Teaching and Learning 

Vietnamese at WGS

In Vietnamese classes we have been busy making connections between cultural practices and language use, such as culture-specific terms or expressions in Vietnamese and English. More specifically, exploring how language carries cultural ideas, such as Tết Nguyên đán (Tết) / Lunar New Year. 

We have identified the importance of  Vietnamese New Year traditions such as: New Year preparations, the tradition of gift giving and exchange of the lucky red envelope.

Children have been busy decorating tigers with threading and making origami. They have been making cultural connections to the Lunar Zodiacs.

The tasks in particular, explore the concept of Vietnamese New Year celebrations. with a focus on this years Lunar Zodiac, the Tiger. Students have been developing their fine motor skills through designing, cutting and threading. Here are some of the finished products:

Bounce Back!

The Bounce Back! wellbeing and resilience program teaches children the skills and attitudes to help them be in a positive mood most of the time, get along well with others and become more resilient. It uses literature as a starting point for discussions and follow-up activities. We are now in our second year of explicitly teaching this program to all students. The ten coping statements below are a core part of the program. You can help your child get the best out of their involvement with Bounce Back! if you reinforce the key messages they are learning.

Bounce Back! stands for: 

Bad times don’t last. Things always get better. Stay optimistic. 

Other people can help if you talk to them. Get a reality check. 

Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset. Think again. 

Nobody is perfect – not you and not others. 

Concentrate on the positives (no matter how small) and use laughter. 

Everybody experiences sadness, hurt, failure, rejection and setbacks sometimes, not just you. They are a normal part of life. Try not to personalise them. 

Blame fairly. How much of what happened was due to you, to others and to bad luck or circumstances? 

Accept what can’t be changed (but try to change what you can change first). 

Catastrophising exaggerates your worries. Don’t believe the worst possible picture. 

Keep things in perspective. It’s only part of your life.