Principal's Report

Resilience

This is a word we are hearing more and more. The media reports, we need to be more resilient, kids are less resilient than ever before. People are completing research on Social Media and Resilience in the Covid 19 Crisis. Even students are talking about resilience.

What is resilience? 

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from a difficult or unpleasant situation or the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. For kids this difficult / unpleasant situation could be someone calling them a name, not doing well on a test, missing out on a friend’s party because they have something else that they had already committed to, losing a sports final, a physical illness, not getting to work with their best friend, transitioning from Primary school to Secondary School or the change of a friendship group.

Being resilient does not mean that students or adults won’t feel any emotions or that they shouldn’t feel any emotions on the contrary – they will know what they are feeling and be able to talk about those emotions. Being resilient allows students to learn and grow in all situations. It will help them approach new situations, people or experiences with confidence and a positive mindset.

How can we help our children be resilient?

·       Provide an environment where they feel safe and supported. Encourage them to try new things and emphasise the growth and learning opportunities they are presented with when they fail or make a mistake.

·       Celebrate progress not just success. Celebrate the hurdles they overcome as they work towards achieving a goal.

·       Provide time to set goals and reflect on situations. This could involve a big goal and the smaller steps they need to take to achieve the goal and then reflecting on how things are going.

·       Develop a sense of belonging. Everyone needs to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. This could be a sports team, a scout/guide group, a church or a drama group; somewhere they feel that they can be themselves and work with others to contribute on a larger scale.

The Resilience Project set up by Hugh van Cuylenburg suggests that to be resilient you need to have the following 3 things:

Gratitude

It’s about paying attention to the things and moments we have right now, and not worrying about what we don’t have. We practise gratitude by noticing the positives that exist around us, and by being thankful for things, places and people in our lives.

Empathy

Empathy, kindness and compassion are closely linked. To be empathetic is to put ourselves in the shoes of others to feel and see what they are. We practice this by being kind towards other people.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness activities help us to be present in the moment and often create a feeling of calm. We practice this through slowing down and concentrating on one thing at a time. This includes meditation and colouring in.

(https://theresilienceproject.com.au)  

As we look at the busy week ahead - NAPLAN is starting for grades 3 and 5, the Warrandyte Festival is on - with the parade on Saturday, please take the time to help your child to be more resilient, provide a safe place to chat – it might be lying next to them in bed and letting them unpack their day with you. Give them opportunities to talk about what they are thankful (grateful) for. Work with them to be kind – make a card for a friend who is sick or a cake for a neighbour and help them to be mindful ~allow them to slow down and be calm.

Brooke Eastwood

"Show us your colours" Warrandyte Festival

The Warrandyte Festival is coming up on the 18th and 19th of March - we'd love some help with the Parade on Saturday and Jimmy has also put out a roster for our food stall. Please give us a hand if you can.

The Street Parade is a time for our whole school to get together, have fun and walk while representing our school. The theme of 'show us your colours' has been interpreted as expressing yourself through your heritage – where has your family come from and what are your family’s national colours?  Please have a chat with your child/ren about this. For example, First Nations may be represented by the colours of their flag - red, black and yellow, Dutch people may be represented by orange, and the Irish by green.  

Students will participate in either weaving or drawing patterned circles at school, as a circle represents unity, community, harmony, friendship, life, protection, stability and wholeness. All of these are a big part of what makes our beautiful town and school so unique and wonderful. 

A very big 'Thank You!' to Jordan Adams and Steph Morgan for your wonderful ideas and help in putting the ACPS' Street Parade presence together. You are much appreciated!

Part of our blurb will be:

Andersons Creek Primary School is a bright and vibrant school with students from varied and colourful backgrounds. We are proud of our heritage and are here to show you our colours! We are one, but we are many! We celebrate our diverse backgrounds and embrace our multi-cultural community. These colours bring with them stories, traditions and strengths from our relatives before us. We have all come to call Australia home! Our weaving shows that our many colours, woven together, makes us strong and wonderful.

Saturday 18th March schedule: 

10:15am: All participants walking in the parade need to meet at Wonguim Wilam Playspace (close to the bridge). Parents and family are welcome and encouraged to join us in the walk. Please keep in mind that parking will be very difficult.  Consider walking to Wonguim Wilam Playspace if possible. Could students please wear bright colours from their heritage. 

12:00pm: Students to be picked up promptly by their parents at the end of the parade (Stintons reserve).

1pm (performers 12:45pm arrival): ACPS will be performing on the main stage (after our street parade) and the excitement is building......!  Can Choir and P-2 students who want to sing on stage please meet Sarah Bailey and Nelson ("Chappy") at base of stairs of Stintons reserve stage at 12:45pm.

• Preps-Grade 2 songs with Nelson our musical Chaplain (all P-2 students are welcome to participate. No rsvp required, just meet at stage steps at 12:45pm)
• Grade 3-6 Choir 
• Irish dancing by the talented Harris sisters.  

We look forward to having lots of students involved!

NAPLAN

All students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to sit the NAPLAN tests.

There are some instances where students may be exempted from one or more of the NAPLAN tests or marked absent (for the purpose of the tests) or withdrawn from the tests. The NAPLAN national protocols for test administration provide the framework for understanding student participation.

Key Dates

Nationwide NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5 will begin next week - Wednesday 15 March. Andersons Creek Primary will be conducting NAPLAN on the following dates:

Please remember to bring headphones to school

Withdrawal

NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer for reasons such as religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with Andersons Creek Primary. A formal application must be received by the principal prior to testing. Please see Mr Smith or Mrs Thornton for more information.

Community Survey

The Warrandyte Community Association is conducting a survey of community attitudes to issues affecting the town’s natural and built environment. The purpose is to understand what matters to you about Warrandyte’s character, so that we can better represent your views when meeting with Councils or other state authorities. 

We encourage you to complete the survey. It will only take about ten minutes online via this link:   https://gundabluey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0DLBDlkFiJyLOuy

The survey is anonymous, but on completion those who would like to enter the draw for a $100 voucher to spend at café Now and Not Yet can register with their phone number. Phones numbers will not be retained. It is just for the purpose of contacting the winner of the voucher. 

For more information about the Warrandyte Community Association go to www.warrandyte.org.au

Upcoming Road Closure - Harris Gully Road

Please see message from Manningham City Council 

We have confirmed works to be locked in next week on the 15th to 17th March inclusive between the hours of 7am and 6pm. Works will begin from the top of Harris Gully Road and work down. The first day (Wednesday the 15th) will cause the most disruption to school drop off and pick up as a hard closure is required where alternative parking is to be sought. Pedestrian traffic only is still permissible with direction from TCs on the day. We’ve spoken with the Contractors to allow pick up and drop off on the 16th and 17th with access through Fossickers Way through a soft closure (meaning it will have signs but traffic is still allowed). But given the rest of Harris Gully Road will be closed, we are recommending the alternative pick up and drop off locations are still advertised. Coordination is in place with the school crossing supervisor team lead who has assured they are in a position to work with the site’s traffic controllers to keep the crossing open for entirely foot traffic only. This will involve moving the crossing between the AM and PM on the Wednesday. Thursday and Friday shifts shall not affect the crossing position. Letter drops to residents and school goers along Harris Gully Road, Hodson Road, Valley Way and Manna Gum Rise were sent out yesterday. Electronic message boards advising of the upcoming closures are also out. We’ve spoken to PTV / Kinetic and coordinated any school bus routes through the road closures will still be allowed (and escorted) with only short delays.

Thank you

Manningham City Council

Have a safe and happy long weekend.

From all the staff at ACPS