Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to welcome the whole school community back for Term 3. We are looking forward to a very productive and busy term.

In English, the students are focusing on a speaking and listening task where they compose a task that is then shared with their class via a speech or a video recording.

In Maths, we are working with a maths consultant to support our teachers in developing strategies for the students to think about their approaches to maths.

Our focus for PCL this term is building stamina and engagement. The focus for the first 2 weeks is knowing what strategies we can use to be successful in our learning. This is a focus throughout all of the learning areas. It is very important that children learn how to continue their learning even when it is challenging.

Like us as adults, we need to be resilient when times become tough. We are teaching the children:

• Learning can and should extend us into areas that stretch our abilities.​
• Sometimes learning might even feel impossible.​
• When we hit speed bumps (thoughts of ‘it is too hard, I can’t do it’) in our learning, we often feel vulnerable. ​
• We might feel that we are not good enough.​
• We might feel that we are not smart enough.​
• We look silly in front of our peers.​
• We feel anxious or upset. ​
• These feelings are okay and normal. Learning is full of speed bumps!​

Some of the strategies we discuss with the children are:

What could you do next time you hit a speed bump?​

• practice mindful breathing​.          
• move and stretch, then refocus​.             
• ask a peer for help.​
• re-read the text​.                       
• search online​.                                       
• use positive self-talk.​
• train the brain through Superflex thinking/growth mindset thinking​.           
• ask for a break.​
• talk to the teacher​.                  
• look at notes from the previous lesson.​
• look for anything displayed around the room that might help.​                   ​
• lean into challenges instead of avoiding them.​                                          
• do a body scan.​

You may like to talk about speed bumps at home with your child and discuss what strategies would work for them. We all face challenging times and there are times when the speed bumps are different sizes, but it is very important we learn strategies that support us in these times.

Events For the Term

We have many different things happening outside the classroom this term.

Today we are hosting 6 other schools for a Year 4 Minecraft challenge. This week we also have District Athletics for selected children. In week 3, we are hosting principals and teachers from surrounding schools to look in our classrooms and talk to students about learning in English. There are a number of different excursions throughout the term, Gala Days (Year 5-6 children), swimming experience (Prep, Year 2, Year 4). In week 5, we have our Maths consultant doing demonstration lessons for staff.  In week 6 is the Bellmere music festival, in week 9 is the Book Week character dress up and we have a school review in week 10.

It is wonderful that we provide so many great opportunities for our students outside of the classroom.

Please look out for more information via email if your child is involved in any of the above events.

Regards

Jamie Tactor

Principal, Bellmere State School