Creating the Difference - The Essington School Darwin
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Creating the Difference
CRICOS No. 02041G
CONTENTS WELCOME .......................................................................................................... 4 THE SCHOOL YEAR AND DAILY ROUTINE ............................................................ 5 Term Dates .................................................................................................... 5 School Hours .................................................................................................. 5 Classrooms..................................................................................................... 5 Absentee Hotline ........................................................................................... 5 Parental Assistance ........................................................................................ 5 YEAR 3 LEARNING PROGRAM ............................................................................. 6 Programming Format .................................................................................... 6 Cambridge International Curriculum ............................................................. 6 Prime Mathematics ....................................................................................... 6 Literacy Pro .................................................................................................... 7 Junior School Online Learning ....................................................................... 7 Specialist Timetable ....................................................................................... 8 Physical Education ......................................................................................... 8 Brain Gym ...................................................................................................... 8 Mindfulness ................................................................................................... 8 Homework Policy ........................................................................................... 8 SPORT PROGRAM ............................................................................................... 9 House System ................................................................................................ 9 MUSIC PROGRAM ............................................................................................. 10 Strings Program ........................................................................................... 10 Private Tuition ............................................................................................. 10 Junior School Choir ...................................................................................... 10 UNIFORM, HATS & SUNSCREEN ....................................................................... 11 GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................. 12 Assembly...................................................................................................... 12 Assessment and Reporting, and Parent Teacher Discussions ..................... 12 Behaviour Management Overview .............................................................. 12 Canteen ....................................................................................................... 12 Lost Property ............................................................................................... 12 Money, Valuables and Toys ......................................................................... 13 Parking and Dropping Off ............................................................................ 13 Skoolbag ...................................................................................................... 13 Student Representative Council .................................................................. 13 PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS .............................................................................. 14
YEAR 3 PARENT INFORMATION HANDBOOK 2018
WELCOME
The Year 3 - 5 team calls upon our developmental knowledge of middle childhood and
our knowledge of each individual child when developing our teaching and learning
programs. At The Essington International School Darwin, our high quality Early
Childhood program sets the strongest foundation for all our students’ future learning.
Positive attitudes to learning are encouraged and formed in these first years of school.
As our students move into Middle Childhood, they are more likely to view themselves
positively as learners and to be motivated in their learning, taking upon academic
challenges.
Between the ages of 8 and 11 years old, a child’s ability to consciously, thoughtfully, and
proactively choose to pursue goals appears. At The Essington International School
Darwin, students in this age range fall into our Year 3 through to Year 5 programs.
The child’s thinking style becomes increasingly logical, organised and flexible. Older
children start to make moral decisions based more on how they would like others to
treat them, rather than what they can gain for themselves. Children learn this in part by
modelling the behavior and attitude of trusted adults and peers with whom they
interact. One component of social and emotional growth in 8 to 10 year olds is their
desire for an increased independence from parents and siblings, and their increased
desire to be seen as intelligent and knowledgeable.
Children’s overall knowledge continues to grow rapidly. They become more organised as
a by-product of their everyday use of their expanding cognitive skills. With this growth in
their knowledge, children’s metacognitive abilities strengthen. The term metacognition
describes a child’s growing ability to pay attention to their own mental state, and to use
this information to more efficiently solve problems. With this in mind, our Year 3 - 5
teaching team is committed to providing an engaging and challenging learning program
that truly caters for the individual needs of each and every learner.
We see our parents as important partners in the education of their children. You, the
parents, are the expert when it comes to your child. Please keep in contact with your
child’s teacher, and let them know early if you have any concerns. Let us know of
anything that might influence or affect your child’s education. Further to this, our
teachers meet together with the executive team to ensure that we are all across the
classroom and social dynamics. Open communication is paramount to successful
school/home partnerships, and benefits every child’s learning journey.
We look forward to working with your family, and sharing with you your child’s
educational journey at The Essington International School Darwin.
Renee Schultz
Acting Assistant Principal
Junior School Pastoral Care
|4
THE SCHOOL YEAR AND DAILY ROUTINE
Term Dates
th th
Term 1 Monday 29 January – Friday 13 April
rd th
Term 2 Monday 23 April – Friday 29 June
th th
Term 3 Tuesday 24 July – Friday 28 September
th th
Term 4 Monday 15 October – Thursday 13 December.
School Hours
The school day starts at 8:10am and finishes at 2:25pm. Students should not arrive
before 7.30am. Before School Care is provided in the library from 7.30am and a teacher
is on duty from 7.45am around classrooms.
No responsibility can be taken for the supervision of students before 7.45am and after
3.00pm unless they are involved in some specially arranged activity, After School Clubs
or attend the Care Programs.
Classrooms
Our classrooms are open from 8.00am each morning. Lessons begin at 8.10am and finish
at 2.25pm.
Absentee Hotline
Please call the Absentee Line on Phone: 8985 0150 before 8.30am to notify the school if
your child will not be attending.
Parental Assistance
We greatly appreciate your active participation in the classroom program. With
consultation your child’s teacher will advise you of the times when it is suitable and
constructive for parents to assist with the teaching and learning program.
|5
YEAR 3 LEARNING PROGRAM
Programming Format
Across each level teaching teams work collaboratively to ensure that Teaching and
Learning Programs offered at each year level are consistent in the skills being taught. In
2018 English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical
Education, Digital Technologies, Languages (Indonesian), and The Arts (Music and Visual
Art) will be programmed to follow the Australian Curriculum.
Through taking part in extensive National and International Assessment Practices, we at
The Essington International School Darwin are achieving academic results well above the
National Average. As a result, we differentiate our curriculum to ensure that it is
engaging and challenging for all students. We extend our programs with the UK
Cambridge Curriculum.
Cambridge International Curriculum
The Cambridge International Curriculum enhances and enriches the Mathematics,
English, Science, ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and EAL (English as
Another Language) curriculum programs, ensuring student learning is on par with
international standards. It is offered by over 850 primary schools in almost 80 countries
worldwide. Cambridge Primary enables leaners to build their knowledge and skills
progressively, through each year of the program. It is an excellent preparation for
Cambridge Secondary learning and for progression to other educational systems.
Prime Mathematics
The Prime Mathematics program is utilised to enrich and extend the Mathematics
curriculum from Year 1 to Year 5. Prime Mathematics is a world-class program based on
the effective teacher and learning practices of Singapore, Republic of Korea and Hong
Kong – consistent performers in international studies, as evident in their outstanding
Mathematics results in the well-respected international tests, TIMSS and PISA.
Year 1 to Year 5 teachers and students work with the Prime Mathematics program to
extend knowledge and skills at a very high standard utilising constant elements such as:
Pre-testing – ‘Let’s Remember’ checking prior knowledge.
‘Let’s Learn’ (introduction using the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach) and
‘Let’s Do’ (provides guided practice and formative assessment).
‘Think About It’ student text explanations and reminders, develop
metacognitive skills through mathematical reasoning and justification.
Thought Bubbles present in student text, model the thinking process to train
students to monitor their own thinking.
Bar Model method allows students to solve complex word problems using
visual representation.
The Prime Mathematics program is blended with elements of the Australian Curriculum
to offer a well-rounded and rigorous mathematics learning program in the Essington
Junior School.
|6
Literacy Pro
Literacy Pro is a reading assessment program utilised by teachers and students as
readers become more independent and shift reading interests and skills beyond the
earlier years ‘take-home-readers’ into more complex novels and texts.
The program offers valuable features which:
Assess students reading comprehension.
Promotes reading growth.
Provides students with feedback such as certificates, quiz scores and total
number of words read.
Provides teachers with student data regarding proficiency and expected growth.
Literacy Pro accurately assesses students’ reading comprehension through an adaptive
online assessment that determines a Lexile level. Lexile measures, based on research,
are an internationally recognised measure of reading level and text difficulty. Teachers
and students use Lexile measures to select books at a level that will challenge students –
not so difficult as to be frustrating, but difficult enough to encourage reading
development. The Literacy Pro program provides valuable and specific reading
information which supports and extends students’ individual reading skills through the
latter years of their primary schooling.
Junior School Online Learning
st
As we encourage and develop skills preparing students for 21 century learning and
living, numerous online programs are accessed across all areas of the Junior School
curriculum. Carefully selected online learning programs provide accurate, motivating
and complex learning experiences which enhance daily and weekly classroom programs.
Spellodrome (Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5)
Spellodrome encourages independent learning and the development of critical spelling
awareness through student access to an engaging array of activities, games and
challenges all directed by students’ own word lists. Spellodrome offers tasks which
enhance visual, phonological, morphemic and etymological skill development.
Spellodrome online resources are utilised in small group and independent literacy tasks.
Students are encouraged to access this online learning tool as part of the weekly
homework program.
Mathletics (Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5)
Mathletics online mathematics tasks are designed to support and extend student
learning through clarity of instruction, direct feedback and dynamic, engaging design. All
tasks undertaken in Mathletics are linked to outcomes from the Australian Curriculum
and teachers are able to adjust content level on an individual basis, ensuring skill
development and engagement is addressed for each student. Mathletics tasks are
utilised within whole-class interactive whiteboard sessions and small group or individual
consolidation tasks. Students are encouraged to access Mathletics as part of the weekly
homework program.
|7
Families can independently access all online subscriptions using passwords provided by
class teachers.
Specialist Timetable
In addition to the classroom core curriculum program, the students participate in various
specialist programs: Visual Art, Music, Indonesian, Digital Technologies, and Physical
Education are all taught by qualified teachers in specialist facilities.
Physical Education
All students at The Essington International School Darwin take part in Physical Education
lessons with qualified Physical Education teachers. Sporting activities provide
opportunities for students to explore and extend their own talents, increase hand eye
coordination, develop skills and game knowledge while also learning the importance of
team work and leadership. Lessons are conducted to foster high levels of participation
and increase student’s awareness of a wide variety of sports and new skills.
Brain Gym
Brain Gym is a program of twenty-six physical movements that enhance learning and
performance in all areas. Brain Gym was developed through the work of educators, Dr
Paul and Gail Dennison, in response to their quest to seek more effective ways to help
children and adults with learning. The specific activities facilitate brain function for
physical skills required for activities such as reading, writing and spelling.
Mindfulness
The practice of Mindfulness builds individual mental health and wellbeing through
positive, pre-emptive tools based on meditation. Underpinned by research from the
universities of UCLA, Harvard, Oxford, and Monash, studies on mindfulness meditation
prove that regular practise helps combat stress, improve focus, and build resilience.
Homework Policy
Homework builds an important link between the learning at school and at home,
developing in student’s the responsibility for the completion of work and individual
reflective learning.
Homework is set on a weekly basis. The students receive the homework contract each
Monday with the expectation that they will be returned completed on Friday. The
student is expected to have age-appropriate responsibility for time management of tasks
set.
Homework, as for class work, is differentiated for ability levels. Work set is to be
achievable within the given time frame. Homework is to be used to consolidate
classroom learning and should be completed by the student, independent of their
parent’s assistance. Parents may assist will keeping the student on task and providing an
appropriate work space.
|8
Purpose of Homework:
To consolidate the learning that has taken place in the classroom.
To encourage and support students to develop a routine in completing tasks in
their home environment.
To help students to develop independent study habits.
To encourage a strong link between learning at school and home.
Time Allocation:
Year 3: 30 minutes per night
20 minutes Literacy and Numeracy, 10 minutes Reading
Year 4: 45 minutes per night
30 minutes Literacy and Numeracy, 15 minutes Reading
Year 5: 45 minutes per night
30 minutes Literacy and Numeracy, 15 minutes Reading
Year 3 & 4: Project work will take the place of other homework
Year 5: Project work will be additional homework
Homework Content:
Year 3 Spelling Program/Spellodrome online tasks
Mathematics worksheet/Mathletics online tasks
Reading – Prescribed Reader
Shared News – Preparation
Your child’s teacher will provide students and parents with homework details at the
beginning of Term 1 and weekly via Skoolbag.
SPORT PROGRAM
House System
The Houses at The Essington International School
Darwin are named after significant early explorers or
settlers. Year 5 students also have the opportunity to
develop leadership skills by taking on leadership roles
in their House.
All students are placed within one of the three Houses:
Flynn Geckos (Red), Gunn Frillnecks (Yellow) or
Wickham Skinks (Blue) upon entry into the school.
They remain within those Houses for the duration of
their school days. Siblings are usually placed into the
same House. The Physical Education shirt displays the
colour of the House that the student represents.
Houses compete against one another in a variety of sports as well as other special
activities. Points are accrued by individuals for their Houses throughout the year.
Inter House Competition
|9Each term, students will take part in an Inter House Sports Competition. The Weekly
Bulletin and House Notice Board in the Auditorium contain up to date information for all
House activities.
MUSIC PROGRAM
Strings Program
In Year 3 at The Essington International School Darwin students take part in an
Introduction to the Strings Program. All students are issued with a hired violin or cello.
For parents who opt to buy string instruments privately, please be aware your child
needs to be measured for the correct size of instrument by a qualified strings teacher.
There are seven different sizes available. It is very important for your child to have the
correct size. Beyond Year 3, students choose to continue in the Strings program or opt
for General Music in Year 4 and 5.
Private Tuition
Private tuition in most instruments
is available upon request. If you
would like your child to enrol in
private lessons please collect a
tuition form from the Music
Department or Email:
music@essington.nt.edu.au.
Depending on availability, students
may start lessons any time during
the year. Private tuition is charged
per lesson and is not a part of the
curriculum.
Junior School Choir
The Junior School Choir is run for students in Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5. The Junior School
Choir is held after school for 45 minutes after school on a Tuesday. Tuition is free. If you
are interested in your son or daughter joining the Junior School Choir please contact the
Music Centre via Email: music@essington.nt.edu.au. Students are often asked to
perform at school assemblies and concerts outside of school and it is a most enjoyable
experience for students and parents alike.
If you are interested in your child joining any of these after school classes, please collect
and fill in the appropriate form from the Music Centre.
| 10UNIFORM, HATS & SUNSCREEN
School uniform is compulsory. On sport days students are required to wear their sports
uniform as well as proper supportive runners. The school promotes a strict hat policy
and we require your child to bring a hat to school every day. Sunscreen is available in the
classroom.
The uniform shop is run by volunteers and the current opening hours are:
Monday and Wednesday 8.00am-9.00am
Tuesday 2.00pm - 3.00pm
Friday 8.00am - 9.30am
Boys Junior School Uniform
Pre-Transition to Year 5 Navy Blue Striped Shirt and Navy Blue Shorts
Girls Junior School Uniform
Pre-Transition to Year 2 Light Blue Pinafore and White Undershirt
Year 3 to Year 5 Light Blue Culottes and White Overshirt
Shoes And Socks (boys and girls all ages)
White socks (preferably with school logo)
Black lace up leather shoes or black runners (must cover the front of the foot for
OH&S reasons).
School Sports Uniform
Girls & Boys Navy Blue Sports Polo Shirts with house colour inserts
Navy Blue Sports Shorts
Sportswear Runners - (not soft slip-on shoes)
POINTS TO REMEMBER
A hat must be worn at all times when outdoors.
Jewellery and makeup are not to be worn.
Only natural hair colour is acceptable.
No nail polish is to be worn on fingernails.
All hair accessories to be school colours.
| 11GENERAL INFORMATION
Assembly
The weekly school Assembly is on Friday morning at 8.25am. We request that your child
arrive on time to attend the Assembly and encourage parents to join us in attending
Assembly when possible. Teachers will advise parents of any class or individual student
participation in Assembly.
Assessment and Reporting, and Parent Teacher Discussions
Assessment for the purpose of reporting is conducted across the school in Week 5 of
each term. Reports are issued as follows:
Term 1 Week 10 Written Interim / Progress Reports
Term 2 Week 10 Written Semester 1 Reports
Term 3 Week 10 Written Interim / Progress Reports
Term 4 Week 10 Written Semester 2 Reports
Formal Parent Teacher Discussions are held in Term 2 (on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday
3rd May), and Term 4 (on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th October). Parents are
able to make a 15 minute appointment to review their child’s progress with the teacher.
Parents requiring a lengthier discussion are asked to make a separate appointment
directly with the classroom teacher.
Parents are invited to arrange a mutually convenient appointment before or after school
at other times during the term to discuss their child’s progress.
Behaviour Management Overview
The Essington International School Darwin has a Behaviour Management Policy that we
continually review and monitor. The aim of our policy is to encourage the development
and maintenance of positive working relationships among all members of our school
community.
Canteen
The school operates a Canteen for students. The Canteen is open from
Monday to Friday. Lunch orders can be placed by enclosing lunch money in a
brown paper bag along with the order by 8:30am and before Assembly on
Fridays. Each class has a Lunch Order Tray. The 2018 Canteen menu is
available on the school website.
Lost Property
Students are expected to manage their own property without the need for continued
assistance. Private property must be labeled with the child’s name. Lost or misplaced
items should be taken to the Lost Property Bin at the bottom of the Junior School steps.
If items are not claimed by the end of each term, they are donated to a charity.
PLEASE LABEL ALL CLOTHING AND BELONGINGS WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME.
| 12Money, Valuables and Toys
We ask that students do not bring sums of money, valuables, collectibles or toys to
school. If these items must be brought to school, they should be handed to the class
teacher or school office for safe keeping. This also applies to mobile phones and
electronic games. The school will not accept any responsibility for damage to personal
items.
All communication from the school is emailed to your nominated email address as per
your enrolment information. Please ensure that the school always has up to date
contact details for your family.
Our Group Noticeboard in the Junior School area is updated regularly with Year 3 news
and information about upcoming events, both friend-raising and fundraising.
The Essington Weekly Bulletins are an important form of communication. Once the
Bulletins have been uploaded to our website (www.essington.nt.edu.au, Home Page, top
right icon ‘Weekly Newsletter), families are advised by email. Hardcopies are also
available at the Reception areas of the school.
Facebook: /The-Essington-School-Darwin YouTube: TheEssingtonSchoolDarwin
Parking and Dropping Off
For the safety of our children please do not use the Rossiter Street Car Park for dropping
off children as this area is required by Preschool parents. Please use the "Kiss And Go"
and drop off zones in Rossiter Street or Chapman Road for Drop Off. For car parking,
please use the angle parking area in Chapman Road, or the carpark in the Greek School
(off Chapman Road).
Skoolbag
Skoolbag is one of Australia’s most trusted school apps, empowering our school to
engage with our parents through a simple, streamlined, and central communication
platform. The easy-to-use desktop and mobile app streamlines all aspects of organising
school life, including newsletters and events. Through Skoolbag, our community remains
connected.
Student Representative Council
The Student Representative Council consists of two representatives from each class,
Years 3-5. The council represents student interests in the school and fundraises for
various charities.
The Junior School Student Representative Council aims to:
develop leadership skills;
be a positive role model for other students;
contribute positively to the school and wider community; and
fundraise for school initiatives and the wider community.
| 13Elections
The election for the Student Representative Council will take place in class early in Term
1. Students are elected by their peers to the Student Representative Council. All
nominated students must be approved by the Head of School and Principal. Prior to the
secret ballot / vote the students fill out a nomination form.
Commitment
Students are required to attend one meeting per week, held by the Head of School. The
students must commit to a full semester on the Student Representative Council.
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS
Parent Support Committee
This parent support group will assist with school community functions and community
building within our parent group, particularly at year level and school section level. The
Parent Support Committee also assists with fund raising including our important annual
School Fete/the Nightcliff Community Fair.
Friends of Essington Music (FOEM)
This parent support group assists our Music and Singing programs, with special events
and performances, etc. They also assist with fundraising for music equipment for our
students. For further information, please email: foem@essington.nt.edu.au.
Friends of Essington Library (FOEL)
This parent support group assists our Library by assisting staff with Library processing
tasks, the maintenance of our Library resources, and with displays and processing of
acquisitions. They also assist with fundraising for Library books and resources for our
students. For further information, please email: foel@essington.nt.edu.au.
Friends of Essington Dance (FOED)
This parent support group assists our Dance programs, events management, costumes,
and also assisting our students during performances, etc. They also assist with
fundraising for Dance equipment and programs for our students. For further
information, please email: foed@essington.nt.edu.au.
| 14| 15
PO Box 42321 Chrisp Street, Nightcliff NT 0810 Telephone: (08) 8985 0100 Email: administration@essington.nt.edu.au Facsimile: (08) 8948 1910 Web: http://www/essington.nt.edu.au G:/_BROCHURES…/2018/All School Info…/Year 3-
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