Lower Primary

Welcome to Term 1

Welcome to the 2016 school year and to the first section newsletter.  The Lower Primary staff  look forward to working with you and your children. We encourage your participation in our programs and hope that you will take the opportunity to be involved at some time during the year.  It has been wonderful to see how well our students have settled into their classes and are getting to know their new teachers and classroom routines. I am sure we will have a successful and happy year in Lower Primary.

This year 16 little people started school for the first time, and 6 students joined us from other schools. I have enjoyed getting to know these new students and sharing in their excitement as they experience school life at Concord.  A very special welcome to Akeila, Aaron, Evy, Frankie, Nuh, Liam, Tito, Micah, Madison, Marcus, Aidan, Charli, Alexander, Shane, Naihi, and Shanae.  Welcome also to Michael, Adrian, Poppy, Madisyn, Justin, and Daniel who join us from other schools.

The Preps are now at school full time. They have spent the last month learning about being at school. There is so much to learn for little people starting school for the first time but you can see their confidence in this new learning environment grow day by day. All our new students have all been presented with a “Welcome” certificate as recognition of the great start they have made at Concord. We are confident that they will all experience much success within their school program.

I would also like to welcome our new Educational Trainees, Brooke, Britt, Kellie, Alys, Bev and Alex. We are pleased to have them as part of the Lower Primary team, and know that they will enjoy working our wonderful students.

During the first weeks of school the program has concentrated on introducing students to their new class, routines and expectations, and in the case of the first year students, their new school. All classes have been focussing on the importance of following rules and expectations. Students have been learning that these help them to know what to do at school and to keep them safe. You may like to discuss and reinforce these expectations with your child at home.

Integrated Unit  - 

Then and Now

The integrated unit for the first semester is 'Then and Now'. This unit is designed to assist students to explore concepts of time, change and continuity through a study of changes in our local community over time. Students will compare the experiences and artefacts of our daily lives with that of our parents and grandparents and others in the community and reflect upon the similarities and differences in the way we live our lives. They will identify influences on communication, technology and media and consider how childhood has changed since the time of our parents, grandparents and back in the ‘olden days’ before electricity and technology. There will be investigations and class excursions to assist with students understanding of time and change.

Lower Primary has developed a display of a variety of items from the past and those used today. It is located  in our main corridor. The focus has been” at home”. Students have been coming up in class groups  to examine these items and to compare and match the old items to new. Students have been amazed to see the difference in appliances such as the old and new irons, telephones, plates, drinking bottles, buckets , pegs and clocks just to mention a few. The old photos caused great amusement. Students could not believe the clothes that the people were wearing and that they were black and white! This display has created much interest and lots of conversation. It is interesting to watch individual students stop, look and touch the items on display as the wander down the corridor, and to see them investigate particularly the “olden day” items. The hands on aspect of this display means students can relate their learning to these real life items. The learning then becomes much more meaningful.

Twilight Family BBQ

What a fantastic night the Twilight Family BBQ was.  It was a great way to start the year and for parents to get together and spend some time together. The jumping castle along with the tattoos, hair spray and a variety of playground equipment kept the “little people” happily occupied. I had many parents come up to me to say how much they enjoyed the evening and these activities which allowed them a little time to relax and enjoy the festivities. It was wonderful to see families getting to know each other and their children’s school friends. The Lower Primary staff,  Jason (Principal), Kirrily and Colin (Assistant Principals) also thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you all a little better. This really is a great way to start the year and we thank all the families who were able to attend. 

It has been a pleasure to see the way students have settled into the year and how are engaged and motivated they are by their school program. I have been impressed by each child’s contribution, the work they are producing, and the confidence they are displaying as learners. Well done everyone. Keep up the good work.

Kath Moore

Lower Primary Assistant Principal