Term 3 Week 8: From the Deputy Principal Learning and Staff Development
Using growth mindset language between students, teachers and parents is becoming increasingly important in the learning cycle since it serves to maximise student achievement, collaboration and feedback. Students receive most of their feedback from their peers. This includes feedback on their learning, and feedback on their wellbeing and peer relationships. Growth mindset language encourages students to persist through difficulties, embrace challenges and learn from feedback.
Parents and teachers can work with students to get the most from their learning by asking growth mindset questions to generate feedback. Questions such as What can you learn from this mistake? Did you ask for help when you needed it? Have you reviewed your work for improvements? Are you proud of your result? help students to work collaboratively with their peers and respond positively to feedback.
Gratitude Project
Earlier this term, “The Gratitude Project” was launched as part of the College’s commitment to supporting the Wellbeing of staff and students. To date, all teaching staff have heard about the benefits of gratitude in relation to our own health as well as commencing working explicitly with classes on both the concept of gratitude as an emotion, as well as a practice. In summary, gratitude has enormous positive benefits for our psychological Wellbeing and it is very easy to teach, learn and live with gratitude.
Some examples of this include Kindy students discussing picture books that deal with the concept of gratitude and drawing things they are grateful for in their lives. Pre Primary and Year 1 students are sticking notes on their classroom walls stating what they are grateful for. The Year 2 students have developed a Gratitude Tree. Coloured leaves will be added to the tree which are reflections of gratitude the students have. Year six students have developed a Gratitude Graffiti Wall, while the Years 7 and 8 students celebrate Gratitude Tuesday and are journaling “the best thing that happened to me today”, “what I am grateful for today and why” and, “what I am looking forward to most tomorrow”. Year 11 students are sending “Shout Outs” of appreciation to others. It is particularly lovely to see that these shout outs are being sent to staff and students alike! It is wonderful to see the practice of gratitude grow in the Newman College community and hear all the amazing and yet simple things we have to be thankful for.
Save the Date- Parents of Newman Soiree, Friday 12 October
The Newman Parents Soiree is an opportunity for our parent community to enjoy drinks, canapes and jazz music with friends, whilst celebrating the student works of the Arts Festival. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Newman Parents Consultative Committee
Thank you to the parents that attended the Consultative Committee meeting on Monday night. The Senior Leadership Team shared progress reports relating to the Annual School Improvement Plan and other significant developments including the new College website which was launched this week.
Our College Psychologists, Jon Laden-Wearne and Denise Bendotti shared with the group the schoolwide Gratitude Project. Gratitude has been identified as one strategy to support our school-wide Wellbeing program that seeks to foster student resilience. Across the life of the College, students and teachers have been practicing gratitude in a number of different ways from journaling to creating a gratitude graffiti wall at Lavalla Campus, and growing a gratitude tree at Marian Campus. Please find the presentation from the night attached Gratitude Project Presentation
Please find attached the minutes from the meeting NPCC Minutes September 2018
Code of Conduct
A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. Please click here. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers and extends to all forums including social media and email forms of communication. The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensure confidentiality and accountability and support professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code. The Newman Sports Association has also embedded the Code of Conduct as part of its alignment with College policies. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team.
All families are reminded that if they have a concern about the education or Wellbeing of their child, they should contact the College directly. We are always willing to support families, but school matters must be managed by the College. It is not appropriate to contact other families about concerns you have about their child. Please direct these matters to the classroom teacher, Leaders of Wellbeing or any member of the Senior Leadership Team.
The College recognises the convenience of year group Facebook pages that are moderated by parents. This is an excellent platform for sharing information involving College events and requirements. It is not appropriate to use social media platforms to seek clarity on teaching and learning or to debate College policies. Please refer these matters to your child’s classroom or PCG Teachers, or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with each other.