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Mr Rob Devenish
Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Geographe Grammar School for 2014. It is an exciting year with a number of
developments in a variety of areas.
We have 39 primary students and 1 secondary. This means we have almost doubled in 14
months. New students seem to be settling in well and making a valuable contribution.
The new classrooms and toilet block contract has been signed and we should see
movement on site early next term. This means the old transportable will need to be
shifted this term and relocated to the empty site beyond the library. In effect this will
decommission the old transportable until fully renovated, probably into next year making
the second shed an urgent need.
The gates have been moved and we are optimistic the walls will be in place for Open Day
even though the timing will be tight. We should have new drinking fountains (bubblers)
and fly screens by Open Day as well.
In all a lot is happening and we are most grateful for the kind services given by a number
of parents who have helped to keep the costs affordable.
While we get excited about the developments happening within our school facilities, there
is something far more fundamentally important. Christian schooling is about
acknowledging the truth of Psalm 24:1,2.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it:
for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Here at Geographe Grammar School we will be among the first to say that life is not
religiously neutral. It cannot be. Paul, the writer of Romans in the Bible in chapter 1:25
states the perspective that mankind is by nature religious: the only question being the
object of our religiosity. Theism puts God at the centre. Humanism puts man at the
centre. Either way, man is religious.
Geographe Grammar School endeavours to present to students the options between
humankind being the object of worship in all activities or God being the object of worship
in all activities. The right to choose is a God given right, which we strongly respect and is
not ours to remove. We count it a privilege to have a part in your child’s education and
look forward to 2014 as a year where your children will prosper and find fulfilment in all
aspects of their schooling.
Rob Devenish
Principal
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Marine Studies ........................................... 2
Music .......................................................... 3
French......................................................... 4
Kindergarten and Pre-Primary ................ 5
Junior Room .............................................. 7
Senior Students.......................................... 9
Term 1 Issue 1
2014
Lot 101 Leisure Drive Australind WA 6233
Phone: (08) 9725 8282 Fax: (08) 9825 8270
Email: [email protected]
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Sailing has been extremely encouraging for the coach. To see all children
participating on either a Wednesday or Thursday and developing skills is
nothing short of inspiring. Seeing Lincoln sail out into the Leschenault
Inlet, turn, capsize and come up smiling impressed me.
(His dad’s swimming is impressive too.) Children are generally not fazed
by getting it wrong unless we make a fuss of it. There is something innate
in them that recognises that making mistakes is the modus-operandi of
learning.
Special thanks go to all the parents who have got in the water to help
their children learn. It is truly wonderful to see the smiles on the
children’s faces and the parents’ for that matter.
Our older children are wanting racing now, but are learning that sailing
towards the wind has its challenges. Solution: TOW. Ask any child and
they can tell what it means.
Marine Studies
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MRS AKSE
During the School holidays
Mrs Akse completed Early Childhood Level 1 Music (2 week course) at the Cuskelly College of Music in Brisbane. The Kodaly approach is a very structured and sequential au-ral-based music curriculum. Kodaly believed in the im-portance of the use of the voice for developing the lan-guage of music.
“The characteristics of a good musician are a well-trained ear, a well-trained intelligence, a well-trained heart and a well-trained hand.” Kodaly
This multi-sensorial approach to music encourages children to experience music with movement, visual aids and listening. Young children liter-ally ‘soak up’ every experience like ‘sponges’. Children’s aural and listening skills develop as they learn to recognise and distinguish sounds, finding patterns in sounds, remem-bering and ordering sounds, copying and remembering sounds through songs, rhymes and games. Children also ex-perience the beat and rhythms through active movement in music classes and enjoy the different rhythmic ‘feel’ of words, songs and music.
It is wonderful to see children enjoying singing, dancing and playing clapping games with such fun and enjoyment.
“Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing with thanks in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:17
Classical Guitar tuition starting in term 2.
To be involved please see Mrs Akse.
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It is wonderful to have students who actually remember a great deal of what they’ve learned last year! I was pleasantly surprised as this isn’t easy when one doesn’t practice for quite some time. It was lovely to see some new students and to welcome them in the French class. They have demonstrated an amazing ability in catching up!
Learning about fruit, really suited the season and eating a lovely fruit salad was part of the fun when learning the French names of these yummy and healthy things.
The Kindergarten and Pre-primary students were discovering the existence of a country called France and many had their first taste of this beautiful language;
saying their name and learning colours and numbers in French through lots of fun games.
The Senior class did a drawing about a highlight of their holiday and learned to tell it in French. Colours, numbers and days of the week were revised through games and some serious work. They also started learning to play the game ‘Guess Who?’ using French questions and answers.
Congratulations to the Junior class who created and played their own colour bingo game. They lent it to the Senior class who thoroughly enjoyed it as well.
Good for a laugh: A French friend of mine saw a “For sale” sign and asked why it said: “Very dirty” That is indeed the meaning when said with a French pronunciation!
Les Fruits
French
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Outside Play
Kindergarten and Pre-Primary
Mrs Reid
In the first few weeks
of school the children
learn the social skills
of sharing, taking
turns, co-operation
and considering
others. As you can see
by the photos, the
children are already
beginning to form
friendships.
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Group A (Kookaburras) develop fine motor
skills through play on the Play-dough table.
Group B (Magpies) develop math’s skills
through play in the Block Corner.
ART READING CORNER
SENSORY TABLE CONSTRUCTION AND FINE MOTOR
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Associating a worded number with a concrete amount – students are given a symbolised number and must use the letters to form the word, then create a concrete example, photographing their work on the Ipads.
Junior Room
STUDENTS CREATE A ‘SCHOOL’ IN LEGO
(SPATIAL AWARENESS AND MAPPING).
Numeracy is a focus in all learning
areas in years one to three. In the
junior room students are regularly
immersed in concrete activities that
enable them to think mathematically
and practice their understanding in
‘real’ situations. These activities vary
from day to day, however they all
support learning because they begin
with tactile opportunities that lead to,
thinking, talking, doing and finally,
communicating their conclusions.
Construction enhances spatial aware-
ness and problem solving skills; visual
and concrete counting opportunities
provide repetition in practice that
allows students to move towards
visualisation in later learning when
thinking mathematically. This term
students have been expanding their
knowledge of the patterns in counting.
The pictures below provide an example
of some of the activities they have been
involved in.
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Mrs Hooper
STUDENTS CHALLENGED TO CREATE A TRACK FOR THE
BALL TO ROLL DOWN
(PROBLEM SOLVING, MATHEMATICAL THINKING AND SPATIAL
AWARENESS SKILLS).
STUDENTS WORKING HARD IN THEIR MENTAL
MATHS PRACTICE BOOKS
(PROBLEM SOLVING AND NUMBER REVISION )
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BIBLE STUDIES
In Biblical Studies, students have
been learning that just like us, God
has many names that tell us about
his character. He is Jehovah Jireh
( my provider), Jehovah shalom
(my peace), Jehovah Shammah
(always there for me) and best of
all , Jehovah aba ( daddy). As we
move through the history of
Israel , students are beginning to
see that God was all these things
for His people and because God
never changes, this means He is
still the same today…
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Dancing and singing during devotions.
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"Fill your house with
stacks of books, in
all the crannies and
all the nooks."— Dr. Seuss
Mrs Akse
The Senior students have shown an
impressive effort in home-reading this
term; reading and sharing their
favourite books and authors. Our
classroom has a great collection of
novels with Lexile levels which help
students to select books they can read
and which interest them to encourage
a ‘love of reading’. The online Lexile
quizzes motivate students to test their
comprehension after reading. These
quizzes can also be completed online
at home. Bonus points are added to
students Lexile points after successful-
ly completing a book quiz or reading
response.
Congratulations to Cianna and Dylan
for receiving their 25 points blue
award and Charla for her 50 points red
award certificates.
In class, students are writing reading respons-
es and creating an i-movie Book Review Video
with help from Dylan our i-movie director and
editor. Read this great extract from Joel’s
book review:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie loves chocolate. Every day he would
pass the chocolate factory in his town and this
chocolate factory was the BIGGEST in the
world! But Charley Bucket was so poor that he
only got one chocolate bar a year for his birth-
day. On his way to school it was just torture to
see kids nibbling on chocolate bars.
But soon Charlie’s luck would change. I think
Charlie and the Chocolate factory is the best
book I have read. It is a book full of humour,
action and surprises.
Senior Students
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The senior class are investigating plants biology. Plants are an important part of the world that
God made. He created every type of plant, tree, bush, fruit and vegetable. Learning about
plants and animals, their similarities and differences helps us appreciate the beauty and design
of God’s creation. One difference is that plants do not have skeletons. So why do plants feel
‘crunchy’ when many animals feel ‘soft’? And how do plants stand up if they don’t have
skeletons? These are some of the questions the senior students will investigate scientifically.
This week the students used celery stalks to see how water travels from the ground up to the
leaves of trees.
Try our experiment at home using a flower. Mix food colouring in two different
colours in two glasses, so they are different colours. Use a white flower, like a
carnation and very carefully split the bottom half of the stem with a knife so it
looks like it has two legs. Put one leg of the flower into each glass. Leave it for
an hour and watch what happens. If you leave it over night you should be able to
make a flower with different colours on the ends of the petals.
SCIENCE
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Swan Online is a great schooling system. It has managed to create classes out of nothing. From people in Kununurra to people in Perth they can all get together and work on the same project and collaborate in a great working environment. Although it may seem that you have to be computer savvy to use this system it’s all very simple and the teachers will answer your questions personally.
Doing schoolwork is the exact same as if you were in a classroom of 20. You can do things like dissect hearts and brains, write narratives and biographies, create castles and learn about the ancient societies of the world, you can even learn how tax and interest rates work.
The education which comes from Swan Online is based on how you work as well as others; say if you were in year 7 and you could do year 9 class standard work you would be put with the year 9’s and still communicate with all the year 7’s. The social aspect of Swan Online is very casual you Skype your teachers once a week and get together to discuss what you are doing that week. If you can’t attend a Skype session then you can sometimes have a private one for catch-up. Swan Online is one of the very best schools I have been to, its easy to use, it teaches me what I want to know and I have friends from all over WA.
MEET DYLAN STUDYING
THROUGH SWAN ONLINE
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Book and Biscuit Night It was fantastic to see parents and grandparents enjoying reading
together and sharing favourite books. See photos below.
Constable Care Incursion
On Tuesday 11th March students enjoyed a Constable Care
incursion on safety and the role of the Police in the Community
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WOOORDS Wooords is a word game. Move letters like fridge magnets to make as many words as possible.
Wooords is easy to play and fun to play with your friends or just challenge yourself.
MATHMATEER Mathmateer is a math game covering counting, odd and even numbers, basic number facts and
times-tables. When the rocket reaches space the fun begins. Tap the numbers as quick as possible before it lands. Try to beat your own high score and earn money to build and design your own
rockets.
MATHLETICS Mathletics is now available as a free app. All students can also access their
account at www.mathletics.com.au
OUR FAVOURITE APPS
Great app to learn French
Free on itunes.
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Thank you to Harvey Community Radio for broadcasting our school notices every Friday between 4pm and 5pm on 96.5fm
If the office is closed, our Principal Mr Rob Devenish can be contacted for enrolments or emergencies on
0408 557 929 Please leave a detailed message with your number
if the phone is not answered.
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GEOGRAPHE GRAMMAR SCHOOL Term 1 Calendar 2014 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
WEEK 1
3 FEB
4 FEB 5 FEB 6 FEB Class Parent
Meetings 2.30pm
7 FEB Violin
WEEK 2
10 FEB
11 FEB 12 FEB Sailing
13 FEB Sailing
Music Meeting 2.30pm
14 FEB
WEEK 3
17 FEB
18 FEB 19 FEB Sailing
20 FEB Piano Sailing
21 FEB Violin
WEEK 4
24 FEB Book &
Biscuit Night 6pm
25 FEB 26 FEB Sailing
27 FEB Piano Sailing
28 FEB Violin
WEEK 5
3 MAR Public Holiday
4 MAR Assembly &
Sausage Sizzle
2.15pm
5 MAR Sailing
6 MAR Piano Sailing
7 MAR Violin
WEEK 6
10 MAR
11 MAR 12 MAR Sailing
13 MAR Piano Sailing
14 MAR Violin
WEEK 7
17 MAR
18 MAR K/PP Dolphin
Discovery Runners &
Fitness Club
19 MAR Peel Zoo Years 1–3
Sailing
20 MAR Piano Sailing
21 MAR Violin
Harmony Day Morning Tea
WEEK 8
24 MAR
25 MAR Runners &
Fitness Club
26 MAR Sailing
27 MAR Piano Sailing
28 MAR Violin
WEEK 9
31 MAR
1 APR Runners &
Fitness Club
2 APR Sailing
3 APR Piano/Sailing
Music Concert 2pm
4 APR Violin
OPEN DAY SATURDAY 5th APRIL
WEEK 10
7 APR
8 APR Runners &
Fitness Club
9 APR Australian Chamber Orchestra
Sailing
10 APR Piano Sailing
11 APR Hike 1
Whole School
Students return for Term 2: Monday 28th
April 2014
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