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Term 3, Week 1
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MISSION STATEMENT
To work under God in partnership with parents to provide an inclusive, nurturing and high quality education for every student.
VIsion
Flourishing through faith, belonging and the pursuit of excellence.
From The Principal
Term 3 value focus: Appreciation
Over the term break, I’ve been reflecting on our value focus, Appreciation. More specifically, I’ve been thinking about appreciation in terms of a daily gratitude practice. We know from brain research that a daily gratitude practice changes our brains – we become wired to focus on the things that have gone well rather than ruminating on worries. Gratitude confronts anxiety and builds resilience.
Growth through daily, intentional gratitude practices
One year, my teaching partner and I decided to pack up the students a few minutes earlier than in previous terms so that we could end the day with a circle where students explicitly named things that went well that day. We journaled/listed the various things that children shared.
At first, there were a lot of general repeats (i.e. “I’m grateful for my friends…my teacher…pizza”). But as the term progressed, students began noticing more specific things – the kind word that someone said when they messed up in sport, finally getting long division, laughter during a lesson, their drawing coming out better than expected. Just like any brain re-wiring, adopting an attitude of gratitude takes time.
Following up with gratitude practice at home
As partners with us in education, I challenge you to also adopt a time of the day to express gratitude. Even better, keep a record of all the responses from each of your children to see their growth – both in the specificity of their gratitude and in resilience.
Here are some questions to get you started:
- What made you smile today?
- What did you play at recess? And with whom?
- Did you catch anyone doing something funny?
- What did you like best about your day today?
- Was there anything that happened today that surprised you?
- What went well today?
- What was the most interesting thing that you learned in school today?
- Did you do anything different or new today?
- What challenged you today? How did you work through the challenge?
- What made you feel proud of yourself today?
Adapted from: https://www.tlc.com/parenting/questions-to-ask-your-child-instead-of–how-was-your-day—
Deep dive
Beyond the “could do” family questions above, we challenge you to take a deep dive by delving into the resources on SchoolTV related to gratitude (and how it is different than Happiness!). https://lpsww.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter/happiness-gratitude
With gratitude to YOU,
Janet Moeller
Principal
From The DEPUTY Principal
Spellmaster
Congratulations to Kirollos Estafanos who won the Spellmaster competition on the last day of Term Two. This is the third year in a row that Kirollos has won the competition, quite an achievement. Thanks to Mr Richards for coordinating the day. The winning house for Spellmaster will be announced at the assembly in week 4.
Haircuts
This week I have noticed a number of students who’s hair is quite long in length and has not been tied back with a hair band. Can I ask that parents ensure that if their child’s hair is long at the back that it be tied back please as stated in our parent handbook below.
PERSONAL GROOMING
Hair
Students are required to wear their hair tied back if it is longer than shoulder length or it is long enough to fall forward to hinder vision during classroom or sports activities. Hair accessories including ribbons, hair bands and hair clips are permitted in navy, dark/jade green or the fabric of our summer or winter uniform.
New Staff
This week we have welcomed Mrs Jane Antrim who is our new Learning Innovation Coordinator and Mrs Jane Greenlees who is taking over with Mrs Aimee Owers from Ms Michelle Bosely in Year 2. Ms Bosley has been doing a handover this week with Mrs Greenlees. We welcome them all to the Lutheran School community.
Online safety for families
The eSafetyCommissioner website provides some guidelines and common-sense advice about how to stay safe when using the internet. Have a look at the link below.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources/online-safety-for-every-family
Team 6 – Canberra excursion
At the end of last term, Team 6 undertook an educational tour of the National Capital. Students participated in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the National Capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Thank you to Mr Gardner, Mrs English, Ms Moeller, Mrs Hodgson, Mrs Prenzler and Mrs Nixon for giving up their time to take Team 6 students on this experience.
Dylan Evans
Deputy Principal
Values Focus
“Gratitude is, however, more than just an emotion. It is also a disposition that can be chosen and cultivated, an outlook toward life that manifests itself in actions—it is an ethic.”
― Diana Butler Bass in her book Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks
This term’s focus value is appreciation. I’m reminded by Diana Butler Bass that gratefulness is more of a habit than anything else, and that habits are developed over time through repetition and practice. One way to develop this practice is by keeping a gratitude journal, setting apart regular time to recall the things you’re grateful for, many of our students already practice this in class.
At home, these types of practices are often hard to build, we often forget, or just run out of time, but perhaps your household might be able to try to cultivate a practice of gratitude together this term? Maybe, together you can try one thing, keep a gratitude journal, draw a weekly gratitude picture, or share one thing you’re grateful for together over the meal table.
Diana Butler Bass says that growing gratitude is like planting a garden, it takes watering and weeding but eventually seeds begin to grow sprouting flowers of thanksgiving. May your household find ways to plant some seeds of gratefulness and thanksgiving together this term.
Shalom,
Darren Wright
Chaplain
Curriculum Matters
WHAT IS THE NCCD?
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year.
The NCCD is a collection that counts:
- the number of school students receiving an adjustment or ‘help’ due to disability
- the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.
Students are counted in the NCCD if they receive ongoing adjustments at school due to disability. This‘help’ allows them to access education on the same basis as a child without disability. The NCCD uses the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Schools provide this information to education authorities.
HOW IS THIS DATA USED?
The NCCD data informs funding and work by schools and sectors. It ensures that support for students with disability becomes routine in the day-to-day practice of schools. The NCCD also supports students in the following ways.
- The NCCD helps schools better understand their legislative obligations and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
- Schools focus on the individual adjustments that support students with disability. This encourages them to reflect on students’ needs and to better support students.
- The NCCD facilitates a collaborative and coordinated approach to supporting students with disability. It also encourages improvements in school documentation.
- The NCCD improves communication about students’ needs between schools, parents, guardians, carers and the community. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) annually publishes high-level, non-identifying NCCD data.
WHEN DOES THE NCCD TAKE PLACE?
The NCCD takes place in August each year.
ICAS
Lutheran School Wagga Wagga will again be participating in the ICAS competitions this year. ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, and Digital Technologies. We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. The competition is open to students from Years 2 to 6. Learn more by visiting
Gavin Richards
3-6 Coordinator
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P&F News
Cocktail Party
Tickets are $65 per person and are now available for the Lutheran Primary School Cocktail Party and can be purchased through the following link:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1082448
This will be held on Friday 18 August 2023, at the Champagne Bar, Murrumbidgee Turf Club commencing at 7:30 pm.
This event is a chance for Lutheran school parents to enjoy a fun night together – rather than a fundraiser, there is a casual focus to the night, a chance to mingle, have a chat and dance with members of our wonderful community.
Tickets are limited so get in quick!
OSHC
Over the School holidays OSHC did lots of exciting activities! We went on excursions to the Wagga Wagga Bowling and Entertainment Centre, Forum 6 Cinemas and Laser Tag. We also had lots of themed days in the centre, we had Under the Sea Day, Wheels Day, Musical Madness, Winter Wonderland, PJ Party Day and many more.
Under the Sea Day: OSHC enjoyed creating ‘under the sea’ craft. The wooden sharks were a hit. Children used markers to colour the insides of the sharks as well as the frames. The children then used glue to glue the frames onto the sharks. The children also enjoyed creating dances. A group of K-3 girls choreographed a dance that they performed on stage for the rest of the students at OSHC. It was amazing to see the confidence of these children as they performed for the group.
Bowling Day: The children were in groups with their friends as they bowled. For some children they had done this plenty of times before and for other children it was their very first time. It was great to see the children working together as they helped each other with how to bowl.
Wheels Day: The children brought in bikes, rollerblades, skateboards and scooters. Before we went outside the students showed how responsible they could be and came up with a list of rules for riding. All children were respectful of each other and respectful of each other’s property. All children should be proud of themselves!
PJ Party: We enjoyed a very relaxing day at OSHC. In our group discussion at lunchtime some of the children asked for some extra time after lunch where we would turn the lights off and everyone could relax. We took a vote on this, and the overwhelming majority chose to relax. The other 4 children (who did not want quiet time) spent some time outside.
The overall favourite activity at OSHC was the melt beads, this is a constant favourite activity throughout school holidays as well as school term. Children used fine motor skills and practiced their patience as they worked slowly and carefully on placing small beads onto a template to create their art. Other activities that were enjoyed were chess, football, puzzles, cricket, sticker- by- number and snowflake art.
Melanie Elmer
Other Information
Families leaving the school
Please note that one full term’s written notice is required if you are withdrawing your child from Lutheran School. We purchase learning materials based on projected enrolment numbers at least one term in advance. Hence, the enrolment contract you signed specifies that failure to provide a term’s notice will result in you being charged for the subsequent term.
Uniform Shop Orders
If you would like to purchase uniforms from the Uniform Shop, please email [email protected]
We will email you once the order is ready to be picked up from the office. Thank you.
