Weekes' Weekly News

Dear Sacred Heart Kew Families,

Where does your learning take place? It seems that learning can take place in the strangest of places. Walk through the school and you will see signs that learning takes place all around. 

Mathematics is alive and well. Every day I hear children counting out aloud whilst skipping, when working out when their turn is at downball, counting the number of rocks near the Church steps. Other children tell me how many goals they have kicked outside at football or soccer, on Friday at lunchtime, most children’s eyes burn holes in the palms of their hands as they frantically work out how much change they have been given and if it is enough to buy just one more chocolate from the Tuckshop before the bell. Cake making is quite popular, ingredients counted as scrumptious cakes are mass produced from the sand pit and sold at the shop door.  

English gets a bit of a work out too. Children role-playing different games and tv shows, other children reading books in the sensory garden or fern tree space, beyblade battles with excitable and colourful conversation in the junior yard. I’ve seen children write on paper and even concrete, colouring in and drawing competitions come and go.  

Music and Performing arts hits a high note from time to time. Singing and dancing (practising their lines for Lion King Junior auditions), gymnastics, circus balancing acts out along the rock steps, many young Australian Idol hopefuls use the playground to perfect their craft and make use of direct and instant feedback from playful peers.  

Physical Education also gets a fair run. Individual running time trials recorded around the oval running track, long jump into the sand pit, dodging and weaving through the trees and park bench areas (a type of land slalom skiing if you like). On occasion some ‘non contact’ fisticuffs have been seen, more martial arts come shadow boxing meets Minecraft Yugioh, rather than anything more sinister. One could argue that most of these activities could also sit nicely under the Wellbeing umbrella too. I guess that subject area is just a given.

Now, believe it or not, I am old enough to remember children writing on blackboards with chalk back in the day. However, last week I stumbled upon some budding artists drawing and writing on the MPR windows. Call me old fashioned or just call me old, this sight did take me somewhat by surprise. Before anyone else's shock levels escalate too, this activity was a fully teacher sanctioned and supervised one, which did provide some comfort. Adding to eased comfort levels is the fact that this ‘artwork’ actually looks quite good, like it should be a permanent fixture on the windows, but don’t tell anyone that this old man said that.  

Where does your learning take place? I am sure if you spoke with your child(ren) about their time at school that they may be of the view that they learn things only indoors, only in the classroom. Ask them again if any of their learning, any of their growth and development occurs in other places, beyond the classroom desks, chairs, doors and windows? You might receive a different answer, if the question is posed another way. 

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend. Enjoy the highs and lows now that footy is back with us again. Keep an eye on those windows at home.  

Kind Regards, 

Ed Weekes  

School Principal