Palmerston Post

Hello! Almost half way through Term 4.

 Parents and carers, we have a very important task that has come your way… we want your perspective on what we need to consider when creating 2021 classes. Thank you for filling in this form and getting it back to us within the nominated time. I believe it is vitally important to include the voice of the family  when we consider who goes into next year’s classes. Please share with us your thoughts about possible peers for your child – have a chat with them and pop three names down on the form for us to consider student groupings.

Our main priority is setting students up for success, to be productive and engaged learners. We have several factors we take into account such as : mutual requests for students to be together, gender balance, appropriate placements for students with additional needs, separation of students who have demonstrated this year patterns of inappropriate behaviour, as well as academic and social needs. It is a complex task and we take it very seriously.  Next year we expect to have about 920 students – isn’t this amazing?

 I have heard parents state that their child has never been placed with friends in years gone by. We strive for students to have productive working partnerships for our classrooms – and friendship requests need to be mutual. After the complicated set up has taken place, we want to make it very clear, that in Wk 10, when your child finds out their class and teacher, we do NOT make changes.

 In Week 10, on Monday 14th December we have STEP UP DAY. Last year’s Step Up Day was really successful, where we were able to bring in our new teachers for 2021, to meet their new class in their new classroom and have a fun morning together. This will again happen this year, due to a high degree of positive feedback, amongst this feedback – we learnt this helped lower anxiety levels of our students over the January holidays.

Last week we celebrated World Teachers’ Day, and we were all absolutely thrilled with the very generous donation from our P&C with individualised cupcakes and messages for every staff member!! Helen Ritchie led the way and Tee helping set it all up for us. I have never seen this kind of appreciation before, it was just outstanding – not to mention how incredible the cupcakes were! We relished the entire experience!

I am thrilled to announce that one of our students, Mollie in 5AD, has been selected as one of three prize winners in the ACT for her outstanding work during National Science Week creating her Turclowpincepike Fish.  Isn't this fabulous?

 Mollie will receive a $100 e-gift voucher for herself and another for her school, Palmerston District Primary School. 

 Her deep blue creation is below.

Until next time,

Kate Smith

Principal 

My favourite saying, and the quote I live by as a school leader, is “it takes a village.”  A mantra that was instilled in me since I was a child growing up.  You see in the household I grew up in you didn’t just rely on your parents to be your moral compass, to discipline you and to care and love you.  No, indeed I had many ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles’ who would take me under their wing to guide me and counsel me.  I knew there were many people around me to wrap me up in love and offer help if I needed it, as well as to give me a bit of a nudge when I was straying on the wrong path of life.  It was only recently, after a death in the family, that I was chatting with my beautiful mum – reminiscing about all the times my aunty, who passed away, looked after my sister and I as my mum worked night shift cleaning schools around Canberra.  It made me stop and think about all the people who have come, and sometimes gone, in my life who have influenced me in some way.   When mum wasn’t around my aunty, my neighbour, my teacher were all there to offer sage advice.  How lucky was I?   There were adults in my life who had different roles as well – and continue to play a major part in my life to this day.  There is my dad.  He is the joker, the one who will cave in when I ask for something, the provider.  There is my mother. She was the disciplinarian, honest to a fault, nurturing, supportive and loving.  There were my teachers growing up.  Wise, caring, helpful and proactive to meet my needs.  Even now I look to different people in my life to support me with various problems.  I rely on so many people for so many things to help me in so many ways.  It still takes a village.  At Palmerston a class of students does not belong to a teacher, one sole staff member.  Nope!  No sir-ee! These are OUR students, and we have a village of elders to care for them and support them through their learning journeys.   At Palmerston we have a full team ready to help our students navigate their social, emotional, behavioural and academic needs – and our team extends beyond our school walls.  These supports include, but are not limited to;

• A strong and passionate leadership team
• A dedicated and empathetic teaching staff
• A TSST (Targeted Student Support Team)
• NSET (Network Student Engagement Team) Support  - offering supports such inclusion officers, occupational therapists and speech pathologists
• School Psychologist – working with individuals and families to target learning and well being outcomes for our students
• Office Administration – working with families through attendance processes, helping with administration protocols and showing concern when administering first aid
• LSAs (Learning Support Assistants) – working one to one, in small groups and with classes to support students.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our Palmerston community (parents, carers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, support staff) for the tireless work you do for our students.  For being the voice of our little people, advocating for their rights and ensuring they thrive in a safe and positive environment.  #blessed #one mob

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more about any of these services, or wish to discuss any matter.  My door is always open.  Take care and enjoy the sunshine!

 Marijana Pasalic

Beyond the Classroom: The importance of friendship for success in school – Part 1

I read this article by Laurie Futterman [lfutterman@dadeschools.net], published in January 2016, and thought it was worth sharing with you. Laurie is a teacher in Miami, USA. I thought it was fitting now as you have been invited to provide the names of three students you would like to be in the same class as your child in 2021.

There are several variables that influence academic achievement, and a close, positive friendship is one of them: specifically, the relevance of close friendships and how they relate to a child’s success in school.

It isn’t easy making a best friend these days. A number of obstacles can get in the way as a child tries to cultivate strong friendship bonds — aka, a best friend.

For many children, gone are the days of running around the neighbourhood with your best buddies until dinnertime. Nearly gone are the cubby hangouts and the baring of souls at sleepovers. There are too many electronic alternatives; and there is the beckon of pervasive social networks and the changing dynamics of the modern family. And then there is the changing of suburbia itself. Although the majority of children tend to meet their best friend at school, school dynamics and cultures are changing. Many children have their afternoons packed with programmed activities. 

FRIENDS AND ACADEMICS

Having a good friend affects a child’s school performance, too. Children tend to have better attitudes about school and learning when they have their good friends there.

Teachers notice the subtle impact of friendships — ‘good’ students tend to hang out with ‘good’ students. Grades matter, projects and assignments are always done, and achievement is a common thread. The ‘carefree’ students hang out with other ‘carefree’ students. Being cool and popular is most important. In this group, doing well in school can even be ridiculed.

Children are not born with social skills. Parents/carers need to help prepare them to interact successfully with peers. Parents/carers are role models who, by their own behaviour, can teach children how to meet people and talk to them, to cooperate with others and to ask for favours. Parents/carers can teach children how to win or lose well, to apologise and accept apologies and how to be patient, respectful, and considerate. Parents/carers can help their child learn how to be the type of person others like to be around.

Palmerston Music Teacher Mr Shaw has been nominated for an ARIA award and he needs Palmerston's help.

The award, Telstra Music Teacher of the Year celebrates music teachers across the country who work hard and inspire our students.

Determined by popular vote, Mr Shaw and Palmy would love you to head online to https://www.aria.com.au/vote and vote.

If you have already voted thank you and please head back, as you can vote every day!

Let's bring the award to Palmy!

Our very own ARIA nominee Mr Shaw is putting on a series of concerts as part of the ARIA campaign to bring the ‘Silverware to Palmerston.’

On Sunday the 15th of November Mr Shaw will be playing 3 shows across the afternoon and evening at Smiths Alternative in Civic.

Each show is tailored for a slightly different audience 4pm (G Rated), 6pm (PG Rated) and 8pm (M Rated).

He would love to see some familiar faces in the audience as he sings some of his best known songs!

Tickets are available from https://www.smithsalternative.com

#aria4palmy

  CJ Shaw

Music Teacher

Palmerston District Primary School

TunesInBloom.

Primary Concert Choir - 2021

The ACT Instrumental Music Program is seeking students who will be in Year 4 to Year 6 in ACT public schools in 2021 to audition for IMP Primary Concert Choir. 

Auditions will be held at the ACT Instrumental Music Program Rehearsal Room (adjacent to UC High School Kaleen), Baldwin Drive, Kaleen.

Choir auditions will be in Term 4, Week 8 (30 November-4 December), with audition times to be allocated in mid-Term 4.

All audition requirements will be available on the IMP website by mid-Term 4.

The IMP Primary Concert Choir is an excellent opportunity for talented, skilled and committed young musicians to work together in an enriching environment. The group is an active performance ensemble, and the families of students auditioning will need to be prepared to make a strong commitment to rehearsal and performance attendance for the year.

Further details and information about how to apply for an audition are available from the Instrumental Music Program website at www.imp.act.edu.au. The application form can be accessed through this site or by clicking on the links below.

Information cards and posters are available at your child’s school.

Complete your online application at:

https://forms.gle/qS26k7zkpRBxFKEZ9

Applications are now open and close Friday 13 November.

Purchase your Entertainment Book now and 20% of your membership purchase goes directly to our school!

- Memberships also last for 12 months from the date of purchase

- no more book versions, just downloadable to your phone (5 devices per membership)

Congratulations to the following students who received a PRIDE Award at assembly.

PARTICIPATION – becoming involved, “having a go” and cooperating with others

Patricia - KFD    Allen - KFD   Cooper - KMC     Jaxon - 1LL     Leo - 1LL     Liam - 1MP     Seb - 2DH     Oscar - 2DH     Garv - 2SH     Arif - 3MB     Devine - 3NS     AJ - 4MC     Aaron - 4RE     William - 5AD     Trinnity - 5VS     Bonnie - 3DT     Payton - 4RE     Mollie - 5AD

RESPECT -  having respect for self, others and their property

Hanna - KMC     Amber - 1FS     Sera - 1FT     Harshini - 1MP     Aryan - 3JL     Olivia - 4MG     Sam - 6DE     Lara - 3DT

INTEGRITY – being honest, fair, responsible and loyal

Wynne - KBR     Matthias - 1FT     James - 3NS     Niki - 6DE

DETERMINATION - being persistent and resilient

Aymaan - KGM     Lewis - KBR     Amelie - KNE     Maddie - KNE     Sophia - 1AS     Olu - 1BD     Dev - 2MO     Nealson - 2SH     Israel - 3MB     Mimi - 4MC     Oscar - 4MG     Avinash - 4RE     Sima - 5CW     Lester - 5CW     Sorie Binta - 5VS

EMPATHY - understanding and supporting others regardless of our differences

Kyla - KGM     Charlize - 1AS     Toby - 1BD     Alexander - 1FS     Mia - 2MO     Nathali - 3JL     Tamara - 5AD

Week 4,5,9                                          Preschool visits to Kindergarten

Dec 10                                                 Step Up Day   

Dec 16                                                 Year 6 Graduation  

Term 4 Ends                                       Friday 18 December