Term 4

Welcome to the new term. We hope all families had a relaxing and enjoyable time together over the holidays. There are a number of important events scheduled for this term:

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

The sense of community which exists at the College is a fundamental and important feature of a Pacific education. On Friday 25^th October we welcome grandparents and family friends to the College for the morning. The morning provides students with the opportunity to show and involve their extended families in their daily experiences at school. Visitors will spend time in learning spaces with students before attending a morning tea and enjoying a variety of student performances.

Year 3 Camp

On Thursday 31^st October, Year 3 students will attend their first Outdoor Education Camp. A letter providing details of the camp and student medical forms have been forwarded home this week. Parents and guardians of Year 3 students are asked to complete and return the required documentation to your child’s class teacher as soon as possible.

Educational research recognises that the social and emotional development of students is just as important as their academic development. “Non-cognitive aspects of students development, including their attitudes, values and a range of social and emotional capabilities, strongly influence their achievement, happiness and relationships” (M.E Bernard 2007). All Prep to Year 5 students at Pacific complete the You Can Do It program.

This term, the program will focus on dealing with social and emotional blockers. The topics that will be covered include how to cope with worry, feeling down, getting angry, procrastination and not paying attention.

Parents can support and develop their children’s confidence to deal with these blockers by always encouraging effort and independence. Allow children to walk from the car to their classrooms unattended and let children carry their own bags (often I see parents loaded up with bags whilst their children happily skip ahead). Also fundamental in developing confidence to deal with these blockers is communication. Explain to your children that everyone has the choice to be an optimist (predict success) or a pessimist (predicts failure) and it is how we think that dictates how we act and feel not what happens to us. When a child acts confidently give praise.

Mr David Druery, Head of Staff and Students P-5