Dear SCA families,

Please keep Mr Michael Stoelinga and his family in your prayers at this time. Michael’s mother, who lived in New Zealand, passed away on the weekend.

We also have a number of parents in our community who are not well. Please keep all in our community in your prayers.

Purple Happy Day

We celebrated a fantastic day last Friday. Thanks to all who coordinated the day, especially Mrs Karen Haines, Mrs Kristy Everding and Mrs Belinda Breen, and all the staff who helped. For some photos of the day please check our Facebook page. You will find us @scaconder.

Staff

Yesterday I received the excellent news that Priscilla Caragh and Kristy Everding have both been accredited as Highly Accomplished Teachers. This is a formal career stage which involved them both presenting an annotated, detailed portfolio, being interviewed, having their teaching observed by trained assessors and referees interviewed.

In undertaking this process they demonstrated to trained appraisers and the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) that they are teachers who address all of the standards of a highly accomplished teacher (Australian Professional Standards for Teachers). Highly Accomplished teachers are recognised as highly effective, skilled classroom practitioners who routinely work independently and collaboratively to improve their own practice and the practice of colleagues. They maximise learning opportunities for their students by understanding their backgrounds and individual characteristics and the impact of those factors on their learning. They provide colleagues, including pre-service teachers, with support and strategies to create positive and productive earning environments. They behave ethically at all times. Their interpersonal and presentation skills are highly developed. They communicate effectively and respectfully with students, colleagues, parents/carers and community members.

This notification acknowledges what most of us already knew. However, I am not aware of too many primary schools in the ACT with two accredited Highly Accomplished teachers.

Congratulations to both Kristy and Priscilla. They will both be acknowledged by the Minister of Education at a formal ceremony in the new year. We will look to celebrate with them.

We are proud of you both.

What is physical literacy and why is it important for your child?

How you can nurture your child’s participation in sport and physical activity at home? With thanks to Mrs Ally Graeber, our school recently secured funding from Sport Australia to run a Sporting Schools program of AFL in Kinder and Year 1.

We know the students loved this program and it was a great way for children to find their 30 at school, however, while adults need 30 minutes of physical activity a day, children need 60. So, as well as finding 30 at school, they need to be finding 30 at home.

Sport Australia has provided us with some useful information on how parents and carers can continue to nurture a child’s participation in sport and physical activity and find their 30 at home.

Physical literacy provides the foundation for a lifelong connection to sport and physical activity. It is about developing the skills, knowledge and behaviours that give us the confidence and motivation to move more and lead an active, healthy life. We can help develop our children’s physical literacy by creating good habits with daily physical activity by increasing the opportunities for play-based activities at home. Entice your child/ren away from screen-time and teach them how to climb a tree, fly a kite, kick a footy or go for a bush walk together as a family. Encourage your child/ren to: help choose and plan the activities; set goals; and talk about how they feel while engaging in the activities. As a bonus, research has shown that children who are physically active achieve greater academic success and maintain higher attention levels during class at school.

See more examples of how you can support your child to develop their physical literacy and some activities you can do together as a family www.sportaus.gov.au/findyour30/challenge  

We can all develop our physical literacy at any stage of life, so why not do it together! Find a new sport or physical activity you can try with your family this term.

Thank You Family BBQ

To thank the many parents (and grandparents) who volunteered their time in any way this year, the Community Council is hosting an End of Year Family Thank You BBQ.

If you helped in the classroom or tuckshop, on an excursion or carnival, as a committee member or sports coach/manager, in the clothing shop or at the Soccer Carnival, or in any other way not mentioned, please come along on Tuesday 10^th December, from 5.30-7.00pm.

Invitations and RSVP forms are included later in this newsletter.

It was once said…

“Don’t fear failure…Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” ~ unknown

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal