We respectfully acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and learn, and pay respect to the First Nations Peoples and their elders, past, present and emerging.
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Dear Parents and Carers,
A good knowledge of maths and the ability to apply it is an essential part of our everyday lives. Understandably, some children have difficulty remembering the order of operations or simply to memorise their times tables.
But what exactly are the applications of mathematics in our lives?
Is teaching maths to everyone really necessary?
Why nothelp your children to laak at math differently, starting by discussing the subject at home?
Sometimes all you need is a different approach to unlock a child’s potential at maths revision. Listed below are some of the ways in which parents can act as an educator and help their children with their maths at home.
Discuss Maths with your Child at Home
The problem with only learning maths at school is that children sometimes become too distant from the subject when they are elsewhere. This means that if the child encounters a problem in school maths, they are less likely to mention it to their parents as the discussion would take place out of the school context. On the other hand, being at home could be a way of avoiding maths, especially if solving maths problems and answering maths questions makes them anxious. By placing maths in a familiar context, you will familiarise yourself with the maths concepts and increase your children’s confidence asking you questions. All children are capable of learning maths, so prepare to be surprised!
The best way to combat a fear is to acknowledge it, approach it and discuss it with those around you. The same goes for mathematics. Whether it’s fractions, decimals, the calculation of sums or graphing, just because you struggled with a topic as a child, it does not necessarily mean that your child will have the same difficulties. Talking about mathematics in contexts such as cooking, crafts, travelling, and playing with your children is the best way to make this subject area an active part of your children’s day-to-day lives.
For them, using maths will become just as normal as everything else. As long as you provide a reason for children to discuss maths, they will do so. The more you talk about maths in a positive way around your children, the more likely they are to start taking a personal interest in it. Do not hesitate to ask them questions about maths, for example, ask them how to solve mathematical calculations while baking or on a walk.
Exercises like this will help develop their recall skills and put them at ease with maths, making for a smooth transition into technical learning in the future.
Learn Maths Through Playing Games
Whatever field of study your children choose to pursue, they will always learn better when they’re having fun than when they’re learning off by heart. So, take advantage of this! Whether in the form of interactive maths games online, playing board games, playing with tea sets or by playing with Lego, maths can nearly always be turned into a game for nearly any topic! For example, you could ask your children to measure the amount of pasta in a bowl or count the pieces while you cook. Lego may also be used to visualise operations such as addition and subtraction or multiplication and division. You will be pleasantly surprised to see how quickly kids learn when they’re enjoying themselves.
See Maths in Everyday Life
For many children, there is no real link between the content of their maths lessons and everyday life. However, there is an opportunity to demonstrate this link in your home, in your garden, or while doing the weekly shop. For instance, ask your children about counting the change in your purse or to calculate the total sum of your purchases as you make your way around the shop. If you enjoy cooking, why not give your child the role of sous-chef for the day and get them to help with the recipe? Measure the amounts of flour, sugar, count the eggs and estimate the cooking time, converting minutes into hours and using the clock to work out when your cake will be baked. This method of learning is far more fun than spending hours on math worksheets, homework, or maths quiz questions.
See More than One Solution to a Maths Problem
Children need to learn that maths is more than calculators and equals signs. There are always several ways to solve any maths problem and many maths tricks that will make your life easier. For example, for simple operations and estimation, why use a calculator when mental calculation can save you time? By showing them that there are several paths to the same answer, you will help kids develop critical thinking and logic skills as they learn to consider each approach.
Below is the mathematics learning model we work with at St Clare of Assisi.
Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.
God bless.
Rachel Smith
Principal
Principal’s Notes
COVID RAT Kits
The front office has a number of RAT kits available to families and staff. If at anytime you require testing kits, please do not hesitate to contact the front office to arrange collection.
Athletics Carnival
Revised permission notes for the Athletics Carnival next Wednesday 18th May were sent out via COMPASS yesterday afternoon. Please note that the carnival venue has now changed to Woden Athletics Track and Oval, opposite Canberra Hospital.
Election Day Polling Booth
On 21 May 2022 St Clare of Assisi will be a polling station. The Community Council will be holding a sausage sizzle to ensure you can snag your democracy sausage (or bacon and egg roll for the earlier morning run). If you can volunteer and help with the BBQ, please make contact at scaparentnetwork@outlook.com.au
Enrolments Close on 27th May
We have a great school, with wonderful kids, dedicated staff, and supportive families. Please spread the word amongst family and friends, reminding those with preschoolers that enrolments close on Friday 27th May. We will be holding our second open event next Wednesday 18th May 4.30pm – 5.30pm.
Thank you Year 6
I must offer my thanks to the Year 6 students for their exceptional work as tour guides last week on our Open Day. We received so many affirming comments about their maturity and ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings. We provided a little training to prepare them, and they exceeded our expectations. They are highly effective student leaders.
Sick Students
If your child is ill, please keep them at home for their own benefit but also so as not to spread it to other students and staff. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are up to date so that we can contact you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured at school.
Vinnies 2022 Winter Appeal
The annual Vinnies Winter appeal provides emergency relief to people at risk and experiencing homelessness. The theme of this year’s Winter Appeal is ‘Make it Stop’, focusing on the importance of providing safety to families and individuals fleeing domestic violence.
Vulnerable people continue to be at risk of harm and in need of assistance.
Much of the work to support these vulnerable people is carried out by dedicated volunteers in local Vinnies conferences such as the Calwell and Gowrie Conferences in our parish. For the winter period between May to August 2021 in the Tuggeranong and Monaro region alone, Vinnies assisted 2,501 people (adults and children) and provided $51,986 worth of assistance to people experiencing disadvantage. The support includes assistance with food, clothing, bedding, furniture, medical costs, large bills, and advocacy.
To continue this vital work, Vinnies relies on financial and small donations from generous supporters such as our SCA community. We can support the society and help our companions rebuild their lives by giving generously to the Winter Appeal.
At school we will support our local conference by helping to restock its pantry for the coming winter with tinned food items. If you are able to, please add one or two of the following suggested items to your weekly groceries and bring in to school to add to our donations. The list is suggested - you may of course bring in any non-perishable goods.
Kinder - spaghetti
Year 1 - baked beans
Year 2 - soup
Year 3 - fruit
Year 4 - tuna
Year 5 - tomatoes
Year 6 - bottles of pasta sauce
We would really appreciate your small contributions so that as a community, we can make a huge positive impact on individual’s lives that are doing it tough!
The Vinnies Night Patrol Van is also looking for donations of winter woolies such as blankets, sleeping bags, scarves, beanies, jackets etc that you no longer need. Items of all sizes in good clean condition are welcomed.
Thank you in advance for your support of Vinnies. Simply bring in your donations via your child's classroom and a member of our local Vinnies will collect for us.
“Go to the poor: you will find God.” (St Vincent de Paul)
Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards this week.
| Kinder | Sophia A, Elliott B, Archie B, Lucy C, Alex G, Everly K |
| Year 1 | Ruby H, Lilliarna H, Kourtney H, Hamish M,Gabriel W |
| Year 2 | |
| Year 3 | Tshering C, Everleigh D, Ava L, Jason M, Ava M |
| Year 4 | Nate A, Lorelei H, Dante M |
| Year 5 | Mila B, Tahlia D, Alana M, Myles R |
| Year 6 |
As previously advised in Compass Alerts, we have rescheduled our Athletics Carnival for Wednesday the 18th of May.
We have also changed the venue for the carnival to Woden Park Athletics Field.
As we were unable to hold our carnival in Term 1 due to Covid restrictions and with the winter weather upon us, the facilities at Woden Park are more suitable to the cooler, damp weather.
PLEASE FILL IN THE PERMISSION FORM ON COMPASS ASAP!
We are also looking for parent volunteers to help our day run smoothly. If you are able to help out please fill in the form on Compass.
Player of the Week
Speckles – Lexi
Smarties – Ayla and Imogen
Smiggles – Lily
Squiggles – Emma
Swifts – Evie and Amaya
Skittles – Tilly
Sparkles – Ava
Smurfs – April and Sofia
Sunshines – Emily
Stars - Avtar
Swifts Match Report
On Saturday we played the SFA Starbrights. It was our first really cold morning but the girls did an amazing job despite the conditions. It was a great game and the team are really starting to gel together. Shout out to the girls in the team who have never played before, they are doing a fantastic job picking it all up.