From the Teaching and Learning Coordinator

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words…

Reading is one of the most beneficial activities you can regularly do with your child! When students read, they learn more about the world, which gives them greater empathy for others and provides time to relax. A large part of reading is understanding the vocabulary they come across.

There is a strong link between an extensive vocabulary, proficiency in reading and, in particular, success in school. Knowing a larger number of words means that you can better understand a book you read and be more precise with your own language. It gave me great joy hearing a child in my class ask other students to be careful with their Lego creation as it was quite delicate.

Children learn new words through conversations, reading books and exploring different places. Some words are so common that students learn their meaning without any explanation. If you are heading to a park, your children will quickly know what you mean when you say ‘go and play’, or ‘the wind is blowing’. Other words require repetition and a clear explanation or example of what they mean. It is less likely that your child will know what you mean when you say ‘a storm is brewing’ or ‘why are you looking so dejected?’. We call these Tier 2 words, and they are what we focus on in our classes.

Reading books together is an easy way to find interesting Tier 2 words. If you come across a word that you think your child may not know, you can talk about what it means within the story (e.g. He was reluctant to go to the party because he didn’t know anyone), discuss examples of its use outside the story (e.g. I was always reluctant  to roller skate because I didn’t want to fall), and then try and use it within your everyday conversations (Are you reluctant to go outside because it’s so cold?).

Another great time to learn new words is when exploring a new place. Visiting the summit of Mount Wellington to see the snow would be an exciting experience that referred back to regularly. If you visit a museum or go on a bush walk, having conversations about what you see or the information displayed will continually introduce new words to a child’s vocabulary.

There is no magic number for the amount of times a word has to be repeated for a child to remember it, but the more it is used, the more likely it will be remembered!

Claire Gardner – Teaching and Learning Coordinator

Prep Update

School Uniform 2023

Please be reminded that from 2023, students in Years 3 - 6 will be required to wear the Formal Uniform on days other than PE, when they can wear the Sports Uniform. Kinder to Year 2 students can choose to wear any combination of the uniform items. All students will also now be expected to use the Northern school bag.

Uniform expectations are outlined in our Uniform Policy and Uniform Catalogue. Uniform items can be purchased from the Office or via QKR!

Toys at Northern

As a school, we love to teach students about faithful stewardship and support you as parents. Students love sharing with us the many great gifts you give them, often including expensive toys. When brought to school, these toys often become the source of distraction, envy, greed and jealousy leading to actions that are undesirable. Therefore, it is best practice to leave these at home, as we cannot guarantee their safety and protection. Could you also please partner with us and remind your child to keep these items at home, especially Pokemon cards.

There are exceptions to this rule such as ‘Show and Tell’, ‘All about Me’ bags and ‘Star of the Day/Week’ items. These items should be given to the teacher upon arrival at school who will put them in a safe spot until it is time to share with the class. They are not to be played with during recess and lunchtimes.

Fortnite and Huggy Wuggy
We have also been made aware of some students feeling scared and frightened by the toys/figures that are being brought to school. We would like to highlight the following:

Is Fortnite appropriate for students?
For some parents, the cartoonish, bloodless style of the action in Fortnite makes the violence less problematic than the aggressive gore in other popular shooter games. But the game's online chat feature - especially in Battle Royale - could expose younger players to offensive language or mature content from random strangers. Common Sense Media doesn't recommend games with open chat for kids under 13, but with the right controls and parental guidance, this can be a tween-friendly alternative to violent first-person shooters.

Is Huggy Wuggy appropriate for students?
The animated character goes by the friendly name of Huggy Wuggy, leading parents and children to believe the videos are aimed at youngsters and contain no inappropriate material. But the blue bear-like creature chases and threatens other characters in nightmarish scenarios, leaving many children upset and frightened. The character is from a survival horror game called Poppy Playtime, but has been made into popular videos which appear on YouTube. These videos encourage children to commit violent acts to themselves and others. The original game this character is associated with, Poppy Playtime, has been rated as suitable for 12 years and older on Common Sense Media due to it containing offensive language, cartoon representations of alcohol use, blood, stabbings, decapitations, attempted murder…and the list goes on.

We ask that your child/ren does not bring Huggy Wuggy toys and Fortnite figures/memorabilia to school, and we have spoken to students about not bringing these.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Recycling at Northern

We are wearing our Footy Colours on
Friday 30 September…

Fight Cancer Foundation’s ‘Footy Colours Day’ is a national fundraising campaign that helps kids with cancer.

On Friday, 30 September students are invited to wear their favourite footy team colours, and there will be fun activities held throughout the day.

A Hot Dog and a packet of chips - aka ‘Footy Food’ - is able to be purchased for $5.00 (Gluten-Free $5.50). Place your ‘Footy Food’ orders and/or make a fundraising donation via QKR! before 3.00pm TODAY.

No cash is accepted at the school and no late orders will be accepted. If you have difficulty making your purchase via the QKR! App, please contact the Office PRIOR to the order cut-off time.

The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework is based on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

It will require organisations that work with children and young people to take specific steps to keep them safe and respond effectively where incidents of harm do occur.

Children and young people can take this short survey --> bit.ly/3eT3gxb

To find out more about the Bill to establish the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework visit --> bit.ly/3SbYOYT

From the Office