WAGGA WAGGA PULI NEWSLETTER - waggawagga-p.schools… · -p.schools.nsw.edu.au IN THIS ISSUE...

WAGGA WAGGA PUBLIC NEWSLETTER

C A L E N D A R

MAY

Thurs 19- Cross Country ribbons to be handed out at Senior assembly @ 2pm. Thurs 19- Senior School Assembly @ 2pm Thurs 19- Middle School Assembly @ 2.40pm Fri 20- Junior Assembly @ 9.30am Fri 27- 2nd instalment of $50 due for Ballarat excursion Tue 31- ICAS Science exam

JUNE

Fri 17-

Visiting Author

Tuesday, 17 May 2016 Newsletter 89

Principal: Leanne Harvey

6921 3398 6921 8745

www.waggawagga-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

I N T H I S I S S U E

Page 1-, 2, 3 Principal’s Report

Page 4 Principal’s Report continued, & Canteen News & Bus Applications Page 5 - 5-6EL Newsbits Page 6- Visiting Author Page 7- Visiting Author & Helpful Tips Page 8- Kindergarten Enrolment Application 2017 Page 9- Oliver Phommavanh Book Order Form

Email: [email protected]

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT—WEEK 4

Over the past year, the staff at Wagga Wagga Public School have been working together with Mrs Kaye Blackburn on the area of Emotional Intelligence. Kaye is an experienced former school principal who is nationally and internationally recognised for her work in leadership development and in Emotional Intelligence training. Together we are developing plans and changing practices to enhance emotional intelligence across our school, to improve our abilities to use emotions effectively and productively. Emotional intelligence is now seen as a critical factor for sustaining high achievement, retention and positive behaviour as well as improving life success. The following article was written to support parents in their understanding of EQ and in developing this intelligence within their children.

It’s there on your bucket list of great parenting – to raise a well-adjusted, successful child who will maximize his potential and flourish as an adult. But how do you do that? What experiences can you give your child now to help prepare him for a world that grows increasingly complex each day?

The latest research indicates that the more likely predictors of future success include not just cognitive learning factors but social and emotional learning tools, starting in pre-school through post secondary education.

In other words, it’s not just about IQ, but EQ – their Emotional Intelligence Quotient – as well.

But Really, What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is defined as our ability to identify, understand, utilize and manage our emotions appropriately to communicate effectively, problem solve, reduce stress and empathize with others.

Emotional Intelligence, or EI, provides us with the tools to interact in society in a positive and emotionally healthy manner.

Emotional Intelligence can be seen as a combination of four main attributes:

Self- awareness– The ability to identify emotions in one’s self and recognize how they affect thought and behaviour. For example, if you are shopping with your child and she sees a toy that she wants and you tell her that she can put it on her wish list instead, you want your child to be able to recognize that she is disappointed and upset which may be resulting in her wanting to lash out inappropriately.

Self-management- The capacity to control behaviour resulting from emotions in appropriate and productive ways. Using the same scenario as above, once your child recognizes that she is disappointed because you won’t buy the toy, you want her to be able to manage her behaviour appropriately instead of having a meltdown.

Website: www.waggawagga-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Email: [email protected]

Principal’s Report continued……...

MERIT

CERTIFICATES

KG Ruby, Isabella, Sadie

KO Ruben, Peyton, Talon

KT Mila, Koda, Stella

1N Holly, Jamal, Paris

IP Tessa, Zara, Asha

Social Awareness & Interpersonal Intelligence- The ability to perceive and understand the emotional needs of others based on both verbal and non- verbal cues and the capacity to empathize and recognize social hierarchy. In other words, your child should be able to enter a social situation- playground, classroom, party- and be able to recognize common emotions in another child based on non-verbal clues and determine whether or not that child is inviting interaction or trying to avoid it.

Social Responsibility & Relationship management- Ability to communicate effectively, interact with others in an emotionally appropriate manner. Translation: A well behaved child who interacts appropriately with others under various circumstances.

Why it is Important to Foster Emotional Intelligence in Children

Emotions are what connect us. Providing your child with a healthy skill set for social and emotional learning is as essential as giving them nourishing food.

The great thing about Emotional Intelligence is that it can make a parent’s job easier! Think about it, great parenting depends on optimal communication and emotions are an essential part.

High EQ makes children better able to learn, problem solve and develop positive social relationships. Parents also get the benefit of “on the job training” by being able to examine their own level of emotional intelligence and discard dysfunctional behaviours in favour of more appropriate ones that they need to model for their children.

Cultivating emotional intelligence is a family effort that results in noticeable positive outcomes.

•Social Growth and Development– A child with a well developed sense of emotional intelligence will be better able to navigate the social complexities of the world. Today’s children are growing up in a tech heavy world. Interacting with social media is not equivalent to live, social interaction and the greater the dependence on technology, the less time that is spent interacting with others. Parents and educators need to construct a proper balance for children between time spent on technological pursuits and time spent interacting with their peers and adults.

•Academic Success– one of the components of enhanced EQ is being able to manage or control behaviour that results from emotions. This presents a choice for your child, the ability to choose a desired behaviour over a less desirable one. Choice gives a child the sense of control over his world which ultimately results in increased confidence levels. This sense of confidence leads to greater academic success as the child continues to experience mastery and proficiency resulting from his positive choices.

•Improved Family Dynamics– Why is it that a child who exhibits model behaviour in the classroom is often “difficult” at home? Children behave according to the expectations that we have of them. Increasing their self-awareness regarding their thoughts, feelings and behaviour leads to a greater sense of self-management and social awareness. A child who is tasked with his own emotional management will be less likely to exhibit behavioural problems on a regular basis.

Physical and Emotional Health- Childhood in not stress free. Children are being asked to navigate an increasingly complex world where the rules change continually. Stress takes a physical toll on health and well-being and unchecked stress can affect immune health, blood pressure, anxiety levels and depression. Cultivating emotional intelligence can help children develop a healthy sense of self and purpose. As confidence levels rise so does resilience. Children are less prone to free floating anxiety and frustration and are more likely to establish healthy relationships with others.


Principal’s Report continued……...

Ways to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence in Children

So what can we parents do to teach our kids emotional intelligence? Here are a few things to consider –

#1 Acknowledge the Feeling- Let your child know that you recognize that she is feeling frustrated, distracted, angry or sad. Don’t judge, just identify. Sometimes this is all a child needs to help her process through the emotion. It will also help her to recognize the feeling again when it re-surfaces in the future.

#2 Identify the Emotion- Give your child words to help anchor the feeling to an identifiable name. You can start with simple feelings like happy, sad, angry, with young children, and move to more complex emotions like disappointed, frustrated, betrayed, as your child ages.

# 3 Be Present –This is a hard one. In our multi-task oriented world it has become increasingly difficult to be fully present with another individual. Yet, this single concept is crucial to fostering a capacity for emotional intelligence. Being present means that our total focus is on one thing- the other person. No talking to your son while you are checking email, no trying to have a quality conversation with your daughter while grocery shopping. These conversations are fine, but they should not supplant quality time set aside each day just to focus on genuine communication. This, more than any other tool, will make the greatest difference. Reading proved a great way to “be present” while working with Jenna. The story provided a focus for both her and I to attend to and allowed for discussion about what the characters were experiencing emotionally.

#4 Role Play-During a time when your child is having the most difficulty processing an emotion- anger, loss, frustration,- or is unable to empathize with the emotions of others, offer to role play by taking his part and requiring him to respond as the other party. Role playing encourages empathy and it is often the quickest way to diffuse a volatile situation. Be aware not to judge. Conclude by asking your child what he noticed from the exercise. Did his perspective of the situation change? Is he less angry, frustrated, lonely, etc?

#5 Creative Development and Problem Solving- Helicopter parents beware- back away from rushing in to rescue your child from problems. Let him figure it out for himself. Creative exploration and problem solving allows children to develop mastery over their world. They experience the sense of “process” and begin to formulate a solid level of confidence and an intrinsic self management system. Creative problem solving gives children way to measure their emotional responses to challenging situations. Encourage your child to brainstorm many solutions to help build resilience and flexibility.

#6 Foster Empathy- One of the best ways to foster empathy in children is through the use of animals. Children have a natural affiliation towards animals and thanks to the world of animation, assign human attributes to them. A pet can allow a child to observe behaviours that the animal may be using to communicate its needs. This is a great way for children to begin to observe and understand non-verbal communication clues.

The 2-Minute Action Plan for Parents

Commit to spending just 2 minutes today with your kids in observation mode. Identify the emotions and take note of your kids’ behaviour-

Does their behaviour correspond to the their current emotional state or is the behaviour masking an underlying emotion that needs to be acknowledged?

What patterns do you notice?

Does your son throw a tantrum when he feels frustrated or does he shut down?

Does your daughter break down in tears when she is afraid or does she lash out? Learning how to differentiate behaviour from emotion is key to helping your child cultivate a well developed emotional intelligence.

The Ongoing Action Plan for Parents

Over the course of the next week, take inventory of your own emotional barometer.

How do your emotions manifest in behaviours?

Are they healthy or self destructive?

What patterns do you notice?

What messages are you presenting to your children?

Do your emotions/behaviours trigger emotional responses in other family members?

What old behaviours can you discard in favour of new ones that improve your interpersonal skills and help manage your emotions more effectively?

How can you use some of the techniques and strategies outlined here for your children to advance the development of your own emotional intelligence?


Principal’s Report continued…...

Our canteen is operated by the P&C, and staffed by Kelly and Melinda and their band of fabulous volunteers, five days a week. We

aim to provide the school community with a low-cost, high-quality option for school recesses and lunches. We need your help to

make this happen!

Kelly and Melinda would love to be flooded with offers of help in the canteen - dads, mums, or grandparents are all welcome.

There are many ways you can do this, whether it's a couple of hours one morning doing food preparation, or serving food during

recess or lunch. Full-day volunteers are usually finished for the day by 2pm, which might give you time to have a break and run an

errand or two before school pick-up. We'd also love to have a stand-by list of people who can be called in to help at short notice

(excellent for those who have unpredictable work arrangements). Please come and have a chat with Kelly and Melinda, or give

them a call on 6921 3398. They are eager to find a way to let you help!

Week 5 Canteen Roster:

Monday - Melinda

Tuesday - Melinda

Wednesday - Kelly

Thursday - Kelly

Friday - Kelly

Emotional Intelligence is a fluid skill that we can continue to

enhance throughout our lives. Our intellectual intelligence aids in

our quest for academic achievement and scholastic success but our

emotional intelligence is what allows us to manage the stresses,

interactions and social complexities of our ever changing global

marketplace.

What better gift can we give our children than the ability to enjoy a

greater sense of life satisfaction?

By teaching them what is emotional intelligence and how they can

organize/regulate their emotions, we can make sure they are better

equipped to navigate the complex world which lies before them.

Have a great week.

Leanne Harvey Principal

Canteen News

Bus Application Changes

All parents who wish to apply for school bus travel will need to go to the Transport of NSW website and complete an online

application form (replacing the current Blue form). Once completed online, parents need to print out the form and bring it to the

school office. The address for the online application is https://ssts-apply.transport.nsw.gov.au/Apply SSTS/ApplySSTS.html

Please phone the school for more information (6921 3398).

5-6EL Newsbits



Visiting Author

Visiting Author


Helpful Tips


Please fill in the form below and return to the school office by Friday, 24 June, 2016.

Out of zone applicants will need to collect an additional form from the office.

2017

Intention to Enrol in Kindergarten 2017


Oliver Phommavanh Book Order Form

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