Principal Address
Dear Parents,
I pray you had a great week.
Eating Time
One of the most common concerns I hear from parents is: “My child isn’t eating enough at school.” This is certainly not unique to our school, it is an age-old challenge that schools everywhere continue to navigate.
Currently, students are given 10 minutes of eating time at the beginning of recess and lunch. From my experience, this is pretty much how most schools seem to do this. However, the looming attraction of play and talking seems to make it hard for many students to want to eat.
In response, we will be trialling a small adjustment for the next two weeks. Students will now have their eating time after play, rather than before. The intention behind this is simple: to remove the immediate distraction of play and allow students to settle and focus on eating. We think that eating after play, may make our students more calm and they will likely be hungrier after play time and therefore more settled for the following session.
While this is not a “magic fix,” I think we may see some benefits. Interestingly, research suggests that more rigid approaches, such as forcing children to sit and eat and prove they have finished their entire lunchbox can actually be counterproductive long term. Instead, this change aims to provide a more natural opportunity for students to eat without feeling rushed and like they are missing out.
As eating time will be slightly later, particularly for our K–2 students, teachers will ensure that students have a crunch and sip or fruit break earlier in the day.
There is nothing additional required from families. Please continue to pack the same meals you have been. This will be a trial for the remainder of the term, and we welcome your feedback as we evaluate its effectiveness.
School Musical
Tickets for our school musical will be going on sale very shortly.
A reminder that all students are expected to attend both performance nights, as every student will be involved in some capacity. This is one of the few opportunities where our entire student body comes together in such a significant and memorable way. There may be varying levels of excitement for this, however, both nights I know will be a great celebration of the creative arts and our community.
Following the incredible turnout in 2024, we are expecting strong interest again this year. To improve the experience, tickets will be allocated seating, meaning there is no need to line up to secure a perfect seat.
That said, we do encourage families to purchase tickets promptly once they are released, to ensure that you can get a good seat.
Mosquitoes
With the recent rain, there has been an increase in mosquitoes around the school.
It may be helpful to apply insect repellent to your child before school, particularly during this period.
Easter Chapel
A reminder that our Easter Chapel and Hat Parade will take place Thursday 2 April, very exciting stuff!
Our Year 6 students are also organising an Easter colouring competition, which we know will be a fun addition for our younger students. These colouring sheets have been sent home or may be sent home on Monday for our younger students with their homework.
My door is always open,
Mr Joe Britton
Different Voices - Mrs Jade Davila (Deputy Principal)
A couple of weeks ago, I took my 3 year old son to the library for the first time to register him for the 1000 Books Before School program. He had never been before, and it was such a special experience to witness. The excitement on his face as he spotted some of his favourite stories, characters and animals in all different kinds of books was just beautiful. We spent a good hour wandering, exploring, and choosing the books that caught his interest to put in his library bag, a mix of picture books and a couple of Spiderman puzzle books… it’s all about balance!
Reading is something I have always grown up with. My mum loved reading and still, to this day, takes a book with her on holidays. That love of reading was passed down to me, and now I get to pass it on to my son. Each night, we read a bedtime story of his choice. Sometimes it’s the same story three nights in a row, sometimes it’s one we forgot we even had, and sometimes it’s Noah’s Ark for the hundredth time. No matter the book, he listens so intently, asks questions, and shares his wonderings about the pictures and the story.
There have been so many studies highlighting the importance of reading at home and the impact it has on children. Whether it’s reading a picture book together or sitting with your older child as they read a chapter, these moments expose them to new vocabulary, build communication skills, and develop foundational literacy that supports all areas of learning. It also opens their eyes to different ideas, cultures, people and places, helping them understand more about the world around them that God has blessed us with. Reading nurtures curiosity and imagination and who knows, you may even be raising a future author!
Here are some interesting statistics that Australia Reads have found:
86% of Australian children (age 6–17) love having books read aloud at home or like it a lot, with the main reason being that it is a special time with their parents.
One in five parents stop reading aloud to their child before age 9. Of those children aged 6–8 whose parents no longer read books aloud at home, half (51%) did not want their parents to stop.
90% of parents agree that books create opportunities for meaningful conversations with their children.
Three in four (74%) Australian parents believe that reading to their child provides an important bonding experience and helps them to connect.
Children who experience reading with a caregiver are more likely to read independently once their reading skills develop.
For me, though, it’s about more than literacy. It’s about the quality time I get to spend with my son after a long day apart. When we read together, we share something that brings us both joy. I get a glimpse into how his mind works, what he’s learning, and the little things he’s discovering each day.
Life is busy, and there are so many things pulling us in different directions, but I want to encourage you to take just 5 minutes a day to read with your child or listen to them read. The impact it can have, both academically and relationally, is so powerful.
These small, consistent moments often become the ones our children remember most.
Mrs Jade Davila