St Jerome's Newsletter
Week 3 - Term 2 (Thursday 16 May 2019)
Dear Parents and members of our school community
Tomorrow, Friday 17th May is the national Walk Safely to School Day. The motto of this promotion is Active Kids are Healthy Kids. We encourage as many families as possible to walk to school tomorrow. If you live kilometres away, perhaps consider leaving your car a short distance away at Stargate Shopping Centre or Santich Park and then walk the 600 metres or so to school.
There has been much recent media discussion on how our modern children are not getting enough time spent playing outside often because they are being entertained through too much screen time. We are so blessed here especially in Kindy & Pre Primary,that we have spacious green play areas where our students enjoy at least 90 minutes of outdoor play and discovery. Even if your own home has limited outdoor space, this local area is full of wonderful green spaces and magnificent beaches only a short drive away. I believe that a family walk along the beach in Autumn or Winter is one of life’s greatest joys. Why not plan one this weekend?
I found this report from an occupational therapist to be very informative.
Kids should be spending at least three hours outdoors a day — and preferably left to their own devices, a pediatric occupational therapist is recommending.
Angela Hanscom, the author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children said that left with the time and the freedom, kids will naturally engage in the kind of activities their bodies need, whether that's jumping or digging or spinning or hanging upside down on the monkey bars.
"My biggest suggestion is just to allow time and space every day to play outdoors," Hanscom explains. She is a very well respected pediatric occupational therapist.
"I do speaking engagements all over the world. I'm hearing that children spent four to six hours of outdoor play a day 40 years ago. Now it's changed to the average response is 45 minutes to an hour and a half."
Outdoor play, she urged, is essential to developing strength, an understanding of reflexes, concentration and good balance.
Over her years working with children, she said she has seen a dramatic shift in children's behaviour, which she attributes to a change in their play.
In her practice, kids in general are much weaker than they used to be and have poorer balance. Some kids are being treated clinically for not being able to stay upright in their seats and being clumsy.
She said she's heard from teachers who are seeing more inattentive kids in school, and on the playground they struggle to control their strength, for example, while playing tag.
"Any time you change the environment that drastically, you're going to change child development," Hanscom said.
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"My recommendation is at least three hours of outdoor play a day and do whatever you can to just get the kids outside."
We are on Facebook!
Thank you to the many people who are following our School Facebook Page. You can find us by writing St Jerome's Primary School in the search section of your Facebook.
Mother's Day High Tea
Please enjoy these photos of last Friday’s Mother’s Day High Tea, held in the undercover area.
Very special thanks go to the many parent helpers from the P&F for setting up such a lovely environment.
Federal Election Saturday 18th May
Our P&F is holding a sausage sizzle outside the polling station at St Jerome’s Parish Hall. Even if this is not your usual place where you vote, please come down to vote and enjoy a much- loved Australian tradition: the democracy sausage! We supply onions & sauce too.
Still time to volunteer your time to assist. Please see the link.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1URb_NeAvXRWu5GEe6Mt2rpi6b7YNhS4I4KwAxFvX-1Q/edit?usp=sharing
School Uniform News
The supplier for our school uniforms has advised us that there is a delay with the delivery of our second order of new tracksuit pants. We expect the delivery date to be around 3rd June.
This is disappointing but there is nothing we can do to speed this up.
In the meantime, as the colder weather closes in, please don’t let your children freeze in shorts. During this waiting period, they may wear their own tracksuit pants if they feel the cold.
Principal
NAPLAN Testing
The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) series of tests are administered annually to all Australian students. These tests will take place nationally during Weeks 3 & 4 of Term 2 from Tuesday 14 May to Friday 24 May. Please see below the schedule of assessments for St Jerome's.
NAPLAN tests important skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. The Literacy tests are based on content in the English learning area, and the numeracy tests draw content from the mathematics learning area. It is very important therefore that students are present for all assessments. If your child is unavoidably absent on one of the testing days we do have ‘Catch-Up’ sessions for the students however it would preferable for your child to complete the assessment on the day with their class colleagues.
Here are the six best tips to help your child get through NAPLAN testing as stress-free as possible:
1. Make sure they get enough sleep
Making sure your child gets enough sleep is vital to make sure they're feeling their best on testing day. Try to make sure they go to bed on time during the weeks of NAPLAN testing.
2. Take the pressure off
A bit of stress is normal before any test, however the National Assessment Program (NAP) recommends helping your child prepare for NAPLAN by reassuring them that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program, and reminding them on the day to simply try their best is vital.
3. Let them know it's not pass or fail
NAPLAN is not a pass-or-fail type test. Individual student performance is shown on a national achievement scale for each test. Each test scale has 10 bands and all year levels are reported on the same scale. Six bands are reported for each year level for each test. One of these bands represents the national minimum standard for students at each year level. A result at the national minimum standard indicates that the student demonstrated the basic literacy and numeracy skills needed to participate fully in that year level. The performance of individual students can be compared to the average performance of all students in Australia.
4. Give them a good breakfast
Breakfast before learning is ideal every day for students but a nutritious meal before a morning test like NAPLAN will give students doing the test the best start to the day.
5. Make sure they know what NAPLAN is
NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students have already been learning through the school curriculum. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the test formats and will provide appropriate support and guidance but asking your child if they have any questions can be a big help. If you have any questions about your child's preparation for NAPLAN, you should make a time to speak with their teacher.
6. Don't emphasise the result
Try not to place too much pressure on what result your child receives and remind them that they've done their best.
Information for parents & staff
The following link: http://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/FAQs provides answers to frequently asked questions about NAPLAN Online.
Enquiries Email: naplanonline@scsa.wa.edu.au
Helpdesk: 9442 9442
Former St Jerome's Student Ella Matthews - Congratulations!
Ella crossing the line first for Seton's Cross Country event.
Ella placed 1st year 7 female and 1st Female overall 3K ( her pace time was better than the winner of the male 4K by 4 minutes),
Kindy and 3 Year Old Kindy Enrolments 2020
Kindergarten Enrolments for 2020
Interviews for Kindergarten 2020 have commenced. If your child was born between 1July 2015 to 30 June 2016, they are eligible for Kindergarten in 2020. Parents of children with siblings are urged to ensure their applications have been submitted to avoid disappointment.
3 Year Old Kindergarten Enrolments for 2020
Interviews for 3 Year Old Kindergarten next year commence next week. If your child was born between 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 your child will be able to join the program once they turn three.
Application forms are available from the front office at the school.
Student Medical Plans/Medicine Updates
We are in the process of updating our Student Medical Alert Details. Each year we ask parents to lodge new medical plans with us so that details can be reviewed and revised as needed. We also ask that dates of expiry for medications are noted by parents and replacements forwarded to the school when necessary in the best interests of your children. At almost the half way mark for the year already, we ask that you check that plans have been lodged with us and medications have not expired.
Many thanks for your assistance in this matter.
School Office/Admin
Book Club – Issue 3
Book club orders must be finalised online
By Monday 20th May
Any orders placed after this date will incur a delivery fee and be delivered to your home.
Please use LOOP on scholastic website.
No cash payments or paper orders taken
Football Raffle Results
Fremantle -v- Richmond
Matt Favazzo
Friday 17 May
WCE -v- Melbourne
Anne Strafela
Sunday 26 May
Fremantle -v- Brisbane Lions
Andrew Hughes
Congratulations!!
Contact Details
Email: admin@stjeromes.wa.edu.au
Website: www.stjeromes.wa.edu.au
Location: 38 Troode Street, Munster WA, Australia
Phone: 08 9499 9500