A message from Margie
The year starts swimmingly!
We've had a great start to the year, with all students participating in either swimming or aquatics lessons. The students have received very positive feedback from staff at the pool and the aquatic centre, who let us know that they found our students to be respectful, willing to bravely 'have a go' at all activities and work well collaboratively. What a great way to start our Learn Stand Give Fly focus for the term, 'Collaborative'!
At the pool - look at these smiles! 🙂
Ready to Learn
Back at school, we've been busy teaching expected behaviours and routines in all classes. We are reminding students to check in with their Zones of Regulation, and to make use of any tools and strategies they know will help them to be ready to learn. "Ready to Learn" is a focus for the whole school this year, and in the coming weeks each student will develop their own Ready to Learn Plan, highlighting what they need to do at the start of the day to be ready, what they can do in each of the 4 zones during the day to help them with their learning, and how the adults at school can help them.
Families in Years 1-6 should already be familiar with the Zones of Regulation. We will send home a copy of the Zones for each new family to place on their fridge. Some families find it really helpful to check in with everyone's zones at home.
Hopefully your kids will be able to tell you which strategies and tools work best for them!
You can learn more about the Zones here: The Zones of Regulation | A Curriculum For Emotional Regulation
Drop off at the gate from Monday
Please remember that we would like all students including Reception to make their way to class independently as of this coming Monday. Please let your class teacher and me know by SeeSaw message if you need our support with this. We can help by meeting your child at the gate and even make a 2 week success plan with you if needed. Please remember, in these situations, the best goodbye from parents is a quick and confident goodbye!
Supervision times
Did you know the best time to arrive at school is just after 8:30? It can sometimes seem like a superhuman effort to achieve this, but it's the best way to give your children a strong start to the day. 🦸♀️🦸♂️ That way students have time to make their way to their classroom to put their bags away, catch up in the playground with their friends (or in the classroom when open) and be ready to start the learning program at 8:50.
If you do arrive after the 8:50 bell, we ask that you drop your children at the front door of the school instead of the bottom gates, for their safety, since the yard is not supervised after 8:50 am. They can then pick up a late pass on the way through to take to their teacher. Thank you!
Acquaintance Night and Welcome Picnic Wednesday 12 February, 5-7pm
We would love to see all families at our Acquaintance Night, taking place this coming Wednesday 12th February. There will be a 15-minute presentation for parents and carers by class teachers and specialists, as well as presentations by Assistant Principal Troy Welfare on how to best support your child with maths at home and by me on how to support your child with regulation and resilience (see the timetable below).
These meetings are for teachers and parents or carers only. Students will be supervised by school staff in the main playground, sand pit and Fairy Garden while you are meeting with your child's teachers. Please let your children know they will not be able to play in the bases or Willow Playground during this time, since those areas will not be supervised.
We ask that you please keep preschool children with you and keep them on your lap or a chair next to you as we are unable to supervise that age group in the yard, and it is difficult for teachers to present information if toddlers are moving around the classroom. Thank you! 🙏
Information sessions (in classrooms unless indicated):
5:00-5:15
Reception (Katie Martin)
Reception / Year 1 (Jaya Thomas)
Troy Welfare – ‘Developing fluency in mathematics’
How to support your kids in maths/ Bond Blocks - Sam’s Classroom
5:20-5:35
Year 1/2 (Kelly Charlton)
Year 5/6 (Sallie Griffin)
Margie Sarre – Supporting your child with resilience and regulation - Stephen’s classroom
5:40-5:55
Year 2/3 (Samantha Irvine)
Margie Sarre – Supporting your child with resilience and regulation - Stephen’s classroom
6:00-6:15
Year 3/4 (Stephen Tsiaprakas and Emma Grosvenor)
Troy Welfare – ‘Developing fluency in mathematics’
How to support your kids in maths/ Bond Blocks - Sam’s Classroom
6:20-6:35
Year 4/5 (Alex Berry
6:40-6:55
Specialist teachers in GYM (Susan Lewis, Jess Rogers, Troy Welfare and Suzie Tume)
7:00
Staff finish supervising children in the yard.
We would like to invite you to a Family Picnic and BBQ during the evening of Acquaintance Night, from 5-7 pm. There will be BBQ sausages and drinks for sale by the Basket Range cricket club throughout this period, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Please bring a picnic rug or chairs and any other food and drinks you'd like for your family. We hope to see you there!
Second-Hand Uniforms
The Parents & Friends group will hold a second-hand uniform sale during Acquaintance Night next Wednesday in the lunch shed (near the BBQ). Prices from $1, cash & EFT available. We are looking for any donations of uniform items in good condition. Please drop off any preloved uniforms to the front office by next Tuesday. All funds raised help support projects & experiences to enhance our school.
Now that swimming and aquatics are behind us, we're all excited to get stuck into our more formal learning program. 💪😎
Have a wonderful fortnight, everyone!