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From the Principal’s Desk
I recently read a report about some Australian research that confirms what early Primary teachers have intuitively known about children and their reading development. That is, the more adults read to children from an early age, the greater the impact on their reading and thinking skills.
The research was conducted by The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and commissioned by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in Victoria. It was based on data gathered in the Growing Up in Australia Project which is the first-ever comprehensive Australian dataset on children as they grow up, and tracks children over time from their pre-school years.
The study followed 4,000 children, aged between four and five years in 2004 through to ages 10 and 11 and found that reading to a child six to seven days a week puts him/her almost a year ahead of a child without this experience. The study also found that children who were read to every day from a young age also have better numeracy skills in Primary years.
The benefits don’t stop at reading to pre-school aged children. The study found that kids who are read to more often keep doing better compared to other children as time goes on.
While there are lots of factors involved in children’s reading development, it is helpful for parents and other adults, such as grandparents, to know that reading to children goes beyond a simple fun, bonding experience. It is perhaps the single most important activity you can do to give a child a head start in literacy. So make sure your kids take plenty of books on visits and sleepovers with grandparents, and other relatives. Let them know how important reading regularly to children is (if they don’t already know!).
The critical factor in all this is the regularity of this activity. Reading to children occasionally does help their reading development, but doing it everyday really makes a difference. So make sure you always have some good books at home that children love to read – and set aside some regular times to spend with them. You won’t see any change this week or next month, but over time, this consistent practice will definitely make a difference!
Bro Andrew Johns
SPIRITUAL THEME FOR THIS WEEK: THE BODY—LEGS & FEET
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
IN THIS EDITION Primary Concert
UP & COMING EVENTS until next newsletter God willing:
Week 8
Fri 20 June
Primary Assembly 12:30 pm Year R/1 Jesslyn Witton
Week 9
Fri 27 June
Primary Assembly 12:30 pm Reception Heather Pillion
Term 2 Number 4• 17 June 2014
3 x Recall 2 x Insights 1 1 x Ques on If we love people then we need to
show it – 1 Jn 3:18God is love – 1 Jn 4:8Love is men oned a lot in these
chapters
I have learned that Cain was a murderer before he actually killed Abel
I have learned that God loved me even before I was born
What does John mean by saying that if we abide in Jesus we don’t sin? I believe in Jesus and I s ll sin.
END OF FINANCIAL YEAR The end of the 2013/2014 financial year is fast approaching. We are able to issue you with a receipt for monies paid to the building and library funds in the 2013/2014 year. If you require a receipt with the breakdown of what is tax deductible please contact Priscilla. A receipt will be sent home or emailed to parents before the end of the term.
The College is planning to commence building a new Technology Studies facility in the next few months God willing. If you would like to make a Building Fund donation before the 30th June this would be appreciated. A receipt for taxation purposes will be provided. Account details are as follows: Heritage College Building Fund BSB 035050 Account no 123068. If you make a donation directly into our bank account, please email the details to Priscilla. THINKING ABOUT THE READINGS We hope you found using the ‘See, think, wonder’ thinking routine in your readings useful in the last fortnight. This issue, we have another common routine that is used in our classrooms. It's called the 321RIQ. This routine encourages children to reflect on what they have learned from the reading and discussion while helping them to be accountable for their own learning. It is best to use this routine after you have discussed the reading. The routine follows a simple formula: 3 Recall items from the reading / discussion.
Ask them some of the facts that they remember about the reading and discussion.
2 Insights or anything new they have learned This may apply to the chapter itself or in lessons learned from it. Get them to start their response with ‘I have learned…’ .
1 Question that they may have—either relating directly to the content of the chapter or how they might apply the lessons in their lives.
From reading 1 John 3-4 some sample responses may be:
GENERAL NEWS VHS / DVD PLAYERS FOR LIBRARY Whilst we are in the process of moving to new technology in our library, teachers still need the use of DVD / VHS units which are attached to mobile trolleys in classrooms. These units now require replacement so if you have a VHS or a DVD / VHS combination player which you no longer require at home we would appreciate hearing from you. Please contact George Mitsos at Heritage in the first instance: 8266 5122.
USED COMPUTERS FOR FREE! The College has a number of computers to give away. Specifications are: Pentium 4 3.0GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 40GB hard drive, supplied with Windows XP installation CD and serial number, keyboard, screen and mouse are supplied. Please contact the College on 8266 5122 or email [email protected] if you are interested.
A reminder that there are only 12 weeks remaining to complete the Challenge, so if you have not yet started it is still achievable. At present there is one class that has almost completed the Challenge. Return your forms to class teachers or to the Library. SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE The School Dental Service is the major provider of dental services for children in South Australia. Dental care is free for most children and the School Dental Service will bulk-bill Medicare. Children who do not qualify for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule can also attend—a small fee will apply for each course of general dental care provided. To locate your local School Dental Clinic and for more information about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule visit the website here.
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PRIMARY NEWS
VOICE & STRING LESSONS We have sourced a Voice Teacher who is available to commence lessons at the beginning of Term 3.
If you would like your child(ren) or yourself to have voice lessons, please email Anna Kerr: [email protected] expressing your interest. The cost of the private lessons will be $23/lesson for 1/2 hour. Amy Hyndman, who currently teaches violin and viola at Heritage, has some lesson spaces available on Fridays. We are pleased to recommend Amy as a capable and qualified teacher of cello, violin and viola. Instrument hire can be arranged through the College. Please contact Amy at [email protected] if you are interested.
PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS At the Primary assembly each Friday, some students are presented with a Principal’s Award in acknowledgement of their excellent work, effort or good character during the week. Congratulations to the following students who have received awards:
Reception—HP Lennox Brown for working hard to keep his
work folder empty Azriel Grant for being the only person to get
10/10 for Listening Comprehension Skill this week
Evelyn Hornhardt for lovely neat handwriting at a good size
Oliver Scott for a good Show and Tell presentation this week
Luke Seaman for making a very good sentence in Written Language this week
Caleb Smith for working hard at colouring neatly this week
Year 4 Year 4 class for working very hard and
presenting their recital item very well Year 5 Josh Evans, Emma Martin and Jasmine
Stone for achieving 10 class merit awards Bradley Gibson for the best presented
homework in Week 6. Sophie Luke for completing Level A in the
Typing Tournament program Ezra Nicholls for concentrating really well in
band practice Danielle Wigzell for the best presented
homework in Week 5
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GENERAL NEWS PRIMARY NEWS Year 7 Nathan Gibson for efficient, clear thinking in
problem solving Phoebe Mansfield and Ruby Riddle for
showing persistence with problem solving YEAR 2 LETTERS
Luke
Highly anticipated as one of the highlights for the year, we were once again treated to the considerable talents of our Primary students in the excellent presentation of their items for our Concert Night on Thursday 5 June. Joyful singing, dance, recitation, band playing and humourous student MCs all formed part of a memorable evening.
A very big thank you to everyone, audience included, who helped to make our Concert Night such a fun event. The photos speak for themselves!
YEAR 6 HISTORY
In the second half of this term, we have been learning about migration to Australia in the 1900s. We learnt about some of the reasons that people have had to leave their country of birth and why they chose to come to Australia. We have researched where our families came from originally and why they came here. We’ve discovered that our families came from countries that include: Wales, South Korea, Scotland, China, Germany, Holland, England, Ireland, Canada, Israel and France. Some of the reasons they came to Australia include avoiding conscription into the army, for a better education, to attend Heritage College, better job opportunities, hiding from Nazis, relatives, weather, freedom, safety and transportation as a convict. Next week we will be have a guest speaker whose family came out to Australia from Britain as ‘Ten pound poms’. We will also visit the Migration Museum to learn some more of the stories of people who came to Australia and some of the artefacts they brought with them.
YEAR 7 ART MASTERPIECES
PRIMARY NEWS PRIMARY CONCERT
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Musical ear—Jesse McGeorge
Hungry Plant—Emalene Roberts
Screeeeech! - Judah Martin
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PRIMARY CONCERT
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SECONDARY NEWS THE HUMBLE PENCIL CASE—A FAMILY TRADITION Searching back through the generations of my illustrious family tree, I came to the realisation that we all have a special bond, and no I’m not talking about blood or the fabulously brilliant genetics that we all possess. I am of course talking about the very important tradition of making a pencil case at school in Home Economics. So as you sit with your children and regale them with stories of when you became very special friends with the unpicker, or as you sat for a whole lesson trying to thread the needle of your machine, only to find out the end of the needle had broken off, or worse yet had to have the dirty looking brown zip with the wobbly teeth because it was the only one left, console yourself in the fact that they too have suffered this very same fate. So just in case you have forgotten what it was like in the Home Ec classroom back in your day, to refresh your memory, I have included the Recipe for making a Pencil Case, which the very talented Year 8 Boys have just completed. Michelle Wild
YEAR 9 SCIENCE Year 9 Science students have now completed their Ecology unit and finished off by showing that photosynthesis only takes place where chlorophyll is present in a leaf. This is the
green pigment we see in leaves. If we starch test a variegated leaf, one partly lacking the chlorophyll (ie partially white or yellow) then we observe that the iodine only stains the central portion of the leaves. This shows that starch is present, but only where the green colouring used to be. The process of preparing the leaf actually removes the chlorophyll which would otherwise mask the change in colour to blue-black for starch.
YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY Last Thursday we visited the CSIRO Science Education Centre laboratory, where we were shown (or tried out for ourselves) various pieces of equipment used for analysis of chemicals. We learned about research and development of technology that is done by the CSIRO, and about uses of chemistry techniques and equipment in various fields, such as forensics or the metal industry. We also tested the amount of sodium in spring water, using the samples of salt water we diluted at school recently.
VOLUNTEER EXAM SUPERVISORS & SCRIBES Thank you to all those who assisted with the supervision of the Year 8-11 exams last week. Some of you were contacted on short notice, and were also asked to scribe for a student. Many thanks for your willingness to help, it was much appreciated.
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COUNSELLING CORNER flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk.12:32).
Another way to build positive thoughts is to look outside of yourself and to think of others: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Phil. 2:4). One of our hymns encourages us to think of our brothers and sisters and forget all our troubles in meeting their needs. By involving ourselves in ecclesial work or in helping someone else, our problems that initially seemed so huge and insurmountable suddenly shrink to manageable issues. And even if they don’t, we know that through faith and prayerful petition to our loving Father, even metaphorical mountains can uprooted and moved (Matt.17:20; 21:21), and nothing is impossible for us because like Paul we can say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”(Phil.4:13).
There are many other ways to develop positive thinking, however, the most important is through regular communication with God: by hearing Him speak to us through His Holy Word and we, in turn, speaking to Him in prayer. There is a sense of calm and peace that attends a positive relationship with God. There is a wonderful assurance in the fact that when we are on God’s side, everything is alright: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1Pet.1:6-7).
In the end, it is our school theme for this year that summarises the attitude that allows for positive thinking to flourish: “Be thankful in every circumstance” (1Thess.5:18). When we are thankful, we find the rainbow in the storm. When we are thankful, we can find the serenity available in surrender to the mighty King. It is in this state of positive thinking that all our fears and concerns can wash away and our troubled minds can find rest.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col.3:15)
Graeme Shugg
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS Heritage College is once again selling the Entertainment Book for $65. Please see the attached order form or click here for details on the offers included in the book and to order your copy. Selling fast!
You have probably heard the phrase “Think Positive” before. Sometimes we may think this is a quaint idea that is easy to say but of little practical relevance, especially when we are thinking negatively. However, there is now a significant body of medical research that shows positive thinkers have better stress coping skills, stronger immunity and lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The Apostle Paul certainly understood the power of positive thinking: “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom.8:28). So how can we “think positive”, especially if we naturally catastrophise or go straight to negative thoughts?
One strategy is to be actively aware of when you start to have negative thoughts and to decisively replace them with positive thoughts. This is called “avoiding negative self-talk”. Self-talk is when your inner voice mentally tells yourself things. It’s the voice in your head that analyses how you perform and interact with others around you. When you start thinking negatively about yourself, someone else, or a situation, deliberately stop yourself, pause and consider. Ask yourself, “How bad is this really?” On a scale of 1 to 10, one being insignificant and ten being the worst thing possible, rate the issue in your mind honestly. Most things are not the end of the world, they are mostly annoying or inconvenient. Keeping things in perspective is very important. After being almost stoned to death at Lystra, Paul was able to use that traumatic event as a positive teaching tool to show that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
It can be very hard to stay positive without humour. When things are difficult, it is important to stay open to laughter and humour. An old saying is “Laughter is the best medicine”, and that’s absolutely right. Another old saying is,
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, and when you can see the humour in things it’s easier to cope. Sometimes, simply recognising the
potential humour in a situation can lessen your stress and brighten your outlook. The challenge is to find things to be joyful about when things are going wrong. We have much to be joyful about, we have the hope of eternal life: “Fear not, little
P&F NEWS
We will discuss the major writing text types and their purposes including Narrative, Persuasion, Report, Explanation, Recount and Procedure.
We will also share strategies that will help your children become more effective writers.
The pen is mightier than the sword—come along and see how!
Thursday 26 June at 7:30 pm in Room 12
God willing
Book in to this workshop here
HERITAGE CONTACTS PRIMARY CLASS TEACHERS
Primary classes, teachers and their contact details for 2014, God willing, are as follows: Reception Heather Pillion: [email protected]
Year R/1 Jesslyn Witton: [email protected]
Year 1/2 Wendy Newton: [email protected]
Year 2 Emma Yuile: [email protected]
Year 3 Sue Lomman: [email protected]
Year 4 Chris Wright: [email protected]
Year 5 Brett Arnold: [email protected]
Year 6 Sarah Kemp: [email protected]
Year 7 Jason Hauser [email protected]
SECONDARY HOME GROUP TEACHERS
Home Group classes, teachers and their contact details for 2014, God willing, are as follows:
Year 8 David Knight: [email protected]
Year 9 Chris Ryan: [email protected]
Year 10 Tim Badger: [email protected]
Year 11A Jason Bobis: [email protected]
Year 11B Vit Jurevicius: [email protected]
Year 12A Evan Franco: [email protected]
Year 12B Tom Burney: [email protected]
For issues related to academic progress or general behaviour, please contact: Tim Badger for Years 8-10 ([email protected] ) or Evan Franco for Years 11-12 ([email protected]). For special learning support needs, contact Graeme Shugg ([email protected]).
UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS
Monday afternoons 3:00—3:30 pm
Friday mornings 8:30—9:00 am
Heritage College · PO Box 371, Oakden SA 5086 · [email protected] · Ph. 8266 5122
