Smiling faces and confident voices
Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together. Paul Ryan
As I sat and watched the Preps present their plays last week, I reflected on how much they had grown over the past twelve months in their confidence and resilience. The Preps shared the Christmas story through an entertaining and creative play with smiling faces and confident voices. There was a lot of microphone work, parts to say, changing of narrators and numerous movements to get ready for songs. Throughout this time the preps shone, with clear voices, looking at the audience and showing they enjoyed their roles.
It was nearly a year ago when these students came to our Orientation sessions very shy and quiet, unsure of what lay ahead. Over the past year our wonderful Prep staff have scaffolded the program to support the emotional and social development of their students to make them independent learners.
Students have been encouraged to set goals for their learning with the teachers ensuring they have the right steps in place to achieve the goals. It was about celebrating small successes and achievements, continually praising the effort put in. It was about reminding them of times they had achieved their goals and what it had felt like.
On the night, the Prep teachers shared that many of the students did not want to be in the play, take on a part or sing the songs. Through encouragement to give it a go and acknowledge that they could not do it ‘yet’ helped the students to take it slow, give it a go and achieve success. There were some stars in the making who discovered that with an audience and a microphone anything was possible.
With only a few weeks of Prep left, the students are ready to move onto their next challenge – Year 1. They take with them so many new learnings but most importantly know they have a community of adults who want the very best for them at all times.
Orientation Sessions
Over the next two weeks, our Prep to Year 2 students will be taking part in an Orientation programme to prepare them for the move to new classes in 2020. During this time, students will get to know the new year level classrooms and where their eating places will be. It will be an exciting time for our Lower Primary students.
At the same time we will be welcoming our 2020 Prep students and families to St Peters. They will also get to do activities in the classrooms, find out where to play, to eat and feel comfortable in their new environment. There will be three Prep classes in 2020 for the first time so we will be having the sessions over three mornings.
It is a busy but exciting time of the year where we are finishing off programs for 2019 but planning ahead for 2020. We have so many things to be grateful for and know that God continues to shower his blessings on all we do at St Peters Springfield.
God’s richest blessings to all our families.
Debbie West-Mcinnes
Head of Primary
