Scotts Head Public School Newsletter

Hello, Giinagay, Hai

Last week was full of lots of colour and laughs.  Well done to everyone for their fantastic costumes.  See the gallery below for photos of students and staff from the Book Fair day.

A reminder to parents school photos are being taken on Thursday.  Students should be in full school uniform.  Order forms can be returned up to the day.  Please see the office for an order form, if required.

Student success in language learning, English literacy and content outcomes.

Scotts Head Public School is involved with and invested in the development of International Relations between Australia and Indonesia. As the one and only Bilingual Indonesian School in New South Wales part of our mission statement is to further people to people relations with intercultural understanding.  The latest research which the school has been involved in has been published in a journal.

Dispelling the monolingual myth: exploring literacy outcomes in Australian bilingual programmes.

Ruth Fielding and Lesley Harbon, Faculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and the University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

The abstract states….

The enduring monolingual mindset in English-speaking countries results in widespread belief that additional language learning takes time away from literacy in the societal language. Yet, extensive research has shown that time spent learning additional languages enhances learners’ literacy skills, providing first language literacy is sufficiently supported. This paper examines the achievements of students at four primary schools in Australia, where bilingual programmes were implemented to teach subject content through an additional language.

Data from the national standardised literacy and numeracy assessment were gathered to compare students within the bilingual programmes with those not in the bilingual programmes. Results show higher performance for students in the bilingual programmes compared to their peers in monolingual classes. Drawing on data from a broader study of formal and informal assessment in these schools, this paper presents the standardised test results and teacher qualitative beliefs about literacy development.

Findings show that the bilingual style of learning suits children irrespective of many contextual factors and that children’s literacy in English is enhanced by the addition of a second or subsequent language.

Further information by the same researchers is in a link

https://ripl.uk/2020/06/30/clil-in-australia-student-success-in-language-learning-english-literacy-and-content-outcomes/

Good news for our students! 

Thanks, yaarri yaraang, terima kasih.

Bu Gillian

Gillian Stuart - Principal

As part of our learning about how cultures make the world a unique and diverse place we conducted an ‘Amazing Race’. Students in the 5/6 class created a series of challenges for their country that were mathematical, active and cultural. In coloured teams students visited Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, USA, Brazil, France, Mexico, China, Ireland, Iceland and Italy. At each station the 4/5 students manned the events which included obstacle courses, using chopsticks to pick up jelly beans, kicking goals and running with a ‘gondola’ around the oval! Students needed to complete challenges before being given the clue to find their next country. A huge thank you to all the staff and students who helped to make it such a wonderful experience for the 5/6 students. Congratulations to the winning ‘yellow’ team and the organisation of that 5/6 students for making the Amazing Race a huge success. 

Last week we held our school finals of the Premier's Public Speaking competition. This was the culmination of all students writing then presenting prepared and impromptu speeches in front of their peers. 

Congratulations to our school finalists; 

Stage 3 - Noa, Sienna, Zaki, Charlotte, Aiken, Senita, Tegan and Roman

Stage 2 - Kaydee, Frieda, Ryder, Reed, Lyla and Tex

Stage 1 - Beau, Inaya, Erin, Mikala, Phoenix, Indy and Brody

Kindergarten - Damai, Sienna, Mia and Layla​

And to our stage winners - Noa, Charlotte, Frieda, Reed, Erin, Brody and Sienna. 

Noa, Charlotte, Frieda and Reed's videos have been sent to Sydney for the next round of judging. 

The adjudicator Lissa Argue was very impressed with the confidence and conviction our students showed. Well done to everyone for your courage and determination to speak in front of your peers. See you all next year! Pak Chris.

Book Week was celebrated with our annual Book Fair in the LLLC last Friday. 

The Book Parade was a huge success with students (and staff) dressing up as their favourite book character. 

Enjoy the photos from the day.

Book Club brochures went home yesterday.  Orders are due back by Friday 11 September.

With the current Covid-19 situation, if a child is unwell they should contact a medical practice in case a Covid test is required.  If a student does have a Covid test they are unable to come back to school until results have been received.  This can be up to 3 days.   A copy of the negative result should be forwarded to the school.

Students are asked to stay at home if unwell.  If your child is unwell at school, they will be sent home.

Parents/carers need to either ring, email, use our Skoolbag app or send a note on the student's return to let the school know why their child is not at school.  The school needs to be notified every time a child is absent from school.

If a student is unwell for 3 days the child must obtain a medical certificate which should be forwarded to the school on the student's return.