APA (Acting) News

Dear Parents & Carers,

Since our last newsletter we have sent out surveys to our parent community, our older students (Years 4-6) and all our staff regarding the trial we have had this term, whereby we have swapped the eating and playing times at both morning tea and lunch.

As you can imagine, there was quite a variety of responses/ comments which the Leadership Team has read and discussed. Based on this feedback, particularly considering the overwhelming positives from the teachers (see below), we have made the decision to continue with the trial into next term. 

• The students seem to have 'got over' their playground squabbles before they come inside.
• My students have liked the changes with the play and eating. The students come in with a full stomach and I have seen greater focus having it this way.
• Most playground issues are being dealt with during eating time (or are forgotten about by the time they get to class)
• Being with the Yr1s & Yr4s for eating, I’m seeing a lot more eating being done as there isn’t a rush to finish eating and get a piece of equipment.
• More focused when eating just before returning to class.
• Significant decrease in situations requiring emotional support after break times.

Obviously there were some not so positive responses with a number osf students having issues with the heat....One consideration we had with continuing with the trial was that next term we will have significantly cooler weather, so students will not be getting so hot during play and then finding it hard to settle to eat.

Another issue of course was that some students are hungry by morning tea time and would prefer to eat first. To address this, we are communicating with parents, teachers and students about 1) the importance of eating a decent breakfast and 2) broadening the mid morning break definition from "Fruit Break" to "Brain Break" so that students are not limited to just a piece of fruit at this time. I have included here a message that was shared in Year 6, which has now been shared with all classes. 

Importance of Brain Break

As the morning session and playtime spans across 2.5hrs it is important that every child brings a fruit/brain break every day to have in class. This is not only to maximise learning but also sustain students hunger until 11am when they eat morning tea.

Students also need to ensure they bring a full water bottle daily to stay hydrated.

Suggested appropriate foods that can be consumed during our brain break time  (5-7 mins) are:

•  Fruit
• Vegetable sticks/dip
• Yoghurt
• Sandwich 
• Crackers & cheese

So we will continue with the same routine as this term and again seek feedback to determine our way forward for Semester Two. Thank you to those who did complete the survey, your input is valued and has been taken "on board". 

Thank you for reading my news/ messages that I have shared over the years as an Assistant Principal and just generally sharing my Assistant Principal journey with me here at SSPS. I am heading OS on four weeks long service leave and then will be returning to SSPS as the fulltime 3S class teacher. I thank Melinda Harkins for her invaluable support as we shared this role during Term One. I sign off with a reflection...

Holy Week is named “Holy” because it is an intense week of re-focussing
on the most sacred story of our Christian belief.
It is a time of invitation to open a space into the heart and soul
of our deepest search for meaning.
Who is this Jesus that has changed the world?
What does that mean to me?
Can I respond to the invitation to deepen my Christian call to also make a difference

Wishing you and your family all the joys and blessings of the Easter season,

Regards

Judy Smith