Kapunda Primary School Newsletter

Welcome to 2026! The year has started smoothly, with students and staff settling quickly into their new classes. It has been wonderful to walk through classrooms and observe the high levels of engagement and effort from students. As mentioned at the end of last year, we are pleased to welcome new staff members Maddie Maynard (Room 7, Year 4/5) and Jayde Atkinson (Room 6, Year 2/3 and Room 7, Year 4/5).

During Week 0, staff worked together to prepare welcoming learning environments and set the stage for a positive start to the school year. As part of this, we discussed ideas to help build stronger partnerships between families and the school. To begin this journey, we have introduced Family Connection Meetings. These meetings give every family the opportunity to meet with their child’s class teacher within the first four weeks of the term. If you have not yet made a meeting time, please do so via the QR code sent home on the information sheet and also available on Audiri. If available times do not meet your needs, please contact your child’s class teacher to identify an alternative.

It has been fantastic to see so many families taking part, connecting with teachers, and sharing valuable information about their child. The main aim of these meetings is to give parents and carers - who know their children best - the chance to help us get to know your child and family better and sooner. Teachers have shared that the conversations have been very positive and the insights gained from families are already helping them plan and support students more effectively.

If you have been involved in a Family Connection Meeting, your feedback is greatly appreciated. This will help us continue to improve and refine our processes. Please feel free to email me directly at sharon.okmasich583@schools.sa.edu.au, using a simple format: “What worked well... and even better if…”

These meetings are new for both staff and families, so feedback from everyone involved is essential for us to keep improving.

Creating and maintaining strong, positive Family - School Partnerships is important for everyone, especially for our children and young people. If you have further suggestions on how we can work together to build connections, please let us know. You can email me at the address above, or contact the Front Office to speak to Sharon, Kerry or Dan.

In each newsletter, we aim to include information about curriculum, teaching and learning, and wellbeing to help families build stronger connections and gain a deeper understanding of what happens during the school day. You’ll find a mix of general information as well as tips and strategies to help you support your child at home.

If there is anything specific you would like us to feature throughout the year, please let us know. We welcome your suggestions and feedback.

We look forward to catching up throughout the year

Sharon, Kerry and Dan

Mathematics isn’t just about numbers and equations - it’s about developing a mindset that helps students tackle problems with confidence and creativity! In the South Australian Curriculum, we focus on three key dispositions to foster a positive mathematical mindset: being Resilient, Resourceful, and Reflective.

Here’s how these dispositions are nurtured at school:

Resilient: Students are encouraged to see maths as relevant and enjoyable. They learn to embrace challenges and understand that mistakes are a natural part of learning. This attitude helps them persevere, celebrate their growth, and recognise their achievements.

Resourceful: We help students develop curiosity by seeking information and making connections. They learn to use their knowledge, collaborate with peers, and use different tools and strategies to solve problems. This encourages innovation and adaptability.

Reflective: Students learn to reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement. They plan and monitor their approaches, seek feedback, and value contributions from others. This helps them to be open-minded and thoughtful in their mathematical thinking.

These dispositions work together, and when one is strengthened, the others grow too. Building these strengths supports our students in all areas of their learning and development, helping them navigate the world now and in the future.

How Parents Can Help at Home

• Encourage Curiosity: Ask your child open-ended questions (questions that don’t have just one right answer, such as “How did you solve that?” or “What other ways could you try?”) and explore different solutions together.
• Celebrate Mistakes: Show your child that mistakes are a valuable part of learning and growth (for example, say “It’s okay to get things wrong; each mistake helps us learn and improve.”).
• Promote Collaboration: Support your child in working with friends and learning from others’ perspectives (for example, suggest “Let’s ask a friend how they solved this problem and see if we can learn something new.”).
• Reflect Together: Discuss what strategies worked, which ones didn’t, and what can be tried next time (you could ask “What do you think helped you solve this? What could you try differently next time?”)

By supporting these dispositions, parents play a crucial role in helping children develop a positive and productive mathematical mindset for life.