Middleton Grange Primary School Update

Last issue of the Primary Update was almost book size! This edition is a little slimmer.

I wrote last time about the important research undertaken by Professor John Hattie looking at what affects children’s learning. I encouraged you as parents to give meaningful feedback to your children.

What does the term “meaningful” mean? It really means specific. Don’t be content with a general “How was your day?” “Good” scenario. Don’t grill your child as soon as she/he arrives home, but be prepared to ask some specifics and give some specific help. What you find out you need to act upon. Something great happened today … reinforce this with specific encouragement. Something didn’t go right … find out what and then work on your child being equipped to approach the problem first.

Children are very perceptive, and like us, they discern the “polite” but shallow conversation compared to the meaningful “stuff” They appreciate the genuine interest, just as we do.

As a parent I know the evenings can be very busy an sometimes its hard to squeeze in the “meaningful stuff”. BUT, the feedback is very important in learning. Learning doesn’t just occur at school, as we know, so feedback at home is vital like feedback at school. So, be encouraged, the time, advice, feedback you give now will pay great dividends in the future.

In the last Update I made mention of Middleton Grange becoming involved with the Numeracy Project.

Teachers involved this year are: Mrs Smith, Mrs Wiggins, Mrs Gudsell (Numeracy co-ordinator), Mrs Kau Kau,
Miss Kennedy, Mrs Woollands, Mrs Bucknell … an enthusiastic team.

Jan Pelvin is having fun putting all the feedback from parents on our computer system so we can analyse what you have said. IT’S NOT TOO LATE … we would love to hear from you so we can incorporate your thoughts/ideas into the survey findings. PLEASE RETURN YOIUR COMPLETED SURVEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to your child’s classroom teacher or Student Services.

A dog has a tail. A dog has eyes. It has some teeth. It has ears. The dog is wearing some

overalls. The dog is always sleeping. He is mean because he did not do what the hen told him to

do. The dog always slept all day long on the porch swing and under the tree.

- Matthew H.

I am a cat. I have a blue t shirt and a yellow skirt. I like to polish my claws and I am grey and furry. I am vain and I brush my fur. I want some bread and I am cute. I am stylish and I straightened my whiskers.

- Caitlin

I am a cat. My name is Lucy and one day the hen made a loaf of bread. That’s because she found a grain of wheat. While I was brushing my whiskers, suddenly a smell of bread came into my room. I came into the kitchen and said “Can I have some bread?” No said the hen.

- Elizabeth

I am a kitten. I am cute. My name is Emily. I am vain. I polish my claws. I am wearing a dress and I look like a cat. I am furry and grey and I brush my fur and I am lazy. I am unkind. I don’t like to help the little red hen and I am stylish and I live in a cottage with a goose and a dog and a little red hen.

- Joy

All are welcome to our prayer meeting for all four schools which now meets in the Interview Room downstairs near Student Services every Wednesday morning before school between 8.30 - 8.45 am and pray until approximately 9.30 am.

Places are still available in our after school programme operating out of P9 (see the flag outside) every day after school.

We accept both casual and permanent appointments on a part or whole week basis. Cost is $7.50 per session. If you require any further information contact Brett Fleming on 348 9826 ext 732. Hours of operation 3.15 - 5.30pm.

The School and Community Dental Service will operate an emergency service over the school holidays. This service is to provide relief of pain only and will not undertake ‘routine’ treatment. The service will be available from 8.30am until 12.30pm each working day from the Oral Health Centre (Cnr Tuam and Antigua Streets). This service will operate by appointment only and if we are unable to see your child, alternative

options will be given. If your child has dental pain as a result of an accident please contact your dentist in the first instance.

You can phone and make an appointment for the emergency clinic by ringing your local school dental clinic - all dental clinic phones will be