Gib Gate Performance Assemblies are exceptional, and evidence of authentic student leadership and ownership of learning...

Gib Gate Parent

Gib Gate’s assembly structure is unique, representative of our philosophy and of how much value we place on student voice. Designed to give parents and guests insight to the classroom programme, the content is a reflection of weekly learning activities, selected and delivered by the students themselves. Presenting assemblies twice per term from Kindergarten onwards helps all Gate Gate students to be confident when standing and speaking in front of an audience—sharing how they learn and reflecting on what they have learnt, as well as posing questions for future consideration. Many parents and guests comment after attending a Gib Gate assembly how different the experience is from traditional school assemblies, where the students are a passive audience, listening to adults talk.

The weekly inclusion of musical items into performance assemblies is also a highlight of the performance structure, with students from all Year levels taking advantage of the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. Our students model for others that playing instruments is core to the Gib Gate experience and ensuring that all have the opportunity to appreciate listening to different styles of music. I encourage all parents, from P-6 to attend any of the scheduled P-6 Performance Assemblies—regardless of whether your child is performing in the assembly or not—to gain a picture of the high quality teaching and learning programme across the School.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Studies

The Importance of Reading …Time …

From children’s author Katherine Patterson:  It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations—something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own.

At Gib Gate a major goal is to develop in children a love of literature in all its forms and to continually encourage them to be lifelong readers. We do this through carefully considering the types of texts we choose to read with the students from Preschool to Year 6 ensuring that, by the end of their time with us, they have enjoyed a plethora of books we believe they ‘should not leave childhood without having read’. In each classroom, every day and in each weekly literature session in our library, students learn to express themselves and respond to a variety of texts through discussion and formal and informal written response.

Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters—all family members—play a significant and vitally important role in shaping our children into being ‘lifelong readers’. Through modelling a love of reading as a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and by ensuring time is spent reading, daily, parents have the opportunity to be the best reading teachers in the world. Parental involvement is key to a child learning to read, to use language, and to enrich children’s lives through learning to love reading.

Reading aloud to children is the single, most important activity, for building the skills and knowledge necessary for children to successfully learn to read when they begin school, as well as to continue reading as they progress through their years in primary and secondary school.  Children who are good readers are usually successful learners. By setting time aside each day to turn off the TV, phones and electronic devices and to read aloud to children, we share the words and pictures, the ideas and viewpoints, the rhythms and rhymes, the pain and comfort, and the hopes and fears and big issues of life that we encounter together in the pages of a book. Literacy is more important than ever it was, in this world of text and email, a world of written information. We need to read and write, we need global citizens who can read comfortably, comprehend what they are reading, understand nuance, and make themselves understood.

Albert Einstein was asked once how we could make our children intelligent. His reply was both simple and wise. ‘If you want your children to be intelligent,’ he said, ‘read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.’

We look forward to sharing the quality literature—the books—that your child will listen to, share together and read daily in the classroom and as part of their homework programme throughout 2020. Our classrooms and our highly specialised children’s Library are treasure troves of books to enjoy!

Ms Kate Chauncy Director of Teaching and Learning P-12 and Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes

Sport

Swimming
The swimming season culminated this week with the IPSHA Swimming Carnival that was held at the Olympic Aquatic Centre, Homebush on Wednesday. The Gib Gate Swimming team performed exceptionally well, with students taking home several ribbons in their heats.

The Kindergarten to Year 2 Swimming Development Programme also culminates next week with the K-2 Fun Swimming Carnival being held at The Centenary Pool on Thursday 12 March.

Water Polo
The Water Polo competition comes to an end this week. We offer congratulations to all the Gib Gate players involved in the Junior Competition over the Summer. Many of them had never played before and some of our students were the youngest competitors. They made remarkable progress, training consistently and enthusiastically all season. 

Basketball
The summer competition continues for a few more weeks yet, with all our teams well in contention for the finals series.

Mr Michael Standen, Coordinator PE and Sport Gib Gate

Enrichment/Activities

Outdoor Education
The Years 5 and 6 Camp will be held from Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 March. Information is available on Schoolbox and students will be briefed at School. Parents are invited to an Information Evening that will be led by the Outdoor Education Group (OEG) staff on Monday 9 March at 6.00pm. More information regarding the programme is available at the OEG website at https://www.oeg.edu.au or contact an OEG representative through the School.

Login: Gib Gate Password: GibGateOutdoors 

OEG has contacted parents directly regarding your child’s medical information.

Years 3 and 4 had their Outdoor Adventure Days recently and enjoyed the Challenge by Choice of the abseiling and mountain biking activities, as well as making their own lunch on the day.

Opera Australia
Opera Australia is visiting Gib Gate on Friday 6 March to present a performance of The Barber of Seville. This performance has been specifically devised for Primary Schools and all Gib Gate students will attend the performance at School.

Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator (Administration)

Preschool

Visiting the Gib Gate library to listen to stories and select books to take home is a highlight of the Preschool week. Knowing that a wealth of knowledge is just a short walk away when we are bursting with questions means the children often exclaim, ‘I know! We can go to the library and find a book about it!’ The power of books in early childhood cannot be underestimated, with a lifelong love of reading and learning being encouraged with every book treasured and shared. In today’s society where everything is digitised and tracked, the importance of reading a book is becoming increasingly significant as an opportunity to be truly alone with one’s own thoughts and imagination, truly free to think and imagine. 

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate