The beginning of a new term always brings such excitement! Students and teachers have had a chance to rest, restore and refill their cup. The anticipation of a clean slate, new goals to set and friendships to consolidate give us much to look forward to.

Term 3 always has plenty on offer: MS Readthon, Delicious and Delightful festival, Culture Day, Optiminds, Book Week, Shake N Stir dramatic performances and swimming for Prep-Year 3 classes, just to name a few! As round 1 of enrolment draws to a close and paperwork is finalised, we look forward to welcoming many new friends to our Shooting Stars pre-Prep program later in the term. In addition to these extra-curricular activities, teachers have continued to plan engaging lessons utilising high impact teaching strategies to deliver the curriculum. We look forward to a wonderful term ahead.

Over the next week, all Early Years classes will receive an email outlining the course overviews for the learning that will happen in each year level. These are intentionally sent home at the BEGINNING of each term so that you can support your child by referring back to these to discuss the learning that is happening. It is particularly helpful to phrase these discussions using the questions that we use at the College as part of our Visible Learning journey –

• What are you learning? (students refer to the Learning Intention in class)
• How are you doing? How do you know? (students check the Success Criteria to respond to this)
• How can you improve? (what feedback do you have from the teacher or peers that can help to bump your learning up?)
• Where will you go for help?

You should also be hearing plenty of mention of the Learning Dispositions and the Learning Pit during these discussions. Feel free to share any stories back to either your teacher or myself as we love to hear how the learning conversations happen at home.

In wonderful news, we are finally able to begin our Little Stars Playgroup this term! We welcome a new co-ordinator, Mrs Nicole Horchner, who is looking forward to connecting with families! Details include:

Who?  Parents and children under school age – bring a friend as well!

When? Every Friday during school terms, 9:00am-11:00am

Where? OLSCC Prep Green room

What? Bring along a fruit snack, drink and hat for your child, meet other young families and have fun!

Playgroup will begin NEXT WEEK on Friday 22 July. As the school is closed in week 3 for Bishop’s Inservice Day for all staff, the next playgroup will occur in Week 4, Friday 5 August.

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years