Assistant Principals' Report

Hello and welcome to our newsletter item for this week.

Window of Tolerance - Berry Street Education Model (BSEM)

As we approach just over the halfway point of Term 4, it’s a wonderful opportunity to check in with ourselves and one another. As the term gets busier, remember the importance of taking time to rest, connect with others and celebrate the little wins along the way. Encouraging children to talk about their feelings, practise gratitude and use positive coping strategies helps them work towards finishing the year feeling confident, connected and supported. 

Acknowledging that at this time of the year that cumulative tiredness can impact the way we feel and act. We may not be firing on all cylinders and energy levels are lower. These feelings relate to the Window of Tolerance within our BSEM work which we have been learning and applying here at HPS. This is the optimal zone of nervous system arousal where a student feels safe, grounded and Ready to Learn. Originally, coined by Dr Dan Siegal, BSEM uses this framework within its foundational 'Body' domain under the guiding principle that educators must 'regulate to educate'. 

Things such as our Ready to Learn Plans and Ready to Learn Scales may look a little different at this time of year. Ready to Learn Plans are developed by students and teachers to co-create individualised guides and map out what students look like when they are calm, their personal escalation triggers and pre-agreed sensory or movement strategies they can use to self-regulate. Ready to Learn Scales are visual check-in scales or colour coded rubricsso students can communicate their current arousal level without needing complex verbal responses or explanations. Our students may require more brain breaks but the predictable routines and circle time are more important than ever. Keeping the routines, reinforcing the learning and behavioural expectations and ensuring that as adults we are staying regulated as this allows for co-regulation to take place. 

Remembrance Day Service- 11th November 

On Wednesday, whilst our Year 5 students and members of the SRC (thank you to Mrs Leigh Barry for supporting the students) led our school community in a Remembrance Day Service on the COLA, our school captains were representing our school at Greensborough Memorial Park. 

Between July 1914 and November 1918, over eighteen million men, women and children perished in the World War 1, or the Great War, as its combatants called it. It was a staggering and incalculable loss of human life. At 11am on the 11th November 1918 after four years of continuous warfare, the guns on the western front fell silent and the hostilities of World War 1 came to an end. Remembrance Day, originally Armistice Day, was established to commemorate the end of World War 1. 

On this day every year, we gather on this day to honour those who laid down their lives in all wars. We particularly remember those, who in crucial times, answered the call to serve and as a result lost their lives. Their graves and resting places are scattered over many countries and in unknown places on every continent in every sea.

We share the sorrow of of families and friends who have mourned them. We also remember those who suffered as prisoners of war. They gave their hopes and dreams, their love of country so that we might be able to gather in remembrance. 

Have a great weekend and week ahead.

Warm Regards,

Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin

Assistant Principals

Heidelberg Primary School