14 September 2016

Newsletter Articles

From The Principal

Hello everyone,

Zones of Regulation

Last week we introduced Zones of Regulation to our students. This is a program that will support our behaviour management policy through the explicit teaching of skills and strategies to help our students self-regulate and take greater control over their emotions. The program is structured around 4 zones:

The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behaviour, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone.

The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, one has some control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.

The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.

The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings, such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.

Currently we are working with students to help them understand the Green Zone and recognise strategies they can use to stay in this optimal zone for learning.

Science Expo

Recently Kim Knights, science teacher from the high school, organised the annual Science Expo. This was a fabulous event that included a number of science experiments and experiences facilitated by some of the Year 8 Science students. Some of our own classes set up their own stations and shared their own scientific understanding as well. Nathaniel and Bridget, from Bitlink, were on hand to demonstrate some of the latest technology. The Science Expo is an excellent yearly event and one which we look forward to continuing with support from Exeter High School.

Last week our teachers attended the Battery Shed and the School of Architecture at Inveresk for staff meeting. We were very impressed by the sophisticated technology that is currently being used to design and build furniture and buildings. We saw 2D laser printers in action and were very impressed by the robotic arm that can produce 3D furniture. The possibilities are very exciting. Teachers also learnt more about Coding and in particular the program Scratch. As a result of this visit some of our classes have begun to experiment with Scratch and we have already had one of our student produce his very own video game!

Dance Event

Throughout this term Mr Habel has been teaching all our students the dances for this year's Dance Event. The students have enjoyed learning the dances and are looking forward to performing the dances at our in-school Mini Dance Event on Thursday September 22. The Mini Dance Event will take place from 11.35 until 12.55 (lunch time) on the netball courts. Families are invited to come along and watch students dance.

School Satisfaction Surveys

This year's School Satisfaction Surveys for students, parents and staff will be conducted during September. These surveys contain questions on a range of matters about our school.

This survey provides an opportunity for students, parents and staff to provide important feedback. This feedback is valued by our school as a means of identifying what the school does well and opportunities for the school to make future decisions.

Students (from Year 5 and above), parents and staff will be invited to participate. Those student who are selected to undertake the survey will do so during school time.

You will receive a letter in the coming days if you have been selected to participate in the parent survey.

Your responses will be secure and anonymous. We encourage you to participate and complete the survey so that the school has a clear direction when planning for future programs and services or students.

Your survey can be completed either electronically or using the paper survey. Please contact the school office if you wish to use a school computer to complete the survey.

Working with Vulnerable People

A reminder that by the end of this month all volunteers and parent helpers are required to have their Working with Vulnerable People Card. If you have not yet completed this please talk with the staff in our office for more information.

The process can be found by this link.

Lift

Family Maths

The answer to the problem in our last newsletter is;

The shortest insect to the longest insect is:-
flea, ant, bee, wasp

Here is this week's problem. Don't forget to bring your answer to the school office and receive a Be Your Best ticket!

Aussie Rules

In Australian Rules football a goal is worth 6 points and a behind is worth 1 point.

A score of 2 goals and 3 behinds is 6 + 6 + 3 = 15 points

Jonathan's team scored 20 points in their game.

How many goals and how many behinds did they score? See how many different answers you can find.

Extension:

In their next game, Jonathan's team scored 27 points. They kicked more goals than behinds. How many goals and how many behinds did they score?

An idea to share with younger children to help develop their mathematical skills:

Representation: Making mathematical ideas "real" by using words, pictures, symbols and objects (like blocks).

Casey (aged 3) was setting out a pretend picnic. He carefully laid out four plastic plates and four plastic cups: "So our whole family can come to the picnic!" There were four members in his family; he was able to apply this information to the number of plates and cups he chose.

Come and have a Coffee/Tea on Us!

Come and join us for a morning tea on 20 September to meet Juantia, our school nurse. See the attached invitation for more information.

Respectful School

Growing Healthy Young Resilient Minds

Parents are invited to a workshop that will help them to learn the key areas to focus on to develop resilience in their children.

Discover therapeutic techniques and strategies that increase emotional intelligence and develop a healthy mind in children.

See the flyer below for more information about this evening seminar for parents.

The Zones of Regulation

Last Monday we introduced the concept of The Zones of Regulation to our student population. This is a program we will be trialling in some classes in Term 4 and introducing as a whole school in 2017. The Zones of Regulation highlight the following areas of learning for our students:

• Emotional self-understanding and emotional self-regulation. Students are supported to learn to understand the connection between their sensory systems, their emotions and their ability to relate to the world in ways that make others feel comfortable relating to them.
• Sensory integration and regulation, helps students learn to manage sensory input from the environment so they can process and respond in ways in which they are expected to function.
• Students learn about brain based skills such as impulse control, sustaining attention, planning, problem solving and self-talk as the foundation to manage their behaviours and overcome the hurdles that stand in the way of them reaching their goals.

The Zones are:

We introduced the Green Zone which is the optimal zone to be in for successful learning. Students were given the following task to take home and we were amazed at the number of students who completed the task and brought it back to school. There were many purposeful discussions in classes and around the school in the days after this was completed.

We will be providing more information to students and parents so discussions can continue at home to assist students identify which zone they are in and what supports them to return to the Green Zone.

Growth Mindset

We are continuing to inform parents and families about the social and emotional learning we are undertaking as a whole school. We have been working on developing Growth Mindsets with our students for some time and so over the next couple of weeks will share some informative youtube clips that have already been shared with our students. This clip is the first in a series of 5 and the topic is Your brain is like a muscle.

We hope these clips will be the catalyst of some family discussions on building Growth Mindsets with our students and members of their families.

Canteen

Can you discover the new items?

Term 4 Canteen price list. This canteen list will take effect from Monday October 10th.

Launching into Learning

Our Learning Community
Science

Science in Prep

Sport

3/4 Gala Day

On Friday 23rd November our Grade 3/4 classes will be participating in a Gala Day of sport. With each class divided into teams of netball, basketball and soccer they will play round robin matches against each other. A selection of Grade 5 & 6 students have been training the teams at lunchtime to prepare and will have the responsibility of coaching, managing and umpiring. Parents and friends are welcome to attend on the day.

Timetable:

Peter Habel

2016 Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge

When: Grades 3-6 Thursday 24th November
Where: Devonport Bluff
Cost: $15
Entry Forms at School Office

Entry forms need to be returned to the school office by Friday 16th September with payment.

The school will put one entry in on behalf of all participants.

Students will need to organise bikes (if required) and travel. The school can provide a polo shirt.

Peter Habel

Parents

Lost Property

As the end of term is quickly approaching could please check the Lost Property basket for any items you may be missing.

We have a large amount of unnamed items, including windcheaters, zip up jacket, track pants, raincoats and lots of food and drink containers.

All unnamed items that are unclaimed will be donated to the Uniform Shop.

Please help us to help you. All items which are clearly named are returned to the students.

What's Happening in Our Classroom's?

Operation Christmas Child

During the last two weeks of Term 3, Grade 6WH are collecting items to donate to Operation Christmas Child for our community service project. Each class has been allocated a box for items to be collected in. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk to our children about how fortunate we are to live in such a wealthy country as Australia. Our boxes will be delivered to children in need who live in countries such as Indonesia, Solomon Island, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Gift suggestions

Something to wear : tshirt, thongs, skirt
Something to love : teddy, doll, soft toy
Something special : sunglasses, stickers, craft kits, wind up torch
Something for school : exercise book, pencil case, sharpener, chalk
Something to play with : tennis ball, cars, skipping rope, yo-yo
Something for personal hygiene : soap, face washer, toothbrush

We will be packing boxes on Thursday, 22nd September.

School Association

Tick Tick Tick , time is running out! Get your orders in….

P& F Parent Direct Toy Catalogues

All Chalk and Parent Direct orders need to be back at the school office by this Monday coming, September 19th , to avoid disappointment and guaranteed delivery.

Community News

West Tamar Little Athletics Club

The Count down to the 2016/2017 Season has started!
Training will commence on:
Wednesday September 14th at 4:30pm
Where: Exeter Primary School Oval
Please contact Adam on 0455500441
All old and new friends welcome.

School Holiday Programs

NIDA Short Course

• Unlock your creativity with a NIDA short course these school holidays. Designed specifically for children and young people, NIDA offers a fun and supportive learning environment that explores creative potential and builds confidence.

NIDA Drama School (for grades 3–6 and 7–10)

A comprehensive course for committed young people. Develop performance skills including improvisation, voice and movement, devising, acting and rehearsing scenes. Perform scenes at the end of the week for family and friends.

Dates: 27 September – 30 September
Location: Newstead College (30 Cypress St, Launceston 7250)

Acting Boot Camp (for grades 3–6 and 7–10)

A fast-paced intensive course for acting recruits: build skills in fundamental acting technique including improvisation, character development and scenework. Perform scenes for family and friends at the end of the course.

Dates: 1 October – 2 October
Location: Newstead College (30 Cypress St, Launceston 7250)

For more information and to book visit the link below.

WEST TAMAR SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

Bookings are now being taken for West Tamar Council's Set/Oct School Holiday Program. The program is open to all young residents aged 10-16 and transport is provided to and from most activities. Activities this holiday period include: Zorb balls, Permian monsters (QVMAG), Wax Hands, Laser Force, Bush Maze, Rock Climbing at penny Royal, The Secret Life of Pets at Village Cinemas and more. Booking forms are available from Council offices or online. For further information please contact Stewart Bell (Youth Development Officer) on 63239206 or email: stewart.bell@wtc.tas.gov.au.