Term 2 concludes

As the Term draws to a close, it seems incredible that ten weeks have flown by so quickly.

A busy, fast paced Term with staff determined to maximise every minute in terms of student teaching and learning has seen vast progress in curriculum coverage, student mastery of set tasks and a well balanced, multi-faceted offering of co-curricular activities.

The same rigour will commence from the first day of Term 3, 2017.

Term 3 will commence on Tuesday 18 July with our usual Tuesday Assembly, where we will welcome a number of new students into Years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Following this, the regular timetable and lesson delivery will begin in earnest.

Importantly, routine, familiarity with requirements and the growth of a sound work ethic are all underscored emphatically in Barbreck. They are essential for effective teaching and learning.

A focus on manners and relationship building skills remain emphatic in all we do each day.

Happy vacation

Together with the Barbreck staff, I wish all families an enjoyable and relaxing time during the three-week break.  Whether families are travelling or staying in Melbourne, we hope there is time for families to relax without the usual rigour of routine and expectations in term time.

Please know that we wish all families to stay safe and well.

Request for the holidays from educators

Three weeks certainly provides time for rest and re-energising, but also ample time for some or all the following activities to be pursued as regularly throughout the break as time permits:

• Daily reading: (silently and orally – regardless of year level)
• Writing via stories, travel diaries, journals/letters
• Word Puzzles from books, newspaper, iPad or their computer
• Board Games such as Scrabble, Chess, Monopoly or Draughts (discuss strategies)
• Opportunities to manage suitable amounts of money to purchase family/personal shopping and to work out denominations and change.
• Making lists for family use – shopping, supermarket, other merchandise
• Practising tables –
  • Years 3-6,
  • Prep-Year 2 Problem Solving at appropriate level of difficulty
  • Computation

The Four Leaf Clover Program 

The Four Leaf Clover Program runs as an integral component of the St Catherine’s Wellbeing Program. The Clovers had a special session in the last few weeks of Term 2 and loved it in the ELC. We spent time drawing portraits of each other with just black fine liners. Each artist magically captured the details of their partner’s facial features. The Clover friends had to pose with great stillness as each took a turn to draw their friend. A wonderful morning of sharing and spending time together.

Ms Georgina Stride, Year 4 Teacher

Co-curricular Activities Term 3, 2017

Listed below is important information regarding the commencement dates for co-curricular activities in Term 3. Please note: No Jazz Ballet classes 2017

Commencing Week 1 (18–21 July)

• Swim Squads Tuesday 18 July concludes Thursday 21 September
• Years 4-6 Junior Joggers Tuesday 18 July at 7.30am concludes last week of Term 3
• Years 5 and 6 After School Sport, Tuesdays commencing Tuesday 18 July, 3.30pm-5.00pm and concludes in the last week of Term 3.
• Tennis Wednesday 19 July concludes Wednesday 20 September
• Gymnastics Wednesday 19 July concludes Thursday 21 September
• Epstein Singers Wednesday 19 July 7.45 – 8.45am concludes Thursday 21 September
• Years 2-3 French club ‘Les Lucioles’ Thursday 20 July at Recess
• Years 4-6 ‘Club Français de Barbreck’ Thursday 20 July 3.45pm-4.30pm and concludes Thursday 21 September.

Commencing Week 2 (24–28 July)

• Learn to Swim Monday 24 July concludes Thursday 21 September
• Years 3 and 4 After School Sport (optional) Mondays, 3.30pm-4.30pm. Commences Monday 24 July on a weekly basis.
• Year 3 Stage Skills Tuesday 25 July  12.50pm-1.20pm concludes 19 September
• Performance Program Year 4 Tuesday 25 July   3.30-4.30pm concludes 19 September
• Years 5 & 6 Homework Happenings Monday 24 July 3.30pm-4.15pm
• Years 3 & 4 Homework Happenings Tuesday 25 July 3.30pm–4.15pm
• Years 3 – 6 Homework Happenings Wednesday 26 July 3.30pm-4.15pm
  concludes Wednesday 20 September (term bookings only)
• Years 5 and 6 STEM commences Monday 24 July concludes
• Year 3 STEM commences Wednesday 26 July
• Year 4 STEM commences Thursday 27 July
• Year 2 STEM commences Friday 28 July and concludes Friday 15 September
• Write on Wednesday Wednesday 26 July 3.30-4.30pm concludes Wednesday 13 September

Wellbeing Assemblies in the Junior School

Throughout assemblies this term, we have touched on some common wellbeing themes around persistence, resilience, looking for opportunities, not giving up, accepting our differences and demonstrating kindness. Sometimes this has been done through student presentations, sharing a book, a short activity or showing a film. These are all very important values that we need to ensure we are reinforcing with students every day. However, we must also remember that students in the primary years are still learning how to put these into practice. They are a work in progress! There will be times when they will amaze us with their ability to apply these values, but there may also be times when they make a mistake or the wrong choice. It is important we acknowledge and praise the times they master it, and support them to understand when they have not, to encourage them when they are stuck, or guide them when they need help.

Attached is a short story that reinforces some of the themes we have focused on this term. Written by a primary aged student, it tells the story of a boy who demonstrated resilience, optimism and courage to overcome a personal challenge, and the sense of achievement and pride he felt at the end by overcoming his personal challenge.

I would like to encourage parents to read this story with their children, and share times they might have felt unsure of a situation but through perseverance and determination overcame that challenge, and in turn, felt a sense of personal achievement.

Click here to read the story.