Kudos Cards and Other News!

As part of our Vision Project and school-wide commitment to implementing a positive behaviour system into our school, we have recently introduced “Kudos Cards” this term. Kudos, according to the dictionary, means praise and honour received for an achievement and more informally, compliments or congratulations.

Kudos Cards are awarded to students in High School and Primary School by staff, but also to staff when they demonstrate our key school values of compassion, integrity, respect or responsibility. They can then enter their card in the barrel to go in the draw for a free canteen voucher each fortnight (or a coffee voucher for staff!).

They are also recorded and reviewed by the Vision Team, and we look forward to introducing reward days or activities, for classes and year groups next year, recognising our students who have made changes in behaviour or demonstrate continued positive behaviour.

Research into student behaviour demonstrates that positive behaviour needs to be taught to students as they grow, develop socially and engage with their peers. We also know that proactively encouraging the right behaviour is more effective than simply responding to negative behaviour. Our Kudos Cards are just one way we are working towards a better system that focuses on the ‘do’, not the ‘don’t’.

Our Vision Project Team continues to develop this systematic approach through the support of the AIS NSW and our in-house Vision Team. Next year, we will begin to roll out some key changes in our classrooms, whilst simultaneously working with the AIS NSW to offer professional development and training for our staff throughout the year. We will be focusing on implementing positive behaviour support, planning and delivering engaging lessons, and having high expectations for students. We know from our survey earlier this year that they are important things to our parents also!

In other news, we praise God for his provision and answers to prayer. We would like to announce officially that Mrs Rachel Filmer, who has been studying teaching whilst working as a TA throughout the previous years has received the AIS NSW Graduate Teacher Scholarship for 2024 and is joining our Primary Team for 3 days next year as a Teacher. Mrs Filmer is already much loved and respected by students, staff and families alike.

Secondly, we would like to introduce and welcome Miss Gabby Allen to the Primary Team for 2024. Miss Allen already works casually for our school, and the students look forward to her being an important part of our Primary Team.We also welcome Mrs Kira Crowther, who will come to us all the way from Cairns. Please see an introduction from her in this newsletter. She will be joining our Primary Team in 2024.

Hopefully, we will be able to share with you in the last newsletter of the year some other new appointments, and an outline of who might be teaching what grade levels and subjects in 2024. We are confidently working behind the scenes planning and preparing for another exciting year.

We also welcome Mrs Kira Crowther, who will come to us all the way from Cairns. Please see an introduction from her amongst this fortnight’s articles. She will be joining our Primary Team in 2024.

What a wonderful Jehovah Jireh we serve. He always provides! Please join with us in welcoming our new staff as we continue our Gospel Ministry here and as always, seeking to honour Christ , build community and grow in grace and knowledge.

Mrs Faith Hull
Principal