Learning @ TPPS
Interrelate Relationships Education Program and ‘Tricky Talks’ Family Evening – Keep the dates free!
Parent Information Session – Tuesday 21st April 7.00-8.00pm ONLINE (Tm 2 Wk 1)
For many years, TPPS have used the organisation ‘Interrelate’, a not-for-profit provider of relationship services that specialise in supporting parents and children, to help us deliver relationship and sexuality programs. The programs empower families to build and navigate strong, resilient and healthy relationships, from primary school through to adulthood. TPPS host an ‘in class’ Interrelate program for our Grade 5 classes annually (not in Grade 6) which this year, will occur mid Term 2. Prior to the ‘in class’ program commencing, Grade 5 parents will be offered the opportunity to attend an online adult only information session to learn about what will be presented in the program. This is an opportunity to ask questions and be fully informed before providing your consent for your child to participate in the Grade 5 ‘in class’ program. A separate Compass event for Grade 5 families will become available in coming weeks.
‘Tricky Talks’ Family Evening – Thursday 14th May 6.00-7.00pm and 7.00-8.00pm
In addition to this, TPPS are also offering families the opportunity to participate in the ‘Tricky Talks’ programs next term. This is for interested families online on the evening of Thursday 14th May (Tm 2 Wk 4).
‘Tricky Talks’ offers two sessions for families to participate in together in the comfort and privacy of their own home. It is intended for children and parents to sit together at home as there will be opportunities for families to ‘turn and talk’ about the subject matter together during the session and then continue the conversation at the conclusion (students in Grades 3-6). Sessions are intended to promote an open and supportive environment for you to discuss relationships with your child. The family evening complements, but does not replace, what is delivered in the Grade 5 at school program. Each session runs for 60 minutes, with a 15-minute break in between. The programs on offer are as follows:
Session 1 - Where did I come from? 6.00-7.00pm
Audience: Grade 3&4 students and their parents/carers
Program objectives and focus:
- To help children aged 8-10 years gain an understanding of the structure and functions of the reproductive system in males and females.
- To provide information on conception (describing sexual intercourse, associated with love in the context of a caring relationship), foetal development, twin explanation and birth of a baby.
- Personal safety and protective behaviours.
- To provide opportunities for parents and children to discuss various aspects of reproduction in an informal way.
- To reinforce the role of parents as a source of information on matters pertaining to sexuality and reproduction.
Note: Older students are encouraged to attend if they have not previously seen this program.
Session 2 – Preparing for Puberty 7.15-8.15pm
Audience: Grade 5&6 students and their parents/carers
Program objectives and focus:
- To provide information on puberty for 10-13 year olds, in relation to the physical changes and emotional changes (in particular, helping them feel comfortable about their bodies and its functions; preparing them for the changes during puberty and dispelling the myths; and providing accurate, understandable information).
- To help young people feel okay about being different and that the physical changes can be at a different rate for everyone.
- To develop students’ understanding of periods and sperm production, as well as the physical, emotional, social and intellectual changes associated with puberty for both boys and girls.
- Enhance awareness of children’s personal safety and protective behaviours.
- To confirm their individuality and promote self-esteem.
To facilitate communication between parents and their children and encourage young people to take their questions, problems and concerns to their parents.
Note: Younger students are welcome to attend at the discretion of their parents/carers.
More information about the program will be provided closer to the time, but we encourage you to put the date in your diary now.
We hope that these programs give our families the opportunity to create an open line of communication between parents and their children, led by highly skilled educators. If you would like further information about Interrelate including their history, please visit their website: https://www.interrelate.org.au/
School – Home Partnership for Understanding Mathematics
When families and schools work closely together to support students in their learning journey, results are stronger. The Victorian Government have collaborated with the Victorian Mathematics Ambassadors to create some videos to assist families, particularly in Grade Prep-2 to understand how some key concepts in mathematics are developed. Mathematics is much more than just a set of number facts and those students who have a strong ‘number sense’ understand mathematics concepts with greater ease.
The videos show what number sense looks like in the classroom and give simple tips to help your child build number sense at home. The videos can be viewed with captions for various languages. The first video, ‘Strengthening number sense at home’ gives an overview of the series, then the following videos outline each of four key concepts:
- one-to-one correspondence
- subitising (the ability to recognise a group of objects such as dots on dice, without needing to count)
- partitioning (part-part-whole)
- teen numbers
Please take some time to watch these short videos and learn more about how you can support your child with some Maths at home.