Dear Families,

As we come toward the end of our first Semester, it is very satisfying to look back on all that has been achieved so far in our learning and in our school community.

What a busy term it has been again and we thank all our students and staff for their contributions to making this a happy and successful term.

As always we have much to be proud of and a great deal to celebrate. I am especially amazed when I go into the Foundation room and see them after two terms looking like they have been at school all their lives!

Habits of Mind for next term- Term 3

Next term we will be looking at two Habits of Mind- Listening with Understanding and Empathy and Thinking Flexibly. We will unpack this more next term but we believe these are skills we can teach and learn from a very early age and continually refine right through to adulthood.

Listening with Understanding and Empathy

Good listening can be difficult because it requires keeping focused on what the other person is saying and not interrupting with your own thoughts.

We use the three Ps to teach children from a young age how to listen more deeply.

3 Ps: pause, paraphrase, and probe.

PAUSE

WHY: Effective listeners need to learn how to “pause their brain” and set aside their own thoughts.
HOW: Wait time. Being silent to make sure the other person has finished their thought.

PARAPHRASE

WHY: Letting others know that you are trying to understand them and that you value their ideas and thoughts.
HOW: Sentence stems such as: “You’re suggesting that……” “Your idea is……” “You’re upset because……”

PROBE:

WHY: Showing others that their ideas are worthy of exploration and consideration AND demonstrating your desire to understand more fully before trying to respond with suggestions or advice.
HOW: Sentence stems or clarifying questions such as: When someone uses terminology or words that are vague, the listener clarifies to make certain they understand. This shows their interest in what the other is saying. “Say more about your ideas on …. “What did you see in the text that led you to make that inference?” “ Explain what you mean by…”

Monash University Performance

For the upcoming school holidays, the performance of the Velveteen Rabbit is available. You may remember that some of our junior classes attended this last year at Monash University and contributed their comments to the final production content.

Performance tickets are $15

After eleven years at St Peter’s, I will be taking long service leave for Term 3 and Term 4 of 2023. This is giving me an opportunity to travel and spend an extended length of time with my family who live overseas.

I am very grateful to Sharon for giving me this opportunity and to Iris who will be the Acting Deputy Principal and Wellbeing Leader while I am away. I know Iris will be an absolute asset to the school in these leadership roles.

I am looking forward to this extended break but I will miss you all while I am away and will look forward to seeing you all again on my return in 2024.

Thank you to you all who have wished me well and I will be following life at St Peter’s on social media and through the newsletters.

I wish you and your families health and happiness over the next six months and know that I will be thinking of you.

God bless and see you in 2024.

Nerissa ( Ms K )

Father,

please pour out Your blessings upon our whole school community so that everyone grows in the knowledge of Your truth, love, wisdom and peace.

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

Camp Australia