1-to-1 Computing Program Parents Information Night

There will be a parent information night for people interested in the issues surrounding 1-to1 computing program on 6th September at 7pm in the gymnasium. Presenters will include Bruce Dixon (founder of Anywhere, Anytime Learning Foundation and world leader in 1-to-1 Computing Program), Peter Alibon (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development ICT leader) and Justin Lewis (Beyond The Box, Apple Mac specialist). Members of staff will also be presenting the school perspective regarding this issue. The evening will include opportunities for members of the school community to ask questions.

A Frequently Asked Question page has been added to our school website which may answer some of your questions and concerns before the night. This page can be accessed HERE.

We hope to see you there!

While you're away....

Many parents have been requesting suggestions on what kind of learning their children could engage with when they are away from school on a family trip during term time. Although we think that trips are to be enjoyed without the stress of school work, sometimes it's good to have some learning to focus on if your child is away from school for a long period of time. So Kerri, Keith and I had a brainstorming session earlier this week and came up with some suggestions on activities.

Activities

We also suggest that our students login to our collaborative space on the Ultranet and check on our focus of our learning. Students are welcome to interact with activities put up on Ultranet while they are away from our neighbourhood.

PHPS Press Club

The first episode of PHPS Press Club is finally online! You can access this on the Intranet section of the PHPS website. The login and the password for this section can be found on the next Talking Point and you can also request these through our usual neighbourhood email address phps34n1@gmail.com.

Our vision for the Press Club is for the students to take a leading role in all aspects of making TV programs, from pre-production all the way to post-production. Experiences for students may include, writing scripts, presenting in a studio, interviewing, filming, editing, music making, animating, and much more. Although the Press Club is driven by our neighbourhood at this moment, we are very excited in involving other areas of the school as things develop.

Letter and number reversals

Here is an interesting and helpful document to help with children who reverse their letters and numbers when writing.

Often, letter and number reversals are not caused due to neurological reasons but through misinterpretations and misperceptions by the child and can be corrected through regular and relevant practice. We use some of the practices in this document in our neighbourhood and we thought we share it with you so that you can practice at home.

Letter and Number Reversals

40 Hour Famine

Some students in our neighbourhood have taken home a permission form for the 40 Hour Famine which will commence at 8pm on 19th August. It is a powerful – and meaningful – way that students can experience what life is like for children who have to go without. As the students are young, we do not recommend they give up eating, but instead, they can give up something that really matters to them. The funds raised every year by the 40 Hour Famine support World Vision’s work tackling the causes of poverty, through both short-term solutions and long-term development projects.

More information on the 40 Hour Famine can be found by clicking HERE.

Inquiry Update 2

Here is another photographic update of what we have been achieving in our neighbourhood so far this term. Parents and guardians are always welcome to drop-by and watch our neighbourhood in action, and we are always grateful for any helpers during specific learning times.

Some students are working on stop motion
animation in the media room.

The TV Executive group is learning about story-boarding.

The students in the Engineering team are
designing their earthquake proof structures
using Google Sketch-Up.

A fabulous hat design by one of the students in the Fashion
group.

The Fashion group has been practicing
different stitching techniques.

The Engineering group has been completing
their wonderful earthquake proof structures.

Some fantastic clothes designs.

Students measuring out material for their designs.