Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to our final term of 2024! I cannot believe it has almost been a year that I have been a part of this wonderful community, and I have a feeling this could be the biggest (and busiest) yet.

Inclusive Education:

It is always so wonderful to see the progress of students, particularly those who face are consistently faced with difficult challenges and find a way to overcome these daily.  However, with a new year approaching soon the prospect of transitioning and upcoming change can often cause anxiety for our most vulnerable students.  To ensure a smooth changeover, I will be holding review meetings with your child’s current teacher in Week 6.  This will be an opportunity to discuss their progress, review their current personalised learning plan and ensure we have strategies in place for the following year.  A link with booking options will be sent out via Seesaw to relevant parents by the end of this week.  If you do not receive a link and would like an opportunity to meet, please contact Heidi or email me directly to organise a time: vsaccardo@stjk.catholic.edu.au

Gifted Education:

Recently, I have met with our Gifted and Talented CESA consultant, Kirsten Maycock.  We are excited at the prospect of continuing to build our STRETCH program which will involve a range of professional learning and exciting opportunities for our students. We are also in the process of building a gifted and talented shared agreement which will help us to readily identify students who require further extension in some areas of the curriculum with opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom to foster this.  I look forward to keeping you updated in this space.

Maths Olympiad and ICAS Competitions Award Assembly:

This year we had many students compete in the ICAS Competitions and our Inaugural Maths Olympiad.  We are so proud of all our students who chose to extend themselves and challenge themselves across a range of different domains.  To acknowledge these efforts, each child will be presented with a certificate during an extended community prayer on Monday, 11^th November, Week 5 at 2:30pm in the church.  All parents and special people are invited to attend, and we especially encourage those whose children were a part of these.

Maths:

In the holidays I was fortunate enough to attend a Multisensory Maths Professional Development developed by Ron Yoshimoto which provided strategies for teaching mathematics using manipulatives.

Research has shown that using concrete materials helps students process information through various sensory channels—visual, auditory, tactile, and kinaesthetic.  This then enhances their understanding of math through the Concrete Representational Abstract (CRA) approach (Witzel, 2005).

The concrete phase involves manipulatives to build conceptual understanding, while the representational phase includes visual representations like drawings, leading to abstract mathematical algorithms.  Research has shown that manipulatives and representations are effective tools for young learners, enabling them to grasp mathematical concepts in a supportive manner. This method fosters mathematical confidence, self-esteem, and positive engagement with math.

Although some students can move to abstract concepts quite quickly.  Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget argued that children develop abstract reasoning skills as part of their last stage of development which may not occur until the ages of 11 – 16.  As a result, we are looking to implement this as our Maths Intervention in 2025.  Stay tuned, I look forward to updating you on how this unfolds.

Leaving with a Literacy Tip…

After seeing the excitement and buzz around the Book Fair it reminded me of the important part, we play in fostering a love for reading and in turn, lifelong learning. Reading success hinges on confidence and enjoyment. When children enjoy reading and experience success, they are more likely to continue, boosting their skills further. Conversely, difficult words can lead to frustration and disengagement, making it less likely they'll return to a book.

To foster a positive reading experience, it's essential to choose the right books—those that build confidence and are enjoyable. The key factors to consider are content, readability, and the child's preferences. By aligning these elements, you can enhance your child's reading journey.

The content emphasizes the importance of helping children find books they want to read and fostering a positive reading environment. Key points include:

1. Daily Reading Time: Aim for daily reading sessions, even if just 15 minutes.
2. Choosing Books Together: Involve your child in selecting books based on their covers and blurbs, and consider the book's interior design, including font size and illustrations.  In this situation, it is important to judge a book by its cover! This creates excitement and usually sparks your child’s interest.
3. Assessing Readability: The ideal book should allow for about 90% accuracy when reading, promoting confidence and comprehension. Use the "Five Finger Rule" to determine if a book is too challenging; if your child struggles with five words on a page, it may be too hard.
4. Creating a Special Experience: Make reading a special activity by choosing cozy or fun locations and encouraging your child to engage actively, such as helping you keep your place.
5. Interactive Reading: Read aloud, explore illustrations, and discuss the story together. Listening to audiobooks together can also enhance the experience.
6. Focus on Your Child's Journey: Every child's reading path is unique, so avoid comparisons with others and focus on supporting your child’s individual progress.

We thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to your child’s learning journey.

Until next time…

Vanessa Saccardo