What does learning look like post-COVID-19 restrictions?

It has been heart warming to see students back in their classrooms engaging in learning experiences face-to-face with their teacher. The return to 'normal' learning has been a smooth transition for most, however, our new normal often feels far from it. For the remainder of the semester teachers will focus on revising and extending upon concepts taught during remote learning in English, Maths, Science and HPE. Since returning to school, students have resumed specialist lessons for P.E, Music, Technology and LOTE.

Academic Reporting

Another aspect of school that will not be normal this Semester is reporting. Usually report cards are a measure of student's knowledge and understanding gathered from numerous assessment tasks across all Key Learning Areas. This report card is usually shared with families at the end of each Semester. With all schools learning under a modified curriculum this term, Education Queensland schools are doing reporting differently. Assessment for term 2 and reporting for the whole semester will reflect the nature of learning over this time. At GGSS students will receive a mark for English, Maths, Science and HPE for the semester, along with a comment regarding the learning that has taken place. Teachers will also provide families with a general comment outlining the students' behaviour, participation and engagement at school. These report cards will be emailed to families at the end of Week 5, Term 3 to allow teachers time to gather sufficient evidence of student learning. Please ensure that your contact details are up-to-date with the office.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

We anticipate that we will be able to invite parents to parent/teacher interviews during Term 3. More information will be shared about these interviews early next term. If you have any concerns about your child's learning, please contact their class teacher.

Premier's Reading Challenge

Ready, set, read…letters were sent about this last week. See Mrs Cubis if you need any further information.

The Premier's Reading Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as children (aged up to 5 years) enrolled in an early childhood centre.

The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning.

In 2019, more than 2.31 million books were read by more than 168,000 Queensland children and students from 937 schools and 386 early childhood centres.

My Place Writing Competition

The My Place television series, based on the classic picture book by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins, is a ‘time machine’ which takes audiences back into Australia’s past. It explores our national history through the eyes of children, spanning a period of over 200 years. In 2020, we are asking children: tell us about your place.

Australian children find themselves living through a historically significant time. The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped their lives, and historians of the future will want to know how this looked and felt for children, their families, and their communities. The 2020 My Place Competition asks students to reflect on this moment in time and share their thoughts, observations, and experiences through creative writing.

Presented in partnership between ALEA (Australian Literacy Educators’ Association) and the ACTF (Australian Children’s Television Foundation), the My Place Competition is open to students in Year 3 to Year 10. Through short stories, poetry, and other creative writing forms, entrants will paint a picture of everyday Australian life in 2020.

Key Dates

Entries can be uploaded to the competition page between 25 May 2020 – 26 June 2020.

Categories

Year 3 and 4 – Up to 500 words

Year 5 and 6 – Up to 750 words

What to write about

The 2020 My Place Competition differs from previous years, in that it asks students to reflect on life in their own communities rather than imagining life in the My Place neighbourhood. Considering the following prompts will help students create a compelling snapshot of life in 2020:

What might people in the future want to know about this time?
How are you feeling about this time?
How are you spending your time at home?
What changes are you noticing in the world around you?
Which things have remained unchanged?
What are the challenges and benefits of remote learning?
Are there any positives about your current lifestyle?
How are you staying connected to friends, family and your community?
What are you grateful for?
What are you most looking forward to in the future?

What to avoid writing about

Students should not include any personal information about themselves or others (such as full names, addresses, health information, and so on) that would allow someone else to identify them.

Judging

Shortlisting by the ACTF and ALEA, final judging by My Place author Nadia Wheatley.

Date Claimers

Upcoming events