Learning Support

& Enrichment

‘Head to Health’ - A New Government Mental Health initiative

An “easy-PC” way to improve students’ comprehension of what they read, as well as their vocabulary, spelling, speaking and listening skills

• Information for Parents and Carers 
• Junior Maths Drop-in Centre
• 7-9 Maths Drop-in Centre
• 7-9 Enrichment Club ​
• After-School Study Program:  Please note that After School Study will be cancelled next week on Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th August

‘Head to Health’ - A New Government Mental Health initiative

What is Head to Health?  It is a new website called Head to Health, may be of interest to all our parents and carers: www.headtohealth.gov.au

Head to Health is a new Australian Digital Mental Health Resource. It helps to find useful information, resources, and services that most suit your needs. Whether you want to improve your child’s (or your own) overall sense of wellbeing, this site is ideal — as Head to Health can point you in the right direction for great online mental health resources compiled from over 370 mental health services and resources funded by the Australian Government.

This one-stop shop site will give you access to FREE or low-cost apps, online support communities, parent courses and resources for parents, carers, friends and relatives.

An “easy-PC” way to improve students’ comprehension of what they read, as well as their vocabulary, spelling, speaking and listening skills

For many students, particularly those who struggle with reading lots of text, using the inbuilt Windows Narrator app on their PLDs in class and at home, may be the ideal way to assist. It may help to maximise auditory processing and visual processing of the words on a page. Whether at home, or at school with the aid of earphones, your son can access this program on his PLD, through the search bar on the right of the screen, and it will allow him to hear and process the words as they being read on the screen, at the same time as he is viewing, following and decoding the words himself. Once in the program, he need only click the ‘Narrator off’ box to ‘Narrator on’, and select the preferred voice etc. in each of the settings that pop up in the list. The Narrator will then read any text that he goes to highlight, and if he highlights nothing it will simply begin reading the whole page of text in any window that he has open on his PLD, including electronic worksheets, assessment task notifications, web pages for internet research, online textbooks or other ebooks.

See the attachment for a graphic outlining step-by-step instructions on how to use the Narrator app on your son’s PLD.

Information for Parents and Carers 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please note that all of the co-curricular LSE-run activities which are listed on this page, and held either before school, at lunchtime, or after-school, operate each week of term from Week 2 onwards EXCEPT where there are teacher absences, or where other school-based events (including staff meetings) cause clashes or late changes.

The College apologises for this, and asks that you please remain mindful of the events which are listed on page 1 of Woodchatta, where you have direct access to the Upcoming Events section, as well as the full College Calendar.  This will assist you and your son, should alternate plans be required.

For late or unscheduled changes that affect the After-School Study program in the Senior Library, a cancellation notice is placed on the glass doors of the Library at 2.45pm or earlier, for students to check on the relevant afternoon. We also suggest that you discuss any back-up contact and travel plans with your son, should any such changes affect his regular passage home.

Junior Maths Drop-in Centre

The Junior Maths Drop-in Centre will run each Friday morning from 8:10 – 8:45am. Boys may choose to bring along their maths questions, problems or homework. Alternatively boys can simply attend and work on set tasks provided by the teacher.

All Junior School boys are welcome to attend, on a regular or occasional basis, as it operates from Week 2 of each term. Please meet Mrs Barrett outside the Junior School Learning Enrichment Room at 8:10am on Friday mornings. Parents are encouraged to motivate your sons to attend and make good use of this resource.

For any queries about Junior Maths Drop-in, please contact Mrs Barrett at BBarrett@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.

7-9 Maths Drop-in Centre

7-9 Enrichment Club

For all interested Year 7, 8 and 9 –  Day 10 Friday Lunchtime in LC1

7-9 Enrichment Club is on each Day 10 Friday lunchtime in LC1. Its aims are to promote opportunities for interested students who want to extend their thinking skills, enjoy learning and research challenges, and making new mates in other classes and year groups, as they engage in trivia quizzes, games, drama, online activities and more.

This is an informal and open club that will provide opportunities for students to practise up on creative thinking, problem-solving strategies and coding skills. Boys are encouraged to develop critical thinking, general knowledge and leadership skills through bringing in ideas and running projects or activities, in an area of personal strength or skill, and many activities will be geared to skilling boys up for competition entry opportunities (optional), including the annual Da Vinci Decathlon Competition. These may include vocabulary games, maths problems, lateral thinking puzzles, catchphrases, as well as self-generated research questions or sharing of topics of interest.

There is no cost for joining or attending at Enrichment Club, except for any solo competition entry fees which selected students may choose to participate in, and students will be well advised about these and parent permission notes sent home before time, whenever these opportunities arise.

If interested, just bring along your lunch and your imagination each Day 10 Friday Lunchtime in LC1. Ms Raheb-Mol looks forward to seeing you there. For further information or queries, please see or contact Ms Raheb-Mol at JRahebMol@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

After-School Study Program

After School Study cancelled:

• Tuesday of next week - 28th August - due to Staff Training
• Thursday of next week - 30th August - due to Library Closure and book display

Ms J Raheb-Mol - Coordinator, Learning Support and Enrichment