What’s new in 3A

If you were to walk into the 3A classroom at any given time, you would be met with many scientists, authors, historians, mathematicians and engaged readers. This term has been jam packed with students developing their Science inquiry skills whilst looking at how M n M’s react to being placed in water and how changing the variables can affect the outcomes. They have also learnt the importance of fair testing and safety. Each student showed impeccable teamwork when conducting Science investigations in their roles of directors, managers and speakers. Moving forward, students are mastering the art of posing questions in Science and HASS. In English, students are honing their persuasive skills as they work towards writing a paragraph about why an iguana would or wouldn’t be an absolutely fantastic pet. They have been using exaggeration, facts, rhetorical questions, evaluative adjectives, modal verbs and adverbs to convince an audience of their point of view. They truly are the best students in the whole universe!

Reading groups are going from strength to strength, with students focusing on reading and literacy skills that will assist them in their current English assessment. They really are ACE students and have clearly demonstrated what it means to be Brave (enough to try), Bold (enough to ask for help) and Unique (be the best them that they can be). They have wholeheartedly embraced the You Can Do It! Program and the Zones of Regulation in our classroom and are beginning to develop their skills to be confident, organised, persistent, and resilient learners who get along with others. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this term has in store for these incredibly talented learners. 3A you truly are awesome!

Congratulations to 6B who had an amazing attendance rate for Week 5. Their attendance rate was 99% for the week! Also congratulations to the 11 classes which were at or above our school attendance target of 94% for Week 5. Remember, every day you are away is a learning day lost

You can do it! 

PASSION

“WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE TO GO, GO THERE WITH ALL YOUR HEART” (Taken from The Power of Attitude’ by Mac Anderson.)  

After checking into an Atlanta hotel, Sam (his name was on his badge) picked up my two bags, gave a big smile, and said, “Isn’t it a gorgeous day today?” I nodded and said, “Sure is.” He then said, “I just spent the entire weekend with my two grandkids, and I can’t remember when I’ve had more fun.  Aren’t kids great?” I nodded again, and said, “They are special,” and then I added, “Sam, it seems like you’re having a great day.” He looked up with a grin I’ll never forget and said, “Mr Anderson, every day above ground is a great day!”

I walked into my room feeling recharged by Sam’s enthusiasm.  It was obvious that he had chosen to live life to the fullest, and given the opportunity to touch someone’s life in a positive way, my bet is that he took it, every time.

Every day we all have that same opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.  We can choose to mope about our lot in life, or we can decide to live in awe, touching hearts along the way.  Ah yes… we all know ducks who make lots of noise, quacking and complaining about their problems in life - and then there are eagles, who go about their business and consistently soar above the crowd.  If you are a duck, you can work on this.  Remember - Passion fuels Enthusiasm!

We here at Calliope are very Blessed to have such a passionate bunch of teaching staff whose enthusiasm and care for the wellbeing of the students is seen through the atmosphere of love that they display each day. How about today acknowledging this and encouraging one of those passionate staff members who has touched your life!

 Love Chappy Mel

The Positive Behaviour for Learning lesson for Week Five is ‘Respecting the Learning of Others.’ At school, as in life, it is important we recognise we are part of a collective and that we need to do our part to ensure we allow others to work and learn in peace. Some ways we can do this include:

- Saving talk topics until break or transition times;

- Keeping our hands and feet to self;

- Remaining in our learning space and allowing others their space; and,

- Remaining silent while the teacher is talking/teaching.

Please take a moment to go over this with your child/children.

Once again there will be an end of term event for all students who receive an A or a B on their Report Card for behaviour. This term we will be going to the skate park for scooter and skateboard riding (Years 3-6), and activities in the park (Prep-2). Please encourage your child/children to do their best so they can join in on all the fun.

Enjoy your week.

Thanks.

Brian Rowe

Student Welfare Teacher

This term RotaKids are asking all Calliope staff and students to participate in a 'crazy hair day' to raise funds for cancer. Crazy hair day will be held on Friday 13 March and everyone is encouraged to colour their hair and bring a gold coin donation for blood cancer. Mrs Switzer will be shaving her hair off in support of this cause.

RotaKids are also planning an Under 12’s Day for Thursday 2 April (Week 10). We will be organising fun activities for the whole school. More information will be available closer to the day. If you have any ideas for easy and fun activities please write them down and drop them into the RotaKids box in the office.

Being a P&C member

Ever wanted to be a part of your child school? Well here is your chance. Become a P&C member and be involved. Our AGM will be held on the 10^th of March in the Admin building at 6pm. Our P&C have organised Tina from Calliope Crafty Capers to be there to help with the kids (by booking to P&C only). All positions will be available for election. Please note that you have to be a member to vote and becoming a member of the P&C is a great way to be involved in your childs school. Want more information on how to become a member? Don’t hesitate to email us, send us a message on Facebook or simply fill out a form next to the P&C box in the office and we will contact you. Our online membership form is now available on our facebook page or the following link https://form.jotform.com/200541946956058?fbclid=IwAR03NTW5dcN5mJEOQt9jQJSqULyA3fhckAad8tvgHfC1JDZQpAoz9niE338

Fundraising and Events

Disco: Thursday 19^th March is our first school disco of the year, time to dust of those dancing shoes, deck yourself out in green and dance the night away like a leprechaun on St Paddy’s Day. We will be looking for volunteers to help with our disco, please contact us if you are interested in helping.

Easter Raffle: Chocolate, who doesn’t love chocolate? As we do every year, we will be holding an Easter raffle to be drawn on the end of term parade. For this raffle we ask our families to make a small donation of items towards our hampers. Please find our collection hampers in the office.

Bake sale: Are you a keen baker or know someone who is? Are you the BBQ King or the Grill master? We need you!  The P&C will be holding a bake sale alongside our election day sausage sizzle on the 28^th March. If you are interested in baking or volunteering on the day, please contact us.

Tuckshop

We are getting busier and busier in the tuckshop, meaning our awesome convenor Lisa needs a hand. As with all of our P&C events and operations, the tuckshop is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in socialising, having a cuppa and even helping Lisa out please pop past the tuckshop or contact us via facebook.

Each week we have delicious home baked treats that you can order this week we have Tutti Fruiti cake. If you have a family favourite treat that you would like us to share with our school family please let us know.

Uniform shop

Our Uniform Shop is open Tuesday mornings from 8.15 – 8.45 for all your uniform needs or order on Flexischools and orders will be sent to your child’s classroom. If you have any queries regarding orders, please contact our P&C via Facebook, email uniformshop.calliopess@gmail.com or phone/message Tenielle on 0406218312.

Have a great week

Your P&C team

Mel, Tenielle, Bec and Kate

Prep: Connie is Confident

1. Students will know what it means to be confident.
2. Students will recognise examples and non-examples of people being confident.

Everyone can learn to be confident. To start, you can practise standing up tall, using a strong voice and looking at people in the eye when you speak to them.

 Year 1: Persistent Thinking

1. Students will learn that when they have something difficult to do, or something that they do not enjoy doing, there are three ways of thinking that can make it a lot easier to be persistent and finish the task.

1. When you have hard schoolwork to do, it can help you to be persistent by thinking in one of three ways:
2. The harder I try, the more successful I will be.
3. To be successful, I have to do things that are hard or not fun to do.
4. I have done hard things before – I can do this.

Year 2: Task Persistence

1. Students will understand what persistence means.
2. Students will learn about three ways of thinking that help them to be persistent: Working Tough, Giving Effort and I Can Do It.

When you want to be as successful as possible at school, using helpful ways of thinking can help you to be persistent and more successful in the end. I Can Do It thinking helps you to be persistent when you are faced with setbacks, Working Tough thinking helps you to keep going on a task that is hard or boring, and Giving Effort thinking encourages you to put in your very best effort.

Year 3: How Hard is it Really?

1. Students will be able to categorise the difficulty level of different tasks (e.g. easy, hard, impossible).
2. Students will understand that exaggerating or ‘blowing up’ a task’s difficulty level can cause them to give up too quickly.
3. Students will be able to realistically judge the difficulty level of schoolwork.
4. Students will understand that an I Can Do It way of thinking can help them complete difficult tasks.
5. Students will be able to state how the Giving Effort way of thinking can help them complete difficult tasks.

When we exaggerate how difficult something is we make it much harder to be confident and persistent. Most of the things that students are expected to do at school are rarely, if ever, impossible, but often they are difficult. I Can Do It and Giving Effort thinking help you to be persistent in doing difficult schoolwork and other activities.

Year 4: Achieving Goals

1. Students will understand the importance of effort in overcoming distractions.
2. Students will be able to state the relationship between the Giving Effort way of thinking and their achievement of goals.

Everyone is faced with obstacles that can potentially prevent them from achieving their goals. To reach our goals, we must overcome obstacles. This requires a combination of Working Tough thinking and a great deal of effort.

Year 5: Hard Yakka – Getting It Done

1. Students will understand how hard work (‘hard yakka’) is a normal part of learning that requires persistence.
2. Students will be able to explain how the Working Tough way of thinking can help encourage them to do work they find to be hard yakka.

Hard work – ‘hard yakka’ – is work that students can find time-consuming and in which they have a low level of interest. While schools try to reduce the amount of hard yakka, it is something that all students need to persist with and complete. When you have something that you find to be hard yakka, it doesn’t mean you are stupid, the teacher is stupid or school is stupid. Just as athletes have to practise, practise and practise doing hard yakka in order to improve, so do students – Work Tough!

Year 6: Self-Motivation for Doing What You Don’t Feel Like Doing

1. Students will understand that it is common to feel unmotivated about work in some classes.
2. Students will know that when they do not feel like doing schoolwork, there are strategies they can use to begin and complete their work.

It is quite common to lack persistence when having work to do that is not in your area of interest. Nevertheless, it is important to do your personal best in these classes as well as those you are more interested in. By organising your work time so you work when you are most rested, using lots of motivating self-talk and reminding yourself of the benefits of starting and completing the work and the disadvantages of putting the work off, you can be more persistent and successful.