Learning and Teaching News

Learning Conferences

When: Wednesday 24th June (Class free day)

What is a Learning Conference?

A Learning Conference is a meeting with a child, his/her family and teacher/s during which the child shares their work and discusses progress with their parent/guardian. The teacher facilitates/guides the meeting with input from the child and family. The Learning Conference is for 10 minutes. If you think you will need more time, please discuss this with your teacher prior to the appointment date or during the conference. 

Students will share two pieces of work with their family which will help them reflect on their learning, growth and future goals.

What is our why?

Learning Conferences are an important part of the assessment and reporting policy and strategies. Learning Conferences can:-

• enhance both child & parent engagement in the educative process 
• empower children by taking ownership of their learning
• help the child build trust with their teacher, and deepen their capacity to advocate for themselves
• build relationships and connections between all involved
• support effective teaching
• support children to think critically about their learning

What are the roles?

• The teacher acts as a guide for the discussion.
• The child presents their work and facilitates the discussion.
• Parents listen to and speak with their child about their academic and social progress, discuss their learning needs, and ask questions.

Booking Details

Scan the QR code to make a booking at School Interviews.

Or use the booking link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/wvmfe

Bookings are now open.

If you have any questions or need to make an alternate time, please contact your child's teacher.

Please Note: MACSEYE will be running on the day. Parents will be able to pick their child up from the hall to attend the learning conference and return them afterwards for those who need to. 

Cath Palmer

Deputy Principal

Catholic Identity & Pedagogy

cpalmer@shnewport.catholic.edu.au 

Prep-2 Take Home Readers

Following the strong evidence of student growth and progress since the introduction of the InitiaLit program at Sacred Heart, our school has made a significant investment in purchasing high-quality take-home readers. The consistent, structured approach to early reading instruction has had a positive impact on student learning outcomes, and these take-home readers will further strengthen the connection between classroom learning and home practice. We also acknowledge and appreciate parent feedback regarding reading at home, which has reinforced the value of providing families with additional opportunities to support their child’s reading development. 

In Term 3, Prep–Year 2 students will bring home one school reader per week.

Take-home readers will be intentionally selected by the teacher and will be the same texts used during small group instruction. This is a deliberate, evidence-based practice to ensure students are consolidating the exact skills they have been explicitly taught in class.

At this stage of learning, it is essential that students:

• read familiar, well-matched texts
• re-read the same book multiple times
• build accuracy, fluency and confidence

We ask that families support this process by:

• ensuring the reader is read several times across the week
• focusing on accuracy and smooth reading, not rushing ahead
• return the reader on the day assigned by the teacher

Readers will be changed once a week on a day that your child’s classroom teacher will inform you of. There will be no new take home reader sent home if the current one has not been returned. If books are lost or damage, parents may incur a replacement fee. 

It has been a very time consuming process cataloguing and organising the books and we appreciate your understanding and patience as we get these ready for Term 3. A MASSIVE thank you to Chris (Alex 5T and Sebastian 1K) for her much appreciated support with the labeling the books for 1K. In addition, Daisy, Allura and Amelia have been indispensable with helping to sort these books into folders. Many hands make light work! 

Thank you for supporting a consistent, evidence-based approach to reading at our school.

Sue Burke

English Leader

sburke@shnewport.catholic.edu.au

Kim Dalmau

Mathematics Leader

kdalmau@shnewport.catholic.edu.au