Junior School

News from Junior School

New Parents Information Evening

It was our pleasure and privilege to meet some of our new year 7 parents at last weeks’ new parents information evening. We strive to create a learning partnership with our families in order to best support our students. If parents, co-ordinators and teachers are all working from the same page, we are in the best position to support learning of our students- not just in the classroom but socially and emotionally as well. In case you missed the information evening, here are some of the key points we covered:

Learning Behaviours

Students will be assessed on the following Learning Behaviours in the upcoming progress reports

The Junior School Team

Mabo House Co-ordinator: Kim Watson

Jackman House Co-ordinator: Faith Tucker

Frazer House Co-ordinator: Marissa Lee

Freeman House Co-ordinator: Jessica Friend

Junior Sub School Leader: Anna Urbano

If you need to contact a member of the Junior School Team, please check your child’s house first and contact the relevant house co-ordinator. Email contact is usually best as we teach, complete yard duties, attend meetings AND look after the students in the junior school! It’s a very busy office so booking in advance to see your childs’ house co-ordinator is essential. If you have booked an appointment in advance is also important to sign in at the front office of the College when you arrive and notify the office staff of the person your appointment is with. If you haven’t made an appointment, contact your co-ordinator via telephone or email.

Transition Program

Mrs Voula Margellis looks after our Transition Program. Activities of the transition program were highlighted at the information evening. The main one coming up for parents will be a coffee morning where parents are invited into the college to see their child in class in action! There are limited places for this so keep an eye on compass newsfeed, calendar and your child’s compass page to book and also for all upcoming events throughout the year.

Uniform

We remind families that when a student is out of uniform to please provide a written note of explanation and to encourage your child to obtain a uniform pass before school. Please also be reminded when purchasing items to check the Dress Code online to ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform.

Compass Parent Portal

Parents were taken on a walk-through of compass and it’s functions during the information evening, if you are unsure of how to use compass, please don’t hesitate to contact the office. We remind parents to check compass regularly to keep up to date with attendance, homework and learning tasks as well as managing events.

Digital Learning and Communication

All year 7 students took part in this session on their second day of school with their ipads to learn how to navigate compass, construct a professional email and also ipad etiquette in the classroom and at home. We shared suggestions given to students with parents in order to facilitate the partnership with the school in parents giving the same messages at home. Some suggestions around this included:

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  • Charging ipads away from bedrooms
  • Putting all screens away at least 1 hour before going to sleep at night
  • It is a learning device but is not their only tool, students are reminded to bring all other required materials to class and home.
  • Label ipads for easy identification
  • Students will be using apple classroom to manage devices whilst in class. This is not used when at home or outside of the RSC network.
  • Ipads are usually collected up by teachers in class and distributed when needed.
  • Ipads are also not to be used at lunchtime/recess.

Managing homework

As a guide, students in junior school should be spending at least 30mins per day on homework or study. This will help to build study habits so when increasing the time in future years it is already part of their routine. Study planners are encouraged and students can manage their homework using the reminders app and compass app as well as syncing their calendar with compass.

Bounce Program

Parents were introduced to our Bounce Positive Education Program by Kati Recinos. Some strategies below were shared with parents, please contact Kati krecinos@ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au if you wish to discuss any suggestions further some. These included:

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  • Asking students “What went well” or “What was the best part of your day”
  • As a family, share 3 things you are grateful for each day
  • Keep a gratitude journal
  • Try mindfulness activities such as origami, mindful colouring, sodoku, chess, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, meditation (smiling mind or buddify apps are great for this)
  • Random acts of kindness
  • Model emotional regulation as best you can and label emotions
  • Ask “how did you feel when…”
  • Identify emotions in your child when they are experiencing them
  • Try to link physical feelings with emotions to encourage regulation eg sweat palms, increased heart rate etc.
  • Routine bedtime, healthy eating, try to eat meals together as a family, listen to your kids and praise them, try to spot their strengths in action “that was so kind when you helped with…”

Become Connected to Your Childs Learning

Parents were also encouraged to become connected to Ringwood SC in many ways. This will build on the partnership with the school and will also help the students to connect with the College as well. We encourage parents to take part in extra curricular activities such working bees, school productions or music association, join school council etc. There are many ways you can be connected with RSC, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you wish to do so.

Anna Urbano

Junior Sub School leader