Primary School

As I look up at the wintry sky, I can't help but realise that we've already reached Week 5, and the term is slipping through our fingers. The little beavers at our Primary school have been fully immersed in the journey of acquiring new concepts, nurturing friendship skills, and honing their self-management abilities.

Zones of Regulation

In Primary, the Zones of Regulation is a popular approach used to teach children how to effectively manage and regulate their emotions. This program focuses on developing self-awareness regarding feelings, energy levels, and alertness, while also providing a range of tools and strategies to promote emotional regulation, pro-social skills, self-care, and overall well-being. The concept of the Zones of Regulation revolves around categorising feelings into four different zones, each of which is considered normal and valid in our lives. By gaining a better understanding of our emotions and the zones they fall into, we can learn to utilise various techniques and resources to effectively manage each zone, ultimately helping us achieve goals such as improved concentration during lessons, handling intense emotions, and fostering healthy relationships with others. It's worth noting that this program comes highly recommended by occupational therapists and psychologists, highlighting its value and effectiveness in promoting emotional well-being and self-management.

Some ways you can support this strategy at home are;

• Identify your own feelings using Zones language in front of your child (e.g.: I’m frustrated. I think I am in the Yellow Zone.”)

• Talk about what tool you will use to be in the appropriate Zone (e.g.: “I need to take four deep breaths to help get me back to the Green Zone.”)

• At times, wonder which Zone your child is in. Or, discuss which Zone a character in a film/book might be in. (e.g.: “You look sleepy. Are you in the Blue Zone?”)

A shared emotional language helps us become a supportive village that raises children.

Music

On Monday, the Primary school flautists, Ella, Shelby, Indigo and Hazel from Year 6 performed in their first recital. It was moving to hear the sweet sound of flutes drifting across the building site with the workers stopping grinding to listen in. The musical revolution is in full swing at ACC with all Year 6 and Year 7 students learning either, saxophone, flutes, clarinets, trombones, saxophones or xylophones.

Uniforms

We are halfway through the term and ample time has been given for students to be in the correct uniform. We have noticed that we need a focus on uniform detail. In class, teachers will record uniform issues and communicate with parents as needed.

The winter formal uniform is worn on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and is long pants, brown ACC socks, black school shoes, short or long sleeve white shirt and a tie for boys. The girls’ formal uniform is black school shoes, navy tights, brown/navy knee high school socks, tunic and long sleeve white shirt. Outerwear is an option of a vest, woollen jumper, blazer & anorak (as needed). Please see the school's uniform guide for more information.

While sport uniforms are usually worn appropriately, we've noticed a growing trend of branded sport socks. To maintain consistency, we kindly request that plain white socks be worn on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For hair and jewellery requirements please refer to the uniform guide.

Sydney to Sound

Last Friday the Year 3 class visited the Museum of the Great Southern. This excursion completed their history unit looking at ‘how Albany was settled’. The students explored how settlement affected the Minang people of this land. The class were then taken out for ice cream where they all displayed fantastic manners in making their order. The Year 3 students had a blast and conducted themselves brilliantly.

Playground

The grounds at ACC are a never ending source of inspiration for creative play. The games happening this week have been market garden planting, cubby building, farming, and of course, armies. The Year 1s also inform me that the Year 4s are playing a monkey game. Sticks are great material to become whatever one wants and with the recent tree trimming we have a lot. At ACC, we teach our children ‘stick manners’ as a rule of thumb: If it's a short stick (as long as your arm), it may be lifted like a sword, but if it's longer, it must be pointed down like a walking stick or pulled like a dinosaur's tail. Combat of stick to stick is not allowed. If children are taught to follow clear rules, and if they are encouraged to experiment with sticks under supervision at first, these amazingly versatile toys can lead to the most imaginative and exploratory play possible.

Sustainability

The Year 5 students have been busy little workers collecting rubbish around the school and the community. They are always amazed and disgusted with how much they collect.

Swimming Lessons

We are off to the pool in Week 7. Swimming Lessons will take place from Tuesday 6th June ending on Friday 16th June. During this time, the Pre-primary, Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 students will be at ALAC (Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre) from 11:00 am to 11:40 am, while the Year 4-6 students will attend from 11:45 am to 12:25 pm.

The ACC Sports uniform is to be worn for the two weeks of lessons. Students should come to school with their bathers under their sports uniform. Thongs can be a convenient option for students to wear when going to and from the pool, eliminating the need to remove their shoes and socks. By bringing a change of footwear to school, they can easily switch into dry shoes and socks. Please ensure all clothing, towels and goggles are labelled. It's also handy for students to have a separate bag specifically for their swimming gear. Children can be collected from the pool if needed, please advise the teacher with the clipboard.

Interschool Cross Country

The Albany District Primary Schools Sports Association (ADPSSA) Interschool cross country will be held on Wednesday 21st of June. The event is held on the grounds of Great Southern Grammar School. The event is for selected students in Years 3-6. From our recent Cross Country event and from her role as Primary Sports Teacher, Mrs Bresanello has selected the standout runners to take to this event and we are excited. In previous events, we have punched above our weight winning the Handicap Shield two years in a row. Attending Run Club on Wednesday and Friday mornings leading up to this event is highly beneficial for enhancing fitness levels and aiming for a personal best on the day. These sessions, held at Collingwood Oval from 7:30 am, provide valuable opportunities for improvement.