1

Bordertown Primary School Inspire ~ Challenge ~ Achieve

Newslink

ISSUE 10, 12th June, 2020

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

JUNE

17th Governing Council meeting

19th Kids’ Voice Future Occupation Day

26th Kids’ Voice Splash of Flouro Day

Email: dl.0733.info@schools.sa.edu.au

Website: www.borderps.sa.edu.au

Students off to a great start as the virtual marathon

begins at Bordertown Primary School.

PG. 2 Principal’s Report

PG. 3 Deputy Principal’s Report

PG. 4 Kid’s Voice Report

PG. 5 P.C.W. News

Dates to Remember

PG. 7 Students

PG. 8 Assembly Certificates

& Beanies

PG. 6 Classroom Learning

2

Principal’s Report

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parent/Caregivers,

Starting off this week with a wonderful story highlighting the level of pride existing in our school. A student from upper primary last week found that he had run out of school uniform tops to wear. I believe this coincided with the realisation that Mum, although seeming to have many superpowers, could not easily read minds. Student quickly discovered that there are many steps involved in getting uniforms from bedroom floor to washing machine, ironed and ready to wear. Unperturbed by this, our student thought outside the square, accessed the internet, printed off a colour logo of Bordertown Primary School, found a plain white shirt, stuck the emblem to the garment and, problem sorted, wore the uniform with pride.

For me, the actions of this student reminded me again of the resilience of our children and the importance of understanding their perspectives, especially when they can now claim a childhood experience of living through a pandemic. A very different world than the one in which we spent our formative years. These students mix together at school on a daily basis, play in the yard, socialise and look after one another. Many then spend time at community sport where they are asked to social distance, use hand sanitiser, learn to ‘do the elbow’ instead of high five, and to cough in the crook of their arm. (There have been some positives which have come out of Covid – 19!). This calls for them to adapt and manage change, a very difficult thing to manage for an adult, let alone a child.

Just as I have talked about our school priorities in Maths and English, the importance of wellbeing is never far from our mind here at Bordertown Primary School. When it comes to supporting students, we see resilience as an important outcome linked to wellbeing.

Being resilient, it is often a very hard concept to teach especially after an event has required a child to call upon complex skills to navigate issues they face perhaps in learning or in their social interactions with others. Beyond Blue provide a great explanation of the concept of resilience when they talk of imagining a plane encountering turbulence mid-flight. The turbulence, or poor weather, represents adversity. Different planes will respond to poor weather conditions in different ways, in the same way different children respond to the same adversity in different ways.

To further support our students, this week we are proud to announce the opening of our new sensory room available to all students throughout the school. Again, supporting our students to succeed academically by providing them with the tools and safe space they require to concentrate and learn. I would be amiss to not also mention the wonderful work Karen Prenzler does especially with the mindfulness videos that are regularly uploaded to our Facebook page. If you haven’t already, please check the ways in which we can all take time out of our day to focus on our wellbeing.

Accolades also go to our PE teacher Josh Searle, for his work in organising the ‘Virtual School Marathon’ for our students. Again providing physical fitness opportunities for our students that support the belief we have here at BPS that the benefits of physical exercise in children have such a positive affect upon brain activity, executive function, and overall wellbeing of our students.

In closing, I also briefly would again like to thank many in the community who have commented positively about our move to online Newslink publication, with a reminder to please ensure you sign to our Skoolbag app. to receive electronic copies of our newsletters starting term three, which is only 5 weeks away! Apparently, research says that your brain’s internal clock runs more slowly as you age which means the pace of life appears to speed up. This is the excuse I will use in trying to explain how quickly term two has flown past!

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

Kindest Regards Jason Saxby Principal

3

Deputy Principal’s Report

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Sensory Room

In today’s changing world many students are

encountering daily challenges which can impact

their success at school. We know that in order

for children to engage positively and

productively at school they need to be present,

centered and grounded. This means that

children are free from distractions therefore

present and engaging in the classroom,

emotionally balanced and free from stress.

Our classrooms have developed over time to

look differently from the traditional

classroom. We now have spaces designed for students to take a break, comfortable areas to communicate

and read and child friendly furniture to allow students to engage with each other while catering for students

different learning styles.

Berry Street Education has taught us that providing students as a whole class or individual with scheduled or

incidental breaks including brain breaks and sensory breaks can help re-focus on their learning. This may

include going for a walk, engaging in a game or partner activity, exerting some physical energy by pushing

and pulling or having something tactile to work with. This allows students the time to express their emotions,

work through them and re-focus ready for learning. Engaging in these breaks can see an increase in

engagement, improve students’ self-regulation allowing them to grow academically.

A group of staff have worked together to create our own sensory room. This will enable students to have a

quiet space at school in which to self-regulate, refocus and become ready to re-enter the classroom ready to

engage in their learning. This room provides sensory options for children to use including a lycra sock, drums,

rocking chair, fidgets, IQ games and pliable sand. This area is available to be accessed by any student,

accompanied by an adult, requiring a sensory break. Items within the room can also be accessed by

classroom teachers to use with students during their lessons.

Kylie Staude Deputy Principal

4

Kids’ Voice Report

KIDS’ VOICE REPORT

Headwear and Teddy Day

We would like to thank all students and staff for

continuing to support the Fun Friday theme days.

Grace, Addie & Ned Kids’ Voice Executive

5

P.C.W. News

PCW News

Have you heard of mindful photography??

I hadn’t, until a few weeks ago when Mr Saxby sent me a link to an ABC radio interview with a photographer who specialises in this area.

Her point of difference?? She simply uses her camera as a tool for mindfulness.

Much as I explained in my Bordertown Brain Break segment, mindfulness is simply paying attention, on purpose, to what is going on right now. The easiest way to practise mindfulness is using your senses. This photographer uses her sense of sight, or looking.

She says that mindful photography differs from her normal photography in that it’s about capturing something in the moment - as if you’ve never seen it before. Instead of rushing around, feeling the pressure of producing a perfect picture, mindful photography is about slowing down, taking time and finding little bits of beauty in the world. Looking at something as if for the first time. Noticing the colours, shapes, lighting and shadows. This is very grounding and helps pull you out of overthinking!! Something I could definitely do with less of!!

I encourage you to have a go. Take out your phone on your next walk with the dog or the kids. I’m hoping to have a go with some of the students at BPS. Stay tuned!!

PS - if you want to find out more about this photographer her name is Karen Merry and her website is mindfulphotographer.org

PPS - I love the picture at the top of the page. Explains mindfulness beautifully!

Check out these photos from one of our staff - Mrs McCallum!

Karen Prenzler P.C.W.

6

Classroom Learning

Classroom Learning

Year 3 Art and

Design Paper Mâché

When we did our hats, it was really fun because we did lots of painting to get a good coat. I think that making the paper mâché was the hardest bit because you had to keep on doing layers and layers over and over again.

Tate Neale

When I did my hat, I enjoyed dipping the newspaper in the glue and sticking it on the balloon and the painting. But you have to do lots of coats of paint.

Brandon Lawrence

l like making my paper mâché hat, it is so fun to paint it and make it colourful. It is fun to make paper mâché hats with our friends and paint them with our class.

Sophia Treloar

7

Students

Students

The Kitchen Garden Program Year 3 and 4

Garden Activity

Pea Progress

Our peas are looking

fantastic! We have

been amazed by how

quickly they have

grown, we have our

first pods and a

beautiful healthy

crop!

Did you Know….?

We found some red berries on our

asparagus plants, but did you know that

they are actually not edible? They are not to

be eaten so we have pruned the berries

from our plants.

We planted some roots from spring onions stalks that

we used in the kitchen. We are eagerly awaiting to

see if they sprout and produce more for us to use.

We are not the only ones who have been

enjoying the beautiful weather lately, the

weeds have sprung in our garden tubs!

On a chilly morning, students braved the

cold and weeded the tubs….. Then

proceeded to dance their way back to

kitchen to keep themselves warm!

8

Assembly Certificates

Assembly Certificates & School Beanies

KINDNESS

Hashir Hassan Harry Will

Claire Dahlitz Max Cook

Sophia Treloar Kellie Bartlett Patrick Devitt Riley Steuart Liam Alovera Adam Graetz

Curtis Weckert

FITNESS

River Harding

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

Amelia Sharpe-Foulds Henry Kluska Zelie Phillips Tate Neale

Kai Williamson Lucas Barras

Tayla Hampel Zoe Harvey x 2

Nate Pretlove Hashir Hassan

Charlotte Muenster Tahlia Mead Libbi March Airlie Devitt

Claire Dahlitz Eve Rowett

Henry Kluska Max Cook

Mia Kennett Zelie Phillips Ella Wegener

Amira Shaibah Jessica Rudzinskas Marley Critchley Gemma Wandel Hobbes Fugata

Zoe Harvey Kyle Espinosa

Logan Blackwell Celine Smith Talise Phillips

Bella Critchley Milla Devitt

Zahra Hussaini Nuryn Risal Affendie

Manjot Sangha Brodie Boughen

Elise Jenkin Liam Alovera

Georgina Pollard Zanna Pollard Tom Rowett

Coby Flaviano Nate Pretlove Zach Hayman

Summer Tautho Harry McCarthy Summer Tautho Saimon Serentas

Sam Opie Adam Graetz Will Heinrich

Tom Gill

READING

MERIT CERTIFICATE Hayden Ashfield Hannah Twigden

River Harding

School Beanies

Navy Beanies are available to purchase from the

Front Office for $15 each (GST inclusive).

The beanies are navy cable knit and 100% cotton.

They have a small white embroidered BPS on the

side of the beanie.

One size fits all.