21 February 2025 | Term 1 | Week 4

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

Dear parents and families, 

Acquaintance Evenings
The recent parent-teacher acquaintance nights were such a success, marked by enthusiastic participation and engagement despite the extreme heat. Families gathered, eager to gain insight into the learning programs and classroom routines that shape their children's learning experiences. The evenings provided valuable opportunities for parents and teachers to connect, meet each other and discuss educational programs and expectations. 
For many it was the first opportunity to build a partnership with this year's teacher. 

Towards the end of this term, families will have opportunity to attend Student-led Conferences, hearing of individual learners' achievements and progress. These forums will be supplemented by Learning Portfolios that will provide families with examples of Student Learning. If you have any immediate queries or concerns about your child's progress please reach out and make a time to chat with their teacher. 

Swimming
With the warmer months we have started the class-based Water Safety Programs in the Early Years. Learners have jumped into the water and taking on some life skills along the way. The program gives students a purpose for learning to change and dress themselves, remember to organise their clothing and care for their belongings. In the water they are building their confidence and water safety skills.
For students Years 4-6, we have started the selection trials for Sports SA District and our LPPS Swimming Carnivals. This year the trials have been held before school, providing families with a chance to support their children. The district carnival is on Thursday 6 March for those who make the team, with the LPPS Swimming Carnival scheduled for Wednesday 26 March 2025. 

Wellbeing - Safety & Belonging 
Teachers have begun to implement the 'Friendology' sessions that aim to build resilience within relationships. Staff are currently reviewing the behaviour expectations that apply to our external play areas, updating our Essential Agreements for the Yard. 
At the end of 2024 Staff arrived at three clear expectations: 

Be safe

                Be respectful

                                            Be kind

The three expectations are easy to remember with language that all students understand. Staff will be able to connect children's behavioural choices both positive and inappropriate to these three expectations. Families can support by using and reinforcing this language at home. 

Giving Back
I recently received an email from the Kids Giving Back organisation where a representative shared the generosity and care demonstrated by two of our students. Oscar and Sophia generously gave their time to volunteer with the organisation during Term 4 of 2024 and the recent Dec/Jan school holidays. 
Sophia and Oscar were among 1170 young changemakers who contributed to making over 6500 meals, breakfast boxes, snack packs, and care packs for vulnerable communities across Sydney. They also wrote thoughtful, encouraging messages to be shared with those in need. 
Their kindness, leadership, and willingness to serve truly embody the values of generosity and community spirit. Their efforts have made a real difference, and we are incredibly proud of them! 

Warm regards, 

Fiona Voigt, Principal

Assembly Student Awards

Korean Student Teacher Visit

Linden Park Primary School values our connection with International Education Services. In the past we have hosted International study tours, international teacher exchanges and international teacher training programs. We believe that by welcoming people to our school from all around the world, we are encouraging our students to become active, compassionate, lifelong learners and global citizens, who understand difference and value diversity. 
This year, six trainee teachers from Cheongju National University of Education (CNUE) visited our school from Monday the 10th February to Friday the 21st of February. Over the course of the two weeks, they work shadowed teachers and learnt about the philosophy of the PYP used in our classrooms. They participated in information workshops with a focus on literacy, PYP and wellbeing. They then delivered their own lessons to the students in the classroom. 
The students were supported by their professor, during the visit.  

Inquiry Ambassadors

This year we would like to welcome our Inquiry Ambassadors; William, Jai, Vinya, Ethan, Neili, Derek, Haneef, Zachary, Maisey and Maya. 
This leadership committee is responsible for the school's learning and teaching, particularly around the implementation of the PYP programme and the Australian curriculum. The students work together with other students from other year levels to delve deeply into the philosophy of best practice and assist in the planning of our units of inquiry. 
They will use learner agency to have voice and choice in regards to what, how and why we learn. We look forward to sharing with you our achievements in the future. 

Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival: A Celebration of Light and Togetherness 
Have you ever seen a sky full of glowing lanterns or decorated one yourself? The Lantern Festival is a special celebration that marks the end of the Lunar New Year, bringing families and friends together to enjoy beautiful lights, delicious treats, and fun activities! 
The Lantern Festival is a special celebration enjoyed in many Asian countries on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, during the full moon. This year, the Lunar New Year began on Wednesday, January 29, and the celebrations concluded with the Lantern Festival held on February 12. 
This beautiful festival is a time to honour ancestors, reflect on the past, and embrace values like peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Families and communities come together to decorate their homes with glowing lanterns, symbolising hope and happiness for the year ahead. People also enjoy solving riddles written on lanterns, watching dragon and lion dances, and eating delicious treats like tangyuan - sweet rice balls that represent family unity. 
At our school, we value learning about different cultural traditions that bring people together. The Lantern Festival is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore themes of kindness, respect, and new beginnings. Whether by making paper lanterns, sharing stories, or learning about its traditions, we encourage everyone to take part in the spirit of this special day. 

Here are some photos of Room 35 and their buddies holding up some paper lanterns that they made and shared in this week's assembly. 

Wellbeing News

Welcome Vonnie
I'm delighted to be working alongside Vonnie, our new PCW and Wellbeing SSO. 
In the role as Wellbeing SSO, I'll be working closely with Vonnie to identify students who may have friendship issues or difficulties playing safely in the yard. Vonnie will then work with small groups and allow students to practise the skills needed to overcome any difficulties. 
She will also be checking in with students who are identified as needing a little extra support with their wellbeing. 
If you have any questions or would like to know more, Vonnie and I would love to have a chat. 

Hats, Hats, Hats 
It has been great to see so many students wearing hats over the last two weeks during playtimes. The school is currently reviewing yard expectations which include the wearing of hats. I'll be working with staff during the term to ensure students begin taking greater responsibility for wearing their hats and understand and comply with teacher instructions to play in shaded areas when they do not have their hat. 
If your child has lost their hat, please check the 'Lost & Found' boxes or purchase a new hat through the Uniform Shop. 

Student Action Committee (SAC)
SAC representatives from each class had their first meetings for the year. These meetings are split over the fortnight, with students from even numbered classes attending on even numbered weeks and vice versa. Students were introduced to the Year 6 Student Wellbeing Leaders who will be running the meetings and explored what they thought SAC reps do and what they would like to achieve by being a rep. I was overwhelmed by the responses I received and the enthusiasm shown by the students. 
SAC badges are available for purchase through the QKR App. 

Year 3-6 Student Help
Just a reminder in case you missed our last newsletter. Year 3-6 students now have access to a student help tab on their Chromebooks. The tab is located on the taskbar of their computers and will take them to a Google Form. Here they will be able to make a request for support for personal and social issues at school and identify an important adult who they would like to speak to. This week I've been explaining how to use the form to students and encouraging them to include their parents when submitting a request. 
If you have a child in Years 3-6, I encourage you to familiarise yourself with the student help function, and encourage your child to use it if they are experiencing problems which affect them at school. 

Did You Know? 

I often get approached by parents whose child is having conflicts at school with their peers. A big part of learning at school is students understanding how to resolve conflict, taking responsibility for their actions and understanding that these actions can have positive or negative consequences depending on how they interact with others. 
Below are some ideas from Parents-Together.org which may help parents guide their children towards taking responsibility for what they do. 
Accountability is a tough concept that might take children years to fully grasp, but learning it is an important part of growing up. Owning up to one's actions may not come easily to younger ones, but the process can still start younger than you think! Even with pre-schoolers, you can start to incorporate some habits that promote accountability into your family routine. 
Here are some of the steps you can take to help your child learn to take responsibility for their own actions, whether they were mistakes or positive behaviours. Remember to be patient with your child's progress - and with yourself - in the process. 

Start with giving credit for positive actions
Taking responsibility isn't only important when you make mistakes in life. It's also important when you are being helpful or working hard on something. Acknowledging these positive actions on a regular basis will set kids up to take responsibility during school, sports, around the house, and (eventually) at work! 
Be sure to offer small bits of praise throughout the day when you notice a responsible action, such as: "Thank you for putting away your shoes. That's what I call responsible!" or "I appreciate you telling me what happened. That was a very mature choice." During family meetings or around the dinner table, you can give more formal shout-outs to family members for their efforts in anything from chores to kind actions to learning new skills. 
Stay calm when children make mistakes 
Everyone makes mistakes, but being honest about what happened isn't always easy for children - especially if they're afraid you're going to get mad. As a parent, you can take steps to create a safe, non-judgemental space for them to come forward. It starts with staying calm and not overreacting to mistakes and unwanted behaviour. Instead of yelling about messes, for example, calmly say, "OK, how can we clean this up?" The younger the child, the more help they will need with figuring out and implementing the solution to a problem. But if you continue to take the mindset that you're on the same team as your child, you'll avoid the dynamic where they want to hide problems from you in the future. 
Model admitting your own mistakes and apologising 
When you regularly admit your own mistakes - out loud - it teaches children how to reflect and take responsibility. Try to handle mistakes with grace, accountability, and a growth mindset. 
For example, if you forgot something important at the store, instead of berating yourself with "Ugh, I'm so stupid!" try to calmly take responsibility and mention consequences and solutions: "Oh man, I got distracted and totally forgot to buy the toilet paper. I'll have to go back to the store after dinner instead of watching TV."
Also, learn and practice the right way to apologise whenever your mistakes affect other people, including your children. So instead of feeding feelings of shame, anxiety, and confusion, you'll be helping generate feelings of trust, respect, and accountability in your family. 
Don't try to spare them from life's consequences
When children make big mistakes, it can be tempting to swoop in and try to save them from getting in trouble. However, avoiding consequences won't help them to grow into responsible, mature adults. 
For example, if your child forgot to start a school project until right before it's due, help talk them through their options: rush through the assignment and turn it in on time, or ask the teacher for an extension to spend more time on it - both of which might affect their grade. (In other words, staying up late to help them complete the assignment or trying to convince the teacher to change their policy are not options here). Then, ask what they can do differently next time so they're not stuck in this situation again. 
Talk about people's actions instead of judging character 
When you do talk about positive or negative actions of others, yourself, or your own family members, try to focus on the actions taken and choices made, not on how they define or label someone. 
For example, if a classmate did something unkind to your child, don't say that they're a mean child - just say that they made some choices that hurt others. Ask your child how those choices may have affected that person as well as everyone else. This reflection helps your child understand that everyone can take responsibility and make their own choices in each situation, and that choices have consequences. 

How to help kids learn to take responsibility for their actions - ParentsTogether

Kind regards,
David Molloy, Student Wellbeing Leader and Autism Inclusion Teacher 

A note from our Pastoral Care Worker

A Great Start!
Hello, my name is Vonnie Gooding, and I have joined David Molloy as part of the Wellbeing Team. You may have seen my poster in the last newsletter or pinned-up around the school. 
I have been working at Linden Park Primary School as an SSO in Curriculum Support for over three years now, so I have met and worked with many of the students here. This year my SSO time will be in Wellbeing Support for two mornings per week. I have also accepted the position of the school's Pastoral Care Worker (PCW), working Tuesday's and Fridays'. 
The PCW assists students to develop trust, respect and understanding of others, work through problems such as friendship concerns, grief and loss, self-regulation and encourage positive life choices and optimism. Further information about the PCW role can be found on our schools' website. 
It's been a fantastic start to the year, I have really enjoyed seeing so many familiar, friendly faces as well as meeting lots of new ones! Hearing the excited buzz around our lovely school yard puts a smile on my face. I am relishing the opportunity to support the students, staff and families with compassionate care. If your child or family requires support, please get in touch with the Wellbeing Team. 

Library News

Premier's Reading Challenge
At Linden Park Primary School, we encourage all students (Reception to Year Six) to complete the Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC). The Department of Education started this reading program to promote both independent reading and being read aloud to for all school-aged children. 

To participate your child needs to read twelve books by September 2025, however we are asking that Linden Park students return their completed sheets mid way into Term 2. 

Children do not need to actually do the reading themselves. Any or even all of the books can be read to your child. The title and author of the books need to be recorded on the student reading record, including an adult's initials. This sheet has been given to the Year 1 to Year 6 students by their classroom teacher. 

Reception students' PRC sheets are completed by their classroom teachers and do not need to complete the program independently. The Reception teachers will send their student's sheets to the library upon completion. 

The first eight books on the student reading record need to be from the PRC list. The library team have put special PRC stickers on the PRC books to identify them. Red stickers (R-2), Green stickers (3-5), Yellow stickers (6-9). 
Families may also go to the PRC website where you are able to check if a particular book is on the list: www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au
This website is helpful because as much as the library team try to put stickers on all the books, we do miss some. Also, if a book is from a shop, another library or home, you may need to check.

The last four books on the student reading record are free choice books. They can even be take-home reading texts (readers). The students may also like to utilise our school's e-platform for further reading and audio materials. 

Once your child has completely filled out the reading record, including their 12 books, please return the reading record to your child's class teacher. 

Please call or email the school if you have any questions and I will be glad to give you additional information. 

Russell Hanson, Teacher Librarian

Student Free Day - Monday 3 March 2025 - Week 6

The Department for Education provides for four student free days per year to schools to allow all staff to attend training and development aligned to the LPPS Site Learning Plan. 
Our LPPS Governing Council has ratified the first student free day on Monday 3rd March 2025. 
The purpose of this day is to provide all teachers with the opportunity to develop their professional learning with a focus on Literacy. 
LPPS Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) will be operating - Bookings are open via the XPLOR app. 
The remaining three 2025 Student Free Days and School Closure Day will be confirmed after the LPPS Governing Council AGM on Monday 24th February 2025. 

Fiona Voigt, Principal

Community News