What is the symbol of the school?
The golden eagle and the school motto ‘Courage’ were inspired by events at Preshil and by a childrens’ story, ‘The Wings of Courage’ written by George Sand which relates the story of the child Clopin who discovers personal courage by following his own path in life.
When do Arlington parents get reports?
Reports are provided biannually for the 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, and 11s. Teachers are trialling different methods of reporting this year to identify the most effective format for parents. Mid year reports will be either posted out for receipt in the first week of the Term 2 holidays or presented at parent-teacher conferences according to the method being trialled by teachers at each year level. Similarly, final reports are available at the end of the year and may be either posted or provided at the end of term. Within the nursery school and the 5s parents are encouraged to have an ongoing dialogue with the teachers regarding their child’s progress at any time throughout the year. On request, teachers will make times to answer any queries or concerns that you may have.
When do Blackhall/Kalimna (Senior School) parents get reports?
Mid year and at the end of the year, two types of reports are provided: subject specific reports and general development reports, the latter of which provide an overall view of how students are going academically and socially. In VCE, additional reporting is provided at the end of Term 1.
When are parent-teacher interviews?
Parents are encouraged to discuss their child’s progress at any time throughout the year and not necessarily wait for formal reporting times. Just ring to make a time or ask the teacher in person.
All queries regarding the Year 7/8 program should be directed to Sandy Barnes, or to the subject teacher directly.
From Year 9 at Blackhall/Kalimna, three-way conferences are held including the parents, teacher and student. These are structured to foster a sense of equity between participants as the student assumes fuller responsibility for their own learning.
All Year 9/10 queries should initially be directed to the student’s Forum group teacher and then via the subject teacher and/or coordinator James Caudle.
Please direct VCE queries to the student’s tracker initially and then via the subject teacher and/or coordinators Marisa Lawlor and Mary Ann Metcalf.
Teachers at Arlington are currently trialling different formats for conferences with parents with some offering up to 3 parent-teacher conference opportunities throughout the year. Please check with your child’s teacher regarding the format they are using this year.
What is a fireside chat?
Fireside chats are an Arlington ritual. They go back to the days of Margaret Lyttle and the fire in the living room around which people gathered to talk together. Primary teachers invite the parents of their class group to come to an evening in the class room where they explain the curriculum and examine the day’s activities with the parents. It’s a friendly casual affair with tea and coffee and cake. Some of the childrens’ work may be on display or the parents invited to join in an activity. It is an opportunity for you to find out what your child does each day if when you ask them what they did they say, “nothing” or “stuff”.
Is there a tuckshop or canteen at Preshil?
There is no canteen at Arlington. Doo Dahs at the end of each term provide an opportunity for children at Arlington to have a fully catered lunch.
There is a canteen situated at Blackhall/Kalimna. This canteen provides morning tea and lunch Monday-Friday for students and staff. It is run by Year 10 students who complete a Food Handler’s Certificate course as a component of their studies. The students have responsibility for all aspects of the business including ordering stock, serving customers and cooking in addition to managing the monetary side of the business and determining how profits will be used. Projects have ranged from funding school events through to donating to a range of humanitarian organisations or other local groups in need.
What is a Doo Dah?
On a Friday near the end of every term at Arlington, parents provide a feast for morning tea and lunch. A BBQ, fruit, hot chocolate and a cake are all served ‘On the Bricks’ (the brick paved area between the Kevin Borland Hall and the 8s and 9s) by chatty parents wearing latex gloves. Vegetarian children are usually catered for. Each child is asked to contribute $5 to the cost of the Doo Dah and volunteers are always welcome.
What does the canteen sell and is there a price list?
Students involved in the kitchen garden at Blackhall-Kalimna use the produce they grow in the garden to cook a variety of things, some of which is sold at the canteen. Food available at the canteen as of June 2009 includes flavoured milk and fruit juice, ‘toasties’ and confectionary. Freshly baked goods including scones and jam, quiche, lasagne, soup and pastries are also available, depending on ‘kitchen garden’ class times and what has been cooked. Prices range between $1-$3.