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Dear parents and carers,
During this week, we have been busy in class working on publishing recently completed works, designing playgrounds and using words, not symbols in maths.
The cold weather has enabled children to focus their energies on skipping and basketball and it is terrific to see improvements happening in these activities.
We hosted Sen Const Karen Clarke in her role as a youth liaison officer. She spoke with us about the challenges of coming back to face to face learning after the long period of remote learning. Getting up and being ready to catch the bus or being organised at home so that Mum or Dad can drop us to school before the first bell of the day. It was interesting to learn about Justified and Unjustified absences, and the possible consequences of too many unjustified absences.
Sen Const Clarke also spoke with the children about maintaining a safe presence in the online world. It is important to ensure that online conversations are as respectful/polite as face-to-face conversations.
Staff professional Learning – please be aware that the staff professional learning that was postponed earlier this term, will be held on Monday July 20. We will be working with Fr. Richard Leonard and colleagues from Western Region schools. As such the first day of learning for children in Term 3 will be Tuesday July 21.
Please be aware that information relating to the August Census has been included in this newsletter for your information.
Earlier this week the NSW government announced an overhaul of the NSW school curriculum, information relating to this can be found at the following link.
Reports - We will be assessing the areas of English, Mathematics and Religion. The other key learning areas will be assessed in Semester Two. Reports will be sent home during Week 10.
The update of our behaviour plan is a work in progress.
In terms of our behaviour management, we are focusing on how we line up and/or transition from one activity to the next. Transitions take place between lessons, from the classroom out to the yard, from one teacher to another. These times of change may require moving from a favoured activity to one that is not so high on our enjoyment list or vice versa. At these times, it is helpful to listen carefully for instructions and focus on tidying away and preparing (collecting equipment) for something else.
Being able to move from one task to the next with practised ease enables classroom units and playground games to function smoothly.
Please continue having conversations with your children around the things that they can be doing that show an understanding of smooth transitions. This might even be helpful when moving from one activity to another at home.
Changes to routine - Thank you to those families who are keeping us informed when children are absent from school, or there are changes to the regular routine. Be aware that we are required to keep the rolls up to date and that thorough explanation for absences enable us to do so.
Kinder 2021 – many families are already beginning to plan for 2021.
If you know of a family who would like more information about St Joseph’s, please invite them to contact us at school.
Thank you to those families who have already returned enrolment forms in preparation for 2021.
I will be participating in principal’s meetings on Thursday and Friday.
Take care and stay safe,
One of the most important things that learners should know is that they have control over the way they think. However, there are several possible voices in our heads, and only we have the power to make the choice to listen to the voice that will allow us to do the most effective learning.
Voice # 1 is the ‘no’ voice and therefore the least desirable voice. It can limit our learning and our self-esteem. This is the voice that says things like:
- I can’t do this.
- This is silly.
- It’s too hard.
- I’m hopeless at … Maths, art, reading etc.
Voice # 2 is the ‘yes’ voice and therefore the most desirable voice because it opens us up to learning. It allows us to be ready and able to learn. This is the voice that says things like:
- I’ll try my best.
- I can do this even if it takes me a bit of time.
- I like a challenge.
- Practise makes progress.
Voice # 3 is the ‘I don’t know’ voice. This voice is a problem because it allows us to procrastinate and waste valuable learning time. This is the voice that says things like:
- I’ll try to get started soon.
- Maybe I can do it.
- I’m tired.
- Don’t ask me, ask someone else.
It is important for students to be aware of these voices and to recognise that they need to choose the ‘yes’ voice in order to maximise their learning. Also known as the growth mindset, it is the opposite of the ‘no’ voice, or the fixed mindset, which allows for little, if any, learning. The yes voice is the voice of learning and it views mistakes as an essential part of the learning journey.
(Adapted from The Thinking Learning Classroom by Glen Capelli and Sean Bradley)
Dear Lord,
We know that life is full of challenges and opportunities for learning. As parents and teachers, may we instil in our children the value of choosing the yes voice, so they can consistently embrace life’s opportunities and challenges as enthusiastic, confident learners.
Amen
Sora Link
Visit https://soraapp.com in your web browser, or download the free Sora app from the Apple and Google Play stores on a mobile device.
SORA eBooks and Audiobooks
You can login to Sora, with your normal CENet login that you use for school network login.
The Sora ‘Sweet Reads’ collection of 20 simultaneous read titles is available until 31 July and the ‘Always available’ 250 titles collection is also a permanent simultaneous read collection. A particular ‘Sweet Read’ or ‘Always Available’ title could be assigned for all students to borrow and read at the same time.
K/1 have been looking at grids and how these can be used to locate items.
They have also been busy publishing some of their more recent writing.
