Cumberland

   Ms Karen McArdle

Step Up Day

We are now in the final few weeks of the school year, and there is still a great deal happening in Cumberland school. It only seems like a few months ago that the students were starting their new year level and now we are looking at step up day next week and the students moving to the next year level.  I have had a visit to the Year 2 students and have begun to talk about what to expect in Cumberland and what the expectations will be of them next year. The Year 6 students have had time in Dunhelen, and all are excited, and a little bit nervous, about the next stage.

Being nervous or cautious about moving into a new class is natural and not something parents should become alarmed about. It is the fear of the unknown which drives this minor nervousness. Parents can help their children by:

• Setting a good example of how to deal with change. Children learn many of their behaviours from their parents, so make sure you are being the best role model possible you want your children to be well adjusted and able to cope easily and readily with change.
• Talking to their children and identifying their main concerns.
• Explaining that change is to be expected and accepted. It will happen repeatedly throughout life, and skills need to be developed to meet the change with a minimum of fuss.
• Not driving their nervousness higher by making alarming comments and talking about things that may not happen.
• Talk about the positives:

• chance to make new friends and have more friends
• getting that little bit older and being able to do more and accept some responsibilities
• being more independent
• learning new things
• access to more opportunities e.g. camp, inter-school sports, leadership
• Talk positively about the school and decisions being made.

The formation of classes is a complex process. They are formed with the best educational interests of the class, and great effort is made  to ensure they are as balanced as possible. While we will ensure all students have at least one friend with them in the class, the social interests of the students will not be a determining factor in the class make up. Our primary goal is to educate students, and we provide ample opportunities for students to socialize at breaktimes throughout the day.

Sovereign Hill Excursion

The Year 5 students set off on Tuesday to Sovereign Hill to consolidate much of the learning from their recent History unit on the Gold Rushes. The students went back in time as they explored and imagined life in the 1850s. The unit they covered was based on the social, economic, political and environmental changes brought about by the gold rushes and effects these changes had on the development of Australia. The primitive living conditions were an eye opener to the students, and they were delighted to be guided in their tour by staff dressed and acting as they would have in the 1850s.