We would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which our school stands. We pay our respects to all First Nations elders, past present and emerging.

Foundation

Our new Foundation students have settled very well into the new school year. Sometimes, as adults whose first year of school was a long long time ago, we can forget how much learning takes place in those first few weeks of Foundation. Routines, relationships, bags, lunches, playgrounds, buildings – everything is new and must be negotiated. Our front office staff met the new foundation students yesterday, and – no surprise of course, but these students are meeting all of these new challenges with a gusto and enthusiasm that is infectious. Seeing those bright and happy faces, and feeling the positive energy coming from our littles and newest students truly does make our job worth it.

Inquiry

This term, all of our classes (regardless of year level) are following an inquiry into Relationships and Connection. At BNWPS this year, we are working even harder to organically link as much of the learning as possible into our Inquiry journeys. This means that as often as possible, Reading, Writing and Maths lessons will be linked to the concepts and new learnings that we need in order to realise the intention of the Inquiry. Very importantly, this does not mean that the Literacy and Numeracy teaching are ‘watered down’ or that we have turned our focus away from these subject areas. Providing a real and deep context for the literacy and numeracy learning helps students to learn more about their world and their place in it. BNWPS teachers will still be following the fantastic instructional models that we have developed in Literacy and Numeracy – very soon, we will have an instructional model for Inquiry also, and we will be able to articulate better what Inquiry is at BNWPS, and why we chose to experience it the way that we do. If you have any questions about the Inquiry that is happening in your child’s classroom, please ask your child – we are sure they can fill you in! Teachers are, of course, very happy to answer questions too.

Tutor Learning Initiative

As we did last year, BNWPS will be implementing short, targeted small group learning cycles for the tutor learning initiative in 2022. The cycle in term one will focus on reading and will continue to be implemented by the classroom teacher. As was demonstrated last year, the classroom teacher is in the best position to identify any learning that may need to be revised or revisited throughout the program, as well as being in the best position to then link this learning into what is happening in the classroom community. Only students who did not make growth in the area of reading throughout the 2021 school year are eligible for the initiative. Students who have been identified to take part will get notification of involvement, and a subsequent targeted learning plan in the coming weeks.

Sentral –

As we explained last week, BNWPS uses Sentral as our main channel of communication to families – this includes communication from your classroom teacher, as well as communication from and about the school as a whole. If you are having trouble accessing Sentral, or are not able to send or read information clearly, please do not hesitate to let someone in the front the office know, and they will be able to assist you.

Have a wonderful week ahead everyone – we loiok forward to seeing you all around next week.

With Kindness

Keir & Hannah

the Nor'Wester

BNWPS is committed to Child Safe Standards and prevention of child abuse

Issue 2 · 11 Feb 2022

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