Dear Parents and Guardians,   

Welcome back to Term 4. I hope you had a wonderful break and I look forwarding to seeing you all throughout the Term. 

Social Emotional Learning   

This Semester in SEL in the Seconds Steps Program we will be focusing on Emotional Management.   

Second Step   

Second Step SEL is research-based, teacher-informed, and classroom-tested to promote the social-emotional development, safety, and well-being of children from Early Learning through to Grade 8. Children learn and practice vital skills for listening and paying attention, having empathy, managing emotions, building friendships, and solving problems with others. The 25-minute interactive lessons and discussion-based activities with distinct grade-level experiences. The lessons focus on Social-Emotional Learning:   

• Mindsets & Goals  
•  Recognising Bullying & Harassment  
• Thoughts, Emotions, & Decisions  
• Managing Relationships & Social Conflict  

This Semester in SEL in the Seconds Steps Program we will be focusing on Problem Solving. These lessons will continue throughout the Year for Prep to Year 6.  

Positive Behaviour for Learning   

Our school community has identified the following school wide expectations to teach and promote our high standards of responsible behaviour:   

• Be Respectful  
• Be Responsible  
• Be Resilient  
• Be Ready for Learning  

PB4L assemblies take place on Monday’s at 2pm followed by Second Step lessons.  

Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs)  

The teachers are in the process of writing Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) and will be meeting with Parents over the next few weeks. Personalised learning is a process that supports a wide range of students with additional learning and support needs. This includes students who may require support in one or more of the following areas: learning (including high potential learners), behaviour, social/emotional, cultural/language (including international students, boarders and learners of English as an Additional Language or Dialect) and those who have educational support needs arising from disability. Teachers, with the support of the Leader of Diversity, and in consultation with parents, collaboratively decide which adjustments and/or goals are to be targeted and determine appropriate strategies and supports to be implemented. It is the teacher’s responsibility to implement these planned strategies in order to support students to meet their goals. Teachers will direct School Officer support and plan for adjustments on a weekly basis. Teachers communicate weekly with School Officers regarding student progress and make adjustments as needed. Evidence is collected regularly and uploaded to ENGAGE. PLP meetings are set 6 monthly and will determine if current goals have been achieved before setting further goals.   

Visitors  

Week 3 we have Stephanie Fox - Speech Language Pathologist and Zinna Aylward - Occupational Therapist from Cairns Catholic Education visiting for the week and supporting teachers and students. 

In Week 4 from Wednesday 27th October to Friday 29th of October we have Mia Lumley - Psychologist and Verity Beams - Consultant for Diversity and Inclusion from Cairns Catholic Education visiting for the week and supporting teachers and students. 

In week 5 Tosca Grainger - Dee our School Counsellor will be visiting us again in Weipa providing her service to St. Joseph's School from Monday 1st November – Friday 5th November. 

If you have any questions please feel free to make contact with myself at a convenient time that suits. My email address is   mturner@cns.catholic.edu.au    
    

Kind Regards,    

Melanie Turner.