Crafers Primary School

Newsletter 19 May 2023

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Wow! What a beginning to the new term. I am pleased to be writing for the newsletter as it gives me time to pause for reflection and appreciation of all of the good things within and around us at school. In what seems to be becoming a pattern, our Parents and Friends have hosted yet another fabulous Mothers' Day Breakfast. This year, we had about 100 significant people here celebrating with us; the children were outstanding in their willingness to help and make it an event to remember, and the Dads seems to be refining those pancake cooking skills. One of the stand-out features for me was the blend of faces very familiar and of faces slightly newer to our community (I dare not say fresher faces!). It seems our Parent WhatsApp Villages are working away in the background doing exactly what we had hoped, which is bringing the community together. My thanks and gratitude to all involved - the feedback was immensely positive and I find myself already looking forward to what happens next year - don't despair fathers - we are determined to celebrate with you too, this year!

Since then, we have had excursions, incursions, Assembly, Walk to School, SAPSASA and an external Choir assessment. This complements the learning, playing and caring that is everyday - I'm feeling a bit puffed as I reflect actually! I would like to draw special attention to our Crafers Choir. The children and staff who comprise the Choir make a very big commitment. There is a huge repertoire of songs to learn, solos which require auditions and courage, performances with rehearsals and most recently a three-hour afterschool workshop! This and more continues until they descend on the Festival Theatre for The Festival of Music in September. Last week, our Choir undertook their external assessment - how the hard work pays off, I hear that saying in my head 'teamwork makes the dream work'. Our Crafers Choir received an A in their assessment - something of which, they should feel very proud! That also makes it two years in a row (I'm extra proud and have told all of our touring visitors). 

A little further into this newsletter you will find an article about self-regulation and emotions by Psychologist, Claudia Grosset-Smith. Claudia is a parent of a Reception child here at Crafers. She has generously offered her time to work with our Reception classes and share her expertise on a wider scale through our Newsletter. Given wellbeing is such an integral part of schooling and personal development, I am very grateful for Claudia's contribution. We can all, always learn more. Ebony and I were also able to join Claudia's most recent time with the Receptions helping us to establish common understandings and language with which we can use in conversation with the children. As is so often the case, I am almost 'pinching myself' when I think how we lucky we are to have such a positive, invested and kind community!

Kind regards

Chan

Is your child being controlled by their device? How can we help our children to enjoy time with and without their devices?

When: Thursday 25th May 2023 at 7:00pm Location: Crafers Primary School Gym

Understand why it’s hard for them to ignore social media, text messages and other awesome things on their device. You’ll learn how to help them enjoy time with and without their device so their wellbeing, learning, friendships, family relationships, sports and hobbies continue to flourish. Behaviour Consultant, Madhavi Nawana Parker will help answer your questions about your child's technology use.

Who is Madhavi Nawana Parker?

Madhavi Nawana Parker is a keynote and guest speaker on the topics of social emotional literacy, positive discipline, anxiety and anger, resilience and wellbeing. She presents to a wide audience including teachers, educators, allied health professionals and parents.

Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to be a part of one of the most informative and valuable presentation available in Adelaide.

Ticket sales via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/how-can-technology-affect-student-well-being-tickets-570127475627 

If you have any queries, please email cpspnf@gmail.com

Introduction to our Governing Council Members

Name: Penny Conor
GC Position: Secretary

Having moved back home to Adelaide after almost 10 years we chose to settle in Crafers.  After time in New Zealand, the UK and Sydney, we were drawn to the tranquility and the outdoors of the Adelaide Hills.  We are lucky enough to have five acres and much of our spare time is tending to our ever changing and growing garden.  We love bushwalking, encouraging all-weather hiking in our kids, and we find ourselves so fortunate to be close to favourite spots like Cleland National Park and Kuitpo.  We love spotting all the local koalas and native orchids.

We are relatively new to Crafers Primary School, my son Oliver is in year one.  He is loving school and we are all impressed with the community nature of the school.  We have a daughter who will (hopefully) join Crafers next year in the midyear intake.  

My partner is a vet and I am an emergency doctor and hospital manager.  As a mum who works full time I was delighted to have the opportunity to give back to the school community through the Governing Council. 

Building Interoception - Emotional Volcanos and more!

Firstly, thank you to Crafers Primary School for your warm and supportive welcome into this wonderful community. I feel it serendipitous that I am on maternity leave when my daughter starts her schooling journey. It means I have a little time to commit to doing what I love, within the school community!

Teaming up with the reception classes, we have been playfully exploring the broad concept of emotional regulation. So far we have started to build our knowledge of emotional triggers, as well as our ever important ‘body clues’. The literature is clear that interoception (also referenced as self-monitoring and sometimes self-awareness), is fundamental in learning how to regulate our emotions. Interoception refers to body sensations that provide information about our internal state. If we can’t feel or notice emotions in our body when they arise, we can’t regulate them!

The children have enjoyed putting drips in and out of their imaginary buckets (How Full Is Your Bucket book) which helped them identify some triggers for emotions. We have also begun our emotional volcano experiments, much to their delight!  We will use the volcano and other fun resources focusing on:

  • Feelings as sensations in the body (building interoception)
  • The nature of emotions
  • How to ‘cool’ or ‘diffuse’ our emotions when they bubble. 

 

Top tips for parents:

  • Try some ‘noticing’ and ‘I wonder’ statements such as ‘I'm noticing your body is moving very fast! I wonder if you’re feeling very excited about the icecream!’. You can do this in the moment if the timing is right or after the fact!
  • When feelings are big, it’s best to let that volcano explode! Teach, repair and work through alternative ‘cool it’ strategies if needed when your child is calm (often much later).
  • Well placed references to your own emotional regulation experiences can be a  valuable teaching tool. Such as ‘when I lost my keys my lava really started to bubble! Did you notice my voice started to get louder? Next time, I might have to try some deep breathing!’ Keep it light, quick and fun if you can! 

 

Book recommendations:

Parents: Brain Body Parenting by Mona Delahooke

Kids: I feel the World by Zanni Louise Ameika Jonson and Nia Gould

Listening to my Body by Gabi Garcia

Claudia Grosset-Smith
Psychologist (Child Development) - and Crafers Parent

Junior Primary Concert: Save the Date!

Dear Families,

In week 10 of this term, the students in classes R-3 are performing in a concert. Students have been working incredibly hard on rehearsing their songs and cannot wait to share with you.

The concert will be on Wednesday the 5th of July at 5:30 – 6:30 in the school gym.

Please save the date, information on tickets to come.

Thank you,

Tiarna Pattinson
Performing Arts Teacher

Orienteering

Recently, people from Orienteering SA have come to teach years 3 to 6 about Orienteering.

In our year 4 class, we have been learning about how to orientate ourselves, knowing where north is and using a map. Some of us found it challenging at first but soon learnt how to do it with help from Orienteering SA.

Overall we loved the amazing experience.

Pippa Thurley
Year 4

We Love Our Mums - Room 4

In Room 4, we have been talking about how special our mums are. The students wrote lovely letters to their mums. We have joined the students’ phrases to create a whole classroom letter.

Oh, the magic hat, the magic hat! It moved like this and it moved like that!

Rhee Taekwon-Do at Crafers Primary

We are very happy to be able to establish our newest training centre at Crafers Primary School, and we welcome all students and families to enjoy some free trial lessons.  Several members of the Crafers Primary and Adelaide Hills community are already involved with our newest training centre, which now allows them more convenience, and a great space in which to learn. We offer an inclusive, family fun, safe, friendly environment to learn a traditional Martial Art, where learning focus, discipline and correct technique for effective self defence is our objective. With self paced training, regular gradings and lots of positive reinforcement from our World Class Instructors and fellow students, anyone of any fitness level can participate. I look forward to welcoming you along to a lesson soon! Family Fun, Total Health, Ultimate in Fitness & Self Defence!” _ Aaron Abell, Master Instructor for Australia.

Treasure Boxes Family Support Program offers families direct access to items such as clothing, shoes, toys, toiletries, bedding and nappies – at a fraction of the cost of retail. The program is designed to reduce financial stress and hardship for families, and provide easy access to child essentials.

How to Place a Family Support Request

1.       Go to the Treasure Boxes website.
2.       Click on ‘Family Support Request’ button.
3.       Select the items needed.
4.       Choose a collection date and Treasure Boxes location (Edwardstown or Daveron Pk).
5.       Click ‘Submit’.
6.       Collect and pay for items on selected day.

For more information, please go to the website: https://www.treasureboxes.org.au/home/family-support-program/

Crafers Primary School