The Solstice

Junior School 

For the love of Mathematics - STEM Week at Kambala 

What is STEM, I know you know that it refers to Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. As I always say each year,  I believe at Kambala that every week should be STEM Week.  The girls have a designated specialist teaching lessons with Digital Technology Integrators and our Junior School Science Specialist.  Years 3 to Years 6 students have additional Mathematics Teachers to extend and support the girls’ learning in this domain and create smaller differentiated learning groups.  In recent years we have increased the Mathematics teaching hours each week - linked in Massie House to the lengthening of the school day for students in Year 1 and Year 2. 

 

Throughout the term and year the students have also had a rich range of STEM opportunities such as the Year 6 Day of Artificial Intelligence. Year 3 and Year 4 have participated in the Junior Engineers Coding Incursion.

 

Later in this term we look forward to the students engaging in the following STEM Incursions and Excursions: 

  • Year 5 Day of Artificial Intelligence Incursion
  • Year 6 Art Metaverse Incursion 
  • Year 3 Scots/Kambala STEM Experience

As we reflect on STEM Week, I thought it was prudent we take time to focus on the M in STEM - Mathematics.  It has been exciting throughout 2023 to work with our Hampshire to Year 12 Senior and Middle Academic Leaders at Kambala.  This leadership grouping has worked in collaborative teams to create Academic Enhancement Plans.  Team members across the school have been analysing data sets to look for patterns and trends and identify ways they can enhance learning for your daughters.  Massie Coordinator Alex Panagopoulos and Junior School Director of Curriculum Ky-Lee Murphy have been particularly interested in Mathematics.  We already have a proud tradition of Mathematical teaching and engagement in the Junior School but we are not a school to rest on our laurels.  

 

Ms Murphy and Mrs Panagopoulos have been using the students Essential Assessment Data in Mathematics, the Academic Assessment Services Data from Robert Allwell and Associates and of course NAPLAN to identify trends and enhance the teaching and learning experience for the girls in the Junior School at Kambala.  Key focus areas of the Academic Enhancement Plan have been the:

  • Understanding our new Mathematics Syllabus with focus on the importance of working mathematically: communicating, reasoning, understanding and fluency, and problem solving 
  • Explicitly teaching problem solving strategies to enrich all students

Ms Murphy is a passionate proponent of the work of Jo Boaler from Standford University and YouCubed initiative.  The tenets of the YouCubed approach focus on building a Mathematical Mindset Community:

 

*Teachers and students believe everyone can learn mathematics at a high level

*Communication and connection are valued

*The Maths is Visual

*The Maths is Open

*The environment is filled with Wonder and Curiosity 

*The classroom is a risk-taking, mistake valuing environment

The YouCubed initiative is also about creating mathematical norms that enhance learning for our students particularly linked to self concept as a mathematical learner.

Additionally we also try to build experiences in which the students’ love of mathematical learning is enhanced.  Year 1 to Year 6 have worked throughout this Term on the Inquisitive Minds.  Inquisitive Minds Workshops provide quality, challenging and engaging problem solving activities.  Year 5 will travel to the Opera House to participate in a workshop titled Dissecting Geometry. Students will learn about architecture, perspective, geometry and Jorn Utzon and Ove Arup’s Spherical Solution to gain an understanding of the mechanics, engineering and sheer creativity involved in constructing the iconic Sydney Opera House. 

 

The work of the Ms Murphy, Mrs Panagopoulos, Jo Boaler and the YouCubed initiative dovetail perfectly with what the research says for girls’ learning in mathematics.

It was very affirming to read that researchers from Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada have explored how different social factors and issues can influence girls’ experience of mathematics education. These influences included gender, parental education and curriculum.  

 

Cameron, B., Harkins, M. J., and Mason, S. (2021).in their paper Perceptions of girls’ maths abilities: “It’s a good thing you’re so cute” note that “Mathematics self-concepts, gender stereotypes, parental influence and classroom influences. When considered together, these factors can “contribute to enhancing student engagement and achievement in mathematics”, and can help improve outcomes for girls engaging with mathematics classes and pathways”

 

References 

Cameron, B., Harkins, M. J., and Mason, S. (2021). Perceptions of girls’ maths abilities: “It’s a good thing you’re so cute”. Teaching & Learning, 13(1), 13-29.

Wellbeing in the Junior School 

Our Deputy Head of Junior School, Kate Moore is today launching a series of short videos delving into aspects of the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Programs in the Junior School.  This week we kick off with a short introduction to RULER. This evidence-based program comes from Yale University and helps students and the adults in their lives, learn about and manage their emotions. This is important for success in nearly every aspect of life—for attention, memory, and learning, for making and keeping friends, for healthy decision-making, and for overall wellbeing.

 

Ms Moore and other members of the Junior School leadership team have been trained in RULER and facilitate this program for all Junior School staff.  Please click here to go to our Junior School Wellbeing page and watch Ms Moore’s short introduction to RULER and access some resources.  If you have any questions or areas you would like Ms Moore to cover in future videos in this series, please contact her directly on kate_moore@kambala.nsw.edu.au 

Junior School Parent Teacher Meetings - ZOOM 

Junior School Parent-Teacher Meetings will be held over Zoom during Week 8 of Term 3 (Monday 4 September to Thursday 7 September). Interview times with your daughter’s class teacher will be offered both before and after school hours. 

 

Junior School Specialists will be available for Parent-Teacher interviews for Years 2-4, as parents of students in Years 5-6 receive feedback on their daughter’s progress through Progressive Reporting. If you would like to speak with a Specialist teacher from Years 5 or 6 regarding your daughter’s progress, please make contact with them directly via email, to arrange a meeting time.

 

Most parents find 10 minutes sufficient time for interviews with their daughter’s class teacher, plus 5 minutes with Specialist teachers and Maths teachers (if different from class teacher). However, if you feel that more time is necessary, please contact your  daughter’s teacher to arrange a convenient time and date for a longer meeting. Please note: interview times for meeting with Ms Jones regarding Science will be made available on Monday and a Sundial notification will be sent to let you know the bookings are open. 

 

We will continue to utilise Zoom for our interviews as feedback indicates this works best for our busy parents and carers.

 

Mathematics Interviews Years 3-6:  Most students are in their class teacher’s Maths group, so there is  no need to make an extra booking. If your daughter is in a Maths group with another teacher, please make a separate booking to discuss their Maths progress. 

 

How will these interviews work? 

 

Parent-Teacher interview bookings will be made using an online booking system.   The online booking system can be accessed through https://kambala.meettheteacher.com/  Once you click on the link you will be directed to the online booking system to schedule your appointment/s. The booking portal will be open from Thursday 17 August at 3 pm and will close on Wednesday 30 August at 3 pm.  A Parent-Teacher Booking Appointment Guide has been created to assist parents with their bookings. Please click here to access this Guide. Once you have made an appointment time, confirmation of your appointment time will appear on your screen. A confirmation will also be sent to your parent email address. If you need to amend your booking time, please do so via your confirmation email. 

 

On the day of your Appointment

At the designated time of your appointment, you can access the relevant Zoom link on your daughter’s Sundial class page where parents will find individual teacher and specialist links. Teachers will be alerted that you are in the virtual waiting room and will admit parents to begin the appointment at the scheduled time. We ask that parents ensure they are prompt and online on time to facilitate these interviews running smoothly. Parent Interviews are an opportunity for feedback, so it is important that you honour by attending at the arranged time. Please note if you are running significantly late you will need to reschedule your appointment as teachers must follow their pre booked interview times with other families. 

 

IT support 

Should you experience technical difficulties during the event, please access ICT support by clicking on the ICT Support tile on the Sundial homepage. While we are doing all we can to prepare for a smooth experience, we appreciate your flexibility should there be any disruptions. Every effort to keep to the schedule will be made and we encourage parents to access the Sundial class pages ahead of the scheduled meeting times to support timeliness.

ICAS Assessments 

The ICAS Science assessment will take place on Tuesday 22 August for Years 3, 5 and 6. Due to production rehearsals for Year 4, they will complete ICAS Science on Monday 21 August.