A Vibrant Celebration of Japanese Culture!

Our school came alive with colour and drumming music, as we celebrated Japanese Day. We welcomed our special guests, the talented Wadaiko Rindo drummers, our sister school representative Mrs Inoue, and many parents and friends who joined us for this celebration of Japanese culture, traditions, and language.

The intention of the day was to learn about Children’s Day in Japan and the significance of the colourful carp streamers known as koinobori. These fish are a powerful symbol of strength, courage, and perseverance. Just as the carp is believed to swim upstream against strong currents, Children’s Day celebrates the resilience, growth, and limitless potential of every child. Seeing the koinobori proudly displayed around our school was a wonderful reminder of these important values.

The energy and enthusiasm at the beginning of the day reflected our students’ curiosity and appreciation for a different culture.

Thank you to Miss Francis for her organisation in bringing this special day to life. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our parent volunteers, whose generosity, support, and willingness to give their time helped create such an enjoyable experience for our students. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive school community.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Our parent teacher Interviews, held Friday 5th June, were a big success with 546 bookings made. We have an enrolment of 540 students, which suggests that many families took the opportunity to book in with our specialist teachers. There was a mix of face to face and online bookings too.

Learning with Clarity and Purpose

Recently, I read an article by education researcher Dr Mark Carter titled “Explicit Instruction: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why It Matters.” The article highlights the importance of explicit instruction and the significant impact it can have on student learning when implemented effectively.

At Carnegie PS, we are continuing to strengthen our use of evidence-informed teaching practices to ensure every student achieves success. Explicit instruction is an approach that helps teachers clearly explain new learning, demonstrate thinking and processes, provide guided practice, and regularly check for understanding before students apply their learning independently.

Research shows that when children are learning something new, they benefit from clear explanations, structured support, and opportunities to practise with feedback. This is particularly important in literacy and numeracy, where strong foundations enable future learning. Dr Carter reminds us that all learners are novices when encountering new concepts and that effective teaching helps students build the knowledge and confidence needed to become increasingly independent learners.

This work aligns closely with our school’s improvement priorities, including strengthening instructional practice, building student confidence and engagement, and ensuring all students experience growth in their learning. Across classrooms, teachers are working collaboratively to provide consistent learning experiences where expectations are clear, routines support learning, and students understand what success looks like.

By continuing to refine our teaching practices, we are creating the best possible conditions for every child to thrive, achieve success, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Parents interested in learning more can read Dr Mark Carter’s article, “Explicit Instruction: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why It Matters”.

https://educationhq.com/news/explicit-instruction-what-works-what-doesnt-and-why-it-matters-210692/

Karen Roberts

Principal

Respect, Resilience, Curiosity, Integrity

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