Early Childhood Archives - Page 66 of 147

Newman News Term 2 Week 8: From the Leader of Early Childhood

Jo Dunn on 11/06/2021

Highlights from Past Two Weeks聽

Champagnat Day

The students enjoyed a lovely Champagnat Buddy Day today, where they had the opportunity to celebrate a聽mass in the morning around the founder of the Marist Brother, St Marcellin Champagnat.
The students then engaged in Buddy activities across the morning, before enjoying a sausage sizzle lunch and some exciting afternoon activities.

Thank you to parents for their聽flexibility聽in the amended drop-off and pick-up procedures for the day.

St John Henry Newman Learning Hub 鈥� Official Opening and Blessing聽

Last week saw the blessing and official opening of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. There were 20 Marian students who were invited to participate in the Liturgical Celebration, led by Archbishop Timothy Costello.

These students were excellent representatives of our Marian Campus, and certainly enjoyed the attention of the older students. A special thank you is extended to Ella Jones, for her beautiful reading and Sicily聽Moschopolous聽and Jack Truscott for their involvement in the entry procession.

Year 2 Blue Assembly

There are certainly some budding Scientists in 2 Blue! Last Friday鈥檚 assembly was showstopping, with multiple science experiments performed, including a bubbling volcano, slime and a lava lamp. It was wonderful to hear about the student鈥檚聽depth of learning and understanding from the Science unit they have been undertaking in class.

Thank you to Mrs Young and 2 Blue for the educational and entertaining assembly.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

School Reports聽

As the time for school reports approaches, I think it is important to consider what success looks like? In an age where everything is measured and summarised, we can often fall into the trap of measuring our success and our worth (or that of our students) based on a number or聽a聽grade.

However, it is important to remember that success looks different for everyone. Our College鈥檚 Vision for Learning 鈥淪hine through Discovery鈥� strives to encompass this mentality. Each child is unique, and with that brings different strengths and gifts. A 鈥淒鈥� grade聽in English聽might be a huge success for a student who has been working super hard behind the scenes to learn how to decode and read books,聽while a student who achieves a fantastic comment about their caring attitude and respectful nature, is also another celebration of success.

Please remember as you receive your child鈥檚 report, that teachers are meeting each child where they are at and striving to maximise each child鈥檚 potential. They are聽each聽on their own journey and success looks different for every聽individual.

This fantastic infographic also provides some context to the SCSA reporting聽system and聽reminds us that a 鈥楥鈥� grade is exactly where we expect students to be performing for their year level.聽聽

Reports will be released via SEQTA at 4.00pm on Friday 2 July.

UWA Research Project

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has an exciting opportunity for 今日吃瓜 to participate in research.

The overall aim of the research project is to examine first impressions towards children with and without autism to better understand the social experiences of children and help understand the stigma towards children on the autism spectrum.聽Experiencing social rejection at an early age can be very difficult for children, and research suggests that one factor that may impact children’s social lives are first impressions.

First impressions can influence how we respond to unfamiliar people, and so understanding the factors that impact how first impressions are formed can be very valuable information in developing programs that foster social inclusivity.聽This study also investigates how adults form impressions of children because adults who work with children, such as parents and teachers, can have great influence on children鈥檚 social decisions.

The project encourages children to learn about first impressions with the message of inclusivity and acceptance of other children鈥檚 differences.

At this stage, they are inviting parents and their children aged 6-11 years to participate in this study and would appreciate any help from 今日吃瓜 families on this project.聽The results of this current study will be used to inform the design of a later study involving children who are on the autism spectrum.

If you and your child are interested in participating, please follow this link to provide your consent and answer some questions regarding your child鈥檚 development:

The link will also provide you with further information and guidance on how you and your child may participate in this exciting project.

Happy Families 鈥� Dr Justin Coulson聽

Imagine if you could hack your happiness neurotransmitters to make yourself and your family happier. You can! This week, boost your sense of reward (dopamine 鈥� the happy high chemical) with your children by:

Playing together
Experiencing (and celebrating) tiny wins
Completing a task together (music always helps)
Trying a new treat in the kitchen

Boost your sense of peace, harmony, and calm (serotonin) with your children by:

Breathing deep
Spending some time in nature
Going for a walk
Listening to a meditation playlist
Reading a calm story before bed

Boost your sense of superhuman strength (endorphins) by:

Running, jumping on the trampoline, or dancing to loud music
Watching something funny together
Creating a laughing club
Doing pretty much anything energetic

And boost your sense of connection (oxytocin) by

Touching or holding hands
Hugging
Saying nice things about each other
Counting blessings together

The above is an extract from a recent Justin Coulson 鈥楬appy Families鈥� email. Newman families are eligible for Justin鈥檚 online subscription, which is fully-funded by the College.
I encourage you to utilise this great resource.

Families can sign up for a Happy Families subscription via the following聽

Newman News Term 2 Week 6: From the Leader of Early Childhood

Jo Dunn on 28/05/2021

Highlights from Past Two Weeks聽

Simultaneous Storytime

Mr Finneran took Marian students on an adventure into outer space during National Simultaneous Storytime. The book 鈥淕ive me some space鈥� by Australian author Phillip Bunting provided students with lots of laughs (apparently Uranus is the smelly planet) and plenty of excitement. You can view the full reading.聽聽Thank you to Mrs Alison Le Dan for her coordination of the event and of course Mr Finneran for his very enthusiastic reading performance.

Artist in Residence Program聽

We are very fortunate to have secured West Australian textile artist, Tanya Cain Abbs as our Artist in Residence this year. Tanya worked with Year 2 students last week in creating a traditional Japanese resist art called 鈥楽hibori鈥�.聽Students created a sample design using聽Indigo聽dye before completing a tote bag as their final product. These artworks will form part of the PK-12 Art Exhibition later this year.

Pre Primary Liturgy

Thank you to our Pre Primary students and their teachers for the beautiful liturgy that they prepared and celebrated last week in St Cecilia鈥檚 Church. The children were very respectful and reverent.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

Kindergarten 2022 and 2023聽

If you have not already submitted an enrolment application for your child to commence Kindergarten in 2022 or 2023, it is essential that you do so as soon as possible. It is still necessary to complete an application for each sibling, as they are not automatically enrolled.

Please contact our College Registrar, Jo Dunn聽registrar@newman.wa.edu.au聽to submit your application.

New Pre Kindergarten Class 鈥� Commencing 3 June 2021聽

Due to strong demand, we will be opening a new Pre Kindergarten class on Thursday 3 June.

Pre Kindergarten is an excellent opportunity to expose your child to the routines of school and allow them to foster their social, emotional, pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills prior to commencing Kindergarten.

Pre Kindergarten students can select from a 1-day or 2-day program on Thursday and/or Friday.

Places are strictly limited, so if you would like to enrol your child into this new class, please contact Gabbi Muir on 9387 9900 or聽marianadmin@newman.wa.edu.au聽as soon as possible.

Justin Coulson: Happy Families Subscription

Below is an extract from a recent Justin Coulson聽鈥楬appy Families鈥櫬爀mail. Newman families are eligible for聽Justin鈥檚聽online subscription, which聽is聽fully-funded聽by the College.聽I encourage you to utilise this great resource. Details on how to access this service can be found below the article.

A聽wise teacher once brought balloons to school, told her pupils to blow them up and write their name on one. After the children tossed their balloons into the hall, the teacher moved through the hall mixing them all up.

The kids were given a few minutes to find the balloon with their name on it, but though they searched frantically, no one found their own balloon.

Then the teacher told them to take the balloon closest to them and give it to the person whose name was on it. In less than two minutes everyone was holding their own balloon.

The teacher said to the children,

鈥淭hese balloons are like happiness. We聽won鈥檛聽find it when we鈥檙e only searching for our own. But if we care about someone else鈥檚聽happiness聽it will ultimately help us find our own.鈥�

I know that parents spend a lot of time helping their children find happiness. But this week聽I鈥檓聽going to make a different suggestion. Talk to your children about who you can help as a family. Then go and do something for someone else.

Perhaps聽it鈥檚聽a meal. Maybe聽it鈥檚聽some gardening. Or you might just visit someone lonely and take some cake and a drink to share.

Step outside the regular routine and do something – with your children – for someone else. And watch how it lightens your load and brings happiness to your family.

Families can sign up for a Happy Families subscription by

Newman News Term 2 Week 8: From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 28/05/2021

Immunisations

Year 7聽
A reminder that Year 7 students registered for the School Based Immunisation Program will receive their first dose on Monday 14 June, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphtheria, and human papillomavirus (HPV).鈥� Students are allowed to wear their sports uniform on this day.

Year 10聽
A reminder that Year 10 students registered for the School Based Immunisation Program will receive their immunisation on Thursday 24 June, Meningococcal ACWY.鈥� Students are allowed to wear their sports uniform on this day. Any queries regarding the immunisation program should be made to Community Health (CAHS), phone on (08) 9246 9443.

Marcellin Campus Winter Music Night

The College鈥檚 annual Winter Music Night will be held on Tuesday 15 June, 6.30-8.30pm, Marist Auditorium .

All are welcome to come along and be entertained Marcellin Campus鈥� instrumental ensembles, including Symphonic Winds, Concert Winds, Marcellin Chamber Strings, Newman Voices, Newman Jazz Combo and the College鈥檚 rock bands. The Year 7 Special Instrumental Program Band will make their debut performance and Newman鈥檚 newest vocal聽ensemble, 鈥淩uah鈥� will be launched. This is a free event. No tickets required. Queries, please聽contact the Coordinator of Music, Margaret Goldsmith:鈥�尘补谤驳补谤别迟.驳辞濒诲蝉尘颈迟丑蔼苍别飞尘补苍.飞补.别诲耻.补耻听

Photo Days Marcellin Campus

Years 10 to 12: Tuesday 22 June
Years 7 to 9: Wednesday 23 June
Year 7 to 12 Sports and Special Photo Day: Monday 28 June

Teacher Movements Year 5 Red 鈥� Semester Two

Ms Lucy聽Zambonetti, will be taking long service leave for Semester Two. As a result, Ms Melissa Heaver will be transitioning into the teaching role for Year 5 Red for Semester Two. Ms Heaver is an enthusiastic and nurturing teacher who is excited to join the 今日吃瓜 community. Ms Heaver has recently been working in Mercy College and is passionate about providing engaging learning experiences that meet students where they are at, whilst also promoting growth. A thorough handover process has been put in place to ensure that Ms Heaver has a strong understanding of all Year 5 Red students before her commencement in the role. As part of this handover process, Ms Heaver will be in the Year 5 Red classroom on several occasions before the end of term. Ms Heaver is looking forward to getting to know the Year 5 Reds and their families and as such will co-lead parent-teacher interviews this term. Ms聽Zambonetti聽has very kindly agreed to hold the parent interviews this term so that she can debrief with parents before her long service leave.

Semester One聽Reporting聽

Year 10 reports will be released live on SEQTA on Friday 18 June @ 4.00pm. All other reports聽from聽Kindergarten聽through to Year 12聽will be聽released聽live on SEQTA on Friday 2 July @ 4.00pm.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews K-12

Please note, on聽Tuesday 20 July聽the College will host聽the聽Parent,聽Teacher,聽Student聽Interviews for all students聽in聽K-12聽from聽10.00am聽until聽7.30pm.聽Further information will be sent in the next newsletter,聽which will include PTO login instructions.

Term 3 Pupil Free days

Monday 19 July 鈥� Staff Formation Day
Tuesday 20 July 鈥� Parent/Teacher/Student interviews
Friday 13 August 鈥� Staff Professional Learning
Monday 16 August 鈥� College Closed CEWA Faith Day

Code of Conduct

The Keeping Safe Child Protection curriculum is a program that spans from 3 years up to Year 12.聽 Our College delivers this curriculum during classroom teaching, and through the Wellbeing Programs and Health curriculum.

As a Catholic community we are committed to educating the whole person.聽In order to聽do this, we need to ensure a safe, supportive and engaging environment. The basis for this environment is that all in the community model what healthy, respectful relationships look like. The Code of Conduct is the definitive guide to the behaviours we want to model to, and expect from, our children and young people. We want to create a culture that assists our children and young people on their learning journey. We can only achieve such a culture in partnership with all who participate in our community.聽The Keeping Safe Child Protection curriculum is a program that spans from 3 years up to Year 12.聽 Our College delivers this curriculum during classroom teaching, and through the Wellbeing Programs and Health curriculum.

A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers.

Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. As always, if students ever need support, they are encouraged to contact their Leader of Wellbeing, a College psychologist, Counsellor or classroom teacher.

The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensure聽confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours, and聽those聽College associated聽events outside of school hours are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Additionally, postings on social media platforms that identify the College or College events are bound by the Code of Conduct.聽We thank you in advance for your understanding and look forward to a positive partnership that supports our students, your children.

Newman News Term 2 Week 4: From the Leader of Early Childhood

Jo Dunn on 13/05/2021

Highlights from Past Two Weeks聽

Mothers Day

I hope that all our Mothers enjoyed a wonderful Mothers Day. It was wonderful to see the excitement and love of our early childhood students as they prepared gifts and cards in class. I, like most early childhood teachers, can attest to the joy that comes from hearing student responses on why they love their mums. There are often giggles from staff too, as we hear children鈥檚 interpretation of how old their Mum鈥檚 are, what their favourite food is and what they love to do. No doubt, these memories will be cherished by mothers for many years to come and I thank our teachers for the time they put into creating these with our students.

The Year 1 Unit hosted a beautiful Mothers Day Liturgy in St Cecilia鈥檚 Church last week, focused on our role model of motherhood, Mary, Mother of Jesus. The Liturgy was well attended by Marian mothers, with a very special presentation to wish them a lovely Mothers Day. Thank you to all the Marian families who attended this celebration, and to our Year 1 students and their teachers for all their preparation.

Our Kindergarten classes hosted a special Mothers Day event, where children sang songs to their mums and other significant mother-figures. The children then engaged in a short activity with their Mum, before the Mums all headed home with an incredibly special necklace that had been made for them, with much love from their child.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

National Simultaneous Storytime

Marian Campus is once again participating in National Simultaneous Storytime. Mr Finneran will be聽reading Pre-Primary to Year 2 students聽the Philip Bunting picture book 鈥淕ive me some Space鈥� on the morning of Wednesday 19 May.

National Simultaneous Storytime is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. It is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

Artist in Residence Program聽

The College is pleased to welcome acclaimed Western Australian textile designer Tanya Cain-Abbs as part of the 2021 Artist in Residence Program. Tanya will work with select groups of students in Years 2鈥�12 to learn the technique Shibori, a Japanese manual resist dyeing technique which produces patterns on fabric.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with one of Western Australia’s most acclaimed artists. The artist in residence program will commence in Week 5 with students in Years 2, 5, 6 and 9 and continue in Term 3 with Year 10, 11 and 12 students in visual art and fashion and textiles. The art works will be exhibited at the Students Art exhibition opening Tuesday 26 October.

Community workshops will be held in term three inviting families and friends to share in the聽Shibori聽workshop experience. More information regarding community workshops will be posted on the College website, social media pages and in the College newsletter.

Newman News Term 2 Week 4: From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 13/05/2021

Newman Parents – NPCC Meeting

Ms Lara Ognenis, our Gifted and Talented Teacher K-10, delivered a thorough presentation on Monday night to our Newman Parents Consultative Committee. She covered how we identify and extend students with gifted traits from PP to Year 9. Lara outlined the future vision for the space and the types of activities and competitions students are currently involved in. Thank you to those parents who were able to attend.

Problem Solve It Parent Information Evening

Our Leader of Learning in Science, Ms Krystal Skelin, launched our new Problem Solve It Immersion on Tuesday night. The program has been recognised as a National Excellence Awardee, and Krystal and John Finneran will travel to Sydney to participate in this prestigious award ceremony. The student immersion lasts for three nights and four days during the Term 2 holidays and sees Year 9 and 10 students immerse themselves in thinking routines that can be employed to creatively solve real life problems. Newman has partnered with UWA, Republic Polytechnic Singapore and an Innovation Coach from RACWA for the experience. Places are limited. For more information, please email krystal.skelin@newman.wa.edu.au

NAPLAN

In 2020, one of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was the abandonment of the annual National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. This important assessment of Australian students’ learning progress resumed聽on Tuesday.

The 2021 NAPLAN tests will provide useful external learning progress data for parents,聽teachers,聽and students to reflect upon in a manner that is proportionate with all other rich formative, summative and professional observational assessments that occur in our schools each day.

Artist in Residence

The College is pleased to welcome acclaimed Western Australian textile designer Tanya Cain-Abbs as part of the 2021 Artist in Residence Program.聽聽Tanya will work with select groups of students in Years 2鈥�12 to learn the technique Shibori, a Japanese manual resist dyeing technique which produces patterns on fabric.聽聽The art works will be exhibited at the Students Art exhibition opening Tuesday 26 October.

Extended Absences聽鈥� change of procedure

In the event of planned extended absences, such as holidays and sporting representations, parents/guardians are requested to inform the Vice Principal, in writing with the reason for the absence, giving as much notice as possible. This is a new procedure that will streamline our PK 鈥�12 absentees. Please send notifications to lucie.mccrory@newman.wa.edu.au

Social Media

The College celebrates student achievements and other important events through our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages online. Please join our networks and stay abreast of life at Newman:

Study Techniques

It is mid Term 2 and an apt time to review our study techniques and routines. Regularly reviewing and revising what we have learnt is an important part in the process of knowledge consolidation.

Questions to consider:

Have you got a study routine in place that includes breaks and down time?
Have you asked someone to keep you accountable to your study routine?
Are you studying effectively?
Is your learning space conducive to study?
What does the research say about studying? Read the below except from the article written in Edutopia 鈥�5 Research Backed Studying Techniques鈥�

5 HIGH-INTENSITY STUDY HABITS

Researchers have found that the following techniques increase sustainable learning and retention when incorporated in students鈥� daily study habits. These techniques are difficult and require effort, and they slow down learning. Initially the learning gains seem to be smaller than with some ineffective practices. However, these techniques lead to long-term mastery.

The book Make It Stick identifies several research-proven studying techniques.

Pre-test: When students practice answering questions, even incorrectly, before learning the content, their future learning is enhanced. Research has shown that pre-testing improves post-test results more than spending the same amount of time studying.
Spaced practice: Spacing out study sessions鈥攆ocusing on a topic for a short period on different days鈥攈as been shown to improve retention and recall more than massed practice. The book How We Learn explains that spaced practice can feel difficult due to an initial forgetting of knowledge鈥攔eacquiring that knowledge takes effort.
Creating flash cards that can be used for spaced practice and self-quizzing is effective. Students should create different piles when reviewing the flash cards. The cards they鈥檙e able to answer immediately should be placed in a pile to review three days later; those answered with some difficulty should be reviewed two days later; and those that they answered incorrectly should be reviewed the next day.
Self-quizzing: Testing has a negative connotation in this era of standardized testing, but it is a form of active retrieval practice. Encourage students to make test questions for themselves as they learn a new concept, thinking about the types of questions you might ask on a quiz or test. They should incorporate these quizzes into their study sessions, answering every question, even those they believe they know well.
Interleaving practice: Students may rely on blocked practice, studying a set of problems鈥攕uch as multiplication problems鈥攁s a group until they feel mastery. A more effective method of studying is to work on a set of problems that are related but not all of the same kind鈥攆or example, a set of math word problems that call for addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. The consecutive problems cannot be solved with the same strategy. This is more effective than doing one multiplication problem after another.
Paraphrasing and reflecting: Many of us have read a few paragraphs in a textbook only to realize that we didn鈥檛 retain a single concept or key point presented in those paragraphs. To show your students how to combat this, have them utilize intentional learning strategies. These include relating what is being learned to prior knowledge, thinking about how they would explain the content to a 5-year-old, and reflecting on and asking questions about the content.