7 June 2024: Term 2 Week 6
- Kaurna Acknowledgement
- Principal's Report
- National Reconciliation Week
- What’s an essential agreement?
- Student Wellbeing News
- Inquiry Ambassador – News flash
- Q&A on Hay- What is there to know about the PYP?
- SA School Sport
- South Australian Schools Orienteering Championships
- Year 3 News
- Music News
- Student News
Kaurna Acknowledgement
Niina Marni. As we feel the earth beneath us, the wind around us and the sun above us, we acknowledge the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of this land. We pay our respects to past Elders and will work with present and emerging Elders to protect and care for this unique land of ours. We also extend this respect to other First Nations peoples.
Principal's Report
Fiona Voigt, Principal
Dear Parents
End of Day procedures
A reminder that dismissal is at 3:10pm, a time where parents are expected to collect their children from school. In the Early Years; Reception and Year 1, teachers handover students to parents as a safety precaution, ensuring duty of care is maintained and students are supervised. Early Years teachers are currently waiting outside of classroom until after 3:25pm which prevents them from continuing with their duties, tidying and preparing for the next day, attending staff and team meetings.
The Early Years playground remains open ONLY for students who have been collected by their families, enabling them to gather and get to know each other. Whilst there is a teacher on duty, parents are supervising their own children. The duty teacher is there to ensure students safely leave the school. The gate is closed promptly at 3:25pm with alternative exits by the gym or through the staff carpark.
In primary years children are dismissed from the classroom and should promptly make their own way to the gates and home.
Supervision after school is minimal as students are expected to leave the grounds in a timely manner unless engaged in after school sport. The session from 3:10 – 3:25pm is not a play period. We are finding that many students are remaining on school grounds, playing with friends or on equipment. Many parents are not attending school until 3:25pm or in some cases afterwards. The front office has become a creche and students are using the school as a playground, often hiding from staff as they are asked to report to the office.
OSHC is offered for parents who are not able to collect their children at 3:10pm, providing a safe and supportive environment, as a school we take your children’s safety seriously.
Nude Food
The Year 6 Ambassadors have recently conducted a food drive to support the Food Bank in assisting those less fortunate.
Their next project is to look at our food practices from a sustainability lens; ‘Nude Food’ aims to reduce the impacts of packaging on the environment. Nude Food is a popular term used in schools, simply put it is food without excess packaging. Usually this means food that is not processed, often making it a healthier and more environmentally option. Each year in S.A, families of primary school aged children spend more than $3.5 million on individually packaged items, collectively throwing away 1.5m yoghurt suckers, 3 million small tubs and 11 million zip-locked bags – that’s enough ziplock bags to reach from Adelaide to Ceduna and back if laid flat! (extracted from “Nude food info for Families’)
The following extract was written by Ivy Balfour, Ambassador (with support from her father Matthew.)
Coming up, Week 8 of Term 2 is Nude Food Week. Nude Food Week is something to look forward to. Its purpose is to reduce the use of plastics. Please support your children to stop bringing single-use plastics. If you do not remind your children, they could miss out on winning a movie with their classmates.
How to win this fun prize and help the environment all at the same time!
One class in the Early Years and one in the Primary Years will get the chance to watch a movie. At the beginning of every playtime, teachers will inspect the food and give a point to each student that shows food without any plastic wrappings. The more food without plastic wrappings, the more points the class will earn. Up to 50% of items in school bins come from food and drink packaging.
PACK
- Snacks in reusable containers
- Drinks in a reusable bottle
- Reusable utensils when needed
- A reusable lunchbox or backpack
AVOID
- Plastic bags, cling film or foil
- Disposable drink boxes, cans, cartons and bottles
- Disposable forks and spoons
- Pre-packaged lunches or single serve items
The above prize will make sure that everyone is eager to participate. It will be the highlight of their term.
‘So let’s try and not use single-use plastics for just one week. Hopefully this will start a trend; you can do it for the planet!’
WEEK 8 - TERM 2
The Ambassadors are hoping that this focus will lead to longer term changes in the amount of waste we create as a community.
I hope our community has a restful long weekend.
Fiona Voigt, Principal
National Reconciliation Week
Last week was National Reconciliation Week. It is a time for all Australians to learn about Indigenous histories and cultures. In class we explored how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation. Reconciliation is about strengthening respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme this year is ‘Now more than ever’.
Here are some photos of what classes have been working on.
The children in Room 9 were ‘Thinkers’ and ‘Researchers’ in their current Unit of Inquiry on ‘How the world works’, as they learned how to say different animals in Kaurna language.
In Room 1 the Year 2 students explored the theme of ‘Now more than ever’ by sharing their thinking about they can support reconciliation.
The students from Room 41 inquired into the statement; ‘there are varying estimates for how long Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on this continent, however, upwards of 60,000 years is what current research reveals.’ Students looked at how to represent over 60,000 years on a five metre timeline and how this compared to the short history of European colonists 1788 - 2024. Students painted hands using indigenous colours and symbols to show acknowledgement and respect for the oldest living culture in the world.
In Art with Kara Loan, the Year 2s created ‘Yarn Sticks’ by weaving, winding and wrapping wool around sticks. This art is inspired by the work by Tjanpi Desert Weavers. The learning experience connected well with the Year 2 Unit of Inquiry on ‘How we organise ourselves’. Students inquire into materials and how they can be changed to meet the needs of people.
In Room 25 the Year 4 students created a display using hands. On the hands students wrote why it is important to work together and what we can do at school to treat everyone equally and fairly.
Nicole Scrivener, Deputy Principal: Innovation and Inquiry
What’s an essential agreement?
Nicole Scrivener
At Linden Park Primary School your child’s learning program is based on the unique blending and strengthening of two curricula: The Australian Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) in years Reception to Year 6.
The philosophy underlying the PYP encompasses global education, intercultural communication and international mindedness. We strive to develop students who will build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect. These aspirations are summed up in the school’s ambitious mission statement;
“Linden Park Primary School aims to develop resilient, innovative, curious and creative lifelong learners who appreciate diversity and who will ultimately make a difference through their actions”
Collaboration is two or more people working together towards shared goals. Our mission statement builds collegiality and shared understanding about our philosophy. Staff collaborate within and beyond their year level teams, the school and the community. The success of this collaboration can be attributed to the co-construction of essential agreements.
Essential agreements set the tone for collaboration and teamwork. They are not a set of rules and directions, but rather state what the shared norms and expectations are. Essential agreements are the expected behaviours, routines and codes that are used to maintain an atmosphere conducive for teaching and learning. Every class, staff team and the whole school develop an essential agreement. Everyone works collaboratively to establish an agreement of how the class, team or school will function.
Before developing the agreements, it is important to identify our own beliefs about learning. In the case for classroom agreements teachers work with students to consider what helps them to learn and what hinders their learning. Together the class unpacks what is learning (what does it look like, sound like, feel like), what learners value, what the school values, and the dispositions or characteristics of a successful learner (the IB learner profile). From here students brainstorm a set of class norms.
Similarly, staff delve deeply into their understanding of agreements before creating their norms of working in teams. Reflecting on the importance of establishing norms;
- Why do essential agreements matter to me?
- Why do essential agreements matter to students?
- Why do essential agreements matter to other stakeholders (parents)?
It is important that students have a voice and agency in the decision making process of developing essential agreements. This ensures understanding and promotes ownership of the norms.
Here are some examples of classroom essential agreements:
Nicole Scrivener, Deputy Principal: Innovation and Inquiry
Student Wellbeing News
David Molloy
Wellbeing and Engagement Collection (WEC)
Between weeks 2 and 5, students in Years 4-6 undertook the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection survey.
The survey is a Department for Education initiative which asks students’ about their views on wellbeing and learning at school.
The students’ responses provide the Government and our school with information that we can use to support improving and maintaining students’ health, happiness, wellbeing and relationships.
It also gives our school, the community and Government, an insight into what needs to happen to make sure students experience success and are provided with resources and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Student Wellbeing Leaders
Our Student Wellbeing Leaders recently went on an excursion with Jane Alan and our PCW, Phillip Reyes, to Glenunga International High School to work with a group of Year 7 Student Leaders in analysing the WEC data from both schools.
They were looking for common themes that were present at both schools and were given time to think and develop ideas that could be implemented to address the student needs of both schools. They returned very excited with lots of ideas to share. I know they particularly enjoyed the pizza lunch!
Well done girls, your maturity and your willingness to take a risk with learning and working other students you didn’t know has made us very proud.
Student Action Committee (SAC) News
Our SAC students have been hard at work already this term. They have raised concerns about broken netting on the basketball courts, identified early years and primary play areas, and discussed new sports equipment for Mariner Oval and areas of the school which could be improved.
A huge thank you to Genevieve C (Room 40). Genevieve is one of our Year 6 SAC Representatives. At one of our meetings, students in the early years raised a concern that plastic and other rubbish was being put in the worm farm. It was agreed that a sign should be made to go on the worm farm lid. Without anyone asking her, Genevieve took it upon herself to design the sign below. This act of kindness is one of the qualities that makes us all feel proud of all our students. Well done Genevieve!
David Molloy, Student Wellbeing Leader and Autism Inclusion Teacher
Genevieve C.
Inquiry Ambassador – News flash
Our Inquiry Ambassadors have the important role of advocating for student voice and agency by reflecting on our units of inquiry. The students firstly reflected on how they learn best and used this understanding to deconstruct the current Year 6 Unit of Inquiry on ‘Where we are in place and time’ with a focus lens around the related concept of migration. The central idea for this unit being "Movement contributes to change”. The students were invited to the Year 6 teacher planning session to observe and contribute to the reflection stage of the inquiry cycle in planning. Teachers first reflected on the learning; identifying strategies and learning experiences that best supported students’ development of knowledge, conceptual understandings and skills.
The Inquiry Ambassadors were then asked to reflect and share about their own learning and growth during the unit. Their ideas and reflections were recorded to our online curriculum planning documentation tool; ‘Toddle’. The students discussed what they liked most about the unit, what could have been done differently, what they learnt, skills they acquired and the challenges that they encountered during the learning.
Our next steps as student leaders will be to work with small groups of students across the different year level cohorts from Reception to Year 5 to gather similar information about what the students think and reflect about their learning and growth on their current unit of inquiry that they are learning about.
We are excited to support other year level students to verbalise their thoughts and ideas.
Nicole Scrivener, Deputy Principal: Innovation and Inquiry
Q&A on Hay- What is there to know about the PYP?
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
The Student Learning and Wellbeing Committee (SLWC) would like to invite you to a Parent Workshop on the IB PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program). Have you ever wondered what the PYP is about? Come along to our session to unpack the essential elements and philosophy behind the programme.
The session will be held on Wednesday 26 June at 5.15pm- 6.15pm in the staff room.
Nicole Scrivener, Deputy Principal: Innovation and Inquiry
SA School Sport
Harry Slee
Linden Park Primary Shines at Adelaide South East District Cross Country Carnival
On Friday 24 May, 28 enthusiastic students from Linden Park Primary School proudly represented our school at the Adelaide South East District Cross Country Carnival held at Kensington Oval.
It was a beautiful autumn day with clear skies and no wind, creating perfect conditions for the event. Our students demonstrated tremendous effort in their races and showed outstanding support for one another throughout the afternoon. The challenging cross-country course featured small hills and a dry creek bed, with students competing in either a 2km race (2 laps) or a 3km race (3 laps).
We are thrilled to share that many of our students achieved personal bests, impressing themselves with their race times. Special congratulations go to Lara T (11-year Girls), who secured 1st place in her event, Gianluca Z who placed 5th in the 12-year Boys event and Evan Y (10-year Boys), who finished 6th in his event. Additionally, Harris K, Radvin G, Colin L, Madeline U, Noah S, and Thomas D all finished in the top 15 for their respective events. Well done to all!
We are also excited to announce that Evan Y and Gianluca Z have been selected to join the Adelaide South East District Cross Country team and will compete in the State Cross Country Carnival at Oakbank in a few weeks. We wish them the best of luck!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our parent volunteers for their invaluable support throughout the event. Their involvement was crucial to the smooth running of the afternoon. Our sports excursions depend on the generosity and dedication of our parent volunteers, and we truly appreciate their efforts.
Harry Slee, Sports Coordinator
South Australian Schools Orienteering Championships
Geoff Mills
On Monday 27 May, Linden Park Primary had 23 students represent the school at the South Australian Schools Orienteering Championships. The students arrived bright and early and travelled by bus to Wadmore Park, Athelstone for the Championships. Students had to navigate their way through the challenging course, competing against others from different primary schools in their age group. By far the biggest opponent on the day was the course, with many students finding the challenging terrain difficult to navigate while balancing both the speed and accuracy elements of the sport.
Everyone completed their respective courses, challenging themselves and representing Linden Park Primary well under some really challenging circumstances.
There were a number of individual performances worth highlighting. A huge congratulations to Cindy C and Gianluca Z who both won their respective competitions. Congratulations also to Darcy A who finished third. I would like to extend a huge thanks also to staff member Mel Fuller who provided some expert tips and guidance for all of the students before their races, along with our parent helpers who made the day possible.
Geoff Mills, PE Teacher
Year 3 News
Adelaide Zoo Excursion
As part of our Unit of Inquiry into 'Sharing the Planet' and our central ideal of 'Sustainable choices have an impact on the survival of living things', The Year 3 students went to the Adelaide Zoo and got up close to some of the Zoo’s friendly creatures on Tuesday 4 June.
The visit focused on engaging students by getting close-up to animals while communicating important science and sustainability themes directly related to the Australian Curriculum.
Music News
On Friday 24 May, we held a Choir Assembly to celebrate our Year 2 Choir and Year 6 Festival Choir. Abbey's Room 1 students hosted the Assembly and did a wonderful job. Year 2s sang two songs, Do Re Mi from Sound of Music and Sing Together. Both songs showcased the students' ability to sing in two parts which is challenging at this age! The Year 2 Choir have learnt many songs and rounds this year, with some rounds even being in three parts! They have learnt that you need to use all parts of your brain to do this as there is a lot going on all at once.
The Year 6s gave us a sneak peek into their Festival of Music Repertoire with their fun song 'I Need to Clean my Room', a song that the whole audience could relate to! The Year 6 Choir are busy rehearsing for the Festival of Music which is held in September at the Festival Theatre with a number of other government primary schools across South Australia. It is a very special and memorable event for all those involved. I still clearly remember performing in it myself way back in 1985!
Singing in a choir helps children to work together as a team, collaborate with others, multitask, problem solve and feel part of a community. These skills help children to develop their executive functioning which helps support them in all aspects of their lives.
Instrumental Music Night
SAVE THE DATE!
The Instrumental Music Night will be held on the evening of Thursday 5 September at the Burnside Town Hall. This will be the second time we have held the event there as it was so successful last year. The evening will be a chance to showcase our instrumental program at Linden Park PS and give the students involved a chance to perform in a theatre setting.
The String Ensembles, Beginners Band and Continuing Band, plus Year 6 Festival Choir will be performing.
We hope to see you there!
Alice Combe and Vanessa Buttery, Music Teachers
Alice Combe
Vanessa Buttery
Student News
By: Thomas D (Year 6 - Room 35) ...
The District SAPSASA Football Carnival was held at West Beach in Week 5. Blake M and I represented Linden Park Primary School in the Adelaide South East District in AFL. We played nine games in the carnival. The team won one out of nine games in Division 1 and we both enjoyed the carnival. We met some new people, but also knew some people. We both kicked one goal each.
