World Teachers Day & more

World Teachers’ Day and ES Month

World Teachers’ Day is usually held internationally on the 5th October each year. However, as the day usually falls during Australian school holidays, Australian states and territories celebrate on the last Friday of October each year instead. In 2020, it will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday 30th October.

ES Month is celebrated in August each year.  Unfortunately, this was the middle of our stage four lockdown, so at Syndal South Primary School we will be acknowledging Education Support staff as well this Friday.  Education Support staff fill a variety of roles including Administration, Integration Aides, and Library Technician.

The UN theme for World Teachers’ Day this year is: “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future”. We know from all the lovely emails we have received this year that our community have appreciated the work of our teachers and education support staff.  We also know from our experience this year that education looks a bit different and that some of the necessary developments will remain moving forward. 

As with many workplaces we have seen a disruption to our practice, which will have a lasting impact.  Staff have had to develop skills, particularly in the use of technology, which would previously have taken years to develop – who knew we were also such capable learners?

Overall, this year has been challenging but invigorating at the same time, as we developed new skills and met the challenges head on.  As educators we have certainly felt the discomfort that comes with learning.

Below I have included a collection of quotes about teachers and education and the influence they can have.  You will notice that some come from educators of the past and their words are as relevant today as they always were. 

‘Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.’ – W.B. Yeats

‘I am not a teacher, but an awakener.’ – Robert Frost

‘I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.’ – Albert Einstein

‘When one teaches, two learn.’ – Robert Heinlein

‘A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.’ – Henry Adams

‘I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.’ – Socrates

‘The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.’ ―  William Arthur Ward

‘There is no failure. Only feedback.’– Robert Allen

‘A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.’ – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

‘A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron.’ – Horace Mann

‘Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.’ – Scott Hayden

‘The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.’ – Maria Montessori

‘It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.’ – Albert Einstein

I would like to thank all our staff for their dedication, commitment, and flexibility this year in the support of student learning.  I would also like to thank them for their good humour, patience and persistence as we moved from on-site to off-site learning throughout the year.

Parent Opinion Survey

Just a reminder that that the Parent Opinion Survey is still open until Friday 13th November. We are hoping to have as many parents as possible complete the survey this year, as we use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies. 

The survey only takes 20 minutes to complete and can be accessed at a convenient time to you on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. 

To complete the survey, simply:

1. Click on the link below or copy and paste the text into your browser. This link will take you directly to the survey.  
   https://www.orima.com.au/parent
2. Select the School name below.  
   School Name: Syndal South Primary School
3. Enter the School PIN below.  
   PIN: 453974
4. When complete, please click on the tick button at the end of the survey to submit your answers.

School Uniform

Now we have had a couple of weeks back at school, I thought it was an opportune time to remind families of the school uniform expectations, for the Summer months ahead.  Boys are expected to wear green shorts with the school polo and girls the summer dress with black or dark green leggings or shorts/culottes with the school polo.  White socks are to be worn with black shoes or black runners.  School hats must also be worn outside.

Pupil Free Day

Finally, a reminder that Monday is a pupil free day and Tuesday is a Public Holiday. On Monday, the OSHC Program will be operating. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful long weekend and look forward to seeing everyone back on Wednesday 4th November.