Weeks 7 & 8

Dear Parent/ Carer,
Last week was spent in Australia.  I had been invited to speak and host workshops at a conference for School Principals from Melbourne.  During the trip I visited five Primary Schools and met with the school leadership at each.  I saw innovation in building design and use - that included a single classroom housing one hundred Year 6 pupils and five teachers - excellent sporting facilities that are supporting exceptional sporting performance, specialist teachers who are achieving great things in terms of creative and performing arts, great facilities, innovative teacher practice - that included use of an iPhone and bluetooth device that enables teachers to self-evaluate their teaching by recording their lessons - and leading edge use of technologies - that included 1:1 pupil:iPad schemes.  I had the privilege of spending time with Jim Wilson, Principal of Woodlands Primary School, Langwarrin  http://www.woodlandsps.vic.edu.au and Russell Gascoigne, Principal of Linbrook Primary  http://www.lynbrookps.vic.edu.au
I have brought many ideas back from the trip and hope also to develop close and sustainable ties between our partnership schools and the Australian schools in the coming weeks, months and years that will benefit children in all of our schools.

We have had Parents Evenings at all of our partnership schools this past week.  I have spent some time in each and have continued to meet parents.  I have also had my son with me this week.  He has done a week of work experience in a Reception class at Kilmorie, and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Joe was able to sample the delicious School Dinners that I've been telling him about at Kilmorie - our children certainly do enjoy fabulous lunchtimes there.  We have enjoyed a range of community events at all three schools this past week.  The community spiritedness at each of our schools is a source of great strength and great inspiration.  My sincere thanks to all of those people who make a contribution to the planning, preparation and management of those events... and to everyone who 'makes' them by actually turning up to participate.

I feel that at each of our schools we can reflect upon a great first Half Term.  We can look forward with excitement and eager anticipation to next Half Term which will, of course, culminate with our Christmas Performances.  A magical time of year....

Have a wonderful Half Term.

Mark Wilson