Newsletter 6 – Week 6, Term 4, 2021 – Message from Admin Team, Lost Property, Library, 2021 Yr 6 Graduation Ceremony, Canteen, 2022 P&C Committee Positions, Kids Carnival and Christmas Markets

Message from the Executive Administration Team

Dear parents and caregivers

What a difference the sunshine makes! It’s wonderful for our students to be able to enjoy the outdoors during the school day without rain, wind and storms. It’s also just in time for the Christmas Market and Kids’ Carnival being held on Saturday on the school grounds. I’m really looking forward to seeing our families enjoy a day out together that has been so well planned by the organising committee with something for everyone. This event has been planned by the P&C as an opportunity to connect as a community rather than as a fundraising event. There will be musical performances from current and ex-students, bouncy castle, animal farm, stalls selling gifts, food trucks and much more. A huge thank you to Victoria Martelli and Bec Guy for the huge amount of work they have done up to this point, their team of helpers and all the volunteers who are helping out on the day. We are very lucky to have such dedicated people who are committed to strengthening our school culture by working in partnership with us.

 

Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Transitions: Today our current P re-primary students enjoyed their first orientation session and visit to Year 1! There was much excitement among the students as they rotated through the various Year 1 classrooms. Activities included a LEGO STEAM challenge, maths games, a listening and drawing activity and some handwriting. Our Pre-primary teachers and Year 1 teachers work closely on planning these sessions to support our students with the transition to their new learning environment. Our Year 1 students thought it was lots of fun to visit their old stomping ground in Pre-primary too! There will be another opportunity to spend time in the Year 1 classes after swimming and the Pre-primary teachers have also planned some play opportunities in the Year 1 & 2 playgrounds to familiarise the students with the ‘big’ school layout. Next week, our new Kindy students who start in 2022 will also have their orientations. Prior to the end of the school year, current and new students going into Pre-primary will have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with their new classrooms too. I thank all our teachers for their work in ensuring our youngest students feel ready to make their transition into each year level. Parents and caregivers can assist by speaking positively about all the new opportunities they will have, having play-dates to make new friends or strengthen bonds and reading picture books about starting school. We know some students will find change hard but it is hoped that this team approach will make the change a positive experience.

 

Digital Technology: Over the past few years, students in Years 3-6 have started participating in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge, which is an online challenge organised by the CSIRO. It draws on the Critical and Creative Thinking learning continuum to enable students to develop their skills in problem solving, while also reflecting on their learning and thinking.

The Bebras Challenge focuses on developing computational thinking. Computational thinking is a set of skills that underpin learning within the digital technologies classroom. These skills allow students to engage with processes, techniques and digital systems to create solutions to address specific problems, opportunities or needs. Specifically, computational thinking involves integrating strategies such as organising data logically; breaking down problems into parts; interpreting patterns and models; and designing and implementing algorithms.

In Round 2, conducted last term, we had 150 students across Years 3-6 participate. Students work in small teams to solve the timed challenge. Overall, Year 3 & 4 students at Wembley, achieved an average score of 92 (max score 123) compared to a state average of 61 and Year 6 students had an average score of 67 (max score 117) compared to a state average of 44. In this round, due to timetabling clashes, Year 5 students did not participate (participated in Round 1). These results reflect a high level of knowledge in digital technologies and excellent programs in place by our teachers to support this learning.

Congratulations to all students who participated. An extra special mention to the following students who scored a High Distinction.

Year 3/4 Division

David C	Zuriel L	Hugh D	Veer K
Ilias F	Sophie J	Daniel J	Annika K
Tom R	Mungo R	Ayanna S	Ruben K
Fin M	Brooke D	Jayden A	Miles S
Oscar P	Tyler S	Seif M	Imogen H
Ben T	Zoe H	Lachlan F	Elena H
Abi W

Year 5/6 Division

Beau H

Oliver P

Nicholas T

 

Connect, Collaborate, Communicate

Yours in learning

Tamara, Alan, Rachel and Kerry