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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
MANAGING SCHOOL ANXIETY:
Returning to a new term can often mean that students experience a certain level of anxiety that may be interpreted as not wanting to come to school or that something is wrong at school. This Hey Sigmund article explores what parents can do when their child demonstrates distress at returning to school. It highlights the important role parents play in setting the expectation and example of overcoming anxiety and ‘Bouncing Back!’ No one gives us a toolbox for parenting but reading articles such as these can help to add to our ‘kitbag’ of strategies including:
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Let them know that what they are feeling makes sense
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Let the goodbye be confident, loving, and quick
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Let them feel your strength
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Your tone matters
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Focus on the next ‘hello’
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What you focus on becomes powerful
A NEW NSW SCHOOL CURRICULUM:
It was recently announced that NSW will be introduced to a new curriculum over the next 4 years. This is a response to the NSW Curriculum Review final report that was recently issued. A fact sheet for Parents and Caregivers is below. You can also view this short Youtube clip that highlights some of the plans for the new curriculum.
The Gonski Institute for Education:
The Gonski Institute for Education operates out of the University of NSW faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The core mission of the institute is to address the inequity experienced in education across Australia. In doing this the institute is able to act as a key enabler and powerful voice of change.
Being your child’s first and forever teacher:
How to be an effective partner in your child’s learning
The relationship you have with your child’s school and the support you offer their learning is critical to their success. So, just how can you best become a partner on your child’s learning journey? The attached guide talks about the research and also what parents can do to support their child’s learning.
The Value for this week is:
KINDNESS & COMPASSION:
I can demonstrate KINDNESS & COMPASSION by:
- Showing care for myself
- Showing kindness towards others through my actions and my words;
- Random acts of kindness like inviting someone into a game
BORROWING BEGINS BUT……..
It is intended that students from all classes will begin borrowing books from the library this term from Week 2. Due to still needing to put in place extra precautions in our attempts to keep COVID safe the following will apply.
- Classes (3R, 3B, 1G, 1B, 2B, 4B, 4G, KB, Amaroo), who have library on Monday & Tuesday will borrow one book only. They will return their books on Fridays between 8.50 - 9.50 am. If a student is reading a novel or information book and they have not finished with the book and would like to, they will keep the book and return it on the Friday after they have finished reading it. They will then be able to borrow another book at their next library lesson.
- Classes, (5G, 5R, 3G, 5B, 6G, 6B, KG, 2G), who have library lessons on Wednesday or Thursday will borrow one book only. They will return their books on Mondays between 2 - 3pm. If a student is reading a novel or information book and they have not finished with the book and would like to, they will keep the book and return it on the Friday after they have finished reading it. They will then be able to borrow another book at their next library lesson.
- When books are returned to the library they will be ‘sitting’ in the returns box for a day or two. Then each book will be wiped over with an antisept
ic wipe and dried with a paper towel. They will then be sprayed over with Glen 20 on the return trolley and at the end of each day, shelves are sprayed with Glen 20.
- While the books are being used at home we would ask that they are kept in a library bag and that each person who touches the book, washes/sanitises hands before reading.
BOOK WEEK POSTER, CREATE-A-CURIOUS-CREATURE AND COLOURING COMPETITIONS
Wow, wow, wow! What can we say? Mrs Medina and I were amazed at the enthusiasm and standard of the entries received for these competitions. Years 1 and 2 Create-A-Curious-Creature was especially hard for judges to decide. We certainly do have some creative students within our school community and even though not everyone can be a prizewinner, all of these competitions were extremely challenging for the judges. Prizes will be awarded for the above listed competitions at this Friday’s first whole school Assembly. As parents are still not able to join us, we will be publishing photos of these winners via the school social media accounts and next week’s school newsletter.
PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR WRITING COMPETITION - YEARS 5 & 6
During library lessons this term, Years 5 & 6 will be investigating authors whose purpose is to write for an early childhood audience. We will be exploring techniques such as rhyme, repetition, alliteration, onomatopoeia and how they add to the engagement of early childhood readers. We will also be studying the illustrations and different media that are used in various texts. They will be given time during library and all students will be expected to complete planning and drafting of a complete story by Week 9 of this term. It will be optional to enter the competition and students may need to commit some time at home to achieve their best possible book.
We will be beginning this week and the final published entries will be due in their library lesson, Term 4, Week 1. Prizes will be awarded during Book Week celebrations between the 19th - 23rd October, 2020 (Term 4, Week 2).
The final weeks of the Premier’s Reading Challenge are upon us. Students who were successful using the online Reading Log via the Premier’s Reading Challenge site will have been notified that they had successfully completed it. If however, for any reason your child had challenges with log in details not working, or they lost their log in details and they have been keeping a written reading log, please ensure Mrs Medina receives these by Monday, 24 August. This will ensure that students are not late with their entries and eligible to receive their certificates.
- Canteen will only be open on Wednesdays Thursdays & Fridays until further notice
- Canteen will be open for breakfast from 8.20am Wednesdays,Thurdays & Fridays Term 3
Tuesday 4 August 2020
Full winter uniform to be worn
Friday 3 July
- Last day of Term 2
Monday 20 July
- First day Term 3
Tuesday 4 August
- School Photos -WINTER UNIFORM TO BE WORN
Monday 24 August
- Premier Reading Challenge Due
Friday 4 September
- Father's Day Stall & Prayer TBC
Friday 11 September
- Walk Safely to School Day 2020
Monday 19-23 October
- Book Week Celebrations
Friday 6 November
- Grandparent's & Great Friends Day Liturgy & Open Day