It was lovely to welcome our Prep and Year 1 students back to school last week, I’m not sure who was more excited the children or the teachers!   We’re all looking forward to welcoming back our Year 2 – 6 students on Monday 25 May, 2020.

Frequently asked questions are available to help you understand how we will implement a safe transition back to school. This includes hygiene practices such as effective hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, and restricting visitors to the school.

Advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) states that physical distancing is not required for students during classroom activities. However, it is still required between adults. I therefore ask parents and carers to pay particular attention to the requirement for adults to maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres at all times while on school grounds.

Please do not gather in areas around the school such as carparks, at the school gate or outside classrooms. In addition, please make use of our stop, drop and go area wherever possible.

If your child is unwell, it is essential that you keep them at home. In accordance with Queensland Health Directions, parents or carers of any child showing signs of illness will be asked to collect them immediately from the school.

I’ve had some more classes put together ‘Separated but Together’ PowerPoints, please click on the links below:

Ruby Q, 6C, shared her narrative writing with me.  Her use of vocabulary to create imagery is outstanding. Well done Ruby!

Click below to read ‘The Abandoned House’.

Report Cards Report cards will be emailed out to parents on Friday 26 June to allow teachers to maximise teaching time to give children every opportunity to engage with their term 2 learning.

Due to the changes to schooling in Term 2, in line with the departmental guidelines, we will be reporting on the following Learning Areas: English, Maths, Science and the specialist areas taught by Miss Ellis and Mr Bloxsom.  This decision has been made in consultation with the School Council, P and C executive, the P and C and the QTU representatives.

All parties agreed that the reporting of these learning areas would not disadvantage any student.

Please ensure your email address on our school records is correct.

Curriculum Overviews for Parents are provided each semester. The documents provide detailed information on the curriculum that has been taught throughout the semester. Parents can refer to the overviews when reading the achievement standards on the report cards.

The Curriculum Overviews are also available on the school website.

Self-regulated Thinkers  Students who are able to regulate their own learning can modify and monitor their behaviour using metacognition, motivation, self-awareness, and self-efficacy to reach a desired learning outcome. Students who can regulate their learning are able to gain the most out of education, because their motivations and strategies are focused on learning rather than on receiving external rewards (Boekaerts & Corno, 2005; Pintrich, 2004; Zimmerman, 2002; Zimmerman & Schunk, 1989). 

If students have mental habits that exemplify self-regulated thinking, they tend to:

• Monitor their own thinking
• Plan appropriately
• Identify and use necessary resources
• Respond appropriately to feedback
• Evaluate the effectiveness of your actions

Goal setting, giving and receiving feedback, reflecting and planning appropriately can allow students to become successful learners.

At Wondall Heights State School we believe that if students regulate their own learning, that they have the capacity to become lifelong learners at school and into adulthood.

Have a great week.

Melissa

LEGO WEEKLY CHALLENGE

This week, the challenge is to create a game with your Lego (or another household materials). I look forward to sharing more photos on Facebook and in the newsletter in weeks to come.  

MODELLING TO CHILDREN

One of the most powerful tools parents and teachers have at their disposal in educating and shaping their children is their ability to be a role model. Children carefully observe and imitate not only our actions, but our values and beliefs. To ensure our children are exhibiting the behaviours and traits we expect to see, we first need to turn the mirror on ourselves to ensure we are modelling these expectations.

Adults can model behaviour in two ways to children:

1. The way in which they explicitly demonstrate techniques, processes and strategies to encourage learning.
2. Their unspoken actions – the way they naturally express their passions, interests, values and authenticity as thinkers, learners and community members.

Some tips for being a positive role model to children

• Allow yourself to be authentic – look for opportunities to share your successes and your struggles as a learner and thinker.
• Clarify your values – this isn’t about being perfect, it is about imagining your best self and constantly striving to put your best forward in front of your children. What type of person would you like your child to be in the wider community?
• Talk to your children about the difference between knowing a lot and being a good thinker.
• Empower your children to have choice over their actions and take ownership for the consequences.
• Share your curiosity moments. Curiosity is a driver of new learning!
• Practice the Think Aloud – making our thinking visible. (WHSS Term 2 – Week 1 Newsletter)
• Plan for a gradual release of responsibility to encourage your child to become independent.
• Share the art of apology and accepting an apology. We all make mistakes. It takes courage and practice to apologise with grace, and once mastered develops resilience.

(Ritchhart, 2015)