Week 5 Term 1

Thursday 4th March 2021

Telephone: (08) 89552000 Text: 0418 191 388

Facebook: ross park primary school alice springs

Email: rosspark.school@education.nt.gov.au

Website: www.schools.net.edu.au/rosspark

Ross Park Primary School

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Well here we are - the mid-point of Term1!

Thank you to the parents and families who attended the Annual General Meeting last Monday afternoon. The Chairperson’s and Principal’s reports highlighted the unique challenges faced in 2020 due to COVID-19 and acknowledged and praised the efforts of Ross Park staff, students and families to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all school community members.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Klerck for his leadership of the School Council in 2020 (a year to be remembered for many years to come), as he resigns from the position as Chairperson and the Council. Jade Kudrenko, Sarah Robertson, Beverley Russ, Alyson Kennedy, Endang Luu and Stephen Yates will also be resigning or completing their term on the Council. Their contributions have been appreciated.

A Student Representative Council (SRC) is a group of students elected by their class peers to represent students within the school. SRCs work

democratically, with support by a nominated teacher, to represent the student body in school decision-making and organise ways for students to participate in and enjoy school life. The elected SRC members include the ideas of the junior students through short surveys or questionnaires. They take responsibility for promoting and organising special events which may include uniform free days, fundraising activities for identified projects, school dance/ socials, charity work or community services an, on occasion, may combine their efforts with Team Leaders.

Year 3-6 students were invited to present a short speech this week to

persuade the audience, their class peers, to vote for them as their student representative for the 2021 Student Representative Council. Across the 11 classes nominations ranged between 5 and 14 candidates for the position. The teachers and students prepared for the event by discussing and identifying the language features and techniques of persuasion such as: adjectives, adverbs and emotive language, the use of puns/ slogans/ jokes or personal anecdotes to connect with the audience, rhetorical questions and direct questions to involve the audience in the presentations. I was very delighted to see and hear the skill level of many of the students in both oral language skills and speech writing skills. We may have future politicians in our midst.

It was also interesting to see the different voting processes within the classes, with some using prepared ballot papers and a one vote system, while others included points and preferences and others required students to write 2-3 names on a piece of paper and teachers tallied the votes. There was excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation up to this point! Whilst the announcement of the selected candidate brought elation and joy to the individual, the other candidates needed to manage emotions of disappointment, dis-satisfaction, unhappiness or even anger. All these emotions are normal and to be expected and our job is to help children manage them effectively and to develop emotional regulation strategies. I was happy to see so many ‘bounce’ back quickly and able to congratulate the elected classmate. Thank you to families who provided guidance, advice and support to their child/children throughout the process. One successful candidate has already fulfilled her election promise of ‘if I win, Mum and I will make cupcakes for the class’. Badges will be presented at next week’s assembly.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is about developing the ability to care for others, making responsible decisions, establishing positive relationships and handling challenging situations. These skills

are essential for developing resilience and the personal attributes that promote wellness, prevent illness and support recovery. To complement the ongoing SEL program Year 5 and 6 students will also be participating in the Rock and Water course, a 10 lesson program, delivered by trained facilitators, Mr Adami and Ms Gilbert.

Emotional intelligence means being able to read your own and other’s emotions and being able to respond

to the emotions of others in a cooperative, functional and empathetic manner.’ John Gottman

SUZI BURGESS

MOOOOO-POKE!

Students from Transition Blueys read the book and copied the artwork, using natural materials (and their imaginations!).

Dates to Remember

• STUDENT FREE DAY

Tuesday 6th April (no students at school while staff undertake professional development)

• End of Term 1: Friday 9th April

• Start of Term 2: Monday 19th

April

WEEK 5 TERM 1 PAGE 2

The Ross Park Primary School Annual General Meeting was held last Monday evening and was well supported. Ms Gilbert’s 5/6 students, led by Ms Young, had all toes tapping with their performance of the Heel and Toe Polka. New School Councillors are:

Laura Heaslip

Robert Jennings

Deepika Mathur

Mike Cawthorn

Chris Hatzimihail

Amy Marcic

Bryan McKain.

Two vacancies remain—if anyone else would like to nominate, it’s not too late! Let Pauli in the school office know.

The first meeting of the new Council is scheduled for Monday 15th March at 7.00pm in the staffroom—all welcome!

CUTE .… CREEPY...

Parent Mark Carter visited Transition classes this week so that our little students could have a cuddle of a guinea pig! No-one wanted to cuddle the

Huntsman spider he also brought along...

and...CAREFUL!

Bees were investigated this week too, with the help of parent James Tudor. The best part of the process was tasting the honey!

Central Australia Child Oral Health Services provides free oral health checks to all children from infancy to the end of senior school. Phone 89516713 for appointments.

Werte families!

This week we are talking Brain Breaks - to the uninitiated these are brief movement snacks used in the classroom to improve focus, but they can be a useful tool in your home toolbox too!

Here are a couple of my favourites:

1. Cross Pattern Plank: Maintaining a

plank pose facing each other, lift one hand and diagonally high five, swapping hands each time to a total of 20 hand taps. If you can’t find a friend, use a mirror and tap your reflection. Alternatively you can use an object like a ball to reach out and touch.

2. Standing Tall: use different parts of your body to write tall words like your name, the week’s spelling words or draw pictures. Some fun favourites include your nose, your elbow, your toes and your bottom!

Move well and remember to take a breath and enjoy every moment.

Katie Thompson, Coordinator

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

4/5 Eagles are learning how to follow a design brief, working co-operatively and safely. In groups, students design and build a boat, that needs to float, carry a heavy load, not take on water or sink and be made from recycled materials. Testing the boats today was great fun!

(In preparation for Mothers Day craft in Term 2, we are looking for any unwanted/unused teacups and mugs, as well as the Discovery Garden seeds from Woolies, Thanks in anticipation!)

“BEING ABLE TO GIVE STUDENTS A VOICE—to be able to communicate what they want, how they’re feeling, to comment—to do all those things we as adults take for granted, is really powerful.”

Ethos of a Victorian School

TEAM LEADERS

Congratulations to these students who were chosen by their peers to represent our school Houses:

Burton: Anthony, Banjo, Aaron, Lydia, Millie

Robb: Chloe, Rylee, Jude, Angas, Lexi

Standley: Chrissy, Nic, Riley, Olivia, Atticus

Taylor: Layla, Olive, Harley, Ava, Joe.

HUGE INTEREST!

Choir rehearsals began this week, with nearly 120 students choosing to join the junior or senior choir! These choirs are for students in Years 3 to 6 who like to sing and want to improve their singing and musical skills. Mrs Young is leading the choirs and they are working towards performing in the Eisteddfod in Term 2.

SCHOOL CROSSING Once again, bad behaviours, by both students and adults, are occurring at our crossing. PLEASE drive, ride and walk safely. Obey the instructions of the crossing monitor. Look after our kids and show them how to be responsible road users by being responsible

road users!

GYMNASTICS

“For the past few weeks, Mrs Winwood-Smith has been running gymnastics in the hall each lunchtime. One student said the hall looked like the Olympic Games! Over 40 students participate in activities including high bar, beam and mini tramp, giving up their own lunch times to be gymnasts and have fun being fit!”

By Olive, Emeline and Indi.

Mrs Winwood Smith said that it was really pleasing to see the older students helping the young ones with the more complex moves—well done leaders!