Early Years Playground

This week our students in Prep - Year 3 have thoroughly enjoyed exploring all  the components of the playground. It has been absolutely fabulous to see how they engage with the different parts. The most interesting response to me has been with the large rocks in the yarning circle. The kids are loving the challenge of going around in circles jumping from rock to rock which I find fascinating. Who knew such simple things could bring such joy? I doubt the same engagement would happen with a series of markers in a circle. Some components are certainly presenting some challenges resulting in a few scraped knees but this all adds to some wonderful personal growth skills we are already seeing- persistence, resilience, risk taking, turn taking and patience. The  different skills required for this play area- crawling (through tunnels), balancing ( floating steps and creek bed crossings), hanging (monkey bars), climbing (spider web, cubby house and mine shaft rope pulley) and navigating obstacles (yarning circle rocks, maze) helps with young children’s brain development that prepares them for learning.

Qld Catholic Education Diocesan Directors visit

Next Tuesday we are hosting the Directors of each Qld Catholic Education Diocese- including the Executive Director for Queensland Catholic Education Commission, Leann Perry, Executive Director for Brisbane Catholic Diocese- Pam Betts, Director for the Rockhampton Catholic Diocese- Leesa Jeffcoat, and our very own Executive Director for Townsville Catholic Education- Jacqui Francis. We thoroughly look forward to showing our guests around St Benedict’s and talking to them about our newly appointed 6 Green Star rating.

Inter-school Athletics

On Monday 3 June, we have almost 30 students representing St Benedict’s at the Inter-school athletics carnival. We wish all our competitors the best and hope they have a very successful day where they can be very proud of their efforts as I know we all will be.

Planning days

Next week we start planning days for our classroom teachers where they are released from class to plan for the next term’s scope of learning. This time for our teachers is a highly valuable opportunity to discuss the progress of their students and to make decisions about the next stages of learning. Our teachers and therefore our students, benefit from the collaborative nature of these days as we take a shared approach to preparing learning experiences that meet the needs of our students.

Yumi Maths

YuMi Deadly Maths is a unique approach of instruction that was developed to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics across Prep to Year 6.  This approach to teaching mathematics is complementary to our current culture of quality hands on activities in the Early Years.

This week we have been busy creating one key resource the YuMi Mat.  YuMi maths gets our students up and moving by providing kinaesthetic activities that cater for, and engage all learners.  We are excited to see where this initiative takes us and look forward to the many wonderful learning experiences to follow.

Speechmakers Competition

Hayden, Emmalisa and Chloe competed in the Young Speechmakers Competition at Southern Cross Catholic College last night and did very well in each of their age-groups. We are very proud of their efforts and they all told me this morning that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you to Pierina Massatto, Lizzy and Nick Chrsitie for preparing the students

Have a fabulous week. Go the mighty maroons!!!!!

Cheers

Penny