Principal's Message
Seesaw Digital Portfolios
Last week all families should have received a QR code printout to setup access to their child's Seesaw account. If you have not received the code or you are unsure if you want to consent to accessing Seesaw, please use the Get to Know You Chats as an opportunity to discuss with your child's teacher.
Students will be taking ownership of the learning they share in their learning portfolios via Seesaw. Students are motivated when they are able to share their work with their families in real time and know their families can provide immediate feedback during the day or ask them about it that evening. There will be no paper-based portfolios produced this year.
Positive Behaviours for Learning
In the past two weeks, classes have been focussing on creating their specific behaviour expectations for their classroom, and developing positive classroom environments that promote learning and support all learners. Please make sure you ask your child about their classroom expectations.
We encourage you to use the same language at home to build consistency between the home and school environment. When walking around our school playground, you will see our All Settings posters. Make sure you check out your child’s classroom expectations poster during our Getting to Know You Chats in week 4.
Home Learning
Our school priority continues to be consistent, high levels of achievement in reading. We encourage parents, carers, siblings, grandparents to regularly read to, with and be read to by our students.
Reading with your child for just 15 minutes each night will make a difference in your child’s confidence and reading ability. This special time with your child can spark their love of reading, no matter their age or interest level.
This week your child will receive either a Reading Log (K-3) or a Reading Journal (4-6).
K-3 Take Home Reading
Our K-3 students will bring the Reading Log home with a collection of books. Many students in our early years will still need your assistance in reading these texts until they begin to decode the words independently. Reading a book several times leads to more learning than reading several books once. The books they bring home do not need to be returned the following day, enjoy, keep them, record and return them regularly.
Try to establish a solid 15 minute routine of reading each night. Any books that are read at home are to be recorded in the Take Home Reading Log. For every 25 nights of reading we will celebrate, because reading is just that important! Teachers have discussed with your child the take home reading expectations and explained how we grow as readers and learners from the more we read.
Take home reading:
- Fosters independent work habits
- Must value the connection of ‘sharing’ between school and home
- Must be engaging and stress free - able to be done ‘anywhere’ and at ‘anytime’.
Years 4 to 6 Reading Journals
Students in Years 4-6 will use their reading journal to reflect on the books they have read, share their recommendations and record hot reads they may like to read. Although the reading journal will be kept at school, students are encouraged to read their own books at home, share their thoughts with their peers and record these in their journals. For every 15 books read, we will celebrate becuase reading is still that important in the upper primary years.
Meet the Student Engagement Support Team
Karen Oakley - School Psychologist
karen.oakley@ed.act.edu.auPsychologists have a range of skills that enable them to assist students, parents and teachers with issues that can affect the student's educational progress and adjustment including, for example:
- learning difficulties
- behaviour management
- disability education services
- social skills
- family relationships
- grief and loss
- personal development
- study skills
- protective behaviours
- transition across sectors
- conflict resolution
- gifted and talented students
This may be achieved through:
- psycho educational assessment and recommendations for support
- counselling (individual and group)
- referrals to and liaison with community agencies and other professionals
- in-servicing and consulting with school staff
- parent liaison
- parent education and discussion groups
- curriculum development
- mediation and negotiation
- confidential discussions
All school psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and work within the ACT Education Act, the ACT Health Professionals Act and other relevant legislation.
Natalie Munoz - Early Years Engagement Partner
The Early Years Engagement Partner role has been introduced to ensure that families and the school are connected to create stronger relationships and improve student well being in the hope we can best support children in reaching their potential in learning. The aim is to strengthen and maintain the bridge between the school and wider school community.
In doing this the role may include the following:
-Parent/Family Engagement
-Referral to external services for additional/ongoing support
-Community Engagement
-Developing partnerships within the community: Health, Mental Health services, mentoring, parenting support to name a few.
Natalie has established a Community Hub in the Brindabella building and is on site every day except for Thursday.