Prep School
Setting up boys for success
After a successful start to the school, it is timely to focus on how we can prepare our boys for success. Setting routines, ensuring boys are well-fed and getting plenty of sleep, limiting technology and engaging parents are all proven approaches that set up boys for success. We often equate success with talent, but the reality is talent, knowledge and skills alone are not enough. I would like to share ten behaviours often cited in business and leadership articles that will have a huge impact on the success of our boys.
- Being on time shows discipline, leaves a positive first impression and indicates you are ready to learn. It requires planning and organisation, and this can lead you to greater success. It also shows care and respect for the people you are working and learning with.
- Work ethic: cutting corners and taking the easy option leads to poor outcomes. It takes discipline to consistently show up and give your best each day. Having a work ethic means that you know what is important to you; it means you’re willing to put forth the time and energy, and it’s based on your personal core values.
- Effort is how hard you work. Effort is a mindset as much as it is a behaviour.
- Body language: your body language speaks volumes about you. Be aware of your body language, and make sure it is saying the message you want to communicate.
- Energy: showing you have energy about your learning shows you are serious about your learning.
- Attitude: having the right attitude to learn is crucial. Use positive language when you can. Never criticise or find fault in what you are learning. And don’t complain too much. You will find that your positive attitude will begin to rub off on others around you. The ability to learn, unlearn and re-learn is one of the most fundamental attitudes in life.
- Passion is contagious. Positive energy spreads around fast. When you get excited about something, others around you will also want in around that excitement.
- Being coachable: always be open to learning. You can never know everything. To increase your chances of success, you need to be a continuous learner.
- Doing extra: one of my favourite sayings is, ‘Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded.’ This means knowing what you want to achieve and working hard towards your goals.
- Being prepared: taking action to learn effectively and being ready to learn.
As Robert Collier wrote in his book Riches Within Your Reach, ‘Success is the sum of small efforts—repeated day in and day out.’
Value of the week: trust and trustworthiness
Trust is having faith in someone or something. It is a positive attitude about life; you are confident that the right thing will happen without trying to control it or make it happen. Even when difficult things happen, trust helps us to find the gift or lesson in the experience. Trustworthiness is being worthy of trust. People can count on you to do your best, keep your word and follow through on your commitments. You do what you say you will do. Trustworthiness is the key to success in anything you do.
Attribute of the week: open-minded
When you are open-minded, you understand and appreciate your own culture and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. You seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and you are willing to grow from the experience.
Curriculum Information Evening
On Monday evening next week, 12 February, the Prep School will hold our Curriculum Information Evening. After last year’s successful inaugural event, we are looking forward to another wonderful opportunity to strengthen the connection between home and school. There will be fun, interactive workshops to experience a day in the life of a Prep School student. It is a great way to experience how our teachers are teaching your sons. Staff will guide parents through a typical lesson and what is expected of the boys. It will be entertaining and fun, but informative. Please register via the below link. Workshop and presenter details are also below. I hope to see you there.
Date: Monday 12 February 2024
Registration: 5:45 pm
Time: 6 to 7:30 pm
Location: Prep School
Please note bookings are essential and close Thursday 8 February at 4 pm.
Curriculum information registration
Prep Curriculum Information Evening workshops
It’s all about the numbers: Reception to Year 2 Maths
Classroom 1A (PS40) with Vivienne Corness
In the early years, developing number sense includes recognising, reading and interpreting numbers, sharing, counting and understanding concepts like more and less. Join in this interactive workshop to see how we teach this important component of our Maths curriculum in the early years.
If the book fits…read it: Best fit books
Library with Alison Findlay and Belinda Booth
An important part of becoming a veracious reader is the ability to choose books that are a good fit. The IPICK criteria empower our boys to choose successfully, wherever they may be, without being tied to a level. Join our Teacher Librarians as they explain the process of choosing a Best Fit Book for your son.
To Infinity and Beyond: Years 3 to 6 Maths
Classroom 4C (PS21) with Richard Boles and James Harth
Problem solving places the focus on our boys making sense of mathematical ideas and problem solving encourages our boys to believe in their ability to think mathematically. Join us as we showcase the 10 problem solving strategies taught in the Prep School and what this looks like in practice in the upper years of the Prep School.
It is as easy as ichi, ni, san!
Japanese classroom (PS12) with Jenny Tanaka
Experience the Language, Embrace the Culture: Churchie Prep’s Approach to Japanese Learning! Our immersive CLIL (Content and language integrated learning) method brings Japanese alive through flashcards, gestures, songs, and real-world connections. Through games, storybooks, and hands-on activities, we make language acquisition an engaging adventure. Join us for a Japanese taster– where curiosity and an open mind create a path to discover a whole new world!
Blast off with books: Reception to Year 3 Reading
Library with Lauren Fernandes
Reading ignites creativity, sparks curiosity and stimulates the imagination of our youngest readers. Learn how our boys transition from beginning readers using decodable texts to more independent readers using a range of authentic texts. Join Lauren Fernandes as she shares this journey.
Feel the need…the need to read: Years 4 to 6 reading
Classroom 4B (PS22) with Nicole Baker
CAFÉ is a place we all like to visit to grab our favourite cup of coffee. Our boys are becoming immersed in CAFÉ while at school through the explicit teaching of the four main areas of reading. Join Nicole Baker as she looks at the strategies that make an effective and balanced reader in the upper primary years.
Hang around for a spell: Reception and Year 1 spelling
Classroom 1A (PS41) with Larissa Guy
InitiaLit is a programme utilised by our Reception and Year 1 boys. The spelling component of InitiaLit reviews phoneme-grapheme correspondence and spelling concepts and explicitly and systematically teaches the alphabetic code. This interactive workshop will demonstrate the basic principles of early years spelling.
Let us put a spell on you: Years 2 to 6 spelling
Classroom 4A (PS23) with Shay Thomas and Shannon Nicholson
The Australian English language is organised around 43 phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (a letter or letter combination) used to represent our written language. The teaching of spelling supports reading, writing and literacy skills. Join our teachers as they showcase the skills to develop a deeper understanding of the English language.
Teaching for understanding – Getting the most out of our boys
Classroom 6A (PS11) with Elizabeth Walker
How can we ensure that our boys are engaged in learning that is authentic, meaningful to them (both now and in the future) and lasts beyond the assessment? In this workshop, you will take a deep dive into quality teaching practices and learn practical ways to support boys not only in home learning but fostering a love of lifelong learning. You will leave this workshop with a deeper understanding of best practices, teaching and learning and a clear knowledge of conceptual-based learning versus topics.
Art attack
Art Studio with Karen Paris
Civilisations have been using art to express themselves since prehistoric times and the fact it continues today shows how important this function is. Art is a powerful form of self-expression. It is an outlet for our boys where they can share experiences, thoughts, feelings and other aspects of life. Join Karen Paris as she highlights the way we get our boys to artistically express themselves.
In-tune with Music
Music classroom (PS25) with Melissa Black
Parents will be encouraged to be risk-takers as they use play and movement to develop social skills, self-regulation and thinking skills. They will engage in a variety of singing and collaborative games not only to enhance learning and enjoyment but see how active, play-based, discovery and experiential music learning assists students in learning new concepts as they create new connections, whilst practising musical skills.
Just keep writing, just keep writing: Years 3 to 6
Classroom 6B (PS10) with Caroline Valentine and Jacki Kerr
From personal stories to persuasive writing to explaining how to do something, writing is a critical skill. Anyone can write words on a page, but making those words come to life in a cohesive and engaging text takes practice. This interactive workshop will have you planning and writing – just like our boys do to become more confident and capable writers.
Year 2 news
Year 2A has been busy grouping large quantities to help find the total number of objects. They have been using counting strategies such as grouping in fives and tens to count these objects quickly.
Year 4 news
Last week, our young scientists learnt about how the natural world changes over time through some hands-on experiments. Students explored chemical weathering, witnessed the impact of physical forces breaking down rocks and unravelled the intricate dance between living organisms and our Earth’s surface in biological weathering. They also saw firsthand the transformative power of water and wind by simulating erosion and deposition. Through these immersive experiences our Year 4 students are not only learning about science, they are also becoming enthusiastic stewards of the ever-changing beauty of our planet.
Term 1 photo day
Prep School class and team photographs will be taken by Leading Image, with dates and groups included on the Prep Calendar. Term 1 photo day is this Friday 9 February. All class and individual photos for Reception to Year 6 will be taken, as well as photos of student leaders, GPS Debating teams, the GPS Swimming team, GPS Volleyball and all GPS Cricket teams.
All boys in Reception to Year 6 should wear their formal uniform (white shirt and tie) to school on Friday 9 February. Boys may bring their blue and grey shirts to change into after their photo. If your son has HPE on Friday, he will also need to bring his sports uniform.
Swimming, volleyball and cricket team members should bring their appropriate uniforms for the photo.
If you have any questions, please contact the Prep Office.
Afternoon pick-up
I thank parents and carers for their ongoing cooperation with the collection of Years 4 to 6 boys each afternoon in the Mowbray Terrace pick-up zone. Generally, the system has been working effectively and efficiently. Please remember:
- If a vehicle has been waiting two minutes or longer and the student has not appeared at the zone, the vehicle will be asked to leave the zone and return to try again. Please understand that this is necessary for the zone to work effectively. Please be understanding and accepting of this request.
- Only Year 4 parents/vehicles should enter the pick-up zone before 3:10 pm. Year 4 classes are dismissed at 3 pm while Years 5 and 6 classes are dismissed at 3:05 pm.
- Years 5 and 6 parents/vehicles are permitted to enter the zone after 3:10 pm.
- No U-turns are permitted into the drop-off and pick-up zone when entering from the south along Stanley Terrace.
- When the pick-up queue stretches around the corner into Oaklands Parade, it is critical that cars do not stop in the school crossing no-stopping zones. These zones must be left clear whenever the crossing is operating. This is a matter of law as well as one of safety. Please cooperate with this important matter.
Don’t forget to follow us on our own Churchie Prep social media account. If you want to keep abreast of all the things Churchie Prep, follow us on Instagram @churchieprep.
Mark Wyer
Head of Preparatory School