23 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Hello Parents, Carers and Friends

Thank you everyone for the positive response to our safety requests. There had been excellent supervision of children coming to and from school. I really enjoy the end of school duty where I get to see groups of children and adults just relaxed and catching up. Sometimes I even get a chance for a chat with mums, dads and other family and friends, where it's just nice getting to know people better. I also really appreciate that those adults who smoke are so polite and understanding about education department grounds being smoke free zones. So, thanks, thanks and more thanks.

I'm really excited about James Bryan and Connor Downham representing our school at the Cross Country Championships next week. They are already champions in our eyes but good luck to the both of you. There is a bigger article in this newsletter about our fantastic teams who competed in the southern inter-primary. A big thanks to the participants and to Mrs Mears, Mr Coombe and Mr Jubb and volunteers for supervising on the day.

Gee it's been great seeing more guests to our school assemblies. I've heard others say that they would love to come but often forget that it's on. I'll try to have a Facebook reminder posted so that if you are able to come along, then you'll have a reminder. Mondays at 1.50pm in the Open Area.

Aiden and Seth have been doing a top job of raising the flags each morning. I'm just loving the new sign for the school!

Important repeat notice: Let’s talk safety! To drop off and pick up children, there are two options, the gravel car-park near kindergarten and footpath along Heather Rd. The drive way into school, next to the admin office is only for staff, official visitors to the school and deliveries. It’s not that we feel precious about our parking spaces, it’s because we are scared stiff that one day a child is going to get hit by a car. You see, what happens is that children run from the foyer of the admin area and shoot straight across the drive without looking. Poor Shirley has seen so many near misses. We’d like to put in a safe turning circle one day at the front of the school but at a cost of over $300,000, that’s not likely to happen any time soon.

I have to admit that we are all pretty tired at school at the moment, well, I don't know about the students but the teachers are using weekends and evenings to ensure quality mid-year reports that are informative and aimed at supporting you to know where your child is in their learning and what the next steps are. We are looking forward to seeing every child's parent/carer come into school to collect the report from the teacher and have a discussion about how we can all support our students to do their best. I think nearly everyone has made an appointment by now and some teachers are following up with reminder calls.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge a tricky but important topic. Every child who attends Risdon Vale Primary School has the right to be emotionally and physically safe. I believe that we need to do more together to provide a safe school. Consequences for serious breaches of our Hi 5 values, especially safety, is a complex area and there are usually no winners. I am sometimes challenged as to why one student did not get the same consequence as another student. The fact of the matter is I can't discuss someone else's child with you so please understand that. I never make decisions based on one piece of information. Consistency is important but I cannot treat consequences like handing out parking tickets. Will I make mistakes? Absolutely! Will I listen to concerns? Absolutely. I ask you to support your child and the school’s Hi 5 values by focusing on your child and their behavior and learning. I will work with all parents on supporting children to develop into responsible young adults.

Kind regards, Libby

Cross Country

Cross Country is a sport that involves running long distances. The typical running length is three miles but our students from grade 3 to 6 ran a varied of distance between 2km and 2.6km. It involves running up and down many different terrains such as trails, street and dirt, and sometimes concrete. On Thursday the 8th June all students from grade 3 to grade 6 participated in the schools cross country. It was an amazing event and would like to thank Mr Coombe for coordinating cross country.

The following students went on to the inter school cross country which happened at Geilston Bay Oval on Thurday the 15th.

Grade 3

Girls: Bonnie Holmyard; Amy Cowburn; Paige Hattenschwiler; Natoria Broadby
Boys: James Bryan; Adam Kirkby; Austin Silver: Josh Dunn; Cayleb Burr; Casey Voss

Grade 4

Girls: Montana Brown; Kayla Perkins; Lilly Burke; Bella Sherrin; Bella Kirk; Madeline Hutt
Boys: Taj Tyson; Argyle Atkinson; Brock Page; Jesse Byrne; Riley Hopkinson

Grade 5

Girls: Libby Burles; Mateka Menzies; Chloe Tulip; Isabella Hankin
Boys: Cameron Kirkby; Mason Burr; Jayden Byrne; Brandon Payne; Ky Williams-Tusyn; Lincoln Bryan

Grade 6

Girls: Taylor Doyle; April Leary; Kassie Branagan; Shanita Moir
Boys: Connor Downham; Connor Flakemore; Seth; Jay Hopkinson; Toby Triffett; Connor Hansson

Congratulations to everyone on participating and well done to the interschool students who represented our school proudly.

Assembly 19th June

CLARENCE COUNCIL AFTER SCHOOL CARE

After hours School Care is available at our school Monday – Friday’s.

Please call to the school office to receive a pack.

This wonderful service is at risk of closing if numbers do not increase

PRE-KINDERGARTEN 2017

This started in second term on Thursday’s from May 4th
Times are 9 am till 10.30 am
Children are eligible who were born in the year 2013.
You must fill out an enrolment form available from the school office.
Children are to be accompanied by a parent or carer.
You will need to bring 1 piece of fruit to share a drink bottle with water and a smock.

Green card rewards presented at assembly 19th June

Home Reading

Congratulations to these students, who received Home Reading Certificates at assembly this week.

Prep/1 Bowering and their observations

Prep/1 Bowering have been doing observational paintings of caterpillars. We tried hard to make our paintings look like this caterpillar. Then on the computer we drew pictures of the moth that our caterpillar will turn into. Look at our amazing observations.

Ms Porte’s class has been learning about the word respect

Ms Porte class has been learning about the word respect and what it means. Together as a class they came up with a few ideas.

Respect is when you:

• Speak nicely to people
• Use your manners
• Are kind to people
• Look after your classroom
• Follow instructions
• Keep your hands in your lap on the mat
• Look at the teacher when they are talking
• Listen to people when they talk to you
• Stay out of people’s personal space.

They have come up with some extremely important points.

School Association News.

ITS COMING TO THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN…….

RISDON VALE PRIMARY SCHOOL FAIR

25th August 2017

Preparation has begun for an even BIGGER fair than last year.

Classrooms have decided what they are doing and starting their prep:

Kinder: Coconut Ice
Bowering: Coffee and Tea
Porte: Cupcakes
Varveris: Lolly pots and Playdough
Weavers: Cake stall
Patulny: Second hand stall
Lockey: Lucky Jars (Jars filled with different items and allocated a number
Coombe: Second hand books stall

Rides and a variety of other stalls are being arranged but if you have any suggestions just let us know as the profit we make benefits our school and community.

School holiday activities

LEGO® School Holiday Workshops with Bricks 4 Kidz®!

Who loves building with LEGO bricks? Bricks 4 Kidz® is again holding half day and full day workshops in the school holidays at Elizabeth College and Howrah Primary School with a variety of themes, including ones inspired by Harry Potter, Nexo Knights, Star Wars and Minecraft! Come and have fun building LEGO® using our own plans with a variety of different activities including using Technic pieces with motors and batteries! These workshops are for both boys and girls and we also have lots of fun with our sports activities in the break times! Visit our website at the link below or phone 0408 487 393 for details.

Uniform Shop

The uniform is now being run by the School Association President Tamara Knop and Rachel Paige.

The hours in which it will be open is:

MONDAY: 8.30 til 9am
WEDNESDAY: 8.30 til 9am
FRIDAY: 2.30 til 3pm

If other times are needed please contact Tamara or Rachel on the Risdon Vale Primary School Association Facebook Page.

CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES

Nursery Rhyme

Hush Little Baby

Hush, little baby, don’t say a word
Mama’s gonna buy you a mockin’bird

If that mockin’bird won’t sing
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring

If that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass

If that looking glass gets broke
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat

If that billy goat won’t pull,
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and mule

If that cart and mule turn over
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover

If that dog named Rover won’t bark
Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart

If that Horse and Cart fall down,
Then you’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town

Four Square Handball Rules

King
Queen
Jack
Dunce

Rules

• If you are out you go to the end of the line.
• The King serves and the serve must be fair.
• The King can serve to anyone.
• The King should only serve when all the players are ready.
• Each player moves up to the next square when someone is out.
• If the ball lands on the line replay the point.
• You must be in your own square.
• Only one person per square.
• Play fairly and be a good sport.

You are out if:

• The ball bounces twice in your court before or after you hit the ball.
• You hit the ball into another court on the full.
• You miss the ball.
• The ball hits your body as you attempt to play the ball.
• You roll the ball.
• You grab the ball.
• You go into another persons square.

4 Player Handball

• If you get out you go to dunce and all other players move up one square.

Word of the week.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

In education, the term high expectations, or the phrase common high expectations, typically refers to any effort to set the same high educational standards for all students in a class, school, or education system. The concept of high expectations is premised on the philosophical and pedagogical belief that a failure to hold all students to high expectations effectively denies them access to a high-quality education, since the educational achievement of students tends to rise or fall in direct relation to the expectations placed upon them. In other words, students who are expected to learn more or perform better generally do so, while those held to lower expectations usually achieve less.

The effect that expectations can have on performance—commonly called the Pygmalion effect —has been extensively researched and documented in a variety of fields. In education, the seminal work of Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson, published in their 1968 book Pygmalion in the Classroom, is considered the first major attempt to document the effects that teacher expectations have on student performance.

In many ways, the concept of high expectations is not just an educational or instructional issue, but also an ethical and social-justice issue. The concept of high expectations could be seen as an antipode to the often-heard phrase “the soft bigotry of low expectations,” which refers to the lowering of expectations—either intentionally or unintentionally—for certain student groups, such as minorities, low-income students, special-education students, English-language learners, and other groups that have historically underperformed or underachieved. The basic idea is that lowering expectations for certain groups only exacerbates and perpetuates the conditions that cause or contribute to lower educational, professional, financial, or cultural achievement and success. In education, the way to break this self-perpetuating “cycle of low expectations,” it is believed, is to raise academic expectations and make sure all students receive the assistance they need to reach those high expectations.

Tips for Parents: Expectations

What do you think will inspire kids the most when it comes to learning: praise or criticism? Your children will live up (or down) to the expectations you set for them. This Tips for Parents will help you learn to help your child live up to the expectations.

Two Examples

When parents (or teachers) think that a child is smart because he or she scored high on a standardized test, they tend to treat the child differently and set higher expectations for achievement. The child will often live up to their expectations.

When parents (or teachers) think that a child is not smart because he or she scored low on a standardized test, they tend to react to the child differently, setting lower expectations. The child will often live down to their expectations.

What the Research Says

The research on teachers’ expectations for their students has generally found that students tend to live up to the expectations that teachers set for them.

When teachers use a score on a standardized test to determine the ability levels of students, teachers tend to adjust their teaching to the test score.

If a student scores well, teachers have high expectation for students when it comes to learning. If a student scores poorly, teachers tend not expect as much.

In School and at Home

Remember to take scores on standardized tests with a grain of salt. These scores represent a student’s effort on one test, on one day, on one type of test. They do not tell you what your child can actually achieve when it comes to learning.

This same principle, often called a self-fulfilling prophecy, also applies to parents. If you expect your kids to be dishonest and you make frequent comments to that effect, sooner or later you’ll probably have children engage in dishonest behaviour. They are living down to your expectations.

When you set strong expectations for your children regarding school, and encourage them along the way, over time your child will likely achieve at higher levels.

How to Communicate Positive Expectations

• When you ask a question while your child is working on a learning activity, wait for your child to respond. If you rush to supply the answer, you’re sending the message that you don’t think your child can answer. A longer “wait time” may communicate higher expectations and, therefore, increase student achievement.
• Avoid comparing brothers and sisters.
• Treat all of your children equally and with respect.

Increasing Motivation

Parents are the primary influence on a child’s motivation. You can help your child develop that “can do, want to do” attitude. Here’s how:

• Show your child how to set goals. Remember, the more specific the goal, the easier it is to achieve.
• Teach your child how to handle a challenge. Show how a big task can be broken up into smaller parts.
• Talk about schoolwork every day, and don’t forget the specifics.
• Use praise wisely, not freely: only provide praise when it’s deserved.
• Emphasize progress. Compare work your child brings home to work done several months ago, then point out any improvements.
• Display your children’s achievements on the refrigerator or in the bedroom. Alternatively, help your child make a scrapbook of work he/she is particularly proud of.

High Expectation Quotes:

Our children can achieve great things when we set high expectations for them. Jeb Bush

Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations. Bob Beauprez

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS