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The work of educators in schools, have never really been measured in monetary terms, because it can not JUST be a job, it is so much more important than that. Below is an excerpt from Maggie Dent’s website, which highlights what an exceptional teacher is and the work we should all (as educators) aspire to.
"Exceptional teachers realise that every student matters, no matter what. They look for the hidden potential in every student, and they understand what is going on in their students’ brains, and that everyone in their class (including the teacher) is moving through emotional states all day long. They also know how to cultivate optimum states in their classrooms, for themselves and their students.
Six Keys to Exceptional Teaching
1. Be interesting
2. Help students to find their strengths and talents
3. Teach them how the brain works
4. Practise “kaizen”
5. Have the courage to care and connect
6. Believe in the highest potential for yourself and your students.
The brain is the key.
Teachers who are aware of how to create optimal emotional states, whether intentionally or unintentionally, will create environments in which students learn more effectively.
Maggie Dent also has excellent podcasts about raising boys and girls, how their brains work and tips for helping your boys and girls navigate growing up. Check it out at https://www.maggiedent.com/
Reports
Term 2 "new look" school reports will be sent home at the end of Week 9, Friday 1st July. These reports will not have teacher comments but will contain assessments for English, Maths and Science. As the use of work samples for reporting purposes is new, we are trialling sending home the samples for a writing and maths sample on Seesaw where possible.
Parent/teacher meetings will be a very important part of the reporting process, so please book in for meetings with your child’s teacher on the Schoolzine app. If you have any difficulties please contact school for assistance or refer to https://www.schoolzine.com/sk-booking-guide
Symmons Plains All Schools Cross Country
A huge congratulations to students across Circular Head participating in the All Schools Primary Cross Country event, held at Symmons Plains on Tuesday. It is certainly a huge event, with 200 + students racing in each age range. Providing this opportunity is valued because it builds confidence, experience in being involved in a high performance event, independence and resilience and relationship building with others attending from our community. With 7 of the 16 participants from Forest Primary, the following students can be proud of their efforts and their exemplary behaviour in representing our school. We can certainly be proud of each and every one of you!
Sienna Korpershoek - 110th - 10mins 37sec
Isabella Korpershoek - 66th - 15mins 47sec
Maya Woolley - 43rd - 15mins 23sec
Eli Fisher - 30th - 13mins 23sec
Ruby Lardner - 66th - 15mins 51sec
Esmay Ollington - 48th - 15mins 19sec
Blayde Emmett - 27th - 13mins 05sec
Assembly
Changes to Covid rules in school means we will be able to hold an on site assembly during Week 10, on Thursday 7th July at 11:00am. Parents and carers are welcome and invited to attend our indoor assembly. All adults, including staff, are asked to physically distance where practical.
An update on face masks
Public Health has advised that from Monday 27 June 2022, face masks are no longer mandatory in schools and Child and Family Learning Centres. This is because of reduced COVID-19 cases in our community.
It’s important to continue to:
- stay at home if unwell, and get tested
- practise COVID-safe behaviours such as frequent handwashing and sanitising
- be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.
Students, staff and visitors are supported to continue to wear face masks if they choose to. Face masks are still available at our school if you need them.
When face masks are required
If you’re a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors as per current Public Health advice.
From time-to-time our school might identify activities or situations where masks are required to be worn. We ask for your support when this happens and know that it is in the best interests of our students, staff and our school.
Our staff will continue to wear masks when working closely with students who are vulnerable to COVID-19.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly to discuss.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.
If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
St John First Aid for Schools
St John Ambulance Australia is committed to promoting the importance of first aid in the community and believes that there is no better place to start than in our schools. Next week students will gain experience in becoming a First aid responder, learning about first aid techniques, bandaging and ways to keep themselves safe.
In Kinder this term we have been working on an inquiry about eggs. We have learnt about the sounds in the word egg, and the different parts of an egg. We have explored using the five senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. We finished our inquiry by making scrambled eggs for lunch.
Last week Fireman Craig dropped by our classroom with some fire fighter costumes and we built a fire engine outside and engaged in imaginative play for the afternoon.
Students enjoyed spending time with Fireman Craig last week learning all about fire safety. Fireman Craig would like to share with families some important links and a Juvenile Fire Lighter Intervention Program that Tasmania Fire Service offer, please take some time to look though these handy links:
Recently lower primary students and some upper primary students took part in the InsideOut4Kids Program. We are seeking some parent feedback from what you may have heard or noticed in your children at home. If you could please take a few minutes to complete the survey via the below link we would very much appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
This term we have been very busy in our classroom. We have recently begun looking at place value during our mathematics lessons through the use of a lot of hands-on activities, students have enjoyed and learnt a lot throughout these lessons.
During our literacy lessons, students are learning the elements of a narrative. All students are very excited to be able to publish their own narrative at the conclusion of this unit of work.
We have been taking care of our class garden on a Friday afternoon, and incorporating this fantastic learning opportunity into our maths work, as well as writing. Students love seeing the vegetables they planted growing.
We have also commenced taking our class puppet 'Jo' home of a weekend. Students are enjoying this experience, and the confidence and enthusiasm they are showing during their sharing time on a Monday afternoon is fantastic to see.
On Friday the 17th of June 2022, we held a sports day. The students could dress up in their favourite sports clothes. We held some small activities at lunch for the students. Some of the activities were; hit Ms C with a sponge, guess how many lollies are in the lolly jar, chocolate toss, pin the football on the footballer’s hand and chuck the football into the spider web. All together we raised $369.65 dollars and all that money will go to the Tasmanian Devils. By Ruby Lardner & Rubie van Norden.
Our Parents and Friends Association would like to thank McCains for their support by donating our chips for Hot Chip Day! Chips are very popular!!! Thank you to our helpers who made lunch possible and thank you to all our families for your ongoing support. $383 was raised for your school!
Tonight's Parents and Friends meeting will be held at the school at 5.30pm, all welcome.
