​Junior School News T2 W6 2021

Hands on Mathematics

When we engage students in rich, open, visual and creative mathematical tasks they use their intuition and thinking and choose methods that can be useful in the task. When they need to learn new methods, and teachers teach them inside these rich tasks, students immediately see how important they are and learn them more deeply. They engage in the important acts of choosing and making connections between ideas.

Next week our students will take part in a World of Maths incursion that will give them an opportunity to engage in some real world, hands on interactive Mathematical tasks that they have not seen before. This is an incredible way to open their mind to creative thinking in Mathematics which supports their growth mindset and supports us as we continue to strive to develop a love for Mathematics in every student.

EARLY DEPARTURES – Our administration office is a very busy place, and we are seeking your assistance in regard to last minute changes of collection for students. If you need to phone the office to change your pickup time to before the school bell, we ask that you advise us of this prior to 2:30pm. If you are requiring early collection and have not advised us before 2:30pm we ask that you wait for your child to finish the school day rather than collect them early. It is important that our students engage in the entire school day and do not miss important afternoon learning discussions or reflections on their day. Of course, if you have an emergency you can phone after 2:30pm and we can assist but as a general rule you need to have advised us earlier in the day if you require early collection for your child to attend an appointment.

SEMESTER 2 - EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – Information is now available and has been sent to all families regarding Active@Faith opportunities for Semester 2. Please make sure you click on the link and register your interest if your child is wanting to be part of a team or activity in Term 3. For ease of reference, the link to register your interest in Basketball, Touch, Tennis, Sports Aerobics or Futsal is: https://forms.office.com/r/ZNM3d8eEiG

CAFÉ FLOURISH PREPAID COFFEE CARDS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE – Need a coffee after drop off? Café Flourish is open each morning from 8:00am – 8:45am, if you have time take a moment to connect with another parent or a new family in the school. Sometimes we do not have a gold coin available, however you can now purchase a $10 coffee card in our Junior School Office which is the equivalent of 5 coffees at the Cafe. We look forward to seeing you there!

CONNECTIONS

In a highly connected world, our kids sometimes disappear behind a screen after a long day at school or to relax on the weekend but there are ways to make sure you are part of this connected world with your child. Whilst learning to use technology is a journey and a constant conversation, there are a few tips I have come across that can help foster your connections on and off the screen with your child: (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Tips-for-Parents-Digital-Age.aspx)

  • Make your own family media use plan. Media should work for you and within your family values and parenting style. When used thoughtfully and appropriately, media can enhance daily life. But when used inappropriately or without thought, media can displace many important activities such as face-to-face interaction, family-time, outdoor-play, exercise, unplugged downtime and sleep. Make your plan at HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan.
  • Treat media as you would any other environment in your child's life. The same parenting guidelines apply in both real and virtual environments. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children's friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using, what sites they are visiting on the web, and what they are doing online.
  • Screen time shouldn't always be alone time. Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens—it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your kids. It's a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Watch a show with them; you will have the opportunity to introduce and share your own life experiences and perspectives—and guidance. Don't just monitor them online—interact with them, so you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.
  • Create tech-free zones. Keep family mealtimes, other family and social gatherings, and children's bedrooms screen free. Turn off televisions that you aren't watching, because background TV can get in the way of face-to-face time with kids. Recharge devices overnight—outside your child's bedroom to help him or her avoid the temptation to use them when they should be sleeping. These changes encourage more family time, healthier eating habits, and better sleep.

Need more resources to support navigating the online world with your child, check out https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ or https://www.pluggedin.com/.


Jodi Blackwell
Head of Junior School