‘It isn’t enough to think outside the box. Thinking is passive. Get used to acting outside the box.’
Tim Ferriss.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our Pedagogical model for what active learning looks like in the classroom
Learning is not a spectator sport.
- Students do not learn much just sitting in class listening to teachers, memorizing pre-packaged assignments, and spitting out answers.
- They must talk about what they are learning, write reflectively about it, relate it to past experiences, and apply it to their daily lives.
- They must make what they learn part of themselves. Thus, although listening or simply reading in class is doing something, it is not active learning.
- Active learning involves discovering, processing, applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating new knowledge.
The Learning Pyramid
All active learning involves the following four processes:
1. Critical thinking
2. Individual responsibility for learning
3. Involvement in open-ended activities
4. Organisation of learning activities by the teacher.
Book Week Assembly
Last week we had Book Week culminating with a fabulous assembly run by the Yr. 6 class. Great job Miss Lund! Thank you to all the parents for helping the children participate fully by dressing up as their favourite book characters. There certainly was a lot of fun being had across the whole school. Mrs Powell who did the leg work in planning the week did an extraordinary job.
Bingo Night
The P&C Annual Bingo night was a great success. Everyone had a great time. Thank you to all the parents who came along, your support for the school is very much appreciated. Thank you also for the members of the P&C for organising the event there certainly was a lot of work into ensuing the success of the evening.
Year 6 Student Leadership for 2024
The Year 5 students are in the process of Year 6 Leadership for 2024. The Board, Community, Teachers, and students have been contributing to formalising a process for the selection of leaders each year. The Year 6 leaders for 2024 will be selected by the end of this term. The selected leaders will then be able to be mentored by the present year 6 leaders in fourth term.
Of the four models that were that were voted on the model 2 was selected.
Survey Results
| Agree | Strongly Agree | |||
| Option 1 | Students | 41% | 21% | |
| Parents | 47% | 3% | ||
| Option 2 | Students | 30% | 53% | |
| Parents | 34% | 33% | ||
| Option 3 | Students | 51% | 31% | |
| Parents | 46% | 26% | ||
| Option 4 | Students | 18% | 17% | |
| Parents | 16% | 9% |
Executive Student Leadership Roles are select through the following process.
· Letter to Principal
· Speech to Year 4 -6 students and teachers.
· Students and teachers vote
· Shortlisted students then have an interview with Principal Deputy Principal and 2 Staff.
| Positions | Number of positions |
| School Captains | 2 Positions (1 boy and 1 girl) |
| Faction Captains | 2 positions x 3 Factions = 6 total (3 boys & 3 girls) |
| School Councillors | 4 Positions |
Students not in the Student Leadership Executive will be assigned to an area and will work with the School Councillor and a nominated teacher who will mentor them to fulfil their duties. All students will have a teacher mentor to support their leadership development
| Title | Role |
| Reading Leaders | Students will need to commit one lunchtime each fortnight. |
| Art | Support the Art teacher with displays, Open Night, promoting Art |
| Music | Support the music teacher to promote music in the school |
| Japanese | Support the Japanese teacher with displays, Open Night, supporting exchange program |
| Community | See above |
| Technology | See above |
| Gardening | Help maintain the school vegetable garden, support the gardener to plant seasonal annuals etc to brighten the school. Develop plans for garden beds. |
| Sustainability | See above |
| Kapinara Rangers | Helping around the school, with maintenance tidying and developing creative ideas to promote and develop the school facilities |
| Buddy Kids | Being available to support students at recess and lunchtime. Developing creative ways to promote friendship and connection. |
| Lunch Club | Student Wellbeing |
| Sports Stars | Monitors |
| Sport Stars | Runners Club |
| Drama | Promote opportunities for performance between the factions as well as debating. |
It is the responsibility of both parents and staff to maintain the values of the school through modelling language and behaviours that demonstrate respect.
‘We become what we behold’, is a well-worn saying and has been proven to be true. Our children’s beliefs, values and behaviours originate from what they see, hear, and feel from all the adults in their community. ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and as such it is it important that we always present our best selves and demonstrate our unwavering support for the school and the community in front of our children. They will internalise what they see and in turn repeat the same behaviour.
If a parent or caregiver harbours a concern, the most prudent approach is to write it down leave it, then come back to it after some time has passed. If it still requires clarification, then put in an email or phone the leadership team. Challenging anyone publicly, particularly in front of children, in my experience never results in a positive outcome.
Points of note
Orchestra Assembly – 1 September
Year 6 Fair – Tuesday 12 September
Interschool Athletics – 13 September
School Open Night – 14 September
Kind Regards
Simon Reid
Relieving Principal
