From Cressida
Gosh its good to see you.
Arlington has come to life, and it's all because of you. Monday was a day of such high excitement and spirits and we know that this energy was flowing both ways between our staff and our children.
Sometimes excitement can be followed by exhaustion, and we are aware, as a staff, of just how a week like this one might impact on children and on families. If you feel that your child needs to ease back in at their own rate, then please let your classroom teachers know and pop an absence note onto Compass.
Our first full week together is followed by a 4 day week as Friday 23 October is a public holiday. We hope this will be restorative and help to continue to build stamina for school life 'In Real Life'.
Happy Birthdays.... No Song!
One of the regretful flow-ons from this new COVID ruled time is that birthday celebrations cannot go ahead in the traditional way. We cannot sing "Happy Birthday" to our children, and we cannot share cake, or have food brought for sharing in celebration.
We are asking our families to recognise these restrictions, and ask that you do not bring in items to share with your child's class friends on these occasions.
Please know that we will mindfully recite the Happy Birthday song, do big claps, one for each year, and help to create a celebratory atmosphere without cakes, party bags, bubbles or any other accoutrements.
Year 6 to Year 7 transition
Chris McDuff, Phuong Tran and Dan Symons joined the 10s & 11s for their end of day meeting on Monday 12 October. We all met in the Hall as the space was just a hair bigger than the class meeting space. After some quick introductions, our Biggies shared what they love about Preshil, and then were able to ask questions about Blackhall Kalimna. Before you ask, yes, Hogwarts was mentioned.
The Arlington children had questions, “what is the point of a coordinator?”, a lot to share about their hopes, “meeting new people who share my interests” and their view of Preshil, “freedom and responsibility” and “being able to climb trees”... Ethan, that statement comes with homework, top 3 trees at Arlington for climbing!
The time flew, and so we decided that it would be great to meet again so that more could be shared. I would like to extend a huge 'thank you' to Phuong, Chris and Dan for coming over to Arlington to begin our Year 6 to 7 Transition Program on home soil.
IB Standing Committee
We are delighted to share that Natalie Kunst, Middle Years Programme Coordinator at Blackhall Kalimna, has been nominated and voted onto, the International Baccalaureate Standing Committee for IB Schools Australasia. She has a wealth of experience with the IB, and is now in a position to fly the flag for the unique way in which Preshil interprets and implements the IB programmes from Kindergarten through to the DP. Go Team Preshil!
Cressida Batterham-Wilson
Acting Head of Arlington Campus