Category: Year 3 Blue
Year Three Purposeful Practice Grid – Week Nine
Visiting our Buddies
On Thursday the 9th of June, we went and met our Kindy Blue buddies.
First we walked over to the Kindy area to the Kindy Blue classroom. When we got there we joined our buddies. We introduced ourselves and got to know a little bit about one another.
We then spent some special time together. Some of us went outside and played on the equipment, some played in the sandpit , some played running races (and we found out that the Kindy’s have lots of energy) and others stayed inside and worked on a puzzle or played at the construction table.
We had lots of fun and we are excited to meet with them again soon.
Year Three Purposeful Practice – Weeks Seven & Eight
Year 3 Purposeful Practice Grid – Weeks Four and Five
Naplan Advice for Yr 3 and Yr 5 Parents 2015
Prepare your child for the NAPLAN tests 
by Michael Grose
During the second week of May Australian children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).
The program first implemented in 2008 has drawn opinion from a number of different quarters.
One view commonly put forward is that the NAPLAN tests put undue pressure on children to perform in test situations. If so, then perhaps the best approach for parents and teachers is to help them handle the pressure rather than avoid it. The most resilient children and young people are those who rise to meet rather than retreat from the challenges presented to them.
It’s best to view the NAPLAN tests as good learning experiences rather than dreaded pressure tests.
Children and young people take their cues from their parents about how to handle many situations.
American psychologist Martin Seligman discovered more than a decade ago, through his research into children’s thinking styles, how closely children’s explanatory style mimics that of the parent they spend most time around. Optimistic parents beget optimistic kids, just as anxious parents can beget anxious kids. The impact of a parent’s explanatory style seems to be magnified somehow in small families where there are fewer voices to be heard.
It helps your child, if you as a parent, take a positive view of the NAPLAN tests. It’s better to see them as learning opportunities for kids as well as opportunities for them to overcome any anxieties or nerves that these tests may bring on.
It’s also worth remembering that many children don’t stress over these tests. The vast majority take them in their stride, wondering what all the fuss is about.
Whether your child stresses or take them in his stride here are some tips to help prepare your child or young person for the NAPLAN tests:
1. Take your cues from your child: If your child doesn’t worry about them then neither should you. Be careful not to create a problem that doesn’t exist by incessantly talking about, or worse, worrying about the test.
2. Focus on doing their best & trying hard: Choose your words carefully when you speak with your kids. As with all their learning activities place your focus squarely on effort rather than results. The only pressure on kids should be to try hard rather than to do well.
3. Listen to any concerns they have: If your child confesses to some nerves then validate their feelings, rather than shut them down with a ‘get over it’ response. “Yes, sometimes tests can be a little scary, but they get easier every time you take them.” Use this as an opportunity to develop some emotional smarts, which starts with recognising how kids feel.
4. Give them some relaxation ideas: Anxious or nervous kids will benefit from some simple relaxation strategies. Taking some deep breaths, changing their thinking and exercising the morning of the test are some simple ways to help kids get some feeling of control.
5. Help them retain their perspective: One way to help children who become excessively anxious about an event is to ask what’s the worst thing that could happen? Okay, they may not do as well as they would like but the sun will stay rise tomorrow, if they don’t do as well as they’d like. Keeping perspective is a life skill that we all need to practise.
A positive, caring parent attitude is one of the best gifts you can give a child when they are apprehensive or nervous about approaching any different situation, whether it’s going on school camp, joining a new club or sitting a NAPLAN test.
Year Three Term Two Parent Letter
Year Three Purposeful Practice Grid – Weeks Two & Three
SEQTA ENGAGE
You should have received an email from SEQTA today asking you to set up your SEQTA ENGAGE account that looks like the example below:
After you click on the link, it will take you to the following page where you can set up your account.
If the school has 2 email addresses for your family, you will receive an email to each account and will be able to set up 2 accounts.
You have one week to set up the account from when you received the email.
Once you have set up your username and password, the link to the SEQTA Engage page is:
https://stemilies.coneqt-p.cathednet.wa.edu.au/
Any questions or issues please contact Stuart Munro on munro.stuart@cathednet.wa.edu.au
Sacramental Commitment Masses
Just a reminder that this coming weekend the Sacramental Commitment Masses commence in the Church.
The dates for the masses are:
Saturday 5th March – 6:30 pm
Sunday 6th March – 7.15am, 9 am and 5 pm
Saturday 12th March – 6:30 pm
Sunday 13th March – 7.15am, 9 am and 5 pm
Please find attached the ‘Commitment Mass Ceremony’.
