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Term 1 Week 2 Newsletter 1st February 2023

From our Principal

Welcome to 2023 and the beginning of a new year at Thangool State School. We have had a wonderful first week with all students settling in well to their classrooms. It was great seeing returning and new families. This year we welcome -17 new preps and 8 new students -throughout our classes to our Thangool school community. We hope you enjoy your time at our school. A huge thank you to our wonderful staff in ensuring our classrooms and grounds were ready for our students and to our supportive parents for having everything ready to go for your child.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or your child’s teacher at any time if we can help you in anyway.

Our school newsletter will come out every fortnight on even weeks. Classroom newsletters will come out in week 1 and week 5 of each term.

Have an awesome week

Fiona

Student Misson Statement/Capable Learner

Our school mission statement forms the basis of all decisions made by the school. Our first question in all we do is always “what impact does this have on our students?”

Our school has developed its own Thangool State School (TSS) Capable Learner. Our capable learner works to support our mission statement looking at all aspects of what makes a student a capable learner at Thangool. Our SEL Program enables weekly sessions to explicitly pull apart the different rules, values and dispositions needed to support and nurture the whole child with all stakeholders working together.

Our Priority Areas

In 2023 we have 2 priority areas:-

Reading
SEL (Social Emotional Learning)

Priority 1-Reading

Reading is a vital skill that everyone needs in all areas of life. Last year we started looking into the research and evidence on ways to improve the teaching of reading at Thangool. Last year we worked with speech therapists to write our own school scope and sequence in the teaching of reading and purchased a whole heap of new reading resources in the early years to support our students in reading.

Our staff have been involved in professional development and will continue to build on their knowledge and skills over the course of this year. We were lucky to receive funding this year for $15000 from a reading grant to support teachers in building this knowledge.

This year we will continue building our knowledge and skills and also work with the kindy’s and community groups to build parents knowledge on ways they can support their child in being successful readers.

Priority 2-SEL

English and Maths are vital skills that every child needs to master, but they are not the only keys to success. This year we want to ensure that our focus goes above just English and Maths. We want to focus on developing students who have empathy, collaboration, independence, confidence, persistence, critical thinking and more. These skills are very hard to measure and success is sometimes not seen for many years.

It is easy to measure tackles and hit ups in football. It is a lot harder to measure the impact of the player who creates opportunities, leads the team, motivates his/her teammates, uses agility and guile to score. If we judge every player only against tackles and hit ups then we are surely not seeing the whole picture.

Children need to find success. Whether it is in academics, the arts, music, sport. Giving every child an opportunity to shine is vital. Success breeds success and confidence. Our SEL program gives children the opportunity to learn and practice emotional agility in a safe environment.

This means we will not only be working with our students but also building staff capabilities in this area.

Evidence suggests the best outcomes are when: -

SAFE-
Teach-sequenced activities
Model-active forms of learning
Practice-focussed time developing skills
Discuss-Explicit unpacking
Occur in supportive environment/context
Build adult competencies
Equitable, culturally responsive, trauma sensitive, socially just.
Set reasonable goals.

Homework

Last year we trialled no homework and then asked for feedback at the end of the year. We had the majority of feedback positive with no homework but also got some really good suggestions on how we can continue to include parents and simple tasks students could possibly do, which we will be including in our program. Important to note that reading is not classed as homework therefore we ask every child to ensure they are reading based on teachers’ suggestions so they continue to practice this lifelong skill.

As part of our inquiry project into the Science of Reading and Visible Learning, our staff evaluated the effectiveness of some long-established teaching practices. Using the research of John Hattie, we have examined our homework policy and the impact it has on improving student outcomes. John Hattie states that homework has an effect size of 0.29, (0.15 in primary schools).

An effect size is a measure of impact. The higher the number, the greater the impact, with the best teaching practices having effect sizes greater than 0.4.

John Hattie states in regards to homework, “The key is that this highlights the importance for schools to now evaluate the effectiveness of its primary homework practice… there is an invitation (indeed an imperative) to try an alternative set of practices re. homework – and evaluate their impact on learning, involvement in learning, and increasing the students (and parents) understanding about the language of learning.”

Therefore, based on this research, we re-evaluated our approach to homework, and trialled a ‘No Homework’ term last year. Our focus was on implementing activities with higher effect sizes. These activities may include across the school:

Reading

Exposure to reading – 0.43
Re-reading – 0.53
Reading comprehension – 0.54
Phonics 0.57

It is important to note that reading is not classed as homework and given how critical reading is to all aspects of a successful life every child will still be involved in reading activities every night.

While in the upper years, in preparation for Highschool, students may be exposed to projects that relate to extra curricula activities that focus on:

Note-taking 0.51
Self-regulated learning 0.59
Outlining and Summarising activities 0.71

If you have any questions or would like further information regarding the changes to homework, please contact your child’s teacher.

Parade

Our school weekly parade occurs first up on a Monday morning at 8:50am. Our weekly parade enables: -

Great way to start our week off having whole school together
Any messages for week can be delivered first up with everyone hearing the same message
Our rule reminders, focuses for week are given Monday morning which means students are hearing the message at the start of the day/week.
Students can be told what the “kids Shed” activities are for the week, play areas any changes.
Not as hot in our summer months in the afternoon.

Parents are welcome to attend our Monday morning parades.

Playground - Outdoor Classroom

We have wonderful outside space with our “Kids Shed” operating every lunch time with set activities for any child to participate in. This year Ms Lawson is leading the way in organising our activities. Our tennis court area is now fully covered which enables another great space for our students to play. We also have our cubby area, forts, sandpit, mud pit and oval all with different options for our students.

Breakfast Club

Our Breakfast Program runs each morning Monday-Friday 8:35-8:50am. We have year 6 students rostered on with Mrs Cathy White.

Student Safety and School Routines

Given that it is a new year, I thought I’d remind people about a few safety issues that come up from time to time, and get us all back into routine.

Before School

Students should not be at school before 8:15am. When students arrive at school they are to sit in the eating area under the building. From 8:15-8:35am our teacher aides are on duty and supervise morning play. On a Monday, Wednesday & Friday students are involved in SMART Moves which is organised and run by our year 6 Wellbeing officers- under the super vision of staff.

Parking

Parents are also reminded that there is no parking under the tree opposite the school. Our buses depart by 8:15am of a morning so please ensure you are not in bus zone before this time and in the afternoon, they arrive from 3:05pm so please ensure your car is not parked in the bus zone from this time on.

NAPLAN

For students in year 3 & 5 NAPLAN dates are 14-24 March. Our school will again deliver this test online. More details in coming weeks.

Staffing 2023

Our staff for 2023

Business Manager:- Ros Zischke

Admin assistant:- Helen Lovell (every Thursday)

Librarian :- Cathy White

Teacher Aides:- Cathy White, Deb Carr, Amanda Goody, Paula Bruckner, Sarah Dean, Karyn Pratt

Facility Officer/Groundsman:- Tim Boyd, Leigh Jones

Cleaners: Nazaria, Katy, Divina

Mud Pit

Our mud pit is operational in terms 1 & 4. Please see table below for which week your child’s classes turn is. Students can come dressed in mud pit clothes with school uniform and towel in school bag. Students wearing mud pit clothes is parental permission for children to participate.

2023 School Camps

Camps offer our students opportunities to experience learning opportunities away from the classroom. Our Year 6 students will head out to Pelican Point in week 5 on Thursday 23 February and Friday 24 February for their Year 6 Leadership Camp. Our 5/6 camp this year is our Brisbane trip which will occur week 2 of term 4.

Head of Curriculum

Welcome to new and returning families. This year is an exciting year as we will begin Phase 2 of the implementation of version 9 of the Australian Curriculum. The latest Australian Curriculum Review has made improvements to the Foundation to Year 10 curriculum by refining, realigning and decluttering the content.

A brief summary of the key changes include:

· the removal and reduction of content so the curriculum can be taught with depth and rigour,

· a stronger focus on phonics in English

· a stronger focus on students mastering the essential mathematical facts, skills, concepts and processes, and making clear what mathematical computations need to be done without a calculator, reinforcing the importance of achieving proficiency in foundational skills

· deepening students’ understanding of First Nations Australian histories, cultures and contributions

· strengthening and making explicit teaching about the origins of Australia's democracy, as well as the diversity of Australian communities

· strengthening the explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships from F–10 in age-appropriate ways

· addition of privacy and security in the Digital Technologies curriculum

· strengthening the focus on students being physically active

· increased content with a focus on activity in natural and outdoor settings.

· strengthening the Prep year by identifying the essential content to teach in the first year of school across all 8 learning areas.

I look forward to working with teachers and staff in becoming familiar with the changes to the curriculum as we begin to plan with the new documents. I also look forward to sharing with you information about curriculum, assessment and reporting as the year progresses.

Sports News

Please find attached the dates for representative sport. A student is eligible to represent their school, district, region and state in the year that they are turning ten. In 2023 students born in 2013 become eligible for representative sport. Please be aware that the age group is 10-12 unless otherwise specified. Only a small number of students can represent the school at a Port Curtis trial. Unfortunately the exact number is not finalized till sport information is sent out. This generally happens 2 weeks prior to the Port Curtis trial. It is an expectation that students wishing to trial have a clear understanding of the rules and demonstrate the key principles of the sport due to the representative nature of the trials. An expression of interest will be available from Mrs White in the Library. This is to be collected and returned by the dates on the attached calendar. By returning this form you are agreeing that the student is available for selection at all levels and are committed to attending if selected.

It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to check that the student is available to :

attend trials (at all levels),
transport their student
pay any applicable cost

Please consider that

Port Curtis (PC) trials are generally held in the Gladstone area.
Capricornia (Cap) trials can be held anywhere from Emerald, to Mackay, to Gladstone and Rockhampton.
State can be held in any location in the state.

If there are more students wanting to go to a Port Curtis trial then a trial will need to be held at school. The trial will be held by Ebony Nancarrow and students will be made aware of when and where the trial will be. Generally it will be held during break time on either Tuesday or Wednesday on the week the expression of interest is due back. The best performance on the day of the trial will see a student being selected. If a child is sick or injured and this may hinder their performance a letter outlining this and the student’s achievement in the chosen sport can be submitted prior to the trial.

Please note that

Swimming nominations need to be submitted directly through to Capricornia Sport and submitted times must be from a sanctioned meet. As a courtesy, please notify the school of your submission and also the success of selection.
Cross country and Athletics are selected at the inter house school carnivals. The top placing students become eligible for selection.
Golf nominations need to be submitted directly through to Capricornia Sport and submitted times must be from a sanctioned meet. As a courtesy, please notify the school of your submission and also the success of selection.

If you have questions about this process please do not hesitate to contact Ebony Nancarrow to discuss your concerns.

SEL - Social and Emotion Learning

Social & Emotional Learning

‘Students are most likely to benefit from SEL when they have opportunities to use and practice skills in everyday interactions and routines’ – Harvard Graduate School of Education.

This term we kick off our SEL program with students in Years 4-6. As adults we know that we are at our best when we feel safe, supported and work from our strengths. This is what the SEL program aims to achieve. It is a strengths-based approach, that helps students reflect on the qualities they bring to a team. Students will face activities and challenges to help them work as a team to solve problems. Theses activities are a vehicle for learning and gives students the opportunity to practice important life skills such as developing empathy, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Research has shown that we think and learn best when we have supportive relationships, feel a sense of security and belonging, and have opportunities to develop and practice our social, emotional, and cognitive skills across many different contexts. We also know that effective SEL programs have long lasting benefits up to 18years (CASEL, 2021).

This term we will be continuing our SEL journey and providing many learning moments that help develop our dispositions of a capable learner at Thangool State School.

Benefits of SEL programs