As we approach the end of Week 4, I have to say that it has been a busy few weeks on the Primary Campus.  Much of our collective energy has been put into learning new routines and this is true for the teachers and the students.  With the change to class structure this year, timetables are a little more complex as we blend the teaching of cohorts with the teaching of classes across the week.  For students, it can be hard to learn the routines of new classrooms and subjects but we know that if we can help them to make the routines automatic, this allows for brain space to deal with the learning.  We share with the students that our working memory can only deal with about four things at a time before it becomes overwhelmed.  This is cognitive load and it can impact learning in a negative way.  As part of our focus on the process of learning, we use these terms with the learners.  

A significant event of the last two weeks has been the Year 6 Leadership Retreat which took place earlier this week.  The term 'leadership' is a complex one and each year we take the time to work with the Year 6 students to unpack the meaning.  This year, through their discussion, the students identified the following characteristics of leadership:

• Leadership is being a role model because we need to show the right example.
• Leadership is being humble because we demonstrate it through our actions.
• Leadership is showing integrity all the time.
• Leadership is being respectful of others because it is the right thing to do.
• Leadership is being courageous and making the right choices even when it is hard.
• Leadership is always showing empathy to try to understand how others feel.

They also had the opportunity to share the gifts they see in each other which will be of benefit in their leadership role this year as well as understanding the requirements of the Donna Shannon Leadership Award which is presented at our annual Awards Night. I look forward to working closely with this group of individuals throughout the year and to see how they develop their leadership capacity.

At the other end of the Primary Campus, the Prep students have had a wonderful start to their schooling journey and have been keen to embrace learning.  I have sat in on a few phonics lessons and they have shown themselves to be a group of keen learners.  

Last week in assembly, I reminded all the students of our responsibility to show respect to ourselves, to others and also to property.  As a school, we would appreciate all parents and carers talking with their children about this because it is the bedrock of what we want for our community.  

Finally, there is a saying that every picture tells a thousand words.  Over the last two weeks I have taken many photographs of the students on the Primary Campus.  I hope that you enjoy looking at how we fill our days with purposeful and rich learning, positive interactions and food!

With God's blessings

Sarah Yates
Assistant Principal Primary & Teaching & Learning