Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome to the end of week 9! It has been lovely this week to see many of you on the asphalt area at pick up! Thank you for respecting our guidelines - noted below - and for honouring the rules around face coverings and physical distancing. Please do be mindful of the 1.5m rule - it's hard to judge when you’re busy chatting but please do be considerate of other people’s space.
Drop off will return to a ‘use any gate’ option but remains strictly at 8:45 am.
Pick up will return to 3:30 pm for all students.
You are welcome to collect from the asphalt area only. This does not include the decking.
Teachers will remain in their classrooms.
Parents are not allowed in the buildings except for the office space.
Drop and go/pick up and go is strongly recommended.
Please do not loiter in the school grounds longer than needed.
Next week the children will ‘Move Up’ to their 2021 classes for the morning. We will send home a letter via email on Monday letting you, and the children, know who their teacher will be and on Tuesday they will find out which children will be in their class too.
It is important to note that the compilation of classes takes a great deal of consideration where a balance of standards, behaviour and social interactions are taken into account. The children are asked to choose learning peers and are guaranteed at least one in their placement. Once children are placed they will not be moved.
PARKHILL AWARDS ASSEMBLY:
This year our awards assembly will look a little different. After careful consideration, discussion and consultation with the students in our upper school we have made a few changes. This year we will be awarding the following awards through the school:
Academic Endeavour - one recipient per year level
Academic Excellence - one recipient per year level
LOTE - one recipient from the lower school (F-3) and one recipient from the upper school (4-6)
Visual Arts - one recipient from the lower school (F-3) and one recipient from the upper school (4-6)
Performing Arts - one recipient from the lower school (F-3) and one recipient from the upper school (4-6)
Physical Education - one recipient from the lower school (F-3) and one recipient from the upper school (4-6)
Scientist of the Year - one recipient from the lower school (F-3) and one recipient from the upper school (4-6)
Citizenship Award - Y6 recipients
Young Writers - award recipients
There will also be an honourable mention to our 2020 School Captains.
The awards assembly will be recorded and a link will be sent to recipient families to enjoy.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING:
What can we, as influential adults, do to ensure we are being positive role models?
1. Show RESPECT for others and yourself.
Think about how you talk about and treat your friends, family members, neighbours and even yourself. Would you say hello on the street to a stranger or hold a door for someone at the store? Your child is learning how to value other people and institutions by watching your example. This includes how you talk about school, so consider your words wisely when you’re discussing your child’s class, teacher or administrators.
Your child also takes cues on self-worth from you. Respect yourself and your child will follow your lead.
2. Practice positive COMMUNICATION skills.
Do you wish your child would talk to you more? Or choose to speak instead of scream? Consider your own use of words … do you use them to hurt, criticize or argue with others, even if it’s not your children? Words are a powerful thing. If you demonstrate how negative, hurtful and disrespectful language can be, your child will do the same.
Do you listen to your child without interrupting? Be mindful of how and when you communicate—give your child your complete attention and respect their thoughts. You are teaching them to do the same for you.
3. Keep a POSITIVE OUTLOOK.
Is your child convinced they’re going to fail a class, not make the team or lose a friend? Consider the energy in your own family. Do you focus on the positive? Perhaps that negative outlook begins at home. The next time you make a mistake, like burning dinner, think before reacting. Then remember to laugh and suggest you feel lucky for the chance to order out. It’s often simple (and not so drastic) mistakes that become the best opportunities to model good behaviour.
4. Teach the value of HEALTH.
Are you struggling to get your child to eat healthier foods or stop watching so much TV? You can’t expect them to do it on their own! Show them how! Sit down and share healthy meals and snacks with them, reduce your own TV time and plan outdoor activities you can do together, like a walk in the evening or a bike ride.
5. Work on ANGER MANAGEMENT.
Is your child quick to lose their temper, throw a tantrum or cry out of frustration? How about you? Responding to stress, anger or hurt feelings is a valuable tool that you can model for your child. We live in a society that is fast-paced, demanding and stressful, and anger is a very natural reaction. The next time you are faced with a challenge, try to remain calm, take a deep breath and talk through the issue. If appropriate, talk to your child about what triggered your anger and how you dealt with it. Your child will learn to take a step back and think about their own reactions the next time they get mad.
Below are some interesting reads about how we as influential adults can help to support the positive environment our children grow up in, role model positive behaviours and contribute to a positive community.
https://www.allprodad.com/10-ways-to-be-a-role-model-to-your-children/
