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ISSUE: 3 - May 2016
Another memorable Home Tutors’ Seminar was held in week 3 at
the Broome Camp School.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole school community to
meet and work together, especially those who are new to our school.
New friendships were formed and old ones rekindled. Students
collaborated in enjoyable and productive whole class activities with
their teachers, whilst parents and home tutors learnt new skills and
strategies to implement in their schoolrooms.
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
WED 29th JUNE 2016
8am
FITZROY RODEO
Team-building games were once again a great success. Students
thoroughly enjoyed these activities as they learnt and put into
practice communication and teamwork skills.
FRID, SAT & SUNDAY
Students, parents and home tutors outdid themselves during this
year’s KSOTA’s Got Talent! Ranging from musical performances to
magic tricks, all classes put in lots of effort and demonstrated what
they had been working on throughout the week. I’m not sure anyone
anticipated the revival of ABBBBA or the introduction of mothers and
tutors with big butts, either way we were all in fits of laughter.
LAST DAY OF TERM 2
1, 2, 3 JULY 2016
Friday 1st July
A very successful and enjoyable week was had by all. Well done to all
students for their participation, good behaviour and positive
attitudes to all tasks.
We are all looking forward to the next camp!
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This probably should be the second newsletter for the term. However I feel at the same time
that it is has been good for everyone to get down to business in the weeks following Home
Tutor’s Seminar.
This newsletter is in a way a celebration of all that was good about HTS. We have made a
selection of photos that make an attempt to capture all that we achieved across the week. I
would like to thank everyone for their efforts to attend and participate and the teachers for their
work to make the week the success that it was.
For my own perspective I think that this HTS proves that we have the expertise and personnel at
our finger tips to present meaningful professional learning without spending vast amounts of
money flying people from around the country to present.
The time with teachers was very well received and I know that working with Sam Price is never
time wasted. It is of interest to note that Sam was a teacher here at KSOTA in the past.
So enjoy the photos. The class and individual photos will be coming out as per last year on a USB
to each family.
Communication
I am aware that I have said this before but I am happy to say it again! Please feel free to ring your
teacher or Miss Bonner or me whenever you feel the need. I don’t want to think that people are
getting stuck and toughing it out. I extend the invitation to students as well. Seek clarification on
questions in your work. Check to see that you have got the right idea. I don’t want school day
time wasted with people getting bogged down. Ring us!
Reports
Term 2 is the first formal reporting period in the school year. The completed reports will be
mailed by the end of term.
Parents at KSOTA have access to a very high level of written feedback throughout the school
year. Every time a set report comes back, information is getting shared. KSOTA students, Home
Tutors and parents have access to a lot of feedback. This doesn’t devalue the formal reporting
format. That is very important at the system level. Now more than ever the formal report is a
true instrument that sets grades against norms and lines students up across the system.
Please read the information that comes with the report. I think that the biggest shift in this new
process is what a C grade means.
In the old money a C wasn’t all that wonderful. Now the C grade means “at level”. A C grade in a
subject area is a good, solid, at level result.
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Long Service Leave
All teachers must clear any outstanding leave with the Education Department before the end of
2016.
This means that I will be on Long Service leave for terms 3 & 4 2016.
I am able to state that Cathie Bonner will be the Principal KSOTA during my leave.
I am sure that Cathie will do a great job and that she will enjoy the support of the KSOTA school
community during this time.
Canberra 2016
We are committed to sending our Yr 5-7 students to Canberra this year. I would like to
acknowledge the efforts of the P&C thus far with the fundraising efforts. It is a costly exercise and
it will be achieved if everyone makes an effort. Kellie will have paperwork regarding the camp to
everyone very soon. Please complete your end of the paperwork and return it to Kellie quickly so
we can book flights by the end of this term, (The camp is end of term 3) and please include the
$300 payment.
Paul Noble
Principal
Kimberley School of the Air
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HOME TUTORS SEMINAR 2016
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As the end of term 2 approaches and reports are being written, I’d like to reflect on the
importance of students having an investment in their own progress and improvement. Where
students are truly engaged in their learning and keen to measure their improvement, this is
where the growth happens. Students need to be aware of their personal ‘big picture’ goal(s), and
they need to be able to see the incremental progress along the way. They need to trust that if
they keep working hard, they are going to achieve that big picture goal. Learning is like building
your fitness level. When you start you have a big picture goal, to be healthier, stronger, fitter or
trimmer. As you begin regular exercise you start to look at the detail of what you’re achieving
and you start looking for signs of improvement, either getting closer to your goal or the ease with
which you can perform the work. As you notice some improvement you raise the bar and
challenge yourself to move forward by increasing the expectation of yourself. Through
encouraging discussions with students about what they want to get better at, why they want to
get better at it and how they’re going to do their bit, you will stimulate their thinking about their
learning. Engaging students in the progress that they’re making can be the key to success and
generate the motivation to achieve. So I would like to encourage the school community to be
talking to students about the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ as much as the ‘what’ they’re learning.
The following quote explains how we might go about making improvements to a piece of writing,
as well as reminding us why we might want to.
“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But
several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting
boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety.
Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a
pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium
length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a
sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the
impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen
to this, it is important.”
― Gary Provost
If you have any questions about information referred to in this column please feel free to contact
me.
Regards
Cathie Bonner
Support Teacher, Learning
[email protected]
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Hello everyone! It was great to finally meet many of you during the
Broome Camp School. I hope that some of you found my presentations
useful. Don’t forget to practice self-care (like we discussed), and please
share this information with your family and staff to promote good mental
health. After discussions with several parents and home tutors, I began to notice that many
families are experiencing difficulties engaging their children with school work. In my experience,
a lot of work avoidance can arise in children as a result of low self-esteem. Children with low selfesteem often believe that they are not capable of completing challenging tasks. Their solution to
this problem is to not try in the first place, as this avoids the fear of failure.
Building self-esteem
Self-esteem doesn’t come built-in at birth. We first learn our view of ourselves during childhood.
As parents, it is therefore very important to help your child develop a true sense of their own
strengths and weaknesses. Encouraging self-esteem in children comes down to a consistent,
positive approach to their upbringing. Children who receive plenty of praise and encouragement
feel good about themselves and build confidence.
It’s equally important for the development of healthy self-esteem that children learn how to
deal with disappointment. For example, if a child doesn’t perform as well as they expected in a
test or activity, they may call themselves “dumb” or “stupid”. Rather than simply reassuring your
child that everything will be alright (or providing sympathy), let them know you understand their
disappointment. Work with your child to find a reasonable way of dealing with that
disappointment by encouraging your child to try again after the set-back. Remember too,
concentrate on the effort your child puts in, not the results. Praising your child for trying and
making an improvement will motivate them to continue trying at a difficult task.
Parenting Tip: Laughter really is a great medicine. Children who feel good about themselves
laugh spontaneously, develop a sense of humour and learn to tell funny stories. Encourage your
child to laugh by listening to their stories, playing games and having fun together.
I hope that you find this information useful. Please pass on to family members and home tutors.
Look out for another tip in the next newsletter, and remember to practice self-care!
Sarah Heppell
School Psychologist (Provisionally Registered)
Statewide School Psychology Services - Kimberley Education Region
Mobile: 0409 115 571 Email: [email protected]
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Hi everyone,
NAIDOC week is upon us once again, and it’s happening during the first week of holidays.
This year’s theme is called “Songlines” The living narrative of our nation.
Please join me for a whole school assembly to learn more and celebrate the existence of
“Songlines” during week 10, Wednesday 29th June in the muster room at 8:00am.
Thanks see you there
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Have you seen some of the great merchandise for sale?
COOKBOOKS – MUGS – STUBBY COOLERS – STICKERS –
TSHIRTS
HEAPS OF COOL STUFF!
CONTACT KELLIE IN THE OFFICE FOR A PRICE LIST & TO ORDER
LOOK OUT FOR SPECIAL APPEARANCES FROM THE GIRLS AT THE
CWA MARKETS & UP AND COMING RODEO’S
ALSO SELLING AT MOST ROADHOUSES IN YOUR AREA
10 | P a g e