Prep School

On Monday, we hosted our annual Curriculum Information Evening, providing an insight for parents into what happens in the classroom. It was wonderful to see parents actively engaged in a variety of lessons. In literacy, workshops covered spelling, writing and reading, while in mathematics, hands on activities in the early years were complemented by challenging problem solving in the upper years.  The librarians discussed the value of best-fit books and reading choices for our boys, and in Japanese, parents enjoyed learning a new language. Through our arts programme, parents played music and showcased their creativity in making a unique structure. Through our PYP framework, parents enjoyed the chance to learn about conceptual understanding and some of the big ideas boys delve into in their units of inquiry.

A sincere thank you to all parents who enthusiastically participated in the evening and to our dedicated staff for highlighting and showcasing what a day in the life of a Prep School student may enjoy. This event plays an important role in fostering strong relationships between school and home.

Last week, we celebrated our inaugural Prep School house meetings. For the first time in the Prep School, our Years 3 to 6 boys met with their house staff and housemaster and celebrated the beginning of a Prep School house system.

The house system will provide an additional layer of pastoral care for our boys and build a sense of connection to their house and school. It will be through the house that we engender and build the boys’ leadership skills, develop a sense of brotherhood with their house mates, focus on service and implement a pastoral curriculum. It will also provide friendly competition within the houses, competing in sporting and academic pursuits along with earning house points that will ultimately lead to naming the Hobbs Cup champion house for the year.

The boys were very excited to be part of the first house meetings and are looking forward to the opportunities ahead of them. We look forward to sharing our house journey with you throughout the course of the year.

Value of the week: courtesy

Courtesy is being polite and having good manners. When you speak and act courteously, you give others a feeling of being valued and respected. Greet people pleasantly. Bring courtesy home. Your family needs it most of all. Courtesy helps life to go smoothly.

Attribute of the week: caring

Show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. You have a personal commitment to service and act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the environment.

Unlocking potential: The power of a good night’s sleep

From the School Counsellor

In the bustling world of primary school, where kids are juggling so many activities and experiences, ensuring our children get the right amount of sleep is crucial. Sleep is not just a time for dreams; it’s a fundamental pillar for academic success, emotional well-being and growth. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that children aged 6 to 12 should regularly sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours. However, 3 in 10 report they rarely or only sometimes get 8 hours or more of sleep at night. (Kohler, M.& Reece, C. 2023, p. 9). It’s not just a matter of recharging; it’s a fundamental building block for their cognitive development and emotional resilience.

Creating a healthy sleep routine may sound challenging, but here are some gentle nudges to help guide your child into the realm of sweet dreams:

1. Consistent bedtime rituals: Establish calming pre-sleep routines, like reading a bedtime story or practising deep breathing exercises. Consistency signals to their minds that it’s time to wind down.

2. Screen-free zone: Encourage a screen-free hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted by devices can interfere with the production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.

3. Comfortable sleep environment: Ensure their sleep space is cozy and comfortable. Simple adjustments, like soft bedding and dimmed lights, can make a significant difference.

I invite parents to explore our Prep School Wellbeing page on myChurchie with their sons for child-friendly insights into why sleep matters and additional tips for fostering good sleep habits. Engaging in this exploration together can open up meaningful conversations about the importance of sleep and empower children to take an active role in their well-being.

For further guidance, School TV (also accessible via myChurchie offers a wealth of resources, including articles, videos, podcasts, and more, specifically curated to support parents in nurturing healthy sleep patterns for their children.

Kohler, M. & Reece, C. (2023). Resilient Youth: State of the Nation Report 2023. Adelaide: University of Adelaide. Source.

J B Adams Library news

Opening hours

The J B Adams Library in the Prep School is open for borrowing and quiet games before and after school for the use of boys and parents. We open at 8 am and close at 3:30 pm. Years 4 to 6 boys can use their laptops to complete classwork and homework. Staff are available before and after school to help with book selection.

Parent library

Our Parent Library books are available for Prep parents to borrow from the Prep Library. Books available cover a range of topics related to parenting, child development and family matters. Library staff are available to help with borrowing.

Parent helper volunteers

We welcome parent helpers in the Prep Library. You can help us, even if you only have 30 minutes at the beginning or end of the day. Please drop in and see us or send us an email if you would like to help in the library. We will ask you what times and jobs suit you. If this is of interest to you, please email preplibrary@churchie.com.au.

Think Mentals

This week’s focus on literacy and numeracy in the Prep School is on Think Mentals, a mental computational programme that helps boys in Years 2 to 6 answer different types of mental maths problems. Think Mentals teaches boys how to use a variety of clever strategies to break tricky maths problems into friendly, manageable chunks.

Over the year, 18 strategies are learned and practised. Each week, teachers explicitly introduce a new strategy to the boys, teach them how to use it, and then have the boys practise using the strategy on a variety of questions. Over the week, the boys will continue to practise and revise strategies, either at school in Years 2 to 4 or online for Years 5 to 6. The boys also tackle a variety of general fluency maths questions. The end of the week allows for a review that combines focus, revision, and general fluency questions.

Simple ways to help your son with his mental maths:

1. Ask your son what strategy he is focusing on that week. Encourage him to demonstrate the strategy to you and practise solving problems together.
2. Revise previously learned strategies regularly.

Medications

Please note that, in keeping with school policy, if your son needs to take medication while at school, the medication must be administered by our Health Centre staff. Medication to be administered should be in its original packaging, with clear directions for its administration and a note from the parent. Please provide this to your son’s form teacher, who will ensure that it is provided to the Health Centre.

Parking around the School

When parking in the streets surrounding the school precinct, I ask that parents and carers observe all parking signs and do not block the driveways. If a car is even slightly impinging on a no parking, bus or no standing zone, or driveway, this is not only illegal but unsafe. I encourage you to set the right example to keep our children and the rest of the community safe.

At the beginning of the school year, car parking arrangements are always a bit chaotic. Our Years 4 to 6 pickup zone is our busiest area in the afternoon. To assist our families with pickup arrangements, please ensure you don’t use this space as a car park and observe the traffic regulations when leaving the area. Cars are only permitted to exit left onto Stanley Terrace. Please be mindful when using our pickup and drop-off zones for the safety of our boys and community.

Mark Wyer
Head of Preparatory School