Barbreck News
Learning at Home
Learning@Home, also known as homework tasks, are valued at St Catherine’s School as a meaningful and positive activity for our students.
Importantly, the set tasks provide essential opportunities for revision and practice of the skills necessary for further learning. New and unseen work is not given for these tasks.
It is critical that young learners establish sound habits when pursuing knowledge, skills and achievement. Setting a regular time each evening to complete set tasks is a discipline in itself and an excellent life skill. We ask families to facilitate sound home practices and to join us in encouraging students to complete tasks in a timely manner, taking pride in their completed work.
In order to be most effective, the Learning@Home tasks require students to have time set aside for completion, a clear table or desk, good lighting and uninterrupted time.
Please note teachers set tasks that students should be able to manage without assistance. Learning@Home tasks should not create tension or difficulties at home. If your daughter experiences tension regarding a specific task, please ask her to set it aside and move on to other tasks. Parents are requested to contact the classroom teacher and communicate the difficulty.
Celebrating Chinese New Year 2018
At a recent Barbreck Assembly, we spent time learning about the traditions and celebrations of the Spring Festival in China.
We all thoroughly enjoyed the Assembly and learnt a great deal through the speeches so well prepared and delivered from Year 5 students Linda Wan and Xi (Selina) Yao.
The speeches were followed by readings of old Chinese Proverbs by several Year 6 students.
Year 1 loved the Chinese Lion Dance!
“On Chinese New Year we went to Sherren House to see the Lion Dance. I got to touch it. It was very loud. It was my first time. It gave me a little fright when it came to me. Miya’s mum gave us an envelope with money. It gives good luck.” Carys Dreaver
“I was a bit scared and then I was excited when we saw the Lion Dance. I wish we can go again. My Mum and Dad came to hand out the red packets for good luck.” Miya Fei
“I was a little scared but then I was fine. The people in the lion stood up on each other’s shoulders.” Anna Roosenburg
“Chinese people have a special tradition. When a dragon comes it scares the bad things away. They get a red envelope. It has money inside for good luck.” Genevieve Campbell
Year 6 Leadership Presentation
Tuesday 20 February, saw the presentation of Year 6 Leadership Badges to all Year 6 students of 2018. It is indeed a privilege to observe the setting of a student led School culture through the role modelling of our Year 6 students. The Year 6 Code of Conduct sets guidelines for each student in Year 6 to carry out their commitments and duties.
New Year 6 students in 2018 were quickly familiarised with the expectations of our Year 6 leaders and were quick to absorb the guidelines.
In addition to the Year 6 Leadership Badges, the following badges were also presented at Assembly.
| Barbreck Leadership Positions 2018 | |
| School Captains | Georgia Hennessy and Charlotte Upton |
| Barbreck Music Captains | Sophia Atkins and Arabella Bertalli |
|
House Captains Beaulieu Blair |
Louisa Burney and Sophie Dreaver |
| Davis | Lilla Barrington and Millie Nilsen |
| Holmes Kilbride | Mattea Demetriou and Amelie Snell-Bliss |
| Langley Templeton | Indi Cunningham and Scarlett Pringle |
We look forward to observing the Year 6 students work well and with purpose in both the classroom and throughout School.
Expectations are high! We have no doubt that the 2018 Year 6 students will rise to them with enthusiasm!
Play Spaces in the Junior School
As the redevelopment project moves rapidly towards completion, the teachers of the Junior School are continually reviewing how the playground space is working.
To provide the students with different opportunities and spaces there remains an extended lunch play roster. Throughout the week, at rostered times, the students have opportunities to utilise the upper and lower playground, the library, the ELC playground, the top playing field and the Senior Hall. The spaces are all well used!
Several giant games such as Connect Four, Chinese Checkers, Snakes and Ladders and Dominoes are also available. In addition, a number of lunchtime activities are offered including, Music ensemble rehearsals, Year 3 Stage Skills, Year 4 Art Club, French Club and the Environment Club.
The lunchtime play roster changes regularly depending on the availability of spaces and input and interest from the students. With the lovely weather the students are enjoying being outside, but as the weather cools we will also offer some additional indoor activities.
After School Activities
Please note students are not permitted to play in the yard unsupervised after School. Families are asked to use the After School Service or make arrangements for children with activities after 3.50pm. Yard Duty staff conclude their supervision at 3.50pm. For the same safety and security reasons as noted for after 3.50pm in the playgrounds, those participating in Junior Joggers (Tuesdays 7.30am) must not arrive until 7.20am please.
After School Care Provider is Camp Australia
All families are encouraged to register with Camp Australia (our OHSC Provider) by telephoning the Camp Australia Head office on 1300 105 343.
Parents are urged to register even if the need to use the Service is not apparent. Failing this, it is imperative that parents have made exacting back up plans for any days in which children may need to be cared for/picked up at the last minute. For safety reasons children must be placed into After School Care by the Yard Duty teacher at 3.50pm. Staff often have meetings to attend and there are no other options for supervision. Safety and security must be priorities.
Please note Camp Australia offer a reduced fee for such circumstances.
If you need to contact Before and After School Care please note the parent contact number is 0412 510875 or 9828 3904.
Mrs Alana Moor
Head of ELC and Junior School
Environment Committee
Our Junior School’s 2018 Environment Committee recently met to commence planning activities to promote sustainability across the Junior School. Our group consists of students from Years 4 to 6 who are passionate about promoting environmental practices around the School and educating their peers. This peer to peer teaching is an integral part of our Committee and the students take the responsibility of developing sustainable habits very seriously while also designing fun activities for the younger Year levels to participate in.
We are very excited to have been selected as one of five schools to receive a grant from The City of Stonnington to participate in the Tomorrow’s Leaders for Sustainability (TLfS) program. This program is designed to help students understand the world around them, live more sustainably, build leadership skills and apply these to a meaningful sustainability project. An expert mentor will join our Committee for an hour each week over a term and guide our students to become sustainability leaders at St Catherine’s Junior School. At the conclusion, the students will present their project to Barbreck and receive a certificate of completion presented by the Mayor of the City of Stonnington. We are yet to finalise our project, however stay tuned for the possibility of our members becoming proficient energy auditors!
We look forward to working with the girls in many creative tasks, presenting sustainability hints at Assemblies, encouraging a reduction in plastic usage at School and home, as well as planning for our wonderful new vegetable garden in our new playground.
Think Green, Be Green – It’s not just a colour!
