Learning and Teaching 

Premiers' Reading Challenge 

The Premiers' Reading Challenge has begun for 2023. This year, children are encouraged to be "wild about reading" to help them gain important skills and knowledge through reading.

Students from Prep to Grade 2 are challenged to read or experience 30 books. For students from Grade 3 to Year 6, the challenge is to read 15 books. If your child is interested in participating in this challenge, please email me at dgeorge@smbelgrave.catholic.edu.au so Lisa Norris (Library Technician and 4/5 Learning Support Officer) and I can register your child through our school portal. Log in details will be ready at the beginning of Term 2.

The challenge runs until 8 September which gives everyone plenty of time to reach their goal. Please see the welcome letter from The Hon Daniel Andrews MP below for more information. 

Happy reading 

Danielle and Lisa

Fidget Tools and Brain Breaks

School and learning often means a busy day developing or practising new skills, organising materials, navigating teamwork or learning tasks and listening and attending to lessons and discussions. It can be pretty draining, for both students and teachers! Our teachers use a variety of strategies including brain breaks, exercises or games to support the students and help them settle, rest or energise throughout the day.

We also have a number of students that require the support of fidget tools within our classrooms.  A fidget tool is a small object that can be squeezed, pulled, or manipulated in the hand, as a child is sitting and listening. These are often recommended by professional specialists, such as Occupational Therapists, to provide sensory input in a minimally distracting way. They can help improve concentration and attention or settle an individual by allowing the brain to filter out extra sensory information. 

Understandably, some students see these tools as toys, and feel that in some way they are missing out on having a ‘toy’ within the classroom.  Please be in touch with your child's teacher or myself at danderton@smbelgrave.catholic.edu.au if you are finding that your child insists they are in need of a tool, and we can discuss strategies between home and school to support this.

Thanks

Donna