Welcome back to Term 4

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable, restful or exciting holiday. Great to see everyone ready for a new term. Term 4 is a chance for consolidation, extension and celebration.  We have two exciting initiatives to introduce to the yard this term.

Wheels on Wednesday

This term we will be introducing a new form of play. Wheels on Wednesday is an opportunity for all children to scoot, skate, rollerblade and/or ride their bikes during recess and lumch. This initiative is designed to promote participation, physical activity and to introduce an element of risk to the playground.

Identifying and managing risk is an important part of growing up. Just as children’s bodies mature and develop, so do their brains. As children’s brains are developing, so is their ability to identify and judge risks. Children need opportunities to develop their own internal thermometer for risk.  In “Balanced and Barefoot”, Angela Hanscom (2018, p. 126) writes, Although letting kids take risks might be scary for parents (and teachers) and even children at first, it is an essential part of growing up. Taking risks allows children to overcome physical challenges and strengthens their senses at the same time. These benefits ultimately make them safer and more resilient in the long run.  Risky play also allows children to overcome fears and anxiety and builds strong character.  Children need opportunities to fall and make mistakes in order to become more confident and capable when facing future life challenges.

Wheels on Wednesday will begin next week on Wednesday 12th October.

Asphalt areas will be “ball free” to allow for skating, scooting and rollerblading and a separate area for riding bikes. 

There are two rules:

• Wear a correctly fitting helmet
• Have fun

Of course, all bikes must have working brakes.

I am hoping that this initiative might also have the follow on effect of more children riding to school. 

Loose Parts Play

In the garden outside the Year 1 classrooms we are opening our first Loose Parts Playground. This playground uses open-ended materials such as boxes, crates, pipis, tyres, logs, sticks and stones that children can build with, move, design and adapt in many different ways. This part of our playground is being repurposed to provide a creative space for children to engage in meaningful, social activities. 

The benefit of Loose Parts Play are:

• Creating ownership and varied play experiences
• Open ended possibilities promoting flexible thinking
• Sensory and tactile to support learning about weight, texture, sound and balance
• Developmentally appropriate - children enter the space at their own level
• Highly cooperative in sharing space, equipment and ideas
• Encourages problem solving, design and decision making.

This area has been supported by our Primary School Association through a donation of $5,000 and the direction of a committee who have steered the project and collected material. We are indebted to the PSA for their ongoing support.

Classroom Placements For 2023

Over the duration of this term, staff will be following a long process to organise class groups for 2023. The teachers take into account, childrens’ friendships, academic achievement, behaviour, social learning and special needs to create balanced harmonious class groupings. 

Often parents have some information that can help with this process for the best outcomes for everyone. For example you could ask that your child not be placed with their cousin or close neighbour.  If you feel that you have some information that can be useful in this process please complete a 2023 Placement Survey (Green Form) from the office by next Friday 14th October.

Another important part of this process is when classroom teachers invite children to list four “good working buddies” that they would like to be with the following year. We do our best to accommodate at least one of these. As this will commence shortly you may wish to discuss this process with your child.

COVID update

We are waiting for advice on Rapid Antigen Testing, reporting of positive cases and the changes to the isolation periods following the government's announcement last week. We will pass this information on as it is published.

Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal