JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS - From the Head of Junior School
Communication Date : Friday 7 October 2022
Upcoming information for Term 4, Week 2
Curiosity! This has been our 5C of the week. We are encouraging and reminding students to ask questions and think about something they are curious about learning in their final term this year. You see, when we are curious and asking questions our minds are active instead of passive and since the brain is a muscle, the more we work it the stronger it gets. Remember when your child was a toddler and they grabbed and explored everything around them? They were being curious and learning all about their surroundings and how they fit into them. As our kids get older however, we sometimes forget to foster their curiosity by answering the many questions they are asking and then the questions slow down and their curiosity becomes subdued. So we want to keep our students asking questions, to lift their eyes to the world around them, put down their devices, and explore. At times we tend to focus on the “hard” skills sets in a child’s development: reading, writing, math, science. What is skipped over in this scenario are the “soft” skills like curiosity and creativity that give the academic knowledge of the “hard” skills usefulness in the real world. You can spot your child using curiosity when they are daydreaming of being an astronaut, putting together their own unique outfits to wear on the weekend, doodling and drawing, looking for depth in an answer to a question like "How does the earth rotate?", or doing some chores to help around the house. When we cultivate curiosity in our kids, at home and at school, we develop persistence, we shift the focus from self to others and the world around us, we create problem solvers and innovators who could one day influence and change the world. History clearly shows us that those who ask questions and refuse to accept the status quo, transform, lead and live adventurous lives and make a difference. So together....let's continue to inspire and encourage our children to be CURIOUS!
YEAR 1
Homework this term continues with readers on Monday and Tuesday nights, and reading on Wushka on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Please remember to write the books your child has read in their diary each night. This is checked on Fridays. Students also have their weekly spelling words (SSP sound focus) to practice each night.
This term, in World Around Us, we are learning about what life was like for children in the past. Next week, the students will bring home some questions to ask about life in the past (questions can be answered by an older relative or family friend). Students are to write a simple answer for each of these questions. This task is to be completed by the end of Week 5 and handed in on 4 November. They will then be sharing their research with the rest of the class.
If you have any questions, please email your class teacher. Thank you, in advance, for your support with this.
Homework this term continues with readers on Monday and Tuesday nights, and reading on Wushka on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Please remember to write the books your child has read in their diary each night. This is checked on Fridays. Students also have their weekly spelling words (SSP sound focus) to practice each night.
This term, in World Around Us, we are learning about what life was like for children in the past. Next week, the students will bring home some questions to ask about life in the past (questions can be answered by an older relative or family friend). Students are to write a simple answer for each of these questions. This task is to be completed by the end of Week 5 and handed in on 4 November. They will then be sharing their research with the rest of the class.
If you have any questions, please email your class teacher. Thank you, in advance, for your support with this.
YEAR 5 - 2023 LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS
A reminder that student leadership nomination forms and leadership pitches are due by the end of Week 3. Students can hand these into their teacher. Any questions please contact Mrs Holiday or Mr Stephens.
A reminder that student leadership nomination forms and leadership pitches are due by the end of Week 3. Students can hand these into their teacher. Any questions please contact Mrs Holiday or Mr Stephens.
YEAR 5 CAMP
All attendees are required to fill in a MANDATORY Year 5 Camp form prior to attendance. If this has not been filled in please click on the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FaithLutheranY5KW and complete this as a matter of urgency. Thank you.
All attendees are required to fill in a MANDATORY Year 5 Camp form prior to attendance. If this has not been filled in please click on the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FaithLutheranY5KW and complete this as a matter of urgency. Thank you.
GRANDPARENTS MORNING TEA
Save the date! On Thursday, 27 October we are having a grandparents morning. We invite grandparents (or a special person) to join us on campus from 9am – 10:30am to do an activity in their child/ren’s classroom/s and finish their visit with a morning tea in our Koala Gums. Our Scholastic Book Fair will also be running on this day so you will have the opportunity to check this out with your grandchild or special person. At 10:30am grandparents are invited to head over to the Secondary campus for a tour or head off home for the day. We look forward to a wonderful community time connecting together.
Save the date! On Thursday, 27 October we are having a grandparents morning. We invite grandparents (or a special person) to join us on campus from 9am – 10:30am to do an activity in their child/ren’s classroom/s and finish their visit with a morning tea in our Koala Gums. Our Scholastic Book Fair will also be running on this day so you will have the opportunity to check this out with your grandchild or special person. At 10:30am grandparents are invited to head over to the Secondary campus for a tour or head off home for the day. We look forward to a wonderful community time connecting together.
TERM 4, WEEK 2 - EXTRA CURRICULAR
There will be no Ace Tennis in the SPAH next week due to Prep Orientation, these sessions will be made up at a later date TBA.
Click on the image below to check out our Junior School Extra Curricular Schedule for Term 4, Week 2:
There will be no Ace Tennis in the SPAH next week due to Prep Orientation, these sessions will be made up at a later date TBA.
Click on the image below to check out our Junior School Extra Curricular Schedule for Term 4, Week 2:
SCHOLASTIC BOOKCLUB
Issue 7 Book Club catalogues will be sent home with students in the coming days. Orders will close on Wednesday, 19 October 2022.
To place an order and make payment please use – LOOP – Linked Online Ordering and Payment available on www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP Apple or Android app. Please note there are no cash orders. Please do not send any orders to school. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our library and classrooms, however there is never any obligation to order.
Whilst the majority of book titles in the Scholastic catalogues help our students foster their love of reading and are just fantastic reads, at times the content of some books can be misaligned with our school or our own family values. When ordering, if you are unsure that the content would be appropriate, take a moment to check out a bit more about that particular title before ordering. Focus on the Family offer a great website that can be of assistance called Plugged In (https://www.pluggedin.com/) that offers reviews and content advisory warnings to help keep our kids safe. Common sense media is another website that can be a great resource to help parents find out what they need to know about the book your child is wanting to read also (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews).
Issue 7 Book Club catalogues will be sent home with students in the coming days. Orders will close on Wednesday, 19 October 2022.
To place an order and make payment please use – LOOP – Linked Online Ordering and Payment available on www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP Apple or Android app. Please note there are no cash orders. Please do not send any orders to school. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our library and classrooms, however there is never any obligation to order.
Whilst the majority of book titles in the Scholastic catalogues help our students foster their love of reading and are just fantastic reads, at times the content of some books can be misaligned with our school or our own family values. When ordering, if you are unsure that the content would be appropriate, take a moment to check out a bit more about that particular title before ordering. Focus on the Family offer a great website that can be of assistance called Plugged In (https://www.pluggedin.com/) that offers reviews and content advisory warnings to help keep our kids safe. Common sense media is another website that can be a great resource to help parents find out what they need to know about the book your child is wanting to read also (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews).
BANDANA DAY - Thursday 20 October
Our annual Junior School Bandana Day will be on Thursday 20 October (this is not the offical Bandana day date but it is our Faith Bandana Day for 2023). This is an important day that raises funds for young people impacted by cancer. Our Junior School office will have bandana’s on sale from Friday 14 October ($5 each - cash only), students can all wear them to school on Thursday 20 October.
Our annual Junior School Bandana Day will be on Thursday 20 October (this is not the offical Bandana day date but it is our Faith Bandana Day for 2023). This is an important day that raises funds for young people impacted by cancer. Our Junior School office will have bandana’s on sale from Friday 14 October ($5 each - cash only), students can all wear them to school on Thursday 20 October.
PREP 2023 ORIENTATION MORNING
Our Prep Orientation morning and parent information session is on 11 October. This is for all of our new Prep families entering the College in 2023. We are all set to have a wonderful morning where our students have a taste of what a day in Prep will look like and our parents take part in an information session and morning tea together. Our school continues to grow with many enrolments coming in for all year levels in 2023, so if you know of someone wanting to join the Faith community encourage them to do so as soon as possible so that they don’t miss out. Some of our year levels next year already have a waiting list!
Our Prep Orientation morning and parent information session is on 11 October. This is for all of our new Prep families entering the College in 2023. We are all set to have a wonderful morning where our students have a taste of what a day in Prep will look like and our parents take part in an information session and morning tea together. Our school continues to grow with many enrolments coming in for all year levels in 2023, so if you know of someone wanting to join the Faith community encourage them to do so as soon as possible so that they don’t miss out. Some of our year levels next year already have a waiting list!
2023 CLASSES
As you begin to prepare your child for moving to a new grade in 2023, our teachers are also beginning to prepare for the year ahead. Some of the most powerful professional growth for a teacher comes in extending and applying their teaching practice to new scenarios. Our Junior School staff are currently working through the process (as we do in Term 4 each year), of sharing their passion areas and preferences for 2023 teaching year levels. This means that we may see some fresh and exciting adjustments to our year level teaching teams across our Junior School next year. Some parents have already asked about preferences for their child next year, whilst we do not accommodate specific teacher requests, our goal is certainly a successful placement for all of our students. Your child’s current teacher knows what they need and how they learn best, so have confidence in their knowledge of both our staff and students as they prepare lists for 2023, at the end of this year.
As you begin to prepare your child for moving to a new grade in 2023, our teachers are also beginning to prepare for the year ahead. Some of the most powerful professional growth for a teacher comes in extending and applying their teaching practice to new scenarios. Our Junior School staff are currently working through the process (as we do in Term 4 each year), of sharing their passion areas and preferences for 2023 teaching year levels. This means that we may see some fresh and exciting adjustments to our year level teaching teams across our Junior School next year. Some parents have already asked about preferences for their child next year, whilst we do not accommodate specific teacher requests, our goal is certainly a successful placement for all of our students. Your child’s current teacher knows what they need and how they learn best, so have confidence in their knowledge of both our staff and students as they prepare lists for 2023, at the end of this year.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND SECRET SANTA IN TERM 4
As we draw near to the festive season our students begin to think about Christmas gifts, cards and secret santa practices. Just a reminder that we do not encourage students to bring in gifts for other students, however we understand some love to share cards with others. This exchange time is only to occur in the final week of school, please do not bring them in any earlier. Your child's teacher will have this discussion with students in class to help them understand how and why we have this approach and also share some ideas about the meaning of Christmas and the meaning of sharing or blessing others. If you have any questions around this, please make contact with your child's teacher so that they may assist.
As we draw near to the festive season our students begin to think about Christmas gifts, cards and secret santa practices. Just a reminder that we do not encourage students to bring in gifts for other students, however we understand some love to share cards with others. This exchange time is only to occur in the final week of school, please do not bring them in any earlier. Your child's teacher will have this discussion with students in class to help them understand how and why we have this approach and also share some ideas about the meaning of Christmas and the meaning of sharing or blessing others. If you have any questions around this, please make contact with your child's teacher so that they may assist.
SAVE THE DATE
We have some great events coming up:
Kind Regards
Jodi
Jodi Blackwell
Head of Junior School
Faith Lutheran College Redlands
We have some great events coming up:
- Tuesday 11 October: Prep 2023 Orientation morning
- Thursday, 20 October: Faith to hold Bandana Day (official day is 28 October)
- Monday 24 - Friday 28 October: Book Fair
- Wednesday 26 - Friday 28 October: Year 5 Camp
- Thursday 27 October: Grandparents Morning Tea
- Friday 28 October: 40th Anniversary Trivia Night
- Thursday 3 November: Junior School Principal's Tour
- Wednesday 9 November: JS Sports Awards and Arts Evening
- Thursday 10 November: JS 2023 Leadership Assembly
- Thursday 24 November: Prep - Year 5 Celebration of Learning
- Monday 28 November: JS Passion Project Exhibition - Lights, Camera, Action!
- Tuesday 29 November: Year 6 Celebration of Learning
- Thursday 1 December: Faith Celebrates
- Tuesday 6 December: 40th Anniversary Class Parties
- Wednesday 7 December: Last Day of Term 4
Kind Regards
Jodi
Jodi Blackwell
Head of Junior School
Faith Lutheran College Redlands