IMPORTANT DATES!
PRINCIPALS’ REPORT
That really was a big week. Fantastic news from the P.E. program with both our girls and boys T-Ball teams winning the grand final last Friday and our footy team were extremely admirable in their defeat. I got to watch a little and it was terrific to see how excited our students were just to compete against their peers and take the opportunity to be part of working in a team. I cannot wait for our term 3 interschool sport sessions. It was also fantastic to build our students up this week during the 3-way conference format. We have been working very hard to scaffold opportunities for our students to have more agency over their learning and the 3-way conference is a very important step towards goal setting. We aim to give our students autonomy over how to get to the next stage of their learning. We certainly have exciting times ahead.
Child Safety and Wellbeing at Rosanna Golf Links PS: Information for Families and the School Community
The Victorian Government has announced new Child Safe Standards to further strengthen child safety across organisations, including schools. The new standards recognise the critical importance of families and the broader school community in maintaining and promoting child safety and wellbeing.
At Rosanna Golf Links PS, we are currently has reviewing and updating our child safety policies and procedures to ensure they meet the requirements of the new standards. On Wednesday the 27th of July at 8:00am the Policy subcommittee are meeting to look over a few of the policies and procedures that we have been updating. We would love for other parents from our community to join in and give us some feedback.
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and wellbeing and welcome all feedback from families and members of our school community on ways we can further strengthen our child safety policies, procedures and practices. If you would like to attend the policy subcommittee meeting, please email me directly at Kirrily.Lamers@education.vic.gov.au and I will share the Webex link with you.
Once we seek this round of feedback the policies will be uploaded to our website for further feedback. I will attach the link as soon as we are ready to do so.
COVID 19 Information
Thank you once again to our entire community who have read through the letter distributed on Monday, outlining the Victorian schools request around mask wearing. For those who may have missed it the following details that request.
We are writing to you as parents/carers of a child or children in government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria.
The Victorian Department of Health strongly recommends that face masks are worn in indoor settings.
As a result, we are asking all students aged 8 and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks when in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter.
Students won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors, and this expectation won’t stop student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances.
We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible.
We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school.
We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from COVID and other winter illness.
Thank for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy.
Take care,
Kirrily Lamers
Principal
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT
Sleep and Internet Safety
Interestingly, this week we had a few items pop into the school’s inbox discussing two important issues all parents face from time to time. The first is Sleep. Sleep is essential for our children’s development and can often be underestimated. Sleep is important for our bodies physical and mental health. It improves our ability to play, learn and concentrate for the day ahead. The second was internet safety. It is important that we model, join in and lead conversations and habits when using devices. The content, and kids needs and wants are always changing. We as parents need to be continually observing and discussing what content they are consuming and the connection they are making online. raisingchildren.net.au/ have a great article on this.
If we start young we have a much better chance to engage in these conversation: some of the strategies on the site include:
- – Create a family media plan. It’s best to create your plan with your child and ask them for suggestions. Your plan could cover things like screen-free areas in your house, internet safety rules like not giving out personal information, and programs and apps that are OK for your child to use.
- – Use child-friendly search engines like Kiddle or Kidtopia, or content providers like ABC Kids, CBeebies, YouTube Kids and KIDOZ, or messaging apps like Messenger Kids.
- – Check that games, websites and TV programs are appropriate for your child. You can do this by looking at reviews on Common Sense Media.
- – Use the internet with your child or make sure you’re close by and aware of what your child is doing online. This way you can act quickly and reassure your child if they’re concerned or upset by something they’ve seen online.
- – Check privacy settings and location services, use parental controls, and use safe search settings on browsers, apps, search engines and YouTube. Limit camera and video functions so your child doesn’t accidentally take photos of themselves or others.
- – If you use TV streaming services, set up profiles for different household members so your child is less likely to come across inappropriate programs.
- – Find out how to make complaints about offensive online content.
- – Block in-app purchases and disable one-click payment options on your devices.
- – Encourage all your children, including older siblings, to help each other use the internet safely and responsibly – for example, by watching only age-appropriate programs.
Trust between you and your child helps keep your child safe online. Calm, open conversations about internet use can help your child feel that you trust them to be responsible online. And if your child feels trusted, they’re more likely to talk with you about what they do online and tell you about online content and contacts that worry them.
It’s best to avoid using surveillance apps that let you secretly monitor your child’s online activity. Using these apps sends the message that you don’t trust your child. It’s better to talk openly about your own internet use and encourage your child to do the same.
If you do choose to monitor your child’s internet use while they’re online or by reviewing their browser history, it’s good to talk about this with your child.
There are strategies and information for older children on the site and are well worth a read.
Luke Franklin
Assistant Principals
SMILE SQUAD DENTAL VISITS
Every child deserves and healthy smile
Smile Squad hits the road in Banyule – Rosanna Golf Links Primary School
All children deserve a healthy smile and the Smile Squad are coming to Banyule – Rosanna Golf Links Primary School to help make sure this happens.
Smile Squad is the exciting new State Government program that will provide free, high quality dental care to all Victorian public primary and secondary school students.
Smile Squad is set to improve the oral health of more than 650,000 children, saving families both time and money, and all without having to leave the school grounds.
Smile Squad dental vans will provide free examinations and treatment including teeth cleaning, fluoride applications, fillings and any other non-cosmetic treatments to make sure our young people have healthy teeth.
Smile Squad is staffed by experienced oral health therapists, dental therapists, dental assistants and dentists. They all have extensive experience treating children and a passion for improving their oral health – for life.
Learn more about the Smile Squad by visiting www.smilesquad.vic.gov.au or contact the team at smilesquad@dhsv.org.au.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
2022 RGLPS Arts and Writing Festival - Poster Design Competition
Next week is the final week for students to enter the RGLPS Arts and Writing Festival Poster Competition. Students are invited to design a poster to advertise the upcoming festival and show off their creativity. The winner of the best poster will be announced at assembly and in the newsletter. The winner will also receive a prize for their efforts. Named entries should by handed into the front office by Friday 29th July (end of week 3).
Three Way Conferences
Thank you for all parents/carers and students who were able to attend their child’s Three-Way Conference earlier in the week. These conferences were a great opportunity to celebrate student learning achievement, discuss student goals and unpack appropriate strategies for the remainder of the 2022 school year. I know I enjoyed the chance to meet some parents/carers in person for the first time! If you were unable to speak to your child’s teacher on this 3WC date, teachers are always accessible via email on Compass or by calling the school.
Discussing Reading with your Children
During Three Way Conferences, one of the questions that came up repeatedly was ‘How can parents support their child’s reading comprehension?’ A way to do this is to engage your child in a substantive conversation about their reading. Below are some possible questions that you might use the guide the conversation.
Some questions you might use for students reading at a Prep – Year 2 level:
What happened in the story/text?
What do you think is going to happen next? What makes you think this?
What was the problem in the story?
Tell me about the characters – what are they like? How can you tell?
How do you think XXX felt when XXX happened?
What did the author do to keep you interested in the story?
What is something interested you learned from your reading today?
Suitable questions for students reading at a Year 3 – Year 6 level
Tell me what is happening in the text?
What happened at the start, middle and end of the story?
Tell me about the main characters – how would you describe them? Why do you think they are behaving like this?
Did the characters change during the story? Why do you think this?
What was the most important moment in the story? Why?
What predictions can you make about the rest of the text? What makes you think this?
What is something interesting you learned today? Why was this interesting?
What are the important points/facts/moments in the text? Why are these so important?
What connections can you make to other books, the world or your own experiences?
What do you think the author is trying to make you think about? Why?
What new information have you learned from your reading?
Has your opinion on anything changed from your reading? Why/Why not?
What has the author done to make the text interesting for you? What could they do to engage you further?
Why do you think the author wrote this text?
Would you recommend this text to someone else? Why/Why not?
Try to use a conversational approach, rather than a question-and-answer interrogation format when you discuss your child’s reading with them. Keeping the discussion low key will also help your child to feel safe in sharing their opinions and open up. Remember that the focus is on getting your child to elaborate on their thinking in their response and to provide reasons for their opinions. The aim is for them to deepen their thinking and understanding. Be aware that there may not be a correct answer to some questions.
Term Three 2022 Team Newsletters
In case you missed the announcement, Term Three Team Newsletters are now available on Compass. These can be viewed from the announcement or accessed on Compass via the following pathway: Compass -> Community Icon -> School Documentation -> Year Level Newsletters -> 2022 -> Term 3 2022
Teachers put a significant amount of time into preparing the term newsletter communications for parents. We encourage all parents/carers to read newsletters relevant to your child’s year level to learn about curriculum foci, events and important dates for each term.
2022 ICAS
There is only one more week for students to be registered for ICAS assessments. I now have well over 90 registrations spread across the six assessments. Registrations can be made through the Parent Payment Portal located at https://www.icasassessments.com/shop-parents/ Please use the RGLPS access code EMT934. Registrations will close on Sunday 31st July 2022.
Have a great week everyone!
Kerron Worsdell
Learning Specialist
MATHS NEWS
Maths Riddle
Well done to those who attempted last week’s ‘Follow the Path’ challenge. The answer to the challenge is:
Largest total route: 9+7+5=21
Smallest total route: 6+3+1=10
Here’s this week’s Maths Riddle. I’ll share the answer in the newsletter next week.
Two Truths & One Lie Challenge
Hint: When adding fractions, convert each fraction so that they have the same denominator before solving.
Extra Challenge: Create your own problems involving two truths and one lie.
If you’d like to share your response or have your working out featured in our newsletter, please send your solutions to sarah.mclellan@education.vic.gov.au
SPORT NEWS
Sam - State Cross Country
On Thursday this week, Sam P competed for Rosanna Golf Links at the State Cross Country Championships in the U9/10 Multiclass Event. His dad, Alistair emailed me after the event to say that Sam had ran superbly and had placed FOURTH in a field of around 25 to 30 competitors – what an outstanding result! But the good news doesn’t end there as I was also very excited to read that he is now being considered for the Victorian State team to go to the National Championships!
We look forward to hearing the outcome and I’d like to finish by saying congratulations Sam, we are so proud of you representing our school at the State Championships; well done!
Darren Peters
PE and Sports Coordinator
CANTEEN
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Disclaimer: Rosanna Golf Links Primary School (RGLPS) does not endorse any product or service advertised in this newsletter. RGLPS takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements or the quality and reliability of products or services offered in the advertisements
