As educators, a term that encompasses everyone who works in a school setting, we all share the responsibility of igniting a passion for learning. Our task is to make this excitement so infectious that our students are brimming with enthusiasm too.

With our whole school focus on the role of vocabulary in reading comprehension, demonstrating a love of words and excitement about new and interesting words needs to be a top priority. If you have been on social media recently, you might say that vocabulary and a love of words need to become our Roman Empire (if you aren't sure what this means, Forbes news explains it here).

To be precise, a lover of words is actually called a logophile, or lexiphile. And precise is exactly what we are aiming to be! To become a lover of words, we need to practise what we preach. As educators, we need to flex that vocabulary muscle by engaging in wide reading that challenges us and extends our own knowledge of words, literature and of the world around us.

Upon reflection, I realised that I have not been flexing that muscle much of late. Spending too much time scrolling TikTok (to be fair, Taylor Swift is also my Roman Empire) means I have not been spending my time reading... and it shows.

So, this weekend I decided to put the phone down and pick up a book I have been wanting to read for a long time (earlier this year, my husband gave me this wonderful old copy of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's a 2nd Edition, published in 1848, and proving to be a lexiphile's dream!). I had forgotten how much I adore pouring over paragraphs and pages of beautifully written prose and elaborate word choices... even if I do need to have the dictionary handy. I really am out of practice!

In the spirit of becoming a staff of lexiphiles, I have a "heard it, said it, wrote it, read it" challenge for the week ahead. Two of my favourite words from chapter 1 are below. How many times can you use these words in conversation this week? Can you notice when another staff member uses these words? Let's help each other flex our vocab muscle, and become more word aware.

• Caviller - someone who raises annoying petty objections

"I don't like cavillers and questioners"

• Ignominy - public shame or disgrace

"the ignominy of being imprisoned"

Week 2 was another big week on the calendar, culminating with Mother's Day activities.

Shoutouts go to Amanbir, Jess, our Admin team and the P&C for bringing our community together and making it possible for students to select a gift for their mums and caregivers. While I didn't make it over to The Hub for the Mother's Day luncheon, I am told our choir performed beautifully, and our school leaders were a great help. Thanks to Rebecca and Laura for coaching and supporting our budding performers!

Our attendance rates continue to rise.

Thank you all for actioning the attendance follow-up advice. Maintaining a focus on attendance with your class, and personalising the strategies for individuals who need something more bespoke, is making a big difference.

REMINDER:

Please make sure those phone calls or other modes of communicating with families about absences are recorded in SchoolBytes.

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It's been a bit of a change in scenery, but I really am not in Norway anymore. Eurovision was a nice little reminder this weekend though. We have a busy term ahead so get ready to do the hard things together. If I can crack the sea ice - you can do anything!

Casual folders

Thank you to those who have provided split books in preparation for an unexpected day of leave. If you have not already done so, or have used one, please provide at least one split book to Bec asap.

Now that we are also managing to book casuals, please prepare a casual folder with relevant class information eg., timetable, outline of daily routines, important notes about individual student plans, etc. to help the day go smoothly for your students and the casual teacher. Here is an example:

CLASS CASUAL FOLDERS EXAMPLE.pptx

Timetables

Please forward your current class/ teaching timetables to me to assist in planning support.

Programs

Teaching programs are due to supervisors in week 5 - see the schedule below.

2024 PDPs

Please make sure you have completed all reviews on your 2023 PDP in the Q+ Portal by Wednesday this week. You cannot start your 2024 PDP in the portal until last year's is complete. Your 2024 PDP goals should have been documented in week 7-8 of Term 1. If you have not had a meeting to discuss goals with your supervisor, this is now a matter of urgency. Review of progress discussions should be scheduled in for week 5, please make a time with your supervisor to complete this step in the process.

Parent teacher interviews on Wednesday

• Be prepared with work samples, assessment data. If you need any extra information on reading, DIBELS has a mid-year passage for oral reading fluency: it only takes a minute!

• Report grades and/or comments should never be a surprise, make sure you communicate clearly to parents.

• Use this opportunity to communicate about adjustments to meet NCCD consultation requirements.

• Let your supervisor know ASAP if you would like support with any of your interviews and/or would like to have a practice conversation on any particular student or issues.

EALD assessments

Thank you to everyone for making a good start on this. Remember to have your assessments completed and evidence uploaded by 22nd May.

Report Timeline and Style Guide

A few people have asked which aspects of mathematics we will be reporting on - please report on the work covered according to the scope and sequence.

We have a style guide that outlines the reporting timeline (e.g. when drafts are due to supervisors, and when final edits are to be entered into SchoolBytes) and must be referred to when writing reports. The style guide ensures a consistent whole school approach to writing reports.

Access the style guide here: https://tinyurl.com/WPSstyleguide

The latest roster updates are below:

Playground Duty roster:

One of the strengths of our team is in supporting each other.

As this term becomes increasingly busy and people feel 'under the pump', it is important to keep in mind some Strategies for Using Positive Language (below) - negative talk can shift everyone's mood and impact how you are feeling.

1. Practice Self-Awareness

The first step in changing your language is becoming aware of the words you use. Pay attention to your thoughts and the way you talk to yourself. When you catch yourself using negative language, pause and rephrase your statements in a more positive light.

2. Challenge Negative Beliefs

Identify negative beliefs that have become ingrained in your self-talk. Ask yourself if these beliefs are based on facts or simply perceptions. Replace these beliefs with affirmations that reflect your strengths and potential.

3. Focus on Solutions, Not Problems

Shift your language from dwelling on problems to seeking solutions. Instead of saying “This is impossible,” say “I can find a way to overcome this.” This simple shift redirects your mindset toward problem-solving and empowers you to take action.

See the full article here: