Pathways .August 2019Term 3

August 2019Middle School Working With Your Adolescent Wednesday 28 August,7:30–9am

Art Fest / Musical Evening / Maria Montessori Birthday Friday 30 August

September 2019Upper Primary Working With Your Child Tuesday 3 September, 7:30am

Middle School (Yr 10) Vaccinations Thursday 5 September, 1:30pm

Market Stalls Friday 6 & Thursday 19 September

Montessori Explained Tuesday 10 September, 6–7:30pm

Parent–Teacher Conferences Wednesday 4 & 11 September, 3:15–6:15pm

Last Day of Term 3 Friday 20 September

Children’s Assembly Friday 20 September, 1:30pm

Pupil-free Day Friday 13 September

October 2019First Day Term 4 Tuesday 8 October

Middle School (& Yr 6) Canberra Tour 14–17 October

Market Stall Friday 18 October

Pupil-free Day Monday 21 October

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Brisbane Montessori School Learning for Life

Calendar

Dear Parents,

At the fortnightly school meetings, it is customary at BMS now for the principal to be called on to share some ‘wise words’. I've been caught out a few times in not having thought ahead about what I could say to the students! And then I have thoughts such as 'Why me? What wisdom do I have to share? Similarly, as I'm pressed for my contribution to Pathways, I think to myself: 'What are parents interested in hearing from me? How many parents read this, or do they just jump to the 'important' stuff, like when is Sports Day? The challenges of being a principal!

On Wednesday our Upper Primary students left for their annual three-day camp. In October 2004, I wrote the following in the BMS newsletter:

"When my four children were all at home, and just one was absent for a sleepover, or school camp, how different the household was! When four Cycle Two classes are on camp, how different BMS is! It’s so quiet – their absence is certainly noticed. I hope they’ve all had a wonderful time at camp, discovering new skills and abilities, extending themselves as they challenge themselves in new ventures and activities, and getting to know each other better. I fear that one day excursions and camps will become a thing of the past in schools, as the fear of litigation, and legislative requirements for risk assessment, staff qualifications etc. become unreasonably demanding on school staff. What a shame and loss that will be for children."

I am very pleased that school excursions and camps are not yet a thing of the past. Recently the Lower Primary students had their camp also. I would like to acknowledge the teachers and parents who all contribute to ensuring the students can still experience a school camp. It is a great responsibility on them to take your child away from you for a few days. There is a lot of preparation to be done in organising the transport, the site booking, the risk assessment, the financials, etc, and then ensuring that each child feels safe and secure, receives their medication as required, avoids certain foods if necessary, and has a safe and happy experience. Thank you, teachers and parents – it’s a great job you do.

Kind regards

Allen KloedenActing Principal

Reminders

Parent–Teacher Conferences Parent–teacher conferences will be held this term. Please arrange a time to meet with your child’s class director. Emails are in the process of being sent to you regarding how to sign up for a meeting, or your child’s class director will show you the form for booking in a time to meet with them.

Pupil-free Day – Friday 13 September We trust that you received the email sent on 2 August about the additional pupil-free day on Friday 13 September. Primary and Middle School teachers will be undertaking a practical, online test run of the NAPLAN tests, in anticipation of NAPLAN testing being conducted online in 2020. This is an important activity to enable us to identify any issues with the online format of testing. The Children's House staff will participate in a workshop based on their roles and responsibilities.

Lotus House will operate as normal. All other children can book in for vacation care here, if needed: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b4aa4ab2dabfc1-pupil1

Bookings close midnight Wednesday 11 September. Please note that vacation care bookings are very important as staff are rostered according to bookings and strict ratios apply.

Students for 2020 We ask all families to notify us if your child will not be returning for 2020. Please email this information to enrolments@bms.qld.edu.au.

This notice assists the school in planning for staffing and other resources for the 2020 school year and allows us to offer places to new families who are on our waiting list.

As per the enrolment contract, to ensure your bond is refunded and you are not charged a term’s tuition in lieu of notice of withdrawal, a minimum of one full school term’s notice is required (by 20 September).

Queensland Independent Schools Parents Network The Queensland Independent Schools (QIS) Parents Network website (https://www.parentsnetwork.qld.edu.au/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/QISParentsNetwork/) are valuable sources of information on current schooling issues, parenting topics and education changes at the state and national levels. Following their Facebook page will help keep you informed of relevant developments and useful information, for example, online safety (see https://esafety.gov.au/parents/online-safety-guide).

Reminders (cont.)

Parent Education Evening ‘Freedom within Limits’ – Tuesday 30 July After discussing the definitions of 'freedom' and 'limits', as well as the meaning of the well-known Montessori phrase 'follow the child', we focused on ways in which we can support our children in developing their independence and freedom, while building an awareness and respect for limits.

The parents split into two groups: parents of 0–6 year olds and parents of 6–15 year olds.

In the 0–6 session the parents discussed scenarios and supported each other to find ways to set limits in each situation. Some of the scenarios included: • Your child refuses to leave the park when it's time • Your child interrupts when you are having a conversation with a friend • Your child wants to ride their bike but refuses to wear a helmet.

The parents were then invited to share some of their personal scenarios, in which they had struggled or found success.

The 6–15 discussion consisted of scenarios focused on things such as ‘your child wants to ride the bus to school’ or ‘your child wants more screen time’. We discussed the questions to guide decisions and collaboratively determined that as parents we need to ask the very important question of 'why?' in trying to understand the motive to the children's actions/desires.

It was an informative and supportive night, with parents commenting that they found it helpful to hear some new strategies and to share ideas with other families.

MS Readathon During August, the Primary and Middle School classes are participating in the MS Readathon, a reading-based fundraiser run by Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA). The children are encouraged to read as many books as possible, not only for the enjoyment of reading, but also to raise community awareness and to make a difference in the lives of people who live with multiple sclerosis (MS). Your child’s class has been gathering on a regular basis to share their reading journey and to assist with raising funds by bringing in a gold coin donation. You also have the option to assist by donating on the school’s team fundraising page, however there is no obligation to do so. Please see the link below if you would like to help. https://www.msreadathon.org.au/fundraisers/brisbanemontessorischool

Recent Events

Recent Events (cont.)

Working With Your Child Children’s House and Lower Primary students shared their learning with their parents at the Working With Your Child events (held on Tuesday 13 August and Tuesday 20 August respectively). This is always a great opportunity to nurture your relationship with your child by being part of their learning journey, with parents and children benefiting from these special experiences together.

Children’s House

Lower Primary

Upcoming Events

Full programme available on noticeboards & in last Pathways

Friday, 30 AugustMaria Montessori

Birthday Celebrations 9:30 - 11 (CH)

12:45-2:15 (PS&MS)

Art Festival 12pm

(Children’s House) 3-5pm

(whole school)

Musical Evening 5 - 6pm

Education Outside the Classroom

Adventures in OSHC It has been a fairly quiet time lately in OSHC. Students have enjoyed some time indoors and made use of our reading area. We have been treated to some short performance shows put on and organised by the students. We have spent a lot of time outside enjoying the outdoors in the lovely cooler weather, playing on the monkey bars and scootering along the footpaths.

Education Outside the Classroom

Lower Primary – Camp Warrawee – 8–9 August

Education Outside the Classroom

Primary and Middle School Sports Day – Friday 16 August