Dear Parents and Caregivers
It is hard to believe that we will soon be coming to the end of the School Year. There are still many things we are working towards. This includes our School Concert at the Norwood Town Hall onThursday 25 November, finalisation of Class Structures and Placements for 2022 and Semester 2 Reports.
School Concert
Mrs Williams has been working with all the classes to prepare the students for this event and I think it will be a spectacular evening. A reminder to all families that as of Thursday 18 November families will be able to buy additional tickets that are available. Once these are sold, there won’t be anymore available. Please go to your QKR app to purchase these tickets. I look forward to seeing you all there on the night as we celebrate this extravaganza of dance.
Class Structures
This term we have spent considerable time considering class structures for the 2022 school year. The process of placing students is one where staff continually work hard in creating new classes with many factors considered to best place all the students. In a small school this does create some challenges. Composite classes are a common class structure in small schools. Composite classes provide schools with more flexibility and options to ensure even/small class sizes and a balance of student social and academic needs within and across year levels.
All classes, whether a single year level or composite class group, have children with diverse learning needs and abilities and this is not a disadvantage for students. Within any class environment there is a wide and diverse range of abilities where the class teacher is required to differentiate. Within the Australian Curriculum, teachers have the ability to assess all students in their class according to their individual ability and plan accordingly. Classes and their teachers are also placed in professional learning teams according to their year levels and teachers work as a team to collaboratively plan, prepare and assess all students carefully, providing time to assess and moderate student work due to the fact they have the same year levels.
Following our School Board meeting last night, please find below the Class Structures for the 2022 School Year.
Reception / Year 1
Reception / Year 1
Reception / Year 1
Year 2/3
Year 2/3
Year 2/3
Year 4
Year 4
Year 5/6
Year 5/6
Year 5/6
Please find below an article that will help to support your child as they prepare for the 2022 School Year from Madhavi Nawana Parker
https://positivemindsaustralia.com.au
Worried about your child’s class placement in 2022?
It’s perfectly normal for you and your family to be thinking a lot about this. Afterall, children spend all day at school.
It’s only natural to have a preference for a particular teacher and normal to feel worried or disappointed if they don’t get them.
It’s important to know that a child’s emotional adjustment to leaving this year’s teacher and preparing for next year’s teacher is interconnected with your feelings about it.
Make sure if there are any special reasons you feel your child will benefit from a particular teacher or cohort, that you express these to your school early, before they start configuring classes.
Here are some ways you can help make the transition smoother for your child if you or they didn’t get the news you were hoping for.
Hear out your child’s feelings but try and avoid fixing their feelings by adding your own feelings, judgements and solutions. Feelings need to come out, be present and move through. They don’t have to be excited about the teacher they got, to learn from that teacher in the long run. The feelings you see in that initial moment aren’t necessarily reflective of how they will feel long term - especially if you don’t react with them. Humans need time to process change. When news is fresh, we can go through many feelings of resistance and uncertainty. That doesn’t mean that what’s coming is necessarily bad. You can gently say something like, ‘you really wanted X , so of course you’re disappointed. I understand. We can talk more after a cuddle/ play/ hot chocolate. (Basically, you want to avoid talking while their logical brain is switched off and emotions are high). Listening calmly and quietly is golden.
Avoid looking upset about the placement in front of your child. If they are upset, they will naturally look to you to help them feel better. This doesn’t mean you have to fake being excited if you’re not (they’ll see through that) but it does mean you do your very best to be calm, confident and if you can’t be hopeful, try and be neutral. Children need us as an emotional compass when they experience uncomfortable feelings.
Before you go in to pick them up on the day they receive their placement, remind yourself to try and trust the process. There are multiple layers to how class placements are allocated that couldn’t possibly be explained completely. School leaders and staff put in huge amounts of thought into student personalities, learning styles, teaching styles, class size, who asked to have who in their class and much more that is happening behind the scenes we’re not aware of.
Schools genuinely do their best with this decision. If you’re upset, it’s possible they are too but when weighing everything up, had no other direction to turn. Supporting your child’s teachers and school is a crucial part of your child’s psychological and academic success there.
Your reaction to next year’s teacher news is hugely important to your child. Your confidence, hopefulness and regulated emotion is crucial. If you’re not happy, try and keep these feelings in the back ground and discuss them privately with another adult. Children are too young to take on their parent’s worries. If there is a genuine problem, take logical action without involving your child in the stress associated with it.
Your child’s emotional connection to and respect for their teacher and school is deeply connected with your connection to and respect for their teacher and school.
Children learn, grow and strengthen in resilience by being with a broad range of personalities and communication styles. When things are unrealistically perfect and easy, they can get stuck in their comfort zone. To build confidence for later on in life, you need to experience a broad range of peers and situations and discover that through talking about feelings, asking for help, establishing boundaries and building your social emotional skills, you can handle a lot of what life has in store. Be there to hear their thoughts and feelings out, but above all show you have confidence in your child to get through. If situations are dangerous, toxic or damaging your child’s learning and psychological health, always talk to school staff and if necessary, other experts to ask for and seek help. Seek out the support of a health professional too if necessary. On the surface, do your best as your child’s most important adult and leader to show your confidence that your child will be safe and cared for, always.
Do something heartwarming and compassionate for yourself. If you’re upset and stressed it’s not because you’re weak or incapable. It’s because our children hold our hearts and when they hurt, we hurt. You need to look after yourself first and foremost.
The advice above is general and based on general child development, resilience and confidence research. It is written with the very best intention to help you. Without knowing your individual circumstances it’s not intended to replace your expertise as a parent or the expertise of educators and health professionals. Always seek tailored expert advice if you feel your child’s physical or psychological health is at risk in any way.
Wishing you all the very best with class placement news if you live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Hang in there beautiful parents
xx Madhavi Nawana Parker
https://positivemindsaustralia.com.au
Reports
Semester 2 reports will be distributed on Friday 3 December. The reports will go home with students at the end of the school day. If your child is away on the day, you will be able to collect their report from the relevant Offices until Wednesday 8 December. After this date, any uncollected reports will be posted out to families.
Class Transition / Meet the Teacher Session 2022
All students from Preschool to Year 6 will participate in a Meet the Teacher session on Monday 5 December between 9:30 – 10:30am. Students in Year 1 will walk to William Street to meet their teacher in Year 2/3.
NAPLAN 2021
Earlier this year students in years 3 and 5 students participated in NAPLAN testing. Our NAPLAN data indicates growth across the 4 areas with students at SJMS in 2021 achieving above the National Benchmark. Information regarding NAPLAN will be on our website in the coming weeks.
COVID Requirements
As you would have all heard this week, there are new requirements for Educators and Volunteers in School settings. Any person working in a school setting must by 10 December 2021, provide evidence of their COVID Vaccination or must have received their 1st dose of the vaccine and booked in for their 2nd dose.
Any unvaccinated staff, contractors or volunteers on school sites will not be able to work with students after this date.
Hats
A reminder that all students should have a school hat to wear when at PE, or during Recess and Lunch play. Students without hats will be asked to sit in the shade.
Yours sincerely
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield
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