The year is almost finished, and the Christmas holidays are just on the doorstep. The light at the end of the tunnel is certainly exciting Middle Years students at this time. It is important to note though, that we must maintain our standards right through the final week. This includes uniform, grooming, and punctuality. Next week still has many important events, such as Up Day, which are important in preparing students for the beginning of the 2023 school year.   

Now as we move into the extended Christmas break, I would like to share with parents some thoughts on a wonderful gift idea that would benefit children immensely – far more than other technological devices on the market. These devices are not very expensive, never run out of battery, are fully portable, and have the ability to transport the user to another world, or back in time, even into the future. I am, of course, talking about books.

Below is some science behind why parents should encourage their children to read more and use other technology just a little less over the Christmas break:

• Improves Theory of Mind – the ability to think about others.
• Improves the reader’s ability to consider the perspective of others and can benefit them in fostering relationships with their peers
  
  
• Boosts memory
• Reading is one of the greatest tools for boosting memory and engaging the brain through imagination. This also has great outcomes for student learning.
  
  
• Improves decision making and emotional processing by activating key areas in the brain:

• Poetry allows for self-reflection
• To challenge yourself, start reading poetry. It engages left-sided regions of the brain responsible for introspection. 
• Improves vocabulary and verbal skills
• Language is constantly evolving. There is a direct correlation between good verbal skills and reading.

Encouraging your child to exercise their brain these holidays – it’s like cardio for the brain. Always remember, a child you read will become an adult who thinks.

Recently, we conducted sessions with students regarding transitions into the next academic year. In particular, the Year 6 students met with myself and Mrs Biggar (Middle Leader Middle Years) as part of the transition strategy for preparing students for the shift into secondary schooling. This session, coupled with the Headspace sessions that were held early this semester, are designed to assist our students by removing many of the unknowns and to help alleviate anxiety that may be related to the return to school in January.

This week, Year 6 and Year 7 students have also been afforded the opportunity to share their thoughts on locker positions, preferred colours, and who they might like near them in the locker area next year. We will do our best to incorporate their thoughts into our planning.

Up Day provides another opportunity for the students to see what school life is like in their future. We are excited about welcoming the new Year 5 students into the fold, but the feeling is bitter-sweet as we also need to acknowledge the departure of our Year 8 cohort into the Senior Years sector. We are very proud of the Year 8 students for the growth and resilience they have demonstrated across this challenging school year. Many have achieved wonderful academic results, which always comes through hard work and persistence. As they say, the only place you can find success before work is in the dictionary. As they move into the next chapter of their educational journey, I trust that they will take the lessons and good habits they have developed in the Middle Years classrooms with them, which will allow them to continue their growth and development.

Camps in 2023

To support student learning and to boost student engagement through the turbulent early adolescent ages that make up the Middle Years, we have worked hard to develop wonderful off-site learning experiences for our students. These come in the form of our excursions and camps. All camps have curriculum focus and provide excellent opportunities for the students to interact with their peers in rich learning episodes outside of the four-walled classroom. They also take students out of their comfort zone so that they can grow and develop independence and confidence in their own abilities. Below is a snapshot of the camps that will be on offer again in 2023.

These camps will be coupled with excursions in various year levels at different times of the year, such as visiting the Bell Biblical Gardens for LYF, a power station visit for exploring science in action, touring Parliament House for understanding in law making and civics,  and examining commercial enterprises found locally in Dalby. These excursions also add to the rich learning experiences our teachers plan and prepare for the Middle Years students.  

I wish all families a happy Christmas holiday period and for those who are travelling a safe and wonderful journey. I look forward to working with you again in 2023.