Principal Piece with Justin Harrison Term 2 Week 2 2022

Even though we are already into week two, I would like to welcome all students and staff back from a well-deserved holiday. I do hope everyone took the time to relax, recharge and spend some quality time with friends and family. A special welcome must go to the new students and families who have started their educational journey here at Toolooa.

With academic report cards being emailed home, it is imperative that all students sit down and reflect on their term one report card and set goals for this term and the remainder of the year. To support all students through this process, I encourage all parents/carers to spend ten minutes with their child reflecting on their report, paying particular attention to those areas where there has been successes and address those areas where improvement is needed. Finally, I encourage all parents to take the opportunity to have a parent teacher interview with your child’s teacher on the Wednesday the 4th May, 2022. Parent teacher meetings can be booked using our online system SOBS. Please access the booking site via our school website: http://toolooashs.edu.au. If you cannot make that evening, please contact the office to arrange another time that suits.

At Toolooa SHS, we take great pride in our senior student tracking, support and intervention processes that lead towards outstanding QCE attainment and more importantly, a successful transition to further education, training or employment. As part of our commitment to supporting all Year 11 and 12 students and parents as they navigate through their senior phase of education, Mr Thomas and his senior schooling team will be making contact with parents of any child who is currently deemed "At Risk" or "On Watch" on their QCE pathway. More specifically, a discussion will take place to identify concerns, discuss support options and/or intervention processes that will support the student moving forward. In addition, can I please encourage all parents/carers who are unsure or concerned for their child in the senior phase to contact the senior schooling team to arrange a time to discuss your concerns?

Parents/Carers of students in Year 7 and 9 would have received a letter outlining the upcoming NAPLAN Tests which will take place between the 10th and 16th May. At Toolooa, we view NAPLAN as a test that can provide us with an idea of just how far students have progressed which in turn, informs our own teaching practices, especially in the areas of literacy and numeracy. It is an expectation that all eligible year 7 and 9 students sit NAPLAN; however, parents are encouraged to contact the school if they have any concerns or questions regarding the tests. I wish every student all the best and look forward to seeing the progress that they have made since enrolling at Toolooa SHS.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". On Thursday 21 April, Toolooa SHS held its annual ANZAC Day Ceremonies whereby, we as a school, took the time to commemorate and remember all those who lost their lives in service to their country, in all wars. Every year, Toolooa SHS has a tradition whereby we as a school have a strong commitment to the ANZAC spirit, both at a school and community level. On behalf of Toolooa SHS, I would like to thank our invited guests and our long servicing staff member and veteran, Mr Trevor Davis, for his contribution to the ceremony. A special mention must go to all students for their exceptional behaviour and level of respect shown throughout the service. Finally, to those students and staff who attended the Dawn Service and March, I thank you.

Across the next two weeks, teachers at Toolooa will be involved in a classroom profiling sweep. This involves teachers being observed by trained classroom profilers. The purpose of classroom profiling is to provide teachers with feedback around their teaching and to allow them to reflect on their practise. The school is also able to use this information to inform professional development plans for our teachers to help them to further improve their practise which in turn will assist in improving student outcomes.

To help foster a safe and supportive learning environment, students and teachers will again be involved in the explicit teaching of our expected behaviours this term.

These behaviours are in the student success journal on page 4. Each year level will have a specific focus, however, they are all linked to the further development of our core values; Respect, Achievement and Responsibility. The explicit teaching of appropriate behaviours allows students to build on their already existing skills and to continue to have success at both school and in the wider community.