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Our staff and students have been busy this last fortnight. We’ve continued focussing on learning in our classrooms while including both Bullying. No Way! Day and Harmony Day. Both these days celebrate one of our own values: RESPECT – ourselves, others, our past and our environment. We believe that respect is an everyday thing to focus on and this year we’ve used the book Only One You by Linda Kranz. There is a YouTube link to an online version:
This beautiful story talks about each one of us taking the opportunity to make the world a better place. Fitting nicely with both days we’ve celebrated recently. If you have the opportunity please take the time to read and discuss this book with your child/ren.
Bullying. No Way!
Our students all received a wrist band and a wallet card reminding them that we stand together against bullying.
Parents and carers
Parents and other carers have a key role in both teaching your child respect (Harmony Day) and preventing and responding to bullying.
You can:
- Learn what bullying is and what it is not. This is the first step in talking about how to prevent or respond to bullying with your child. 'Bullying' is a word that is used for lots of things that are not actually bullying. These other behaviours may be just as serious, but may require different responses.
- Talk about the value of diversity with the community and understanding that each individual is unique and brings with them individual differences that should be valued and respected.
- Talk about bullying with your child at home to make it easier for them to tell you if something happens. Make sure they know what bullying is and is not, and how they can respond. Help prepare your children to prevent online bullying and to know what to do if it happens.
- Start when your child is young to guide them to develop the social and emotional skills they will need to build positive relationships throughout their lives, including problem-solving skills.
- Recognise the warning signs of bullying. Although there may not be an issue, you should talk to your child if you have any concerns. Raise the topic generally if you don't want to ask directly. Be aware that many times children and young people won't ask for help, so it is important to know what to look for.
- Learn about how to respond appropriately if your child tells you about bullying. You can reassure your child by remaining calm and being supportive.
- Find out as much as you can about what has happened by talking calmly with your child. A good understanding about what has happened can also help you in communicating with the school about the situation.
- Read about strategies that can help. Practising strategies at home with your child is a good way to prepare them to use them at school.
- Contact the school if bullying has occurred and the school needs to be involved. Read about how you and the school can work together to support your child, whether your child was bullied, bullied others, or witnessed bullying.
As part of our commitment to hearing our students’ voices we have surveyed our Grade 2-6 students to hear their comments about Safety in Play and Learning. We will unpack these responses and then work out actions to support our students’ comments. From our previous survey, completed in 2017, we have added swings, a play pod, lego equipment and gymnastics gear to the playground to support students at recess and lunch. This was all from listening to our students.
Harmony Day
Harmony Day on Thursday 21 March was celebrated with many of our students choosing to wear a splash of orange. We came together for a short meeting to hear from staff and students about RESPECTING our multicultural community and how lucky we are to have so many different cultures all together. Ms Kalweit and students reminded us that we have such a wide range of yummy food to select from because of this diverse culture eg pizza, pasta, sushi, fried rice, waffles, sauerkraut, tacos and the list goes on.
Mason’s artwork describes Harmony Day being about sharing the differences of people and that we are not all the same.
To combine all of this, our students are working on a whole school mural celebrating respect and diversity. It is taking a little longer than expected as we ensure each student has the time to design and paint their part on the mural. We can’t wait to share the final outcome, but it will be a few weeks away.
End of Term 1
Officially the school holidays begin on Monday 15 April for two weeks. There is a Professional Learning day for staff, therefore a STUDENT FREE DAY on FRIDAY 12 APRIL. Students are not to attend this day.
Progress Reports
Thursday 21 all children Prep-6 took home their Progress Report. The Progress Report is a short snapshot of how your child has settled into the school year. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress so far, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to make time for an appointment. In Term 2 you will receive a more detailed report with ratings against areas of the curriculum and an opportunity for a more formal Parent Teacher meeting.
The increased number of people reversing out of these spaces at the end of the day is causing some congestion by holding up traffic flow. To assist with this could you please be mindful of the following:
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While talking about parking it is probably a good time to give safety reminders at pick up and drop off times:
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Attached is a uniform order form if you wish to purchase items for winter. This will need to be returned to school by Thursday 4 April with the appropriate deposit. Order forms are also available from the school office.