11 December 2013

Love the last week of school

I love the last school week of the year.

There's an excitement in the air that isn't present at any other time. As I wandered about today there were presents drying on racks, Year 1s making Christmas cards, the Pied Piper (aka Mrs Hobson) carolling with her Recorder Band (I even scored a chocolate), tinsel adorning Year 2 classrooms, Year 3s stuffing their bags full of items from their tidy trays, kids with Santa hats under their school hats and reindeer antlers on top, and Preps practising for their concert with Miss Sara belting out Six White Boomers like there's no tomorrow (she was also waving her arms about a lot - the Prep concert is serious business). Year 5s are returning resources in a business-like manner, and Mr Hutchins is attempting to instruct Year 3s on how to knock over skittles. This could be a useful skill for the holidays.

Ms Marszalek's office is piled up with computers and teachers keep rushing in their with their iPods, iPads and chargers to prove these precious resources are all still in one piece. The Teacher Aides are in the Resource Centre cleaning screens and putting all our ICT resources together for another year. They have music blaring and are having so much fun. Maree and Meryl are having less fun as they attempt to cram all the returned books back onto shelves.

The office staff sigh as they process another enrolment and they look longingly at the fridge where they have stuffed all the chocolate bootie brought in by thankful parents - and Kaz is checking it all carefully for nuts!

The Year 7 rooms are quiet - they are on camp and I miss them. They'll be back tomorrow for their Christmas party.

Pete is teaching Rock and Water - 'this will help you in the holidays' I hear him yelling, and I'm wondering what it is that Year 6s will be doing in the holidays that they will need Rock and Water.

Mrs Allan can't believe how well behaved everyone is and is enjoying her time in the office. She told me today that she was prowling the classrooms trying to be proactive in case someone needed her to sort out a problem but everyone sent her on her way. Oh well, there's a few more Prep enrolments to do!

Mr Foxover is rushing about with a sheaf of paper in one hand and lost property in the other. He has a mission to return every item by Friday afternoon. Two little girls come looking for the lost property basket - not to collect something but to put more in!!

The builders are flat out. They have promised me the new relocatables will be ready for 20 January. And the foundations of the Indoor Sports Centre are in. The Site Manager is after my mobile number - I hope he doesn't need to call me too often.

Sonia is fitting uniforms on new students - it's lovely to see their excited expectant faces. I reassure them that they are coming to the friendliest school on the Coast.

Year 4s are nowhere to be seen. I peek in their classroom windows, and yes, their heads are down and they are still concentrating on some last minute maths problems. Talk about determined to ensure every last minute of learning time is wrung out of the year!

I love the last week of school - there's a lot to do but when I take a minute or two to wander about I can smell summer holidays in the air and I can hear the closing minutes of the last day of the school year.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and Happy Holidays!


A Year in Review - in the words of our Student Leaders

Last week at the Year 7 Graduation Assembly our Student Leaders reviewed the year. It was an excellent snapshot of what we've been up to - the words of kids. If you were unable to attend and hear them speak, I hope you enjoy this blog post  (edited).


Jadyn:
I feel honoured to be given this opportunity to address you today. Our school is amazing and as student leaders we would like to talk about a number of events that make it so special. 

Due to our location and easy access, Peregian Springs State School lends itself to be a strong participator in Travel Smart events. Many pupils live close to the school and this provides them with great opportunities to walk, skate or ride. Not only does this improve the environment, but it also benefits the health of each individual. We are one of the highest performing Travel Smart Schools in the Sunshine Coast.

All the Student Leaders for 2013 were fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the Brisbane Leadership Convention in February. When we arrived at the conference, we were surprised by the large number of students seated in the huge Auditorium. They had journeyed from many different schools across South East Queensland. It was interesting to see the range of school uniforms and behaviour but our school was definitely the one that stood out as having the smartest uniform and exemplary behaviour. The individual guest speakers who came on stage were very inspiring. They explained through their personal life experiences and practical applications what leadership skills meant to them in everyday life. They talked about how everybody can be a leader in everyday life, in their own right. I will always remember the very funny moments and stories shared on that trip.

Makayla:
I am sure that all the students in Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 enjoy the school camps which  are really fun and exciting. We learn so much about getting along with others and  Year 7s will soon learn some life skills such as how to cook up something to eat for dinner. I will really miss the home cooked meal on the night we camp in the bush with no electricity or tap water.
 
Every week we have the most amazing assemblies!  One of the most memorable performances that was so so funny was when the Preps were pretending to be the teachers and staff. And that was very cute too.  

Elise Bampton:
This year we have had so many exciting school events such as
- swimming, netball/ basketball, tennis hot shots, athletics, cross country, and ... surf skills.

Yes, we actually went to the beach this term to learn about swimming in the surf! Well, I think the idea was to swim but unfortunately many of the Year 6 and 7 students found themselves with their noses buried in the sand under the waves!

I am sure that you would all agree that one of the best events was the fantastic Lapathon. It was great to see everyone who participated running in their costumes, leaping over obstacles with music, getting prizes but most importantly having fun. It was a fun way that we, as students could help to raise money for the school. We would like to especially thank Mr Hutchins for organising not only this event, but every sporting event in the school in 2013.

Tomorrow, we have our swimming carnival for Year 4’s to 7’s. Good luck to everyone participating in such a great event.

Krishan:
I have been at this school since the foundation year and since then the school has grown so much. We now have around 740 children and more coming each week. With all the new students arriving at our school, it has just kept on expanding. This year we had the two new demountable classrooms built and the construction of the hall has fianlly started. When these new buildings were being built some of our routines were changed, and it meant that we had  to adapt and cooperate by sharing our limited play areas with each other. But that is something that we are very good at doing at this school.

Our school is very multi cultural, and we have students from all over the world. Some of the students arrived here and could not speak a word of English, but since they have come here they have learnt very quickly. The biggest multicultural event this year would be the two Japanese tour groups that have visited our school. This year was the first year our school has had a group of students from another country come and visit us, and I know sensei wants to do it again.

Caitlin Savic
Something else that is great about our school are all the other extra-curricular activities such as the Lunch Clubs which many students participate in. These include Robotics, Chess club, Radio Ramblers, Film Club, Sing Groups, and many more. These lunch clubs provide a great opportunity for students to meet other kids and when you want  to do something different at lunch.

Book Week was great fun. This year’s theme was Out of this World. It was great to see everybody participating and dressing up. Pete and Mr Hughes performed their story with Mr Thomas’ song at the end. Pete’s story telling is definitely out of this world.  Book Week 2013 will be one of the best memories from this year.

The Talent Show is also another great memory from this year. With the help of Chloe, Eliza, Mr Wise and Mrs Hobson we selected 10 people out of about 60 to perform in front of the school. Even if you did not make it into the finals you all had great talent. Our Talent Show ended with the Pssst Teacher Band. With Miss Hobson and Miss Bridoen as the singers fighting against Mr Hughes who argued back using the Take 5. Over all, the Peregian Springs State School Talent Show 2013 was a great day.

Jayden
Finally, to conclude our Student Leader’s Speech, I would like to say - wow what a year it has been. We have laughed, we have cried. We fell, we stood up. We have made friends for the rest of our lives and have had the pleasure to spend time with teachers that will stay in our thoughts for ever. But most importantly I’d like to make the most of this opportunity to thank Ms Sands for creating such a fantastic learning environment. 

Fellow students in Year 7 - we are just about to embark on another exciting journey that will take us to places that will expose us to new challenges and new life opportunities. We extend our greatest thanks to the hard work and dedication of the teachers of this school. They have done everything they can  to prepare us all for our journey, and for that, we will be forever grateful. We wish you all the best for your future.

I would like to ask everybody to give a big clap for our great school.

30 November 2013

It's a long way to the top...

When I was fourteen my friends and I went along to Memorial Drive in Adelaide to see the biggest concert ever to hit this little city - five headlining bands, starting at 5.00pm and finishing whenever. 10 000 screaming people crammed into Adelaide's open air tennis courts to see ACDC, The Angels, Daddy Cool, Skyhooks, Sherbet. I can say unreservedly that my father was less than impressed with most of this line up!

To this day, I can clearly remember ACDC belting out the most exciting music I had ever heard - let alone seen in real life! Bon Scott and Angus Young rampaged around the stage making more noise than you would believe possible, while the lights and cold ice machines flashed and sizzled. In those days, security at the front hauled girls over the barricades and onto the stage, people threw bottles (glass, not today's plastic), everyone was smoking (goodness knows what), and someone somewhere was constantly hosing the crowd down. (No wonder Dad was worried!) Rock and roll performances these days are a lot more controlled and the only thing audiences get away with is waving their arms around a bit and yelling.

Yesterday I was invited to the Performing Arts room to listen to our Year 7 Rock Band. They played - you guessed it - It's a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll - complete with BAGPIPES!! What a treat! I can't believe that one of our kids can play the bagpipes!

They did a great job, ably supported by our own rock and roll star, Mr David Foxover. They managed to get over their nerves and even did an encore performance. And those bagpipes took me all the way back to Memorial Drive.

Well done, kids! ACDC probably started out jamming in primary school - keep doing what you love - you never know where it will take you.


17 November 2013

Number sense - what is it and how do we get it?

I've blogged about number sense before ( see The times they are changing - your times tables, that is.).  It's an area we have put a lot of emphasis on over the last 18 months. And we've seen that students with number sense approach maths with a 'can do' attitude (no political pun intended here), they enjoy maths more, they start problem solving tasks with purpose, and most simply, they just know what to do. (Hands up everyone who felt like this in a maths class at school!)

Last week a parent asked Kathleen Gordon, one of our Year 4 teachers, for some assistance in helping his child with maths. As luck would have it, Kathleen had spent the Friday before with some of our other teachers at the uni learning some new techniques and understandings for parent education in maths, and more specifically number sense.  Kathleen's reply is a 'must read' for every parent (edited below).

'There is a tension between wanting to reach year level benchmarks and making sure students have established a strong foundation in the basics first. For example, pushing students to memorise multiplication and division number facts before they have a sound understanding of addition and subtraction number facts will result in poor quality understanding of both concepts.

Research shows that rushing on leads to poor performance and anxiety about maths. In the words of a highly regarded maths educator - it's like building the roof of a house before the foundations are complete. You can do it but chances are it will fall over before too long.

This may not be what parents want to hear. There is no quick fix for any child. 

Research shows that both using timed practise drills and using strategies to learn number facts are effective. However, when students know and use the strategies, they can recall facts long after tests and use this information to work out extended facts (3 x 2 = 6 so 3 x 20 = 60) and approximation tasks, and hence problem solve effectively.

Our school program supports the learning of number facts in multiple ways including teaching strategies for learning particular number facts and doing regular timed practise drills. The strategies are taught at school and form part of the take home package to practise with as homework.

If students regularly use these strategies and repetitive drills at home and school (rather than just trying to rote learn and memorise the facts) they should in time develop the required fluency.

Some students prefer to learn with visual aids and others with auditory ones. We teach students to find their preferred approach and use it repeatedly. Repetitive activities will help students learn. The kind of repetitive activities you can try include:
- saying the strategy (when appropriate) when writing down the number fact e.g. 'I know that 5 + 5 is 10 so 5 + 6 is one more which is 11' and doing this repeatedly
- recording the strategies for particular number facts (see number 1) on a mobile device such as an iPod and listening to it repeatedly
- make a poster of the tricky facts and put them up where they will be seen (bedroom, on the back of the toilet door etc)
- playing with flash cards (you can make your own, download them from the Internet or buy them from the supermarket for about $10) or fact family cards (available from class teachers)
- playing ‘beat the timer’ games with a set of number facts (allow four seconds for each – ten number facts in forty seconds) play these on paper, on the Internet, CD Rom or iPod (or similar) device
- learning rhyming chants or listening to and signing along to multiplication songs (these can be purchased on the Internet)
 

Fact family cards which we use in the classroom are available from class teachers. You may like to use them too. They help students see the relationships between addition and subtraction and between multiplication and division. They are also useful because they appear to reduce the amount of number facts to learn - (learn one and get three more for free – i.e.. If I know 2 x 6 = 12, I also know 6 x 2 = 12 and 12 ÷ 6 = 2 and 12 ÷ 6 = 2 ).'
 
This is fantastic advice for any parent wanting to help their child 'know what to do' when faced with a mathematics problem - and these problems present themselves everywhere in life, too - at the supermarket (or anywhere money is used in a transaction), when calculating quantities of an item required for a project, when estimating time for bus timetables or the number of days until the holidays.  Maths is everywhere - and fluent number sense kids can navigate these situations with ease.


10 November 2013

Personal histories creating connection

Yesterday we went to the Dr Martens shop in the Valley to get Rick a new pair of shoes - he has worn Docs to work for more than 20 years, and his last pair suddenly split down the sides. While he was trying on a new pair, a young girl was obviously getting her first pair and I told the retail assistant serving us about Maddie's first Docs - they were pale blue with flowers and she looked as cute as a button in them. I then went on to tell her that my Dad used to drive trucks for Dr Martens from Northampton to London in the early '60s. In fact, I used to go with him on occasion - I'd be tied into the seat with string (no seat belts in those days) and off we'd go delivering boxes of Docs all over the city. I used to love it because the men in the factory would give me a few shillings and I would go home RICH! I remember once we ate lunch outside London Prison.

'THAT'S SO COOL', exclaimed the retail assistant.
'Is it?' I was thinking blankly.
'Thanks for sharing that story - I've got goose bumps up my arms,' she said. 'Can I have a photo with you? And we will put it on our history wall - up there.' She looked a bit embarrassed - 'Sorry, it's a bit random.' By this stage, we were all laughing.  I told her I'd ask my Mum to see if she had a photo of Dad in his truck and if so, I'd send it to her.

And herein, is such a beautiful example of personal histories that make connections between people. Here is this young woman, so into her job, surrounded by cool leather boots and shoes all day, completely besotted with the history of the company she works for and keen to record the connections she makes with that history on the wall of the shop. People look at that wall all day every day and wonder about the people and events posted there, and a result, they make connections with their own lives.

And this is what our new History Curriculum is all about - it's what makes it such a rewarding area to teach. Gone are the dry and dusty facts and relics - well, actually they are not gone; we are using these artefacts a lot - but now we teach children to look for the people in the photos and behind the relics and to discover the personal stories and to wonder what it was like to live in those times. The purpose of this wondering is to consider these stories in the light of how we live today.

I mean, can you imagine a Dad these days stringing up his three year old in the front seat of a truck and hurtling down the highway to the city and eating lunch outside the prison? Workplace Health and Safety and the Department of Child Safety (commonly known as DoCS, funnily enough) would have a field day.

02 November 2013

Freddo Frogs going begging here... my thoughts on Halloween

On Thursday after school I raced into Coles and bought bags of Freddo Frogs in preparation for the onslaught of kids at my door for the evening. Halloween - it happens once a year, and while I'm not a big fan of the event, there's no denying its popularity!

Halloween or Hallowe'en, also known as All Hallows' Eve, is an annual celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It has its origins in an ancient Celtic festival at which communities in Scotland and Ireland took stock of their supplies and prepared for winter.  The custom was taken to America during the mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the nineteenth century and by the twentieth century was celebrated by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds. The customs have spread to other countries as a result of increased American cultural influence through American television and other media.

And don't our kids love it! The dressing up, the wandering around the streets at dusk and in the dark, the knocking on doors and yelling 'trick or treat', the collection of lollies, fruit, nuts and toys - it's enough to whip any child, large or small, into a frenzy! 

I watched all the children passing down our street from our kitchen as I was preparing dinner and wondered if they had any clue what it all means.  Our teachers are reluctant to teach about Halloween - it's one of those topics that's a bit 'politically incorrect'. Some years ago a school was hung out to dry in the media because a few teachers decorated their rooms and explained the story behind the custom. Parents didn't want any learning about witches and ghouls going on in that school. And even in our school we have been taken to task about using such topics in lessons. And so, unless parents are telling their children the narrative behind Halloween, all it really is in Australia is an excuse to have a sugar high!! I mean, we can't possibly argue that we are storing up for winter!

We have quite a high wall and a gate around our house and as the evening trawled by it became obvious I would be eating the Freddo Frogs.  It was wonderful that parents wandering the streets with their kids concentrated on doorways they could see and people they knew. I could hear kids laughing and every so often someone yelling 'trick or treat'! 

So really, at the end of the day, who cares if Halloween in Australia is only a chance for parents to spend time with their kids, dressing up and collecting goodies from the neighbours. It has to beat an evening in front of the TV.

Next year I shall make sure our gate is wide open so all the little witches, ghouls, mummies and pumpkin heads know they can staunch their chocolate fix at our door! Happy Halloween!

26 October 2013

'OMG - she said NAKED!'

What is it about certain words and their ability to create paroxysms of laughter in kids?  The usual sections of our vocabulary that achieve this are to do with certain body parts and most often to do with bodily functions. But a few weeks ago just before our Preps started their swimming lessons, classes were reduced to chaos because the teacher said, God forbid, 'UNDIES!'

Not just as baldly as that, of course, - it was in the context of naming all their clothes before Friday but the very word 'undies' and the fact the teacher was saying it was enough to produce screams of laughter from some and shocked hands-over-mouth actions from others. One Prep teacher told me several members of her class kept looking at the classroom door as if the language police were about the descend and haul the teacher away to be reprimanded!

And then, of course, last week we had Nude Food Day.  When one of our Student Leaders did a skit on stage at Assembly a few weeks ago to promote the event, he said the word 'nude' about six times. 730 kids were either aghast, collapsing with laughter or looking like they couldn't believe their ears! (Actually, that's an exaggeration - there weren't 730 - one class was at art and a couple at swimming lessons.)

Nude Food Day was a hit - nearly every child got into the swing of bringing a rubbish free lunch box to school. But despite the tag name for this new movement in our community being well known and documented, and a commonplace practice in some other schools that our children have come from, some kids could not get past that you could say 'nude' at school, and what's more, the teachers, upright citizens in our community, kept saying it!
Image courtesy of http://www.nudefoodday.com.au/gallery.php

After morning tea, I went around to most classes to see how rubbish free lunch boxes had been. The kids were excited that there had been no rubbish in the playground (actually the teachers were more excited about this, and our cleaners more excited again!) and they all told me that they thought we should do it every day (especially as most of them were sporting big stickers for their efforts!)

I stuck my head in the window of one classroom and said 'So, how naked were your lunches today?' You should have seen their faces - 'Oh my God, she said NAKED!' And they were off again. (The class teacher wanted to kill me!)

You have to love our kids. In other schools it takes really socially inappropriate language and references to raise such mirth. But not ours - you only have to mention undies and suggest rubbish free lunches to pull off a laugh that would be coveted by the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

13 October 2013

Joyful about achievement - so lovely to see

Not so many years ago as a new Deputy Principal I had some awards to distribute to children on Assembly. I called the children out and told the Assembly how well they had done, and to my horror watched children very reluctantly stand up and come to the front - some had to be cajoled by their teachers and one flatly refused. A couple of boys stood uncomfortably trying to hide their faces behind too long fringes and surf burned hair. And so was the culture of this school - it's not cool to achieve, to stand out in front of the group, and learning was not publicly congratulated. For these children, it was more like public humiliation. Over the years, I've seen this a lot - especially in Queensland. And even though I never stopped trying, it was hard to change

But not so at Peregian Springs...

Our NAPLAN results arrived in the school last week and over the last few days I've been congratulating children (and whole classes) whom I've noticed have done exceptionally well. By exceptionally well, I mean not just those children who performed above the average scores in the state and nationally, but also, and probably more importantly, those children who have made faster improvement than expected.

In the Drop Off Zone the other day, I said to a boy from Year 5 - 'Congratulations on your NAPLAN results. Mum and Dad are going to be very pleased when they see your report. Good job!' The other boys around him clapped him on the back and echoed my congratulations, and this little bloke was just beaming. Then before Assembly on Friday I did the same thing with one of Year 7 boys. His teacher was there and so were his friends - a risky environment to applaud the learning efforts of an adolescent boy! 'Well done, *, on your NAPLAN results. You have made a huge leap in your learning since Year 5. Good job!' He looked kind of surprised, and his teacher joined in saying 'Yes, I saw that too.' And again all the boys around him nodded and one shook his hand.

This is what I love about our kids. They highly value learning and they readily applaud achievement - their own and the achievements of others. They happily offer their congratulations and are genuinely pleased when one of their mates does well, no matter what the area. In a country that regularly cuts down its tall poppies and where there is a culture of not standing out from the crowd, it is exceptional to see children breaking the mold and raise the 'cool factor' of doing well, of doing your best, and being pleased with your efforts.

06 October 2013

Same, same and also different - the benefits of both

I go to a yoga class once or twice a week. I love it... I love the feeling of inner calm and stretched muscles. I have a favourite teacher - Jeff. He is amazing. He knows everything about anatomy... and also about a lot of other things. Yoga in his classes is a work out for the mind as well as the body. The familiarity of the classes is soothing in a routine way, and he really knows us all as students and can adjust his planning and expectations. Sometimes he is away and we have a different teacher - the structure of the class is different, we 'om' at the start instead of sitting silently, the pace changes, the expectations are higher (or lower), and the outcomes are also changed. Different muscles ache, a new pose we've never done before is introduced - and we all moan and groan (some silently, and others not) but there is always a benefit.

And so it is with our children in their classrooms. Having the same teacher for a year or two has enormous benefits. The teacher knows how the children learn best, he or she knows when to give a child a break and when to put the foot down on the accelerator, the routines and structure are familiar and comforting - kids don't have to think about it. However, when there is a change of teacher the mind is sharpened and perhaps focused in a different way. The change can be unsettling and it forces the reordering of thinking, activity and process. And in this, children always learn something they would not have learned had there not been a change.

In Term 4 we start planning class allocations for children - we are gradually introducing the concept of looping for teachers who are interested. This means children stay with their teacher for a second year. This year 2B became 3B and they have had the best time together - they have also achieved some pretty cool learning outcomes over the last 24 months! When they go to Year 4 they will experience an unsettled period - and then they will move on with their learning and friendships, being stretched in a different direction with new ways and new resources being introduced. Some will moan and groan as they get used to it, and there will be a benefit for all.

Some teachers will choose to 'loop' for 2014, some may choose a different year level all together, and others will start with a fresh group of kids - no matter what, there will be academic and social benefits for all (teachers as well as students).

14 September 2013

School holidays are coming... and Fiji, here we come

You have probably read the title of this blog and thought to yourself 'It's all right for some...' And you would be well justified in that!

The Spring break starts in five days. Three teachers and I are off to the Yasawa Islands, Fiji for 7 days on Friday night - that's right, no time to waste. Come bell time on Friday Melanie Timbs, Maree Johnson, Sara Hollonds and I will be off at breakneck speed heading for the International Airport Brisbane.
Approaching Nasomelevu from the sea

We are spending a week with the Head Teacher, teachers and children at Nasomolevu Catholic Mission School in the northern Yasawas - a five hour boat ride from Nadi. Those of you who have been there will know what a beautiful place the Yasawa Islands are, and also how remote and distant they are from services as we know them in the western world.

We hope to form some lasting relationships with this little school of less than 100 children - relationships that our children at Peregian Springs will benefit from in the years to come. This is the early phases of our Twin School Project which started as a seedling idea in 2010. It's still a tiny seed idea but has the potential to bloom into something wonderful.
Maree's library

Many of us have links with this area stretching over years - Maree set up the school's library about 12 years ago when she worked in the Fiji Islands as part of Education Queensland International; Bridoen Schloss has spent time there as part of a mission visit; I have travelled to the area over many years since my daughter was small and have seen many Head Teachers pass though - it has been interesting to see the links emerge throughout our school as the project has grown.

Just as fascinated by technology as Aussie kids
 This year 3L, 2M and 4G as buddy classes have spent time learning about Fiji culture and geography. They have written letters for us to take to the children so that we can start some communication. We have also collected sports equipment, books and maths gear to take with us - there is so much we only have room for togs and a sarong (and a bit of sunscreen) in our bags!

The reading material of my childhood is still used here











School rules are still important
In the future we would like to take children with us on this trip - and maybe sponsor children and their teacher from Nasomolevu to visit us.


Just can't wait for the holidays...



No fancy whiteboards here
The amenities block


23 August 2013

Reading around the universe

This morning our school was taken over by aliens, out-of-space air craft, Princess Leias, space bugs, fairies and all manner of characters not of this earth. The colour in the school was astonishing as students (and staff) swished around in glitter, bright wigs, foil, pipe cleaners, boxes and coloured capes.

It's the Assembly of the year and who would want to miss it!

Maree Johnson, our Teacher-Librarian, opened Assembly looking - and walking -  like she had just exited Apollo 1. Our Reading Stars were awarded certificates and book marks. Our resident author Jacquie Christie, presented a copy of Alphabet Animals to one lucky student whose name was drawn from a raffle. The Junior Singers sang beautifully (while being conducted by Darth Vader, also known as Sofia Hobson!)

The main feature though was a story written and told by Year 6 teacher, Pete Schumacher, and illustrated during the telling by Year 4 teacher, Joel Hughes.

735 students, parents, grandparents, toddlers and other family and community members watched on as a story of colour and light, happiness and laughter, living and learning unfolded before their eyes. The finale included Year 4 teacher, Simon Thomas, singing 'Walk like a Peregian' (a take off of 'Walk like an Egyptian' - for those who weren't there).  Apart from being very funny, he sang a song of our values and pride in our school - and what you have to do to 'walk' like a Peregian.

The teamwork, time and effort that went into today's Assembly cannot be underestimated - our children are so lucky to have such dedicated and talented staff who just enjoy making learning fun. (Personally, I think they just enjoy a chance to dress up!)

What on earth are we going to do next year? We've already reached out into the universe! Lucky we have 12 months to think about it...

18 August 2013

Herding cats ... and small children

There's a great You Tube clip called Herding Cats. It's actually an advertisement for EDS.  As someone who loves cats, I find this clip very entertaining; however, watching it also reminds me of my job.

I love this (source unknown)
Every day something at work amazes me. I use the term ‘work’ lightly, as it’s not WORK work – it’s more ‘play work’. I love my job and the work I do.

Working with kids is rewarding, challenging, funny, and heartbreaking at times – there is never a dull moment. There is no such thing as a plan – except to go to school every day ready to influence a life.
I love working with Teachers and Teacher Aides even more.  At Peregian Springs I’m blessed with the best team on the planet and together we make a difference in the lives of kids every day. It’s what gets us up in the morning; it’s what generates the energy to keep going against all odds, and it’s what keeps us together as a great team.

Herding cats? It’s exactly like trying to herd cats – 740 kids and their Teachers and Teacher Aides all learning and laughing together. So I don’t try – they don't need herding.  My job is to nurture all the conditions required to help them all experiment, innovate and be happy.  I do all of the things in the graphic above - except perhaps offering fish as a reward - I don't think that strategy would get me anywhere!

My version of herding consists of tweaking the culture, doing up a shoe lace in the Pick Up Zone, organising some training, drying a 6 year old's tears when he can’t find his Mum, making sure there's a capable teacher on a class when the 'real' teacher is away sick, finding the money for the latest in learning technology, teaching our PE teacher how to use his MacBook (and now he has an iPad!), considering the latest idea the Year 7 teachers have for engaging their students in learning, listening to a distressed parent, negotiating for new facilities, recruiting staff for the next year, and planning for a future that’s 20-50 years from now – a future my own daughter and all these youngsters we 'work' with every day will live in.

Tomorrow is Monday again - it's nearly time to get on my horse and see what herding cats looks like this week.

03 August 2013

A school song

Last week four Year 5 girls arrived from their classroom to share some writing - they had been challenged with the task of writing a school song or poem. I was so impressed with all of them - it was clear they knew our vision statement and school values; they managed to incorporate the school wide practices that ensure our school is a safe and enjoyable place for everyone; their verses were catchy; and they have captured our school ethos beautifully! I promised them I would put them in the newsletter - one a week for a few weeks, and I couldn't resist putting this one here. I love the bit about effort being higher than Mt Kilimanjaro!

My Golden School

Peregian, Peregian, our education starts here.
Peregian, Peregian, our bad habits disappear.
Our efforts are higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro,
and everyday we learn for today and for tomorrow.

Chorus 
Peregian Springs State School,
In you we learn how to play
With ground rules,
And amazing tools,
My Golden School,
You will always make my day.

Smiling faces are walking around,
Many teachers are pleased.
Peregian, Peregian,
You exceed the standards with ease.
Our efforts are higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro,
and everyday we learn for today and for tomorrow.

You are the newest,
the best in Peregian Springs.
I think you are amazing.
We all know that you are these things.
Our efforts are higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro,
and everyday we learn for today and for tomorrow.

Chorus x 2

Peregian, Peregian,
My Golden School,
Peregian, Peregian,
My Golden School,
Peregian Springs State School. 
(Faith)

I asked is there music? and they looked a little horrified and said 'We'll just read them'.

Well done, girls!

27 July 2013

We're for kids

Have you seen that advertisement for dog food - Pal dog food, I think it is. They use a really neat phrase - 'we're for dogs'. I love it - I stop and watch it every time. It leaves a nice warm feeling and makes you want to go out and get a dog.

A visitor to our school this week asked me 'Are all primary schools like this? The kids are so exuberant and happy.' We were standing watching 200+ children at play - all running, jumping, arms out wide, smiling and laughing and squealing just for the fun of it. One little girl burst past us leaping over garden beds and shouting for a friend. My visitor said 'oops, there's one that's going to end in tears...' and sure enough 10 seconds later she was flat on her back with tears pouring down her face. We both started forward at the same time but before we could get there she was surrounded by other children and a couple of staff, and a couple of minutes later she was up and running again, with a bunch of kids in tow.

Then, yesterday a new staff member commented in passing that he had either worked in or in the course of his work visited about twenty five schools over the last few months and that this was the first one in which, when you walk through the front door you just feel that it's about kids - he added 'not sucking up or anything, Gwen!'

And he's right, it is about kids, it's always been about kids since the day the first tree went down on the block of land that is now our school; and we are working hard together to ensure it's always about kids... because - we're for kids!


20 July 2013

Cherish your time with them

It's that time of the year again. The mid-year uni holidays are over and there is a flurry of bag packing going on in our house. Maddie goes back to her college tomorrow and launches herself back into her studies on Monday. For the past four weeks the house has been full of peals of laughter, clothes and books everywhere, wet dive gear hanging from every available place, phones ringing and buzzing constantly, mountains of washing, doors slamming, and cries of 'Mum - there's no food in the fridge' and 'Dad - I'm going out, can I have 50 bucks ...please, PLEASE...?'.

I love it. I love it when she's home. I miss her being little so much. I miss Swim Club and competitions, weekends away and children's birthday parties. I miss her holding my hand during shopping on Saturday and kids' movies. I miss morning cuddles in bed - actually that still happens but it's a bit like trying a cuddle a young racehorse these days - not quite the same!

Ironically, when she was little I craved 'me time', and now I wish for more 'her time'. Over the last few weeks I've met with many of my teachers who have young children, to discuss and plan their teaching responsibilities for next year. They all bemoan the juggling, the rushing, the lack of time and the worry they can't give to their jobs all they would like to. But this is a fact of life - and even when they've grown up, you are still juggling - it's just that the balls are bigger and fewer and further apart.
Photo courtesy of Jenn Huls Photography


Time goes so fast; children grow up so fast - as I walk through the school in the mornings and see our Preps from 2010, now galloping towards the end Year 3, I can't believe it. Soon I'll be shaking their hands as they go off to high school.

So cherish your time with your children; give them another hug or play another game when you are craving 'me time' - it goes so fast and before you know it they will be away out of the door carving their own lives. And when that happens make sure you have a fridge full of food, a laundry cupboard full of washing detergent and a wallet full of fifty dollar notes!

14 July 2013

First day in a new school

When I was about eight years old Mum and Dad decided to pack up and move to Australia - it was one of those 'now or never' moments as the last ten pound tickets to Australia were about to be sold and emigrating to the land of opportunity was going to become a whole lot more difficult.

The process took about a year and in that time of uncertainty I attended many different primary schools. I hated it - I hated the change, I hated leaving friends I'd just made, I hated the new school's ways of doing things, I didn't like some of the teachers much, the work seemed to get harder and I was all 'at sea' before we even boarded the boat to Australia. I'm not sure why but every second change I cried and fretted and didn't want to go. I used to tell myself that it was good I was crying at this change as the next change would be easier. And I still remember so keenly how it feels to be the 'new kid' - and especially one with an accent.

We take special care with our new children at Peregian Springs - even after nearly four years all children remember how it felt to be new. The processes we put in place in 2010 are still the same now and when I take a new child to a classroom on their first day my heart is in my mouth worrying about how they will be received and whether there will be a group of children who will embrace them and help them settle.

Last week I watched many classes where nearly every child warmly welcomed the 'new kids' and 'fought' to be picked to look after them for the week - we have a whole school full of warm, friendly kids - and when they reach out to our new children in this way, I could hug them. Being eight years old and all alone in a new school is not so far in my memory that it doesn't stir up dread and fear... And when our Little Springers make new friends with children just joining us, I can walk back to my office smiling and happy that our new enrolments are in safe hands.


06 July 2013

I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so...

These lyrics sung by British band, The Vapours, in the 1980s were classic. Kids still know them even if they've never heard the whole song!

This might be an odd title for a blog post but over the last few weeks the lyrics keep going through my head - of course, we are not turning Japanese - but we are about to welcome the first Japanese Study Tour Group to our school. Seventeen 10-15 year olds and their teacher from West Japan will spend a week with us, learning English in the mornings, joining classes in the afternoons, and staying with their excited host families at night.

What a marvellous opportunity for all of us to learn something about this unique and surprising country and its people - and maybe even make some lifelong friends in the process.

Of course, we're not 'turning Japanese' at all. It's the last thing our visitors would want - they are coming to experience our Australian culture and to improve their English, that is, they want to develop their intercultural skills and understandings. And in the process of their visit, there is much we can learn too.

Intercultural competence is an important set of skills - it's about more than enjoying the food, geography and arts of a culture. It's more about understanding how a group of people think about the world and their place in it. Our children's future will be about the ability to engage with Asia in ways beyond simply visiting its glorious beaches and amazing cities for the summer holidays. This is not about 'turning Japanese' but about becoming more understanding, developing relationships, sustaining dialogue, and ultimately, its about economic growth, prosperity and international security.

So lets open our arms in that friendly Australian way, and open our minds at the same time. Spending time with our Japanese friends will be an opportunity not to be missed.


13 June 2013

Social Media...friend or foe?

The 'press' about social media and children is usually not good news. Children and pre-adolescents don't have a firm grasp of the power of social media - and it can get them into a bit of trouble. This is one of the reasons why most developers of these sites specify an age at which you can have an account - usually 13+, and in some cases, the age at which you can legally sign a contract (that is, 16 years old in Australia).

Despite this, the reality is that many parents are either allowing their children to have social media accounts or simply don't know that their children are using them.

Chris Wise (one of our Year 7 teachers) has written an informative piece every parent should read. It will help you understand the social media your children are using and to make some informed decisions about what you will allow and not allow. It is important that EVERY parent have these discussions with their children. It's about their safety, their emotional health, and their future.

Please note: the links in Chris' article are not active as I don't want my blog linked to some of these sites in any way.

I hope this is helpful for you.


Keeping Informed:
What your children could be using online
I originally wrote this two years ago in response to parents who wanted to ‘keep ahead’ of their children online. Bad news people, that’s not going to happen. But, you can stay informed and you can manage, restrict, and monitor your child’s social media usage. Understanding how your children are using technology is the most vital step in ensuring they benefit from its advantages without suffering the consequences of its misuse.

As an advocate of technology in education and social networking, I feel an obligation to help parents at least try to keep up. I’ve complied a list of frequently used or concerning forms of social media with a brief explanation and links to sites that discuss the dangers of these websites/platforms/apps. I hope it’s beneficial to you. If there is something you’re aware of that I am not that you believe should be added, or would like some information about a something not listed, please let me know.

It is my suggestion that most, if not all of these, be blocked from your child’s access until they are of legal age for the Term & Conditions. Since the first version of this article two years ago, some of these sites have long since lost relevance to a new generation of social media users. Oh, and by the way, lots of kids don’t even want a Facebook account. After all, Facebook is for old people (feeling old now?).

We’re starting with a site every parent should be extremely wary of:

chatroulette / chatroulette2 and it’s various other more nefarious versions (No age limit - should be 18+)
Chatroulette has NO login, NO profiles, NO terms and conditions. With a working webcam, a user is paired randomly with another user of any age, anywhere in the world for a video chat session. And this happens from the moment the user accesses the site. It appears to be populated by the less appealing members of our society. Five minutes here will leave you in no doubt as to the unsuitability of it for minors (and adults in most cases). There are now many random chat sites: Omegle, chabbler, JayDo, Zupyo (take a breath) chatrandom, streamberry, FunYo, Camzap, Bazoocam, Roulettechat, Flipchat, Imeetzu, chatpig, cahtbazaar and facebuzz to name a few. Some have more restrictions, or different ways of matching people together. Don’t believe your 11 year old - they’re all inappropriate for children.

Links:

Formspring (13+)
Formspring has been extremely popular with school age children in the U.S. and has gained notoriety in the press for being a key component in some of the worst examples of online bullying. Formspring allows users to ask questions of their friends in an online poll format. Some of the most blatant and vile bullying I’ve seen has occurred on this site.

Links:

Foursquare (Must be old enough to form a legally binding contract)
Foursquare is a social networking application that allows you to see where your friends are and for them to see where you are. It is a tool with some worthwhile features, but raises obvious questions about child safety. Yes, I might want to know where my child is, but does everyone else have to?

Links:

MSN Messenger / Skype / Kik Messenger (No age restriction for Skype, but must be old enough to enter into a legally binding contract and in most countries that is 16+ or 18+. Kik is 17+)
Both of these have been around for a long time and most children in my classes are familiar with them. The concerns around these sites range from online bullying, to the safety of video chatting and talking to people you don’t know. One issue often overlooked is the ability to file share. What is being shared? Who owns what is shared?

Kik is the new, cool app that you are unlikely to be aware of. Kik allows users to send text messages to each other without a cell phone (uses a wi-fi connection). Unlike a cell phone text, which reveals at least a phone number, Kik allows users to remain anonymous and use nicknames for usernames. It can run on an iPod, iPad or even a Kindle.

Links:


Youtube (13+ to hold an account, 18+ to view certain content)
How many parents are aware that their children are uploading videos to Youtube from their bedrooms? Or what’s on their favourites list? I assure you, there are videos of children in my class this year on Youtube. Videos can be uploaded quickly and easily from PCs and mobile phones- not to mention the questionable content uploaded by some members of this community. Youtube is a wonderful resource, but can be a minefield of body parts and abusive language (read the comments on most clips).

Links:


Twitter (No age restriction - must be able to form a legally binding contract, see Skype).
Microblogging and multimedia sharing. These sites allow you to update your status or blog about a topic. It also allows you to share photos and links with varying degrees of security set by the user. Twitter seems to have become more popular with ‘older’ tech users, but is immensely popular in gossip circles for keeping up with Justin Beiber. As with many of above services, they can be valuable tools personally and professionally, but children need to understand their usage and consequences for misuse.

Links:

Instagram (13+)

Instagram, or social network grooming 101, is essentially a photo sharing app with it’s own social network built in. Of all the social media applications available, it is right now, the most popular with young people. It seems innocent (why does everyone want their photos to look like they were taken in 1979 anyway?), take a photo and show it to your friends. But, if children taking photos themselves and publishing (it is publishing, read the terms and conditions) them online isn’t concerning enough, consider geotagging (photo locations) and Instagram’s less than secure privacy settings that allows anyone to view them. In addition to this, instagram is full of questionable content, body parts and duck faces (duck face? Google it) that is only a #hashtag away. Most importantly, it is yet another way for strangers to access your child and their personal information.


Facebook / Tumblr / Google+ / MySpace Etc. (13+ Facebook + Myspace, 18+ Tumblr, No restriction on Google+)
Much has been written about Facebook and the advantages and disadvantages. While Facebook has become second nature to many of us, it’s important to remember that most of us were adults when we created a Facebook profile and have the wisdom of our years to decide how to use it for our own purposes. A quick Google search will alert you to the many copyright, privacy, security and bullying concerns these sites (and those like them) raise.

Links:

One of the reasons I began a professional Twitter and Facebook page was to show students how these tools can be used for a purpose other than mindless communication and procrastination (How many High Distinctions went begging in Uni because of Facebook?). As with each of the above, in the end it is how these tools are used and monitored that determine their safety and effectiveness. I certainly don’t want my students to be scared of social networking, rather I want them to understand the nature of them, why they need to be safe, and most importantly how to be safe.

I’ve listed many links here; you’ll find these and many more with a quick search. I may not agree entirely with some of the things written, but certainly with the intention of them. My own suggestion to you as parents is to talk to your children about how they are using the Internet (and trust me, there are many more sites like these). Decide on what YOU think is appropriate use and limit them to that. I personally see no need for children to have multiple profiles across multiple platforms. Especially, when most of them are being used for the same thing - talking to friends.