT public school students (Preschool to Year 9)

The ACT Government is currently providing more free rapid antigen tests (RATs) to all ACT public school students from Preschool to Year 9. Students will be given a bundle of
5 RATs each for use as needed. These will go home with students in the coming week.

The tests have a range of best before dates and families are reminded to check these dates before use.

You do not need to use a RAT unless you have COVID-19 symptoms. For more information including how to use a RAT please visit the Children and COVID-19 webpage. 

For the latest information on Staying COVID Smart visit:  www.covid19.act.gov.au.

Regards,
Erin Minehan
A/g Principal
Campbell Primary School

Year 6 Leadership Committees

Podcasts

The benefits of making podcasts are clear: The trendy technology and the possibility of a wider audience motivate students. "Our research is better, we read more, we write better and understand the material," said Leo, Ben and Sophie.

Given the recent rise in podcast popularity, it’s no surprise that audio narratives are making their way into our learning environments.. They offer an engaging way for students and teachers to merge project-based learning with digital media analysis and production skills. Already, our students have done research into topics, interviews with members of our community, information sessions on podcasting,and trialling editing equipment. So far our podcasts are not only filled with kid humour and snappy music, but they are also loaded with facts.

With the assistance of our P&C our Year 6 students were able to put a case forward to obtain much needed funds for our very own podcast station. On behalf of the Year 6 team we want to say a big thank-you and I know that next Year 6 team is looking forward to working with you too.

Worm Farm

The Sustainability Team was also successful in obtaining funding from the P&C to purchase and maintain a worm farm. This package includes ongoing education from Global Worming. Over time the worm farm will be a valuable asset for the school in reducing our waste that would otherwise go to landfill.

James B, Sara, Oscar and Neave were instrumental in creating a business case for the worm farm and were overjoyed when it was approved. They will be working with Cid from Global Worming to set-up the worm farm and review applications for next year’s Sustainability team.

Again, we would like to thank the P&C for their generosity in supporting this initiative! We look forward to continuing working towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly school community.

Year 6 Teachers

Did you know that we have a Campbell Primary School Facebook page?

If you don’t already follow us on Facebook, please do! We share lots of exciting posts throughout the week, including school highlights and special events, interesting happenings from our learning communities and also helpful reminders for families.

You can find our Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/campbellprimaryschoolcbr

As we experience new waves of the virus in our community, we need to remember to stay COVID Smart not only in the community but also at school. For the latest advice, watch the ACT COVID-19 update (November 2022) from Chief Health Officer, Kerryn Coleman.

If your child has COVID-19, you must keep them at home and let the school know. Telling us when your child has COVID-19 will also help us track if there is an increase in COVID-19 transmission at school and manage any high-risk exposures for our more vulnerable school community members.

Being COVID Smart is easy

· Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.

· Stay away from schools if you are unwell.

· Wash your hands regularly.

· Wear a mask in public indoor places if you can (12 years and over).

· Keep a distance from others when indoors, if possible.

And don’t forget – if you have COVID-19 symptoms, make sure you get tested. You can access a free rapid antigen test from your school’s front office. Keep up to date at COVID-19 (act.gov.au).