Lake Windemere B-7 School

The introduction of the QR code for site entry is going well and the majority of adults are signing in using the code or the paper record form located in front of the office. As the restrictions ease we will see the recommencement of assemblies in term 2. Parents of presenting classes will be able to attend the modified events with a QR sign in at the gym available.  

Interview Week is approaching in Week 10 with our late night interviews being conducted on the 30th of March. Notes will be coming home soon with information of how to book a time to meet with the teacher. 

 Wellbeing Update

On Friday 5th March all school staff participated in our third day of Berry Street Training. The Berry Street Education Model is an approach to teaching and learning that aims to increase engagement for all students, especially those with complex, unmet learning needs that may be related to trauma. By using Berry Street practices, our aim is to improve all students’ self-regulation, growth and academic achievement. As a result of Berry Street training we have made the following improvements throughout the school:

-          Ready to Learn Plans – All students create and use these plans to outline how they can get back to being ready to learn, when they are feeling unsettled, worried or distressed.

-          Morning Routines – Every morning all classes start the day by greeting each other by name, discussing the focus values and expectations for the day, sharing announcements and positive news, and engaging in a Positive Primer (this is a quick fun activity to energise students).

-          Ready to Learn Scales – All students have access to Ready to Learn scales in their classroom which shows the teacher how they are feeling at different stages of the day so that the teacher can support them to get back to being ready to learn.

-          Mindfulness – All teachers explicitly teach and model mindfulness every day after little lunch. When practiced repetitively, mindfulness helps the brain to become less reactive to things that would normally be perceived as worrying or problematic.

-          Brain Breaks - Brain Breaks are short lesson ‘interruptions’ that enable a renewed focus on learning.  Brain Breaks can be used for positive escalation, to increase student energy if they are ‘flat’ or de-escalation, to calm students.

-          What Went Well - At the end of each day, all students will come together for a closing circle. At this time, students reflect on What Went Well for them that day and either share this experience.

The department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has updated its information about fruit fly restrictions in South Australia.

This might change the types of fruit and vegetables your child can bring to school/preschool/child care.

New colour coded maps for metropolitan Adelaide and Riverland residents show the red outbreak areas, yellow suspension areas, and green areas not affected by fruit fly.

Our school and children’s centre is located in the green not impacted area.

If you live in the green not impacted area

Your child can bring any type of fruit or vegetable to school, preschool or child care.

If you live in the red outbreak or yellow suspension (we have many families living in this area) area:

Your child must not bring any fruit or vegetables on this list to school, preschool or child care. This applies even if it has been cut up.

Instead, PIRSA has provided a list of alternative fruit and vegetable options suitable for lunch and breaks.

Please note that grated, dried, frozen, cooked or pureed fruit and vegetables of any kind are acceptable in any area.

We appreciate your cooperation as we help protect South Australia from fruit fly.

Each year there is stiff competition amongst the senior students to become a member of Mark’s Multi-Media Minions.

Interested students have to apply and undergo a ‘job interview’.  Frankly each of the dozens of students that applied this year would be great Minions but there are only limited numbers, so some miss out.

Many congratulations to this year’s Minion mob; Jordyn Mitchell, Jemma Davis, Portia Becker, Shaniah Revaula, Iohil Saliba and Blake Jolly.

Each week the Minions will be learning about a smorgasbord of multi-media topics, such as how to take and edit photos and videos, run sound equipment for assemblies, record and edit sound, using green screen, copyright, lighting, special effects.  They have the responsibility to record what they learn in a learning journal and remain committed to laughing at my ‘Dad jokes’.

Our first week was spent looking at some of the equipment they will get to use during 2021 such as lighting systems, sound gear, tripods, gimbles action cameras, monitors and even a drone, (which they may get to fly towards the end of the year).

As the school’s ‘Press Corp’ they will take photos and videos for such events as sports day, book week, class projects, assemblies and the Year 6 and 7 graduation videos.  If you want to see what past Minions have helped great then have a look at the screen at the front office next time you visit.  I think you will be impressed.

Once again, congratulations to this year’s batch of Multi-Media Minions.

Mark Underwood

Pastoral Care Worker – Lake Windemere B to 7 School

Term 1 - Wednesday 27th January - Friday 9th April

Term 2 - Tuesday 27th April - Friday 2nd July

Term 3  -Monday 19th July - Friday 24th September

Term 4  -Monday 11th October - Friday 10th December

School Fees for 2021 are $246-00 each student for the year. Fees are payable by Friday 9th of April. If you applied for Schoolcard last year you should have received an email to apply again in 2021. DfE now has the preference that all applications are to be completed online.