Assistant Principal
Morning Supervision
Thank you to all parents for ensuring our students are arriving to school in time to be ready for morning proceedures. A reminder, morning supervision starts at 8.15am
Winter Uniform
Full winter uniforms are now being worn. Please ensure school ties are worn and school shirts are tucked in.
ICAS / UNSW Assessments for Years 3-6
Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for parents to order and pay for the assessments online. The price of most of the assessments is $19.25, with Writing costing $23.65. They can be ordered online at
https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps, after entering the code TDJ765. Assessments need to be ordered no later than 20 May, with online sitting dates of 8 ugust – 2 September.
Daily Reading
As parents, you are your child's most influential teacher with an important part to play in helping your child to learn to read. There is more to being a good reader than just being able to read the words accurately. Just as important is being able to understand what has been read. Always talk to your child about the book; about the pictures, the characters, how they think the story will end and their favourite part. You will then be able to see how well they have understood the book they have read and you will help them to develop good comprehension skills. Take time not only to hear them read but to read aloud to them too – they love hearing you read to them!
“Read aloud every day because you just love being with your child, not because it's the right thing to do. This is, as important for fathers, as it is for mothers! Mem Fox
LEGO
Many families are currently watching Lego Masters. Playing with LEGO bricks give children something to manipulate and demonstrates to them the nature of basic Math skills. Studies show that students perform better when they have something to manipulate during a Math lesson. Using LEGO in Mathematics shows students the real-world application of these skills.
- Educational benefits of LEGO
Provides tools that develop lateral thinking in a fun environment teaching children to think in three dimensions, developing fine motor skills, problem-solving, organisation, and planning by construction Lego helps to improve creativity, literacy as children work with instructions and enhance communication and critical thinking.
- Lego Activities - Building Part-Part-Total Thinking
A key component of arithmetic operations is building the student’s number sense. LEGO bricks are excellent for part-part-total explorations! The studs are often grouped in twos, which facilitate counting by twos rather than counting the studs individually. With practice, students will recognise arrangements of studs, and will not need to count them at all (subitising).
- Colourful Ready-Made Arrays
LEGO helps children to understand Multiplication and Division. The ‘Building Square Numbers’ activity will help your children develop an understanding of area, square numbers, and the commutative property of multiplication. - Tackling Fractions with LEGO
Providing students with tangible objects helps them to think about fractions of one whole to fractions of a set. Pattern blocks and LEGO help students to experience fractions. LEGO blocks can be broken down into various fractions, including eighths, quarters and halves.
Assistant Principal