PBL Conference

Dear St. Joseph's Community,

We are thrilled to share with you the exciting experiences and insights gained from our recent journey to the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) conference in Cairns. Mat, Elly, Hayden, and myself represented St. Joseph's at this prestigious event, where we immersed ourselves in a wealth of knowledge from world-class speakers and experts.

One of the highlights of our trip was the opportunity to present on our innovative approach using Student Commissioners to amplify student voice and agency. Mat, Elly, and Hayden took the stage confidently, addressing a captivated audience that included notable figures like Dr. Shiralee Poed, a renowned global expert in PBL. We are proud to announce that Dr. Poed has not only recognised our efforts but has also become a critical friend in our ongoing journey towards excellence.

St. Joseph's, Mernda are proud to be the first ever school from the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools that has presented at this conference in its 20 year history. The response from the conference attendees was overwhelmingly positive. One distinguished guest remarked that our initiatives at St. Joseph's are truly groundbreaking, describing them as among the most impressive in their extensive 15-year career in PBL worldwide.

Our time in Cairns has been enlightening and inspiring. We have gathered new strategies and insights that will undoubtedly push us further along our path of continuous improvement at St. Joseph's. We would like to extend a huge thanks to our Student Commissioners whose voices, opinions and insights have been instrumental in making our PBL initiatives a resounding success. They have all represented our community amazingly well.

As we return home, we can't wait to implement our new learnings and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in education. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our students and our community.

Warm regards,

Chris Borg

Learning & Teaching Leader

Mathematics

With the school holidays approaching, families may be asking, “What can we do to support our child’s learning in Mathematics?”

One of the most effective ways to enhance children’s Mathematics skills is through play.

I am excited to share a fantastic resource with you: LoveMaths Games (https://www.lovemaths.me/games)

Maths games are a wonderful tool for learning because they combine fun and number skills. They also help children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

What you will find on LoveMaths:

Interactive and Educational Games: The games on LoveMaths are designed to be both engaging and educational. They cover a wide range of topics, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and more.
Age-Appropriate Activities: The website offers games for various age groups and skill levels.
Family-Friendly Fun: Many of these games can be played together as a family, making learning a collaborative and enjoyable experience.
No need for Special Equipment: Most of the games require only basic household items or just a bit of creativity. This means you can get started right away without needing to purchase any special materials.

English

School holiday activities: Tips for parents to keep sane!

By Mums at the Table

Even though the school holidays are fast approaching, some parents (read: me) may not have been organised enough to come up with a complete school holiday program.

Just how are you going to entertain the kids when school is shut and all their normal extracurricular activities are on break? There’s only so many Lego challenges you can set them, before they believe they’ve run out of fun things to do.

Before we share some great school holiday ideas from the mums in our trusty community, resident psychologist Collett Smart has a reminder for every parent struggling to come up with fun school holiday activities. “You don’t need to entertain your children all the time,” she says. “Children need to learn to be responsible for their own fun.”

For more ideas and inspiration read Mums at the Table.

https://mumsatthetable.com/school-holiday-activities/

Community Update

Helping Hands

eSmart