Forrest Newsletter 2025 Term1 Week 2
Message from the Principal
Welcome back
We hope you all had a chance to relax and recuperate your energy levels over the break and managed to spend some quality time with your families. We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead! Children have started the year really well in their classes, they’re happy to be back with their friends, new classmates and engaged in their learning! In January staff engaged in our professional learning in maths with Catherine Attard (one of the members of the Expert Panel into literacy and numeracy in the ACT) around mathematical concepts and strategies to use in the classroom and we hope to continue our involvement with Catherine over the next few years. Our second day of professional learning was around curriculum mapping and how to build upon the transdisciplinary nature of our units of inquiry and how they fit into the ‘big picture’ of the entire programme of inquiry. We have also embarked on a journey, under the Strong Foundations initiative, to start using the MultiLit suite of resources to continue our systematic approach to ensuring all children have the literacy understandings required or can have the intervention needed to support their acquisition of these skills. This Response to Intervention (RTI) model is an effective way of supporting children who need that additional help, along with the other supports throughout school, like English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs).
We have a big year ahead with all the usual assemblies, special occasions, sporting endeavours, Shivoo, Action Weeks etc. taking place. We also have two reviews this year: the first one next term is the local ACT school review and in term three we have the IB evaluation. We look forward to showcasing the skills and talents of our children and staff!
Getting to know you meetings
Getting to know you meetings between parents and teachers (children are welcome too) are next week. If you have not done so yet, please make a booking as soon as possible. For these bookings we are using Schoolzine but for our mid-year parent meetings we will be using the Parent Portal. I’m aware some parents are not registered on the parent portal currently; this is a little reminder to do so!
Any meetings before school will be in the teacher’s classroom, those after school will be in the library for K-2 and in the hall for years 3-6. To support you in these meetings we would like you to consider your hopes and aspirations for your child around two main areas in 2025: (1) their wellbeing and (2) the Approaches to Learning (ATLs). As a reminder, the ATLs cover five skills: social, research, thinking, communication and self-management skills.
Tree watering
A huge thank-you to the parents and community members who were able to come in over the break and water our new trees. These were:
Bill, Angus, Jimmu, Nathan, Leena, Kent, Natalie, Jade, Rob, Kathy, Anton and Maria.
The trees are looking very healthy, and we appreciate your help!
Sarah Fleming
Sarah has been in Melbourne all week attending, and presenting at, the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement. Sarah is completing her Doctor of Education with a focus on gifted children who have ADHD and their lived experience of social-emotional support. She was selected to present her research at the conference which is attended by leading academics from across the globe and is an opportunity for her to share the lived experience of twice-exceptional children. Please see the photo of Sarah below!
My tips for a good year
The following are snippets of advice I have given to parents over the years, in no particular order, to support them and their child at school.
- The start and end of the year can be a little hectic. December through to mid-February is the busiest time for schools. There are many things that can only be done at the end…and there are many things that can only be done once we return. I acknowledge I’m not at my best in responding to parents at this time due to the sheer volume of work. Thank you for your understanding of this.
- I cannot predict the 3Ps for staff changes: pregnancies, promotions and personal circumstances. We do our best though.
- When it comes to your children and devices, balance trust and healthy scepticism because you can’t un-see something you’ve seen, you can’t un-hear something you’ve heard.
- I cannot stress enough my fear of social media (most are 13+ anyway) and advise you keep children away from it. There is also a correlation between the rise of smart phones and childhood anxiety. I believe parents should be cautious.
- Phones and smart watches etc. are banned in all ACT schools- if your child doesn’t need to bring one, please leave at home.
- When there are disagreements between children, the truth tends to be somewhere in the middle.
- You will almost certainly know about a disagreement between children at school before we do (teachers are 7th on the list of who typically gets told of these things). Please let us know but don’t expect us to already know.
- Remind your child they’ll have a wonderful day. That optimism makes a huge difference!
- We don’t set homework. Instead, we ask you to read with your child every day, talk about your day and ask them how it went for them. If you know they can get stuck with something, try and help them along. Discuss local, national and international current affairs. Talk about empathy, diversity, inclusivity. Go for long walks together, visit the many cultural opportunities there are in Canberra. These provide amazingly authentic learning opportunities.
- Support the P&C and school events, volunteer for things and try to be an active member of the community where possible.
- Label everything. Check the labels regularly. Then label it again. We have so much lost property that isn’t labelled and doesn’t get returned to children
- Be respectful, even if you are upset about something. That means in the carpark, around classrooms, online, anywhere and everywhere that involves the school community. Besides modelling your behaviour in front of children, all school staff, FOOSHC staff, other parents and their children need to be treated with courtesy and respect.
- Please ensure you provide your child with a healthy breakfast, balanced lunch (a treat or two is fine), make sure they are in uniform and early to bed ready to be here by 9.00am (8.45am for preschool) the next day. This doesn’t solve all the problems, but it helps.
- The Directorate requires us to email all important information and documents through email. This is our single point of truth if there is a doubt. This also includes the newsletter- hopefully you’re still reading this…!
Thanks, take care,
Chris
Christian Education In Schools
Christian Education In Schools (CEIS) occurs because parents request it for their children, under ACT legislation. Sessions are coordinated by the CEIS project, using approved resources and volunteers. If you would like to add your child to the existing attendance list at Forrest print off the PDF and hand it in to the front office; or go to https://www.ceis.org.au/connect/parents/
P&C News
Forrest Primary School P & C meeting, scheduled for Thursday 6th March, 6pm in the school library.
CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you would like to volunteer, please send an email to canteen@forrestpandc.com.au No previous experience is necessary. It’s ideal if you can make a regular commitment (weekly or fortnightly). It helps us keep a routine and makes the canteen more reliable.
Canteen is open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 11.30am.
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