Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Welcome back to Term 3! It has been terrific to return to school to see the students well rested and ready for a new term of learning.

As we continue to become used to the new way of operating in this COVID period we are exposed to many things that we may not have had as much of an opportunity to engage with previously. For me, one of these is the opportunity to listen to the many podcasts that are available and reflect on the amount of information that we can consume through the radio. I recently listened to a good ABC radio segment about children’s podcasts and just what is available for them.

This led me  to thinking about the art of listening and how we actually teach and support our children to listen really well and to discern what they are hearing. I remember both as a child, and then again as a teacher, being able to listen to stories that were read through what was known as a ‘Listening Post’. We would sit in a group, book in hand, headphones on (plugged into a common box - no wifi in those days!) and the teacher would proceed to put the cassette into the tape deck so that we could listen to our hearts’ content. 

Time has certainly changed the way in which students can interact with technology and listen but the end point is basically the same. We can’t underestimate the value of listening and we cannot always assume that visual media is the better alternative. The NSW English syllabus requires, from Kindergarten to Year 6, that students develop active listening behaviours to effectively interact in a range of social situations both at school and at home. This includes them being able to respond appropriately to different points of view as well as being required to share and evaluate their ideas and opinions to develop their own points of view. 

Some of the children’s podcasts that are currently available have the potential to act as a great support for children as they develop the important skill of listening. I’ve outlined a couple of them here for you to consider exploring.

Short & Curly is an ABC fast-paced fun-filled ethics podcast for kids and their parents that asks those curly questions. From banning lollies to trusting robots, and from colonising other planets to eating pets, Short & Curly covers it all.

Fierce Girls is another ABC podcast that highlights Australian girls who dare to do things differently. This podcast ranges between 15-20 minutes and includes highlighting women such as Mary MacKillop, Bindi Irwin, Jacki French and Dr Abigail Allwood. And it’s not just for girls!

Kinderling Kids Radio has a meditation series for children called Bedtime Explorers. This app guides children at bedtime on an imaginative journey as they fall asleep. Kinderling Kids Radio is a family friendly kids radio for children and their parents.

Mackaroy Uncovered is a serial story for 8-12 year olds where the town’s school principal disappears. Best friends Mitch and Tang begin a mystery-adventure of uncovering what is actually going on in Mackaroy.Editorial:

I don’t think we can underestimate the power of offering small supports such as this to our children’s learning. In our fast paced world we tend to overlook some of the most important skills that children need. Listening sparks conversation, imagination and offers a new way of looking and interacting with the world.

Enjoy the week ahead as we journey together, with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal