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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
This week marks the midpoint of Term 3. In a ‘normal’ school term we start to see the students fatigue around weeks 6&7. This is when we observe behaviours that we don’t usually see, the children make mistakes and just find school a little bit more difficult than normal.
This pattern of behaviour is actually quite normal. It tells us that they need a reset in their routines. At school, this would look like us revising our PB4L expectations and reteaching some of our routines. It helps to remind us, as adults, that routine is important to students and is an integral part of a productive learning environment.
Reviewing your Remote Learning routines will help to maintain a home learning environment. Even if your child appears to be ok I would recommend that you speak to him/her about your expectations and your routines. Often children can appear that they are ok and they understand what you expect however it is important to to understand that they are always growing, learning and changing.
A guide to support you to have a reset of remote learning expectations:
- Review your clear expectations - are they reasonable given how you’ve seen your child engage in remote learning so far this term?
- Discuss your routines with your child - are they working for everyone?
- Anticipate any challenges and plan for them
- Model the behaviour you want your child to learn
- Reinforce your child for the positive behaviours they display
As we continue to journey through the week together - with Jesus,
Toni SIllis
Principal
During remote learning our teachers are observing that some students are not returning to the feedback given about previous learning tasks. This is resulting in students racing through their work thinking they have ‘finished everything’ and not responding to the feedback from the teacher. This may result in cries from your child of ‘I’m bored’; ‘This was easy’; ‘I’ve finished everything!’
A teacher’s role in giving feedback to students is more than just ‘marking’ their work and having tasks completed. Feedback is an ongoing daily element of the regular classroom and it is just as important in the remote learning environment. Feedback supports the student to reach the learning goal or target.
The students' role when receiving feedback is to clearly articulate what next steps they need to take with their learning. Feedback is considered to be ‘nourishment’ for the learner. It is a vital learning habit that students return each day to what their teacher has commented on the previous day. This may mean that the next task is done differently or it may mean that the student needs to return to the previous taks and redo the work.
Developing students’ independence in learning is also related to feedback. Students need to develop the skills of self-assessment. This is when the student reflects on their own personal progress and how well they may have completed a task or understood the intent behind the task. It also supports the development of a growth mindset.
This resource may be used to assist students in reviewing their own work and using the feedback given by their teacher during remote learning.
This period of lockdown is placing many additional stressors on our physical wellbeing that we may not be noticing. These stressors may also be affecting our children.
Breathing:
Something as simple as taking time to pause and focus on our breathing can be beneficial to overall physical wellbeing. Maggie Dent, well known parenting advisor and author, describes how a simple breathing exercise can help to relieve stress and anxiety.
Sleep:
Sleep can be something that we often chase in our busy daily lives. During lockdown sleep may be even more important to maintaining the energy and overall wellbeing needed to continue to remain focused and happy.
This Sleep Fact sheet is a reminder of how much sleep people need and why it is important for our health.
This year we are celebrating 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.
Parents and carers are the primary educators of their children, and as crucial partners in each student’s learning journey. To recognise the significant contribution families have made to the foundation, growth and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years. Family Week is celebrated nationally this week from 8 August 2021 - 14 August 2021.
The week coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Good Samaritan is celebrating Family Week with the daily fun Family Challenges. It’s not too late to be involved - 2 more challenges to go!
Love of Learning
How Can We Share in Our Community?
- We are willing and consistent helpers.
- We are able to check in using the Zones of Regulation.
- We consistently try to Work through and face challenges
- When we work in a small group
- When we show we are being a welcoming class member
- When we are including others in games
- When we can describe how to Work well with others
- Contributing one's talents to the welfare of the group
- Knowing that it’s ok to agree with the thinking of others “I was thinking that” hand movement.
- Being involved in student led discussion and learning experiences
- When we share thinking and mental strategies we use in our learning
- Knowing what to say to show kindness like ‘I like the way you… because…’
P&F Zoom Meeting:
Monday 16 August 7pm
All are invited to join the P&F Zoom meeting next Monday evening. We look forward to seeing you there.
Zoom Details
ID: 65080155183
Passcode: 968273
From the School Handbook:
Car Park Safety
Safety within the Parish car park is everyone’s business. Students, parents and staff can only be kept safe if everyone is vigilant about their actions when using this space. It is every parent/carer’s responsibility to exercise safe actions within the carpark. This includes using the car park as indicated below:
- Parents are not to park on school or Parish grounds during drop off (8:20am-8:50am) or pick up (2:30pm-3:20pm) times
- When arriving prior to dismissal at Car Line Pick Up parents are asked to turn engines off once the car is stationary
- A safe speed of 10km/h when driving into the car park
- Do not exit your vehicle when dropping off or picking up students
- Ensure that children are well within the school gate when dropping off before moving off
- Children only exit vehicles when the vehicle is at the front of the queue
- Ensure students have safely entered the car and closed the door when picking up
- There is no pedestrian access to the carpark when car lines have begun in both the morning and afternoon
- Gates into the school are closed and locked from the Parish car park following the morning bell at 8:50am.
Thank you to those parents who continually exercise the utmost care when accessing the school via the Parish car park. Every child’s safety is everyone’s concern.
Since Jump Rope for Heart started in 1983, schools like ours have raised more than $104 million for the Heart Foundation’s lifesaving work.
It’s important you register your child online, so they can receive the full benefits of the program and participate in online fundraising, simply follow the link below to get started. www.jumprope.org.au/parents
Students will be skipping as part of remote learning and when they return to school, during this time you can share their online fundraising page with family and friends to help raise money for this great cause.
We will hold our school Jump Off Day on Friday 17 September, this will mark the end of the program and is a chance for everyone to come together to skip and show off their newly learned skills.
Thank you for supporting the Jump Rope for Heart program!
Canteen News:
Canteen is currently closed until further notice
The Uniform Shop will be Closed for Appointminents until further notice
In order to manage the physical distancing requirements, parents will continue to make appointments at the uniform shop to purchase uniforms.
This can be done through the Compass Portal.
If you would like to place an order with the uniform shop an order form has been added to the school website under parents/uniform.
Please complete the form and return with the correct money to the school office.
These orders will be filled on uniform shop days.
Tuesday mornings 8.30am to 9.30am
Thursday afternoons 2pm to 3.15pm
TERM 3 DATES:
AUGUST:
- Monday 13 August Mcgrath St Crossing upgrade
- Monday 16 - Friday 20 August Science Week
- Monday 23- Friday 27 August Book Week
SEPTEMBER:
- Friday 3 september - Father’s Day Breakfast/Prayer & Stall TBC
- Monday 6 September Students return to wearing Summer Uniforms
- Friday 17 September Jump Rope for Heart Day
- Friday 17 September Term 3 Concludes
October:
- Friday 15 October Grandparents Day
Over the next 3 weeks students and families can look forward to being involved in:
Week 6:
Science Week
Week 7:
Book Week
Each week will have its own fun challenges & learning experiences to keep our students and community connected. We are looking forward to each of these themes over the coming weeks.