Assistant Principal Report

Assistant Principal -

Mr. Mark Henderson

Literacy Bulletin

At Westall SC, we use Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) as a vehicle to ensure all students are learning at their optimum level. In previous Literacy bulletins, I have discussed some aspects of the model, such as TAPPLE, checking for understanding and activating prior knowledge.

To learn more on these aspects of the model, click here for a range of videos that give you a great insight into how EDI works in the classroom.

Brain Training

When it comes to keeping your brain sharp, you need to exercise it daily. Yes, just like a muscle, your brain needs to work and be engaged often.

Whether you like funny brain teasers, science or math brain teasers, or just good old mix, these following mind teasers will keep you sharp and provide a little entertainment as well.

We’re all children at heart and kids love riddles and jokes. Some of these good brain teasers are kiddie teasers, some of them are really hard brain teasers.

Why, as an adult, should you learn these? Well, research shows that we stop developing our brains around the age of 25. For girls, it’s a little bit before, for guys, it’s a little bit after. It’s just that girls mature faster than boys.

After that, if we don’t use our brains, if we don’t engage our minds, we lose the ability to learn and think clearly. The pathways to learning start to break down, which means you forget things. If they are not re-established, you permanently forget them.

As we age, it gets harder and harder to create new mental pathways. It’s the reason kids find it so easy to learn a new language, but adults find it so hard. It takes more work to make short term memories into long term memories.

Doing brain teasers and learning new subjects, like a new language, is an important part of keeping your brain healthy. The more connections you form, the better your brain will be.

In each newsletter edition, I will include a brain teaser for your enjoyment.

Brain Teaser: The perfect kingdom

Once upon a time there was a king. He wanted to build a new kingdom with 10 beautiful castles. He asked his architect to plan the kingdom so all the castles will be connected by 5 straight walls. Each wall must connect 4 castles together. At least one castle must be protected by castle walls.

His architect suggested the following solution:

The King was not happy with the solution since none of his castles were then protected by a wall. Can you suggest a better solution?

Students: If you think you have the solution, come to see me, and if you are correct, you will be rewarded.

Parents: Keep a note of your solution and the answer will be revealed in the next newsletter

Uniform

Mr Lanarus, Ms Simadri and I have been for several walks around the College to see how well our students are wearing their school uniform. I would like to say well done to the student body on the whole, in particular the Junior School students, who were faultless in their wearing of correct uniform. You are wearing the uniform with pride and are sending a really positive message to our local community. Well done!

Westall Facebook Page

At Westall, we do our best to embrace technology and keep our College Community up to date on as many media platforms as possible. Please find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/westallsecondary and follow us. We will bring you news, pictures, videos, program updates and more.

Year 7 2019

We have a high number of enrolments for our Year 7 cohort for 2019. This is an increase on 2018 and is a reflection on the fantastic job that our teachers do on a daily basis. If you know anyone who is interested in coming to Westall SC for Year 7, or for any other year level, please ask them to contact the school for a tour and/or enrolment meeting.