Week+8+Term+4

Week 8 Term 4 2008

School begins for teachers on Thursday 29/1/09. My advice for your wellbeing is do not arrive on the day before school this puts people under huge pressure. Use some of your holidays to plan and prepare for your classes in 2009 everyone knows what they are doing. Admin return on Tuesday 27/1/09 There is only 2 school development days instead of 4 as originally discussed. School for students start Monday 2/2/08.
 * __Beginning of term 2009__**

__**Great Website**__ A good website to visit although there is some trouble printing on our systems. Hi Kylie, I registered and subscribed to this website and have given them your email to respond to. [|https://www.teachthis.com.au] User name; Wyndham Password primary

__**Staff End of Year Function**__ This will be held on Saturday 13/12/08 at Daniel's house. Daniel has put a flyer in everyone's cubby. Please do come even if you dont stay all evening. Bring a chair, plate and great attitude. We will be saying farewell to Gary, Daniel,Phil and Traudl. See Daniel for further details. He needs $20 for the cocktails.

Video http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/?autoplay_id=10867478
 * __Video of Wyndham__**

David has gone out to Oombi for the week. A timetable with no explanation was put in some people's pidgeon holes. If you name is on it please do David's relief for that day. Nat is in on Thursday.
 * __David at Oombi__**

David: I'm back now and can I say thank you to all that was able to relieve me. Hope you all have a great weekend :)

Thursday is Nat's last day. It would be good to bring in a cake or something special and wish her and cameron well in Perth. They are leaving this Saturday. Cameron is studying teaching next year at Murdoch Uni. They both plan to come back to wyndham in 2010 and teach at the school.
 * __Nat's last day__**

Well done on everyone for meeting their deadlines. When you have completed entering all the data into your reports please let me know and I can begin to print.
 * __Reports__**

There will be a staffmeeting this Wednesday from 2.30-3.30. Please emaail any agenda items to Jamie. This is the last meeting of the year.
 * __Staff Meeting__**

__**Staff Out this week**__ Jane is in Derby until Thursday she is attending an Oliver PD Robyn Pardoe-Bell is away until Thursday workshadowing at the Derby DHS Kylie out on Tuesday morning back after recess Jan is out on Wednesday

__**Graduations**__ It would be great for the school and the community if all staff could attend the graduations. You welcome to attend both. The school will pick up the dinner costs as it will be part of the working day. The Year 12 and Year 10 graduation will be held on Wednesday 10/12/08 at 6pm at the club The year 7 graduation will be held on thursday the 11/12/08 at 6pm at the club It should be a wonderful evening for the kids. Please see Jeanette or Chrissie if you would like to help in any way. The evening will only go for around 2 hours.

We will be having a day at the pool [fingers crossed] all staff and students are expected to attend. The pool party will begin at 10.00-2.00pm we will have a susage sizzle for lunch. I will ask some teachers to organise a fun event for the day. It will a great way to strengthen relationships with the students.
 * __Thursday 18th December__**

There will be interviews held for the DP position secondary on Friday. We should know the outcome on the following Monday. I am hoping to just roll Jeanette's job over for term 1 2009.
 * __Deputy Principal Interviews__**

There will be some movements in 2009. Dean will be the housing liasion officer throughout the holidays. He is staying at myplace so you can call him on my number. -The Dornans are moving to Tradul's house -Jane is moving into Phil Deally's house -Liz is moving into Daniel's house -Jane from Victoria will be moving into Dornans current unit
 * __Housing__**

I think I have it all covered. For those people moving or leaving please send the correct forms to GROH and DET.

Induction 2009 new teachers to the Kimberley

__2009 Induction for Teachers New to the Kimberley__ The Remote Teaching Service (RTS) Induction Conference has previously been held in Perth, in January. Next year, the four remote districts will hold inductions in their own districts, in collaboration with the Professional Learning Institute (PLI). Kimberley District details are : Dates: Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January 2009 Location: Broome, Mangrove Hotel Participants: New appointments to RTS schools for 2009 New appointments to non-RTS schools for 2009 Registration: Conference information will be provided when appointments are made. Participants will register through PLI. Agenda : The content of the two days will be negotiated through the district office and the PLI. For this district, sessions will prepare teachers for week one and beyond in a Kimberley school. Resources : Each teacher will receive an induction file with system and localised resources, as well as a section to add individual school information. Funding: The Conference will be funded through the PLI and district office. Funding for travel and accommodation is being negotiated and details will be provided when finalised. School Role: Please include the dates in your planner and promote the induction to new staff that may contact you. NOTE: The Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January School Development Days remain on the school calendar. For further information about the Induction Conference on 22-23 January, please contact Tony Beatty or Jenny Evans on 9193 6488.

2008 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MONITORING STANDARDS IN EDUCATION (WAMSE) ASSESSMENT IN SCIENCE AND SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT - YEARS 7 AND 9 Reporting information for the 2008 WAMSE assessment is due to arrive in schools during the week beginning ** Monday 24 November (Week 7). ** Distribution of reports will occur in two parts. Part one constitutes the package containing: • //WAMSE //student reports; and   • //Administrators guide to reporting //booklets.

Media Statement  Grammar and punctuation to make big classroom comeback

Grammar and punctuation are to make a big comeback in WA public school classrooms to ensure no student misses out on being taught explicitly these basic English skills. Department of Education and Training Director General Sharyn O’Neill said there would be a renewed emphasis on teaching grammar and punctuation, removing any confusion on what students should be taught. "We will support teachers with simplified syllabuses and sample lessons, so they know clearly what grammar or punctuation a child needs to be taught in each year of schooling," she said. Ms O’Neill said about 90 per cent of WA students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 were above or at the national minimum standard on all of the 20 literacy and numeracy assessments carried out in May this year. "While this is encouraging in the first year of national testing, the results show that WA students do not perform as well as we would want, particularly in grammar and punctuation," she said. "WA’s worst results were in Year 7 and 9 grammar and punctuation where we ranked seventh among states and territories. "While this was the first national assessment for WA students in grammar and punctuation, we need to ensure that no student can move through their years in school without being taught these basic building blocks of reading and writing. "The Department’s new and nationally applauded Kindergarten to Year 10 Syllabuses will from 2009 include concise and clear resources for teachers on what to teach in grammar, punctuation and spelling at a particular year level. There will be classroom activities and lessons, and examples of how to assess student performance. "This support is consistent with the directions of the proposed National Curriculum and will give our teachers more practical materials and resources to work with. Ms O’Neill said while she supported the key directions proposed in the draft national English curriculum currently being developed, it would not be implemented for some years. "That is why WA has taken the lead in adopting some of the key elements of the national curriculum," she said. Ms O’Neill said any theory suggesting students could pick up the basics of grammar and punctuation as they go, without the benefit of direct teaching, was just not sound. "Teaching students these basics has not dropped out of schools, though it has certainly suffered as teachers have come under increasing pressure to cover a whole range of other matters related to the broader development of students. "Over the last 20 or 30 years, a mixed curriculum ideology shifted teachers’ attention away from what all students really need to know. "We will change that by making it a high priority to give our teachers the necessary support and resource materials to teach their students basic English skills."  Media contact: Andy O’Brien 9264 5494