Education News
Helping your child to love Maths is not always easy.
When it comes to helping our children during remote learning, we rely on how we were taught in the past. Like most things in life, things change and adapt. The way we were taught may not be the same as how your child learns now!
You are your child's first and most important teacher. By showing a positive attitude towards Mathematics, you will help to foster your child's interest in Mathematics.
Counting is the beginning of numeracy learning. Numbers are all around us. Show your child how you use them, everywhere, any time.
Children learn by using equipment, drawing pictures and diagrams, and talking about what they are doing.
Encouraging children to use their memory and to work things out in their heads helps their development and confidence in Mathematics.
Children will be exploring many ways to solve problems. Talking about how they work out their own answers and listening to others' strategies helps their understanding. Encourage them to think about how they are solving problems and encourage many different ways.
I hope you and your child are having positive experiences during remote learning in Mathematics.
….And if you think you are having a few issues. Think about the question below. It was given as part of an entrance exam for 8 -10 year old students. They were given 20 seconds to solve the problem. How would you go?
Bernie Turner
Numeracy Leader
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and St Brendan's Primary) is excited to be participating. A new application is being used this year that offers a range of exciting features including:
access to a library catalogue
a modern user-friendly interface
rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review
The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 4 September 2020.
Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklists and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/prc
If you would like your child to participate in the Challenge, please email ssmith@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au with your child’s name, grade and year level.
Sandra Smith
Premiers’ Reading Challenge Coordinator
Music and Performing Arts News
Well Done!
Well done and thank you to all of the students and their families who have engaged with the activities that I have posted on Seesaw (Year F-2 students) and Google Classroom (Year 3-6) throughout Term Two. I hope you have enjoyed remote learning in the area of ‘Music & Performing Arts’ and that you continue to do so. I can’t wait to see you all again someday soon. In the meantime, please keep sharing your fabulous work with me.
FREE AMEB Theory Courses
The AMEB (Australia Music Examinations Board) provides the opportunity for students of any age (Yes parents- That includes you too!) to participate in graded assessments in music theory and practical performance on a wide range of musical instruments, including voice, as well as in speech and drama. As one of the most respected bodies in this field AMEB's qualifications are recognised as a national benchmark across Australia from the preliminary to diploma level.
The AMEB are currently offering FREE online theory courses between now and the end of June 2020 for AMEB Theory Levels 1-3. Although I cover the ‘basics’ of music theory in the Music and Performing Arts Program at St Brendan’s, students wishing to undertake formal tuition with singing or another musical instrument in the future would GREATLY benefit from undertaking the AMEB courses currently on offer.
For further information please contact the AMEB directly or visit:
https://www.ameb.edu.au/study/online-courses.html
Ms Emma Chapple.
-Religious Education Leader
-Performing Arts Classroom Specialist Teacher
Sports News
Some crossword responses from last week.
Students in Gr 3-6 had the opportunity to create some sport crosswords last week. Click on the link to get started.
Max: https://crosswordlabs.com/view/max-evans-basketball
Some video responses from last week.
Ryda: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Dpd3r8JwqxyqRosjama5tEEDGiQoGU8m&authuser=0
Harrison: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Iu7TMgVR2-yF3qSjtja9bhbxBrladYqW&authuser=0
Activity: Quarantine Time Capsule: The link opens up a range of activities that can be compiled and kept to look up at a later date.
PE Activity (optional) Mini-Golf.
Use a rolled up newspaper/magazine as your golf club. Set up various holes around your house by laying down the 'plastic cup' as the hole and try to knock the tennis ball/ping pong ball into the hole. Tip: Place the back of the cup against a wall/door or cupboard to limit movement of the cup.SCORING: As per regular golf. Each player gets 1 point each time they strike the ball. The lowest score wins.
PE Activity (optional) Chalk Drawings on the footpath. The wet weather and the availability of chalk has limited opportunities to try the following options over the last few weeks. If you haven’t had a go yet, try one of these and remember to take a clear photograph/video and email it to jdean@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au In the subject box, record it as CHALK DRAWING and it may be in the following newsletter
Options: Draw your AFL team emblem.
Draw your favourite cartoon character in your AFL team jumper.
Create a game/activity
Jolie's chalk drawing
PE Activity (optional) Paper/Squat Game
You need a partner, container and a scrunched up piece of paper/or a pair of socks..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGWKdT60IHc
PE Activity (optional) Paper Fitness Challenge
Need a piece of paper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9XIGs_lu4g
PE Activity (optional) Bop It Challenge.
Need a tennis ball/ping pong ball
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIeiNqlb3MM
Michael Smythe
Sports Coordinator
Students getting active at home
Milla M doing 'Just Dance'
Indi Dell
Gracie N
Mother Daughter Yoga at home
Sustainability Activities
Here are two activities you can try at home.
Library News
To all our students and parents, I would just like to say that no matter where you are right now, you can still discover and learn something new every day either virtually online or just by simply picking up a book to read with a child from your bookshelf at home. This week I am including more online resources, this time to help parents learn more about engaging a child or teenager with reading, with even suggestions relating to what they might like to read next.
Kids Book Review http://www.kids-bookreview.com
This is a children’s literature and book review site which supports and features international and Australian authors, illustrators and publishers. Great for learning more about authors book lists from primary to teenage.
Inside a Dog https://insideadog.com.au
This site is a place for bookish teens to visit and see book reviews and what’s trending, as well as tips on writing and links to authors. Good for our upper primary students who are great readers now looking for more specific genres of books to explore.
For your information, if you are a member of the Mornington Peninsula Library, did you know that you can gain free online access to their e-learning resources? Also, check out all the kids and youth activities. Here is the link to join the library which you will need to do to be able to access my last link, Who next…?
https://ourlibrary.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Our-Services/Join-Our-Library
Who next...? https://www.whonextguide.com
This is a useful interactive online tool to help children, teenagers and parents find children’s fiction writers alongside listed suggestions of other authors and their books, who write in a similar way.
I so look forward to when we are able to once again sit and share many more great stories and fabulous new books with everyone at school again in our library. Meanwhile, even though the library is closed, I can assure you that I am still receiving books at school and have been busy cataloguing and processing them as normal, as well as helping with teaching resources for reading to students online.
Keep reading, learning and thinking!
Gillian Francis
Librarian