St James Learning and Teaching 

Wellbeing

Yoga classes with Jackie from Yes2Yoga began this week on Monday morning with a parent and children's session. During this session we went on a visit to the beach! We took a yoga train, we put on sunscreen and we even did some surfing. Classes all finish with a meditation session. Students will have 3 weeks of yoga classes during week 2, 3 and 4 of this term. Please ensure students wear their sport uniform on Mondays for these 3 weeks. 

Year 2 Writing

Sport 

This week we had 6 students from St James represent the Holt District at the Beachside Athletics competition. It is a huge achievement to get through to this competition from the Holt Athletics competition held in September. 

Congratulations to Lyla P, Sibh Z, Ethan K, Beau S, Tia Q and Matilda M who all competed on this day and thank-you to their parents for accompanying them. 

Our Junior All Star Girls began their training last week to prepare for the Regional Basketball finals on Wednesday 15th November. 

Kind Regards, 

Georgia McNamara

Sport Co-Ordinator/Senior Physical Education Teacher

Literacy

Literacy Parent Helpers in the Junior School.

This term we have started our Literacy Parent Helper Program across the Junior school. Our lovely parent community have been listening to us read each afternoon from 2:45-3:30pm. This is a great opportunity to support your child’s learning. 

BY VOLUNTEERING AS A LITERACY PARENT HELPER YOU ARE:

● fostering a love for and enjoyment of reading

● valuing Literacy learning in home and school settings

● building connections between school and home

● supporting teachers and students

● sharing and celebrating success in Literacy

If you would still like to help with 1-1 Reading  from 2.45-3.30 pm please follow the steps below:

1. Apply for or renew your Working with Children Check (WWCC) here.
2. Update your information on the following WWCC Google Form
3. Read through the Literacy Parent Helper Information and Guide
4. Share your availability via the Junior Literacy Parent Helpers Google Form

WRITING in the Junior School

This term we have revisited Narrative Writing. The children have explored the writing techniques, vocabulary and structure of a narrative piece. Part of this process is a heavy focus on Language Experience. In the Language experience approach the teacher typically uses a text, object, images or shared experience to generate discussion. The teacher scaffolds the discussion in order to support the development of oral language skills. The children often draw their ideas and articulate and create their story.  It has been lovely to read so many interesting narrative pieces.

READING AT HOME

CREATING A POSITIVE READING ENVIRONMENT AT HOME

As parents and carers, you create the home context for reading and set the tone for how reading is valued. The ‘payoff’ for reading together has to be worth coming back to night after night. When reading together is the best time of your child’s day and the best time of your day, it is worth turning up. The right book infused with fun, laughter, and love goes a long way in creating life-long readers who in thirty years’ time recall with joy being snuggled on the lounge with you and their favourite book. 

Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) 2019

TIPS FOR READING AT HOME

There is no magical formula for learning to read. Children learn in their own time according to their own pace. 

There is no critical age when all children should have mastered reading. When children are learning to walk and talk, we accept different levels of progress – it is the same with learning to read and write. 

However, it is important that children are engaged in ongoing quality experiences with books. Providing a regular, reading routine at home assists children in their quest for reading success.

Things to keep in mind…

• The reader holds the book! There is a lot of power and control in the world of reading. The reader needs to have the power.

Before you read a book, set your child up for success. Talk about the title, illustrations, author and the blurb. Discuss any unusual words.

• PAUSE, PROMPT, PRAISE
• Oral Literacy is very important for your child’s literacy development. Ask open ended questions, give instructions to follow and TALK, TALK, TALK!
• Remember to make it enjoyable!

Guided talks about books in an important strategy to develop comprehension of texts. Students need frequent opportunities to ‘talk around the text’ leading them to more complex reading material. There is much research identifying significant correlations between the amount of complexity in students’ spoken language and their reading comprehension. 

Often good conversations can begin by asking whether children were puzzled  by any parts of the picture story book or a chapter and if they can see any patterns in the text. 

A Literature Companion, Lorraine McDonald (PETAA) 2018

Mandi Joplin

Junior Literacy and Intervention Leader

Library

 As you know Term 2 and 3 were very busy for our readers with the Premier's Reading Challenge. Across the whole school we read a total of 1,126 books!! What an amazing effort. 

Everyone did an amazing job and should be proud of their efforts.  Whether you read 1 book or 64 books, the Premiers Reading Challenge has increased our passion for reading! 

Well Done St James.

CONGRATULATIONS TO  THE  FOLLOWING CHILDREN WHO COMPLETED THE CHALLENGE:

Certificates for those children who have completed the challenge will be handed out at assembly next Friday. 

Family Borrowing

A reminder that we now have Family Borrowing on Wednesday mornings from 8:30am. 

Join Mrs Joplin and Ange in the library to read a book with your child and borrow. 

Mandi Joplin

Teacher Librarian

Performing Arts / Music

Term Four is set to be a busy time with lots of music making. Students are continuing to make good progress with their recorder studies. They have also been working as whole class bands, playing percussion instruments, playing games that focus on listening skills, and singing a variety of songs in early preparation for  Christmas. Their level of engagement in these activities has been very satisfying.

A big thank you to Mandi Joplin for donating an electronic drum kit to the school. It will a welcome addition to our music resources.If any Grade 3 and 4 students have a ukulele at home, could they please bring it to school next Thursday, 19th November. No experience in the instrument is necessary as I’ll give some beginner lessons.  We will be working towards a surprise performance. Stay tuned!

If you have any queries please email me at  acooper@stjamesbrighton.catholic.edu.au

Mandy Cooper

Performing Arts / Music Teacher