Life inflicts the same setbacks on the optimist as on the pessimist, but the optimist weathers them better. – Dr Martin Seligman, University of Pennsylvania, Learned Optimism

As part of their Leadership responsibilities, Gib Gate Year 6 students are looking forward to leading the Kindergarten to Year 5 Peer Support programme in Term 2. The focus of this term’s peer support programme is, ‘Living Positively’, which promotes optimism in students.

Year 6 students will lead multi-age peer support groups in activities that promote identifying and using personal strengths, enjoying life by engaging in activities, practising positive self-talk, developing coping strategies, demonstrating perseverance, working towards personal goals, developing resilience and demonstrating gratitude.

In his book, Learned Optimism, Dr Martin Seligman states that one of the most significant findings in psychology over the last twenty years is the understanding that individuals can choose the way they think, and that habits of thinking need not be forever. Helping students to practise healthy habits of mind is important and the Living Positively three-step model – I LAUGH (activities I enjoy), I LIVE (my strengths), I LOVE (showing appreciation) – is a simple process students can use to develop the skills of optimism.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Studies

All staff at Gib Gate participated in their Professional Learning Day on Friday 12 April, while students and their families were enjoying their vacation period. Under the guidance of AISNSW specialist consultants, Fiona Elliott and Fiona Walker, teachers developed their knowledge and understanding of the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions. These tools were developed by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and the NSW Department of Education using evidence-based research in consultation with literacy and numeracy experts and practising teachers. They assist in strengthening teacher knowledge and facilitate a shared understanding of literacy and numeracy development. The progressions are used to identify the literacy and numeracy development of students and the development that should follow. This assists teachers to differentiate teaching and learning experiences and to provide feedback to students about next steps in learning. The progressions are used in conjunction with the syllabuses, which remain the focus for planning, programming, teaching, learning and assessment.

Specialist Preschool consultant, Jennifer Ribarovski, Head of JR Education Consulting Services, Sydney, worked with Gib Gate Preschool staff on the continuing implementation of the National Quality Framework for both the NSW Regulatory Authority and the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Together, they refined the Gib Gate Preschool curriculum, support documents and pedagogical practice, ensuring that we continue to offer the highest standard of education to our youngest students.

During the afternoon session, teachers formed their Teacher Learning Community focus groups at Gib Gate and shared the work completed on their Term 1 Inquiry-Action Project. This programme at Frensham Schools is an ongoing annual process in which teachers work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. Our professional learning communities operate under research-based findings that the key to improved learning for students is continuous job-embedded learning for their teachers.

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

Enrichment/Activities

ANZAC Day Parade
Thirty-five Gib Gate students attended the 2019 ANZAC Day March in Mittagong during the holiday break. Supported by Ms Chauncy, Mrs Graham and Mr Hannah, the students were outstanding representatives of Gib Gate, noting the significance of the commemoration and proud of their contribution to this important local community event. Gib Gate Year 6 students, Sophie Alexander, Sophie Baldwin and Oliver Linde, presented the Gib Gate ANZAC Day wreath.

Sydney Writers’ Festival
We have been afforded the opportunity for Year 5 students to attend the Primary Schools Day for the Sydney Writer’s Festival held at Sydney Town Hall. During the day, students will attend sessions in the Town Hall presented by Katherine Rundell, RA Spratt and Oliver Phommavanh. Some sessions will be entertaining and others will focus on describing the author’s writing process. We are excited to access this event to enhance the students’ learning in English.

Mother’s Day Breakfast
Friday 10 May is the School’s annual Mother’s Day Breakfast, commencing at 8.00am. Mothers (or Father’s) and children are invited to participate in activities in the Library, Preschool, Courts and Courtyard. A breakfast will be served in the Hall.

Extra-Curricular Activities
Term 2 activities commenced on the first day of term. Students have enrolled in a full range of activities with a number of classes at capacity. If your child is interested in starting an activity, please contact Mrs Graham.

Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator (Administration)

Sport

Cross Country
Congratulations to all the Gib Gate runners who competed at the IPSHA Cross Country carnival at the Kings School at the end of Term 1. With up to 200 runners per race, there were many fine performances from the Gib Gate team. Isabella Barber (Year 6) placed 5^th place for the 12 Year Girls event, qualifying to compete at the CIS Cross Country carnival at Eastern Creek in June. Brodie Murray (Year 3) finished in 19^th place in the 8/9 Year Boys event.

Summer Sports
Summer sports concluded in the final week of Term 1 with several Basketball and Water Polo teams playing in the finals of their respective sports. Special congratulations go to the Under 12 Girls Green basketball team who finished runners up in their competition.

Winter Sports
All winter team sports begin for Gib Gate students this week and we wish them an enjoyable and successful season in their chosen sports of Hockey, Soccer and Netball. This winter we have over 90% of Gib Gate students from Kindergarten to Year 6 involved in a team sport.

Hockey
We wish Tempe Arnott, Isabella Barber and Arabella Whitehead (Year 6) the best of luck as they trial for a place in the CIS Primary Girls Hockey team.

Mr Michael Standen, Coordinator PE and Sport Gib Gate

Preschool

Art encourages children to think, developing skills and confidence as they go – Mary Ann Kohl

The Preschool children, accompanied by Year 4 Gib Gate students, felt very privileged to attend a workshop session with Anangu wood carver artists, Billy and Lulu Cooley, at Frensham Schools’ Sturt Gallery in the final week of Term 1.

Billy and Lulu are members of Maruka Arts which is a community of Anangu artists from the Central and Western Deserts. The exhibition at Sturt is called Punu – ‘Living Wood’ and is an exhibition of Walka Boards and Wood Carving. Billy demonstrated how he used wood to make tapping sticks, and Lulu used a hot wire to make markings on the wood.

Sturt Gallery Education Officer, Tracey Mitchell, showed the Preschool and Year 4 students through the exhibition and explained many of the artworks and sculptures. Preschool students love learning about Indigenous culture and involving themselves in their community, and the Year 4 students and their teacher, Mrs Neilson, are learning about Aboriginal history and culture and really enjoyed this insight into Indigenous culture.

As part of the excursion, the group also walked through the Lower Holt natural bushland area at Frensham and had morning tea on the Games Field. Year 4 chatted with the Preschoolers as they walked around. They discovered Frensham’s ‘Birthday Island’ in the Frensham grounds where students in Years 7 and 8 can hold their birthday celebrations. The students thought this was a rather special tradition.

Mrs Tinna Loker, Preschool Coordinator