Deputy Principal's Report

What did you learn today?

Are you one of those parents who find it challenging to get your child to open up about their day after school? If so, you're not alone; this is a common experience for many families. However, a simple adjustment in the way we approach this can make all the difference.

Try asking questions that directly relate to your child's day. Inquiring about their successes or the challenges they faced can assist them in unwinding after a long day at school. It encourages them to express their emotions rather than keeping everything bottled up. If your child appears quiet or down, asking them about moments that made them feel proud is an excellent way to boost their confidence and self-esteem.

These moments also provide excellent opportunities for you to have honest conversations with your child about your own emotions throughout the day. This may help them expand their emotional vocabulary and give them a starting point to talk about any big feelings that may arise. 

Here are 15 questions that might get you an actual reponse!

1. What was the funniest thing that happened at school today?

2. What was the kindest thing you did today?

3. What are you grateful for today?

4. What did you do outside today?

5. Who did you play with today? What did you play?

6. What was the hardest thing you had to do today?

7. What books did you read today?

8. What was your favourite lesson today?

9. What emotions did you feel today?

10. What was the best thing you learnt today?

11. What did you do today that made you feel most proud?

12. What are you most looking forward to doing tomorrow at school?

13. What made you smile today?

14. What questions did you ask your teacher today?

15. What part of the day made you feel happiest today?

Transitions

This week we commenced our prep orientation process, which allowed us to get to know some of our wonderful children who will be joining us next year. Their enthusiasm to be a part of our school was very clear, and they showed us that they are more than ready to take the exciting step into "Big School."

In addition to our Prep students, we've been diligently preparing our Year 6 students for their significant transition to high school. Going from being the seniors of our school to the juniors in a larger environment can understandably be a bit intimidating.

But it's not just our new Preps and Year 6 students we're helping transition; we're also committed to ensuring all our students are well-prepared as they progress to the next year level. This includes forming new class groups, meeting new teachers, adjusting to new environments, and embracing higher academic expectations. We understand that these changes can be overwhelming for some, and we are here to support each and every one of our students during these transitions. Please reach out to us if you require any support in this space.

If you would like to find out more about why our kids may struggle with change and transitions, head over to childmind.org.

Free eSafety Webinar for Parents

As mentioned last week, our parents and guardians are encouraged to register for some of the free eSafety webinars run by the eSafety Commissioner. More information about the topics and the times they take place can be found at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Thanks again for all your support,

Peggy McDonald & Steele Anderson

Deputy Principals