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Tuesday 6th February, 2018

PRE-PRIMARY

StJude’sCatholicSchoolVisionStatement

St.Jude’sCatholicSchool

isacompassionateandwelcomingcommunity.

WecentreourlearninginChrist

andstrivetoachieveexcellence,

Asweaffirm,nurtureanddevelop

theuniquegiftsofeachchild.

DearParents,

IwouldliketotaketheopportunitytowelcomeyoutoPre-Primary.Wehavehadawonderfulstartandwearelookingforwardtoafunfilledyearoflearning.Wehopethiswillbeahappyandrewardingyearforyouandwelookforwardtoestablishingaqualitypartnershipwithyousothattogetherwecansharethebigresponsibilityofteachingandguidingyouryoungchildinlearningandinlife!ThisbookletgivesyouanoverviewofsomeoftheareasthatareimportantforPre-Primaryparentstoknowandreminderstoassistwiththesmoothrunningofclassroomandschoolroutines.Thankyouforyourattendancethisevening.Welookforwardtoahappyandrewardingyear.GERALBUSINESS• Theclassroomdoorsopenat8.30ameverymorningandyouarewelcometocomeinandtakealook

throughourclass.Thisisnotatimeforinterviews.Ifyouneedtoseeme,pleasemakeanappointmentandIwilltrytomeetwithyouassoonaspossible.

• Asyoucomeinthedoortheteacherandteacherassistantswillgreetyouandyourchild.Afterthisthechildrenwillbepromptedtorevisethewritingoftheirname.Youcanremainwithyourchilduntilthebellisrung.Whenthehandbellisrung,pleasegiveyourchildakissandcuddleandsitthemonthematforthemtobegintheirday.

• Drinkbottles:Childrenarepermittedtohavedrinkbottlesintheclassroomaslongastheyarefilledwithwaterandhaveasecurelid.

• Attendance:ItisimportantthatifyourchildisawayformorethanhalfadaythatIreceiveadatednoteexplainingtheirabsenceassoonaspossible.ThesenotesarekeptintheAttendanceRecord.Absenteenotescanbefoundintheschoolofficeforyoutouse.

• Ifyoupickyourchildupearlyortheyneedtoleavetheschoolforanappointmentitisimportantthatyougototheofficeandfillinagreen'FreetoGo'sheet.Ifyourchildisrunninglateandarriveafterthesiren,youwillneedtofillina'latearrivalatschool'yellowslip.

• Specialistteachers:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday DigitalTechnologieswithMs.Allen.

-SciencewithMrWhite.-MusicwithMrs.Murray.

VisualArtswithMrs.Cattrall.

-PhysicalEducationwithMrWhite(factioncolouredshirt).-LibrarywithMrs.Cattrall.

Ihopethatthechildrenhaveafantasticyear.

Regards,

MissNatalieGuagliardonatalie.guagliardo@cewa.edu.au

GENERALBUSINESS

ThePre-Primaryprogramiscarefullyplannedbytheteacherstoencouragedevelopmentalgrowthinthemajordomainsoflanguage,social,emotional,creative,physicalandcognitivelearning.Yourchildwillbeimmersedinlanguageandwillparticipateinactivitiesassociatedwiththemainareasoflearning:

- English,Mathematics,ReligiousEducation,HealthandPhysicalEducation,Science,HASS(HumanitiesandSocialSciences),Music,TheArts,JapaneseandDigitalTechnology.

AsyourchildisattendingaCatholicschooltheywillalsobeimmersedinlivingthewordsofthelifeofJesus.ThinkingaboutWhatwouldJesusdo?Yourchildwillhavemanynewexperiencesandlearnmanynewskills.Someofwhichwillinclude:

- Developsocialskills- Careforselfandbelongings- Shareandthinkofothers- Facenewchallengesandtakenewrisks- Buildself-esteemandexpressself- Workcooperativelywithclassmembers- Problemsolve- Developindependence- Exploreandbecreative- Careforlivingthingsandtheenvironment- Roleplay- Singanddance- Listentoothersandfollowinstructions- Describeandclassify- Count,addonandsubtract- Expandvocabulary- Recognisesoundsinwords- Writethesoundsinwords- Begintoread- Learnsomesightwords- Spellphonetically- Writesimplesentences- Usebasicpunctuationand- Much,muchmore!

Thechildrenwillbeinvolvedinanumberofprojectsthatareongoingthroughouttheyear.Cutting,tearing,drawingandfoldingarejustsomeofthefinemotorskillsthataresousefulingettinglittlefingersandhandsreadyforwriting.

WhatwillmychildbedoinginPre-Primary?

OngoingProjectsinPre-Primary

ThePrePrimarybehaviourmanagementpolicyencourageschildrentoberesponsiblethroughmakinggoodchoices.Responsibilityisencouragedthroughthedevelopmentofself-confidence,self-relianceandself-directioninasecureandindependentsettingwherechildrenhaveclearlydefinedrules.Thechildrenareinvolvedintheserulesthatwillbeenforcedconsistentlyandfairly.Throughthisprocesschildrenwillcometounderstandthepositiveandnegativeconsequencesoftheiractions.TheroleofthePrePrimarystaffistoencouragepositivebehaviour(throughpositivereinforcement)thereforeencouragingthechildrentomakegoodchoices.Childrenareassistedandencouragedtoproblemsolveminorissuesastheyarise.Consequencesofundesirablebehaviourareoutlinedinourbehaviourmanagementplanbelow.Intheeventofundesirablebehaviourthefollowingbehaviourmanagementplanwillbeimplemented.

1. Verbalwarning.2. Namemovestoyellowonthetrafficlight(secondverbalwarning).3. Timeoutinclassroomto‘sitandthink’(namemovestoredonthetrafficlight).4. Timeoutinourbuddyclassroom.5. Meetingwithparentsandteacher.6. Principalinterventiontodeterminepossibleconsequencesinaccordancewithour

schoolbehaviourmanagementpolicies.

Our Class RulesLooking Eyes

Listening Ears

Quiet Mouth

Helping Hands

Walking Feet

ClassRules

BehaviourManagementPlan

BehaviourManagement

DuringtheyearwewillfollowtheEarlyYearsLearningFramework(EYLF),NationalQualityStandards(NQS)andcoverthekeylearningareasatfoundationlevelasinstigatedbytheWesternAustralianCurriculumintheplanningofprogramsandtheassessmentofthechildren’slearning.AtStJude’sPre-Primary,westrivetobechildcentered,balanced,relevantandinteresting.Thecontentandframeworkfortheprogramisprovidedthroughthethemeswhicharesimpletopicsofinterestthatwefocusontoengagechildren’sinterestinlearning.However,forlearningtoberelevant,theprogramremainsflexible.Timeisalwaysallowedforincidentallearningandchildinitiatedtopics,whichmaywellplacethedirectionofthelearningoutoftheparticulartheme.ThisallowsustokeepwiththeEarlyYearsLearningFramework(E.Y.L.F.)documentwhereitisproposedthatchildrenare‘confidentandinvolvedlearners’.Childrenarenaturallearners–theyarecurious,interestedandenthusiasticaboutlearningnewthings.Itissoimportantthatwenurtureandstimulatethiseagernesstolearnnewthings.Wemustresisttheurgetorushorpushthechildrentodotoomuch,toosoon,toofast.Ourgoalistoprovideadiversecurriculumthatallowschildrentolearnthroughrelevantandmeaningfulactivitiesthataccommodatedifferentlearningstyles,individualinterestsandpreferences.

Weaimtoprovideopportunitiesforallchildrentoreachtheirindividualpotential.Withthisinmind,ourEarlyChildhoodCentrehasadaptedthePlayBasedLearningApproachintheirclasses.This approach provides a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations.

Pre-PrimaryPedagogy–PlayBasedLearningApproach

Pre-PrimaryCurriculum

Manychildrenhavealreadycommencedpre-readingandpre-writingactivitiesandwewillcontinuetodeveloptheirliteracyskills.ThemostfrequentlyaskedquestioninPre-Primaryis,‘Willmychildlearntoreadandwrite?’andtheansweris‘Yes,ofcourse!’,butonlywithyoursupport.YourchildhasbeenlearningaboutliteracyandlanguagelongbeforetheybeganPre-Primary.Wefindthatmanyparentsgetalittlestressedabouttheirchild’sprogressatschoolandtendtocomparetheirchild’sprogressagainstotherchildren’s.Alwaysrememberthatchildrendevelopattheirownpace.Theylearnttocrawlandwalkatdifferentpacesandtheywilllearntoreadandwriteattheirownpace.Ifyoudowanttohelpyourchildatschoolandgivethemthebeststartpossible,

Readaloudtoyourchildren.

Thisisbyfar,thebestassistanceyoucangivetoyourchildren.

Whenyoureadaloudtoyourchildren,ensureyouarebothcomfortableandrelaxed.Wantingtolearntoreadcomesfromthehappinessofreading.Readingaloudtochildrenearlyinliferapidlyincreasestheirspeaking,listeningandreadingskills.Werecommendthatparentsreadacopyof‘ReadingMagic’byMemFox,anAustralianauthor.Thisisaneasyreadandexplainsthefullbenefitsofreadingaloudtoyourchildrenregularly.Toassistandsupportyourchildastheydeveloptheirknowledgeofreadingandwriting,weuseastrongbaseofphonemicawareness.Theseskillsfollowadevelopmentalcontinuumofskillsthroughwhichthechildrenwillprogressthrough.Inthefirstsemester,wewillbeginwithrevisionofrhymeandsyllableidentificationandreproduction,thenmoveontoinitialsoundrecognitionandproduction.Thesearetheskillsthatchildrenneedtobeginreadingandwriting.

AtStJude’sweuseNSWFoundationfont.Itisimportantthatthechildrenareawarethatmanyprintingstylesexist,however,youcanhelpthembymodellingNSWFoundationfontathome.Hereisasampleofthefont:

ReadingandWriting

Handwriting

InPrePrimaryyourchildwillhaveasamplefolderoftheirwork.Thefolderwillcontainavarietyofworksamplesofyourchild’sworkacrossvariouslearningareas.AttheendoftheyearthefolderwillgohomewithyourchildandremainathomeasamementoforyouandyourchildoftheirgrowthandexperiencesinPrePrimary.Alongwithyourchild’sworksamplefolder,youwillalsohaveaccesstoyourchild’sonlinedigitalportfolio.WewillusetheapplicationcalledSeesawtodocumentlivemomentsofyourchild’slearningeachweek.Seesawwillgiveyouanimmediateandpersonalisedwindowintoyourchild’sschoolday.Asignupletterwassenthomethisweektohelpyouloginandaccessyourchild’sportfolio.

Itiscompulsoryforyourchildtoreceiveaformal,writtenreportattheendofeachsemester.Associetyisnowbecomingmoretechnologicalandpaperfree,wewillemailyourchild’sreporttoyou.Usingthisfacility,wewillalsobesendingimportantreminderstoyouandtheweeklyschoolnewsletter.Pleaseadvisetheofficeofanychangestoyourmobilenumberoryouremailaddressimmediately.Thechildrenwillbetakenonexcursionsduringtheyear.Anotewillbesenthometoparents/guardianspriortotheexcursionwithinformationandaconsentform.Theconsentformmustbesignedandreturnedtotheteacherbeforetheexcursion,otherwiseweareunabletotakeyourchildwithus.Wemayaskparentstoaccompanyusonexcursionsandpreferifyoucouldmakearrangementsforother,youngersiblings.WelovetocelebratebirthdaysandspecialoccasionsatPre-Primary.Ifyouwouldliketosendinlittlecakesortreatsforthechildrentoshare,wewillcelebrateyourchild’sbirthdayafterfruittime.Pleaseletyourteacherknowbeforehand.WeaskthattherebeNOnutsornutproductssenttoschool.

Portfolio

Reporting

Excursions

SpecialOccasions

1. Waterbottle(withnameon)2. Lunchbox(withnameon)3. StJude’sschoolbag(ifpossible)(withnameon)4. Satchelwithcommunicationfolder(bothwithnameon)5. Hat(withnameon)6. Librarybag(withnameon)7. Completechangeofclothes–top,bottoms,underwear,socks(withnameon)

TherearemanychildreninPre-Primaryanditisimpossibleforustotellthedifferencebetweeneveryone’sitems.

Parentsmustescortandwaitwiththeirchilduntilthedoorisopenat8:30am.Pleasebeawarethatthereismuchthatneedstobepreparedforyourchildrenbeforethedaybegins,sowearehappytomeetwithyouafterschoolatyourconvenience,ifyouwouldliketodiscussyourchild’sprogressoranissueclosetoyourheart.Anallocatedchildwillringthehandbellat8:45amtobeginpackingbooksaway.Pleasegiveyourchildahugandakissandleadthemtothemattobeginourday.Schoolfinishesat3:00pmandchildrennotcollectedby3:15pmwillbeescortedtositoutsidetheofficeunderthewatchfuleyeoftheverybusyadministrativeteam.However,pleaseensurethatyouareheretocollectyourchildontime,becausetheycanbecomeupsetifyouarerunninglate.Pleaseletyourchild’steacherknowifsomebodynotlistedas‘emergencycontacts’willbecollectingyourchild,aswewillnothandoveryourchildintothecareofunknownpersonsifstaffhavenot

beeninformedandyouhavegivenyourpermission.

Pre-Primarychildrendonotweartheformalschooluniform.AstheyarestillinEarlyChildhood,weaskthattheyweartheschoolsportsuniform.Thisconsistsofayellowsportshirtfourdaysperweekandafactioncolouredshirtonsportdays.StJude’sgreensportshorts,whitesocksandmostlywhitesportshoes.InTerms2and3,thisisreplacedwithlonggreensportpantsandalongsleeved,v-neckjumperorzipupjacket.Thesearetheonlyclothesallowedatschool,apartfromdress-updays.

Girlsareabletoweargreenorgoldelastics,ribbons,clipsandscrunchies.Thesearetheonlyhairaccessoriesavailabletoweartoschool.

WhattobringtoPre-Primary

ArrivalandDeparture

Uniform

ParentsareinvitedtoseethePre-PrimaryTeachershouldyouhaveanyquestionsregardingyourchild’sprogressordevelopment.Ifyouwishtospeaktotheteacheratlength,pleasemakeanappointmentatamutuallyconvenienttime.Thiswillusuallybeafterschool.Ifyourchildisgoingtobeabsentfromschool,parentsareaskedtopleasecontacttheschoolofficeon63502500before9:00am.Whenyourchildreturnstoschoolyouwillneedtoprovideawrittennotewiththereasonfortheabsenceandthedates.Ifyourchildrequiresmedicationforanyreason,evenPanadol,weaskthatyoucompletetheappropriateconsentformsfromtheschooloffice.Writtenauthoritymustbereceivedwithclearinstructionsaboutwhat,howmuchandwhenmedicationisrequired.Therearechildreninourschoolwhohaveacuteallergieswithcatastrophicrepercussions.Itisforthisreasonthatwesincerelytrustthatyouwillunderstandwhenwerequestthatnochildbringsanynutproductsaspartoftheirpackedrecessorlunch.Pre-PrimarychildrenmayordertheirlunchesfromthecanteenonaMondayorWednesdayfromtheKindy/Pre-Primaryreducedmenu.Pleasewriteyourchild’snameandclass(P.P.)onalunchorderbagwiththecorrectmoneyandplaceitintheclasslunchbasketuponarrivalinthemorning.PleasebeawarethatPre-Primarychildrendonotvisitthecanteenandthereforetheyareunabletopurchaseitemsdirectlyfromthecanteenforeitherrecessorlunch.WetrulylovehavingparentsandgrandparentsonrosterinPre-Primary.Whenyouareonrosteryouareaskedtostayandhelpintheclassroomuntilrecess.Youwillbeassistingwithanarrayofdifferentactivitiesrangingfromcleaningtohelpingasmallgroupofchildren.PleasedonotbringsiblingsonyourrostereddayasyourPre-Primarychildenjoyshavingyoutothemselves,ifjustforalittlewhile.Wewillputtherostersuponcethechildrenhavesettledintotheirroutine.

Appointments

Absentees

Medication

Allergies

Canteen

ParentRoster

ParentalassistanceinclassroomsisaveryimportantpartofmoderneducationandsomethingwhichthePre-Primarystaffareveryappreciative.Itmustbestressedhoweverthat,justasteachersareexpectedtomaintainhighstandardsofconfidentiality,classroomvolunteersshouldbeverycarefulnottodiscusswithothers,thebehaviourorabilitiesofstudents.Inthisway,weallsafeguardthefeelingsofothersandkeepaliveourChristianspirit.Wewouldappreciatehelpwithourlaundryroster.ItwillbeplacedonthePre-Primarynoticeboardeveryterm.Thelaundryincludesaprons,teatowels,handtowelsandoccasionallyotheritems.ThewashingwillbesenthomewithyourchildonaFridayandshouldbereturnedonthefollowingMonday.Unfortunately,headlicearepartandparcelofcomingtoschool.Pleasebediligentandcheckyourchild’shairregularly,preferablyonceaweek.Aheadlicefactsheetisavailablefromtheschooloffice.Atvarioustimesduringtheyearwewillnotifyparentsthatweareinneedofrecyclablematerials.Theseincludecardboardboxes,oldcards,ribbon,lace,buttons,socks,milkformulatins,corks,cleanlids,wooletc.Sopleasedonotthrowthemaway.PleasekeepALLtoys,jewelleryandpreciousthingsathomebecausewecannotguaranteethattheywillnotbebrokenorlost.IfyourchildisreceivingameritawardatassemblyonaFriday,wewillcontactyoubyThursdayafternoontoinformyouofthisspecialevent.Toenableusaseducatorstocontinuallydocumentyourchild’slearning,weusuallytakephotosorvideosoftheminactionparticipatinginorcompletinganactivity.Thesepiecesofevidencearethensavedtoourdeviceandaresometimesuploadedtoourschoolwebpage,whichisavailableforparentsandfamilytoview.Pleasecompletethephotographicpermissionformbyapprovingornotapprovingyourchild’simageappearingontheStJude’swebsite.

Confidentiality

Headlice

Recycling

Toys,JewelleryandValuables

MeritAwards

PhotographsandVideo

LaundryRoster

Ihopethatthechildrenhaveafantasticyear.

Regards,

MissNatalieGuagliardonatalie.guagliardo@cewa.edu.au