Deputy Principal's Post
Religious Instruction
This year, the Bridgeman Baptist Community Church is able to provide a second instructor on a Tuesday afternoon. Therefore, we are able to offer Religious Instruction to Years 1, 2 and 3 this year. You have the option of having your child receive RI, or not, by indicating on a slip that will come home this week. Please look for it in your child’s bag and return it by Friday 14 February. More details to assist you in making a decision are below:
- Is taught by a volunteer of the Bridgeman Downs Baptist Church. A teacher always accompanies the children throughout the lesson.
- Lessons are 30 minutes and take place on a Tuesday afternoon. Students do not miss assembly if they attend RI.
- Students who do not attend RI are undertaking social-emotional learning through Bridge Builders online.
- Parents are required to purchase a student workbook at an approximate cost of $6:00. The school organises the ordering and issue of these to students once paid.
- We ask all parents to indicate their preference as to whether or not they wish to have their child participate.
- We hope to get the first lesson of the year underway by Tuesday 25 February.
Peer Mediators
Our 2020 group of applicants undergo their peer mediator training next week. I expect the successful trainees will be in the playground by week 5. The peer mediators (often referred to as Bridge Builders) are highly valued by students and staff on duty. They will be rostered on to mingle in the Prep, Year 1 and 2 play areas to support the younger students in resolving their own (small) issues.
Parent Information Sessions
It was heartwarming to see the parent turn-out for the information evenings this week. I trust you now have a feel for your child’s classroom and know that the staff are committed to your child’s learning progress.
Positive Recognition Strategy
Teachers are in the thick of acknowledging children as they make strong independent decisions in the classroom. The first Happy Call recipients are just starting to come in. So to keep it manageable, we will only send Happy Call certificates home if we don’t manage to connect with parents at the time of call. This is rare but we understand that it is not always possible to answer the phone when your child is with us.
Social Emotional Learning – Clean up after yourself
VOLUNTARY HELPERS
In recent times, numerous educationalists have determined that a school, if it is to play an effective role in the education of a child, can no longer be an isolated institution. In the teaching of a young child, it is this school's firm belief that a cooperative teacher-parent relationship is not only desirable but essential. Indeed, because of the predominant influence of the home on the course of a child's development, education must become a three-way communication process, involving teacher, parent and child. Interested parents and grandparents are always welcome at our school. In fact many mothers, fathers and grandparents enjoy helping at the school. These people help teachers with preparation of materials, assisting with small groups of children, and sharing their special skills and abilities.
If you feel you would like to assist the school in this way, please contact your child's teacher. You will also need to complete the Key Messages Guide at the beginning of each year before volunteering and supply the office with a Record of Completion. Whenever you come to school to help as a volunteer, please report to the office, sign the register and put on a volunteer badge.
Helpers without a child in the school, including grandparents, will require a Blue Card before volunteering in classrooms or swimming. Please see the school office to complete the required paperwork. Please note there is around a 6-8 week turnaround for Blue Cards.
We require a Parent Representative for each year level in the school. Please email
Kathy Canavan on kcana2@eq.edu.au if you are interested in the role. It would
require the compilation of a weekly email of events for your child's year level.