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Junior School News

ANZAC Day

 

Last Wednesday our Student Representative Council ran our Junior School ANZAC Day service under the Peppercorn Tree. Our guest speaker, Mr Murray Poustie spoke of some local connections with the ANZACs, particularly focussing on their return from war, the reception they had and the challenges. Mr Poustie was most impressed and appreciative of the respectful way that our students responded to the Service. On Thursday many of our Junior School students also attended the Dawn or Morning services in Bendigo. I thank them sincerely for representing the school and showing their respect to those who have sacrificed so much for our country. At our Friday morning assembly I also reflected on ANZAC Day as a time of giving thanks to those who have served for their country and also a time of hope that our generations to come will not have to face the horrors of war.

 

Please click on the images above to view the gallery

Team Teaching in Year 6

Junior School parents have received information about an exciting new teaching approach being trialled for one of the Year 6 classes next Semester.

A Tandem Class will consist of a current Year 6 class being split into two classes, supported by two teachers, with new external students joining the tandem class. The class will utilise two classrooms, with an adjoining door. Initial teacher instruction would generally take place with all students together, with specific classwork undertaken in two separate groups.

Year 6M will become the tandem class. Mrs Bath and Mrs Milner are highly experienced professionals, already skilled in class-sharing and passionate about the idea of tandem teaching a Year 6 class. The recruitment process for an additional Year 6 classroom teacher to join them has commenced.

The opportunity for one teacher to work with a small group of students on a specific task, while the remainder of students are supervised by the tandem teacher, is considered to be of enormous benefit to student learning. This model of teaching allows for a range of opportunities including

  • One teacher giving whole class instructions whilst the other works with one child, or with a small focus group.
  • One teacher working with a small group, the other roving and providing short sessions of individual attention.
  • The class divided in half with both teachers teaching the same lesson simultaneously.

The Year 6 students are looking forward to the new tandem-class and to preparing for Year 7 when they will have several different teachers each day.

School Sports Victoria State Swimming Championships

Congratulations to the following students who competed at the School Sports Victoria State Swimming Championships held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre last Wednesday. Qualifying to compete at the State level is a wonderful achievement!

 

50m Butterfly

Fraser Allan (5 Frew)  – 7th

50m Freestyle

Zara Paul (6 Riley) – 8th

Freestyle Relay

Fraser Allan (7 Frew), Tadgh Hughan (5 Jones), Oliver Salter (5 Riley), Hugh Dalton (5 Millward) – 7th

Freestyle Relay

Zara Paul (6 Riley), Riley Sterenberg (6 Riley), Alice Hamilton (6 Millward), Bronte Flanagan (6 Jenkin) – 7th 

Parking and Student Drop Off

We are continuing to work to improve the traffic flow and, more importantly, maintain a safe environment for our students during morning and afternoon student pick up and drop off in MacKenzie St.  Mrs Bath has met with traffic management representatives from the City of Greater Bendigo Council who are assisting us with improving the movement of students and vehicles. The Council have changed some of the parking restrictions in an effort to stop parents from stopping on, or around the corner of, Don and Vine St. It is illegal to stop in the designated yellow zone as well as creating a very dangerous situation for cars travelling along Vine St, children crossing at the crosswalk and children crossing MacKenzie. If there are no available car parks parents must drive around the block. We are also finding that some parents are parking in the first carpark, or the one closest to the gate, even when there are empty car parks in front of them. This makes it harder for parents coming in after them. We ask that you please consider those coming in behind you and move to the highest available parking space. This will also assist with the smooth flow of traffic. We have asked the Council to visit us regularly and issue infringements where necessary as it is imperative that we continue working to make these areas as safe as possible for our students and broader community.

NAPLAN Testing

In Week Four our Year Three and Five students will participate in the 2019 National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy testing. The NAPLAN tests were introduced in 2008 and are administered nationally. The NAPLAN tests provided students with the opportunity to sit the type of examinations that they will experience as they progress through their Junior School years. While the school does not put undue emphasis on the tests they will provide information to support classroom assessment. The results of the tests will be provided to parents and the school in September.  I include below an article by Michael Grose, Educator and author of Parenting Ideas newsletter, which parents may find of use.

 

During the third week of May Australian children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The stated purpose of this testing program is to gain an overall picture of educational attainment levels to assist education policy and decision-making. The program first implemented in 2008 has drawn some criticism from a number of different quarters, particularly in regard to the use of the information gained through the NAPLAN tests. You’ve probably heard a number of different viewpoints expressed in the media over the last few weeks.

 

One view commonly put forward is that the NAPLAN tests put undue pressure on children to perform in test situations. If so, then perhaps the best approach for parents and teachers is to help them handle the pressure rather than avoid it. The most resilient children and young people are those who rise to meet rather than retreat from the challenges presented to them. Perhaps it’s best to view the NAPLAN tests as good learning experiences rather than dreaded pressure tests.

 

Children and young people take their cues from their parents about how to handle many situations. American psychologist Martin Seligman discovered more than a decade ago, through his research into children’s thinking styles, how closely a child’s explanatory style mimics that of the parent they spend most time around. Optimistic parents beget optimistic kids, just as anxious parents can beget anxious kids. The impact of a parent’s explanatory style seems to be magnified somehow in small families where there are fewer voices to be heard.

 

As a parent it helps your child, if you take a positive view of the NAPLAN tests. It’s better to see them as learning opportunities for kids as well as opportunities to overcome any anxieties or nerves that these tests may bring on. It’s also worth remembering that many children don’t stress over these tests. The vast majority take them in their stride, wondering what all the fuss is about.

Whether your child stresses or takes them in his stride here are some tips to help prepare for the NAPLAN tests:

1. Take your cues from your child: If your child doesn’t worry about them then neither should you. Be careful not to create a problem that doesn’t exist by incessantly talking about, or worse, worrying about the test.

2. Focus on doing their best & trying hard: Choose your words carefully when you speak with your kids. As with all their learning activities place your focus squarely on effort rather than results. The only pressure on kids should be to try hard rather than to do well.

3. Listen to any concerns they have: If your child confesses to some nerves then validate their feelings, rather than shut them down with a ‘get over it’ response. “Yes, sometimes tests can be a little scary, but they get easier every time you take them.” Use this as an opportunity to develop some emotional smarts, which starts with recognising how kids feel.

4. Give them some relaxation ideas: Anxious or nervous kids will benefit from some simple relaxation strategies. Taking some deep breaths, changing their thinking and exercising the morning of the test are some simple ways to help kids get some feeling of control.

5. Help them retain their perspective: One way to help children who become excessively anxious about an event is to ask what’s the worst thing that could happen? Okay, they may not do as well as they would like but the sun will still rise tomorrow, regardless of how well they do. Keeping perspective is a life skill that we all need to practise.

 

A positive, caring parent attitude is one of the best gifts you can give a child when they are apprehensive or nervous about approaching any different situation whether it’s going on school camp, joining a new club or sitting a NAPLAN test.

www.parenting ideas.com.au

Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Girton Grammar is excited to be participating.

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 6 September 2019.

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 6 are challenged to read 15 books.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

Students who have not already registered can speak to Mrs Polidano in the Junior School Library.