5th55th October22nd October 2020

From the Teaching Staff… Kindness is sometimes used as a buzz words in education but it should not be treated lightly

or as a trend. In this busy and disconnected world we need more than ever to develop a

positive and caring culture. Before we can focus on the academics, positive relationships

need to be established between each other so we become kind, empathetic, members of

our community who strive to make our world a better place for everyone.

Children learn to be kind and empathetic when they experience kindness and are involved in

opportunities to show kindness to others so it becomes a natural part of daily life. One of

my favourite things about The Launceston Preparatory School is witnessing how naturally

our students show kindness to each other and throughout the school on a daily basis.

The best way to promote kindness and caring behaviours in our classrooms is to model

them. When we show our students what it LOOKS like and SOUNDS like to be kind, there is a

far greater chance they will repeat those modelled behaviours.

A huge advantage of having a deliberately “small by design” school like ours is that we can

establish connections with our students over the eight years that they spend with us. This

allows the students to develop their connections to all students throughout the school and

their teachers. We are also fortunate that we have programmed time for Philosophy and

our Resilience sessions to address positive and negative behaviours, scenarios from the

playground or classroom and to also reward and acknowledge acts

of kindness.

Studies show that people experience a “helper’s high” when they do

a good deed. This rush of endorphins creates a lasting sense of

pride, well-being, and belonging. It is reported that even small acts

of kindness heighten our sense of well-being, increase energy, and

give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self-worth.

In “Truth and Happiness”, Miss Nicole England teacher of Maths, Art, HASS and Philosophy to the Prep/Ones

Amazing Australian Masterpieces!

The Preps and Group Ones have already produced their first masterpiece in Art this term. Last week we did an oil pastel drawing of some waratah. We also learnt some interesting facts about this beautiful native plant along the way. Did you know that the waratah is not a fussy plant, grows in lots of

different conditions, and that traditionally aboriginal people used the nectar from the waratah to sweeten their food? The details that all the students added to their works showed great skill.

Miss Nicole England

2/3 Socratic Seminar - Should children have jobs? In our novel Yaya is worried about Mareka because back in Greece she had lots of friends to play with but in Australia she is always serving in the shop. Yaya thinks Mareka shouldn’t be doing grown-up things, especially not all the time. She should play and have friends. • Do you get paid pocket money? • What are the jobs you need to do to earn your pocket money? • What are the consequences if you don’t do those jobs? • In your opinion, should children have to do jobs to earn pocket money? Explain • When is the perfect time to get a real job? • What, in your opinion, are the benefits of children working for money? • If all children should get a job, what would be the effects on our society?

Rethink Your Waste On Tuesday Mary and Ken from Rethink Waste

Tasmania/Launceston City Council visited our school again to

conduct rubbish and recycling workshops with all students and

teachers EL to Group 6. Mary and Ken love visiting our school and

engaging with our students and we are praised as a school on the

recycling and sustainable initiatives we have in place.

All students participated in activities and discussions to test and

improve our rubbish and recycling habits. All children were given

a brochure and sticker to bring home for your recycling bins. I am

sure all children will all tell you a thing or two that you can do at

home to reduce the amount of contamination in your recycling

bins and reduce our household rubbish ending up as landfill.

The main questions for every household that come out of these sessions are: are you recycling the

best that you can? Do you have a FOGO bin if it is available in your council area? And are you

recycling your soft plastics by dropping them off at Coles or Woolworths??? If you are, well done; if

not, ask your children how!

Here are the Kinder and Early Learning students in sorting action!

Miss Jacqui Wise

Woodfield Camp What a fabulous week the Leavers enjoyed at the final Outdoor Education camp last week at Woodfield! They were a superb group to take away, happily getting involved in all activities (no matter how bizarre they might have seemed) and co-operating with each other in a way that showed their learning from Mt Cameron camp in February. Though we never sat in a classroom or in front of a text book, it was amazing how much learning we achieved throughout the week. The students sometimes commented that their heads were exploding with all the learning they were doing! Here are some of their other comments:

“Camp was a great learning experience but it was also very fun! We also learned about trees that fly and fluffy toads!” (Ryan L)

“Camp is amazing because you can do a type of learning the classroom just doesn’t offer.” (Josie)

“It was incredible on camp! I enjoyed getting to know each other better and having conversations at meals.” (James)

“Camp was so incredibly awesome! It incorporated learning with fun “activities”!” (Griffin)

“Camp was really fun! The activities we did were fun and educational at the same time.” (Charlie)

“Woodfield was a really fun camp! All the activities we did were really inspiring!” (Angus)

“I enjoyed having lots of opportunities to learn and have fun outdoors!” (Bjorn)

“Woodfield camp is amazing! The amount of learning I did hurts my brain to think about! I think I need to convince my dad to take me back!” (Piper)

“I really enjoyed camp and all the amazing activities. I also liked the people in my cabin. I also made some stronger bonds with my classmates. I LOVED the wildlife!” (Hudson)

Thank you, Leavers, for a wonderful week! We loved it too!

Mrs McNair and Mr Barnes

New tops for the Leavers

The Leavers were very excited to be presented with their new tops when they returned from camp this week. This top will be able to be worn both at school, for sport and when the Leavers attend events outside the school. They look really fabulous and the tops make the Leavers clearly identifiable throughout the school.

“Other information …”

IMPORTANT DATES

Tuesday 27th October RSPCA Cupcake Fundraiser

Wednesday 28th October Book Week (EL-Group1)

Monday 2nd November PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Thursday 5th November ‘Count Us In’ singing with Mrs Chapman

11th – 13th November Grade 4 & 5 Camp Banksia

Friday 27th November Kinder Orientation Session (11am-12.30pm)

Friday 4th December Kinder Orientation Session (11am-12.30pm)

Monday 7th December Early Learning Orientation Session (2-3pm)

Tuesday 8th December Orientation Morning (Whole School)

Friday 11th December Early Learning Orientation Session (10.30-11.30am)

Wednesday 16th December End of Term 4

Giveaway!

The school is giving away a range of simple puzzles which our

children do not use. They are in good condition with all pieces

present. These puzzles are suitable for children under 3 years of

age and will be in the office for collection. First in, best dressed!

Please note that any notices we include in this newsletter for providers of activities that occur outside of the school, are provided only for the interest of families and do not carry any endorsement by the school.