Primary

                                                                   Mrs Leanne Schulz

2021 Primary School Theme

Thank you!

Learning Resilience is a major focus of the College’s Wellbeing Committee this year. As staff we have explored and discussed the ‘Be You Learning Module’ so we have a common understanding of how to support and teach our students how to be resilient. In times such as these, our resilience is certainly tested. A very big thank you is extended to families, staff and students for working together with such short notice to ensure a smooth transition to Home Learning during the latest lockdown. Our Primary theme for the year ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’ has been put into action!

Social and emotional learning skills is about developing the ability to care for others, make responsible decisions, establish positive relationships, and handle challenging situations. These skills are essential for developing resilience and maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing. We were all very happy to see the students returning to face-to-face teaching!

Wellbeing Dogs

Sadie and Otto have been working with the VCAL students to build their skills to help in classrooms across the College. They have been getting used to students in the schoolyard and they love getting lots of pats from the primary students! The students are learning how to approach the dogs and remembering to ask permission before patting the dogs so they do not get overwhelmed. Sadie and Otto are looking forward to visiting classrooms in the coming weeks.

Prep News Miss Gemma Jackson (AHOS)

The Prep students have settled well into their second week of school. They are beginning to develop classroom routine skills and have enjoyed attending their specialist classes. The Preps have been working hard at getting to know each other and making new friendships inside and outside of the classroom. We commenced our first week of word study and focused on the letters and sounds in the word ‘cat’. We made cat faces and had a go at some writing. We are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish in Prep this term.

Year 1 and 2 News Miss Hannah Petterson (AHOS)

Year 1 and 2 students had such a great first two weeks of school and we have settled fabulously into our classes. We began learning all about each other and exploring class routines again. Check out a few photos from the first 2 weeks! 

2M Water Walk

Home Learning came as a bit of a surprise for Week 3, but we quickly got back into the swing of home learning and teachers could not be more proud of the can-do attitude from everyone.

Year 3 and 4 News Mrs Anne Adams (AHOS)

Year 3 students are settling into their routines and produced wonderful 3D shapes made from newspaper as part of the Maths curriculum. Some students presented speeches to their class as part of the process for applying for the roles of Class Captain and the Environment Monitor. All students should be congratulated for their efforts in Years 3 and 4. It was very impressive to see students prepared and speaking so confidently.

Year 3

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program is a highlight for both Year 4 classes. Students have had their first introductory cooking and sample tasting session in the Kitchen Garden Centre. Fruit salad was on the menu and students practised their knife cutting skills. 

Year 4

Year 5 and 6 News Mr Nigel Keegan (AHOS)

Our Year 5 and 6 students have started the year incredibly well! It is always such a special time of the year welcoming students back from holidays, seeing them catch up with each other, settling them into their new classes, and the excitement of opportunities and experiences that the new year brings.

Teachers and students have worked hard to establish a positive classroom culture, expectations and routines of being in the upper primary at Aitken College. All areas of study are well underway. We have completed our first two rounds of Summer Interschool Sport trials in which students have participated very well. Congratulations to students who will go on to second round trials over the next two Fridays.

Fairview and Cumberland Chapel and Assembly

Fairview Chapel and Assembly are held every Monday from 9.00am to 10.00am and Cumberland Chapel and Assembly are held every Monday from 10.00am to 11.00am. Unfortunately, at this stage due to COVID restrictions parents are not able to join Assemblies.

Term 1 Chapel and Revised Assembly Roster

Growth Mindset

According to Carol Dweck (Mindset; 2017), there are two main mindsets we can navigate life with: growth and fixed. Having a growth mindset is essential for success.

It is extremely important that we foster a Growth Mindset when communicating with children by encouraging ‘growth mindset’ language. The following image helps to recognise the difference between a growth and fixed mindset:

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas and one of Australia’s leading parenting educators, outlines a ‘Simple Formula for Parenting’:

‘Show kids how to behave.

Keep pets to develop nurturance and responsibility.

Be the adult in the parent-child relationship.

Cultivate good manners.

Build character daily.

Catch kids being kind, gentle and strong.

Establish healthy habits early.

Stick to routines.

Have fun.

Eat together every day.

Focus on excellence, not perfection.

Spend individual time with each child each week.

Expect kids to change.

Keep an adult only place at home.

Admit it when you’re wrong.

Choose time and place to deliver big messages.

Keep the meal table free from arguments.

Prepare for tomorrow the night before.

Expect children to help.

Encourage siblings to apologise.

Send kids to school with breakfast, a kiss and a smile.

Celebrate success as a family.

Spend time in nature together.

Let go.’

Parent Helpers

The Parent Helper Information session has been changed to Monday 22 February at 7.30pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to families. If you would like to assist in the classroom, on incursions or excursions, or in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, you must attend the Parent Helper session. If you do not attend, you will not be able to help out. All parent helpers must provide a Working With Children check, read the allocated Child Safety Policy documents that will be provided and can also be found on My Aitken, and sign a Volunteer Agreement form.

Reminders

• Each child is required to have a bottle of water at school.
• When packing a lunch box, we encourage you to attempt to eliminate the need for any plastic wrappers around food. It is important to include healthy snacks, including fruit and vegetables, and avoid snacks high in sugar or salt.
• Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct footwear. This includes: flat black lace up leather shoes or leather pull up boots (Fairview only), no buckles or velcro.
• Your child must bring their hat to school every day. Children without a hat will only be permitted to play in an undercover area and will not be able to participate in their Physical Education class.
• It is also advised that your child bring a small tube/bottle of sunscreen. Please ensure that they have sunscreen on before they arrive to school.
• It is also compulsory that all hair is tied back, at all times. If the hair is at a length, which it can be tied back, it must be tied in a bottle green or navy hair tie or ribbon.
• Prep and Year 1 children are required to bring a spare change of underwear, socks and trackpants/shorts (blue or green) to school.
• Preps/Year 1 and 2 students will not be permitted to visit the canteen; lunch orders can be placed online at www.flexischools.com.au.
• When parents are dropping off items for their child, please leave them with staff at Reception. Parents must not go directly to the classroom.