Principal’s Report

Classroom and Learning Success

I am pleased to report significant strides in classroom and learning success. Our dedicated teachers have continued a focus on the teaching and learning that occurred last year, fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment for all students. We have established our focus on reading, with explicit teaching of phonics fluency and word origins every morning in every classroom. It is super exciting to see the growth occurring.

Academic Assessments

We have successfully conducted several key academic assessments to gauge student progress and identify areas for improvement:

• NAPLAN: National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy
• PAT EY: Progressive Achievement Tests in Early Years
• KDC 1: Kindergarten Development Check
• DIBELS Phonics Screening: Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills

These assessments have provided valuable insights into student learning and help tailor our instructional approaches to meet individual needs.

Athletics Carnivals

Our recent Athletics Carnival was a resounding success, showcasing the talents and sportsmanship of our students. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the School Association for their unwavering support in making this event possible by volunteering their time and energy on the day for the BBQ and different events.

Yesterday students also attended our inter-primary athletics carnival, where they represented our school community extraordinarily well. We are so proud of their achievements and in particular the courage and effort in participating at this level.

Indonesian Bridge Program

We are also excited to share the upcoming Indonesian Bridge Program trip. Miss Ella Heather, Mrs. Bec White, and I will be traveling to Jakarta and East Java next month to explore teaching and leadership practices in a different cultural context. This initiative aims to broaden our educational perspectives and strengthen international collaboration. It also aims to connect our students to our sister school, their teachers and how classrooms can learn from each other.

Community Engagement

One of the big commitments we continue to celebrate is that we are an outward-facing school, actively engaging with the broader community. Through various outreach programs and partnerships, we strive to build strong connections and foster a sense of belonging among all stakeholders. We further strengthened this through initiatives and connections like the Clean Up Franklin Day, visits to Eldercare, the Day of Delight with wayraparattee and our work with the Salvation Army.

As we approach the end of Term 1, I want to continue to reinforce the importance of our priorities in student engagement and reading. I encourage you to make sure your children are attending every day, reading at home and communicating how they are feeling. Together we can make sure they achieve everything they are capable of.

James Milne

Principal

Franklin Primary School