Term 3 has started with very happy girls arriving at School telling me about their wonderful holidays, and eager to catch up with their friends and teachers. All the girls appeared fresh, excited, and ready for the term ahead.

Greeting the girls at the gates in the mornings is a highlight of my day! Our girls are so genuinely happy and eager to come to School. They are always well presented with neat uniforms and tidy hair – I thank all our Barbreck parents who support the girls to wear their uniforms with such respect.

The way the girls present themselves, their wonderful responses to welcomes in the morning and their sense of pride in being a Barbreck girl demonstrate how much they love their school and have a strong sense of belonging to it. This sense of belonging permeates throughout our Junior School and there is a very real sense of connection between all our girls through the Year levels.

Recently, the Queensland State of Origin Rugby Team used the theme “I am because we are!’ This theme spurred them to victory. I feel this theme is also true for our girls in Barbreck – they all know each other, work, and compete with, and for each other, and do not want to let down their fellow school mates – it is the Barbreck Spirit. I see this spirit in our girls each day. We are so proud of them all!

NAPLAN

NAPLAN Reports should be sent to schools this week. Once received we will distribute them to parents. This year, the reports will include four levels of achievement in comparison to those previously which showed 10 levels. While these tests were conducted in March, it will be interesting to see the new reports and the data provided.  

Media: Changes to Education

Recently there has been much conversation throughout media outlets on the need for change in the way in which education is delivered. Particularly centering on: 

• The need for universities to include curriculum on how the brain works and how children learn within education degrees 
• The need for effective practices in the teaching of numeracy and literacy 
• Classroom management strategies 
• The need for teachers to be responsive to students’ needs and cultures 
• The move away from open plan classrooms. 

Within Barbreck our classrooms are specifically designed for one class, with a focus on providing a quiet learning environment conducive to focused learning. Having spent a few years in an open plan classroom in my early teaching career, I know how highly distracting and noisy they are! 

Our exceptional NAPLAN results across literacy and numeracy, further support the strength of our educational programs within Barbreck. NAPLAN data demonstrates the exceptional level of learning taking place in Barbreck. This is testament to the skilled teaching by our staff across all Year levels and the work and enthusiasm of our students. Our high NAPLAN scores support our view that the learning program we provide, the methodology of how we teach, and the diagnostic assessment tasks we set within the School, are of the highest standards. 

Over the past five years, Barbreck staff have moved to an explicit teaching model using the I Do, We Do, You Do process. We use this Model in combination with teaching small ’chunks’ of content. By teaching in small chunks, the student’s brain is not overwhelmed with information and instruction, and so the student has a better opportunity to retain the new content or skill. This, when combined with an explicit model that ensures a gradual move from teacher-directed to shared practice and ultimately individual proficiency, provides much practice and support throughout the lesson. When combined, we find that learning is retained. 

During this same time, we have moved to provide greater support for all students at all stages of learning. Our Learning Plus Department works closely with students who need extra support and we have introduced Extension Programs for those students working beyond Year level expectations. Through our in-class teaching support and extension programs, we are working to provide instruction at all levels of learning. 

At Barbreck, we believe in continual improvement, and as such, we will continue to research, refine and develop our teaching practices for the betterment of all of the students we teach. 

Term 3 Important Dates

We are all excited for the term ahead, filled with learning, co-curricular pursuits and community events. For a full list of Term 3 important events please refer to the table below.