Basil Sellers Art Prize Excursion

We had a great time yesterday at the Ian Potter Gallery excursion where we saw the exhibition of the Basil Sellers Art Prize. We explored the relationship of Art with sport and investigated the intentions of the artist in connection to their art. The students were given the opportunity to use their research skills when trying to answer some of the questions the gallery posed.

We will be using this experience to look further into visual literacy and critical literacy of art during term 4.

Students looking and discussing the photograph by Christian Thompson.

The staff at the gallery gives a talk about some of the pieces of art at the gallery.

NAPLAN

The NAPLAN results went out to parents last week and we hope that you have received this safely. The results of the set tests were valid for April 2012 as it takes the examination body quite some time to deliver the results to the school. We would like to stress that NAPLAN is a snapshot of student achievement and reflects their ability to manage the ‘test genre’ as well as their aptitude for the five disciplines represented in the test.  Although most students managed to cope with the timed aspect of the test, there were few who were adversely challenged by this restriction. NAPLAN test is designed to give an idea of where the students are placed after their first three years of schooling (Prep to Year-2) and needs to be considered as a culmination of learning to this point. We would also like to stress that this is one of many forms of assessment and while we understand that parents consider NAPLAN as an important form of assessment, we do not consider it in isolation. We use a range of assessment tools available to us to accurately determine where the child is placed across the curriculum. 

Research Interviews

During week 1 and week 2 of this term, students will be planning and carrying out their interviews for the research inquiry. The main objective of this interview is for the students to discover different conceptions of the term 'research' by asking purposeful questions to people who use research in their profession. By collecting this data, and sharing it with others in the Neighbourhood, we hope to collate an insightful picture on research and the act of researching.

Term 4 lease payment

Term 4 computer lease payments are due and payable on the first Friday of Term 4 i.e. October 12, 2012. If your child is in Year 3 it is $97.80 and Year 4 is $108.80.

At this time can we remind parents of their financial responsibility under the agreement, please see Page 1 of your Contract Agreement.

If payment is not received within 7 days of the invoice you will be in default of the agreement therefore the MacBook will be withheld from your child i.e. not able to take home each night.

This is a requirement under the insurance component of the lease agreement.

 

Thanks

 

 

Research Inquiry – Part One

In response to many requests from children to negotiate projects as of late, we have decided to develop our inquiry focus around what a researcher is and the role of a researcher. As we focus on inquiry as a learning approach, investigating understandings of what research means to children is important. We would like to build the understanding of research from a fact finding process around a limited topic such as ‘the sea’ or ‘animals’ for example, into an understanding that research is a narrative, determined by the perspective and evidence provided by the researcher. Research is not just finding out what is already known and re-stating it but is also about creating new thinking.

In order to collect information as to the current understandings of research amongst the children we gave them a very open-ended research question, ‘Research the neighbourhood’. We filmed and analysed the responses of the children. From here we decided to pose a more specific question which incorporated the word story in association with research. ‘There are many stories in this school. Research a story of interest to you’. We wanted to see whether this would create different pathways of research. Again we filmed and analysed the learning. We also offered an opportunity for children who wanted to research a scientific story to do so.

As a result of our research in relation to research and research processes we are building some focus areas to work around and these big understandings are that

• Research needs to incorporate a range of experiences and sources of information 
• The use of the computer provides only one perspective 
• Research is to create your own narrative and your own interpretations with evidence to support the narrative. 
• There is a relationship between truth, perspective and research 

Research Inquiry - Part two

We would like to focus on building the understanding of what children think research is. To do this we will be asking each child to ‘Find someone who does research to interview about what they think research is’.

We will be supporting the children by offering workshops on;

• How to find people to question – sources
• Key information – purpose of questioning 
• Building good questions
• Interview techniques 
• Data collection 

We do ask parents to support their child in finding someone to be interviewed either in person, by phone or email.

Silver Key 2 Book Launch

The 3/4 neighbourhood played host to the launch of the book 'The Silver Key - Guardians of the Key' today. Author Nicole Cameron read sections of the story to a group of students from grades 2 to 6 and the Federal member for Melbourne Adam Bandt was on hand to officially launch the book as part of the national year of reading. The students had many questions for both Adam and Nicole about publishing  and writing, especially the grade 3 and 4 students who have been involved in the publication inquiry. Students were also very interested in the current state of federal politics. As always our students made us proud with their thoughtful questions and their level of engagement. 

If you wish to purchase the book please see Keith for an order form or look for the book at Readings in Carlton.

Premiers Reading Challenge

The deadline for submitting your Premiers' Reading Challenge (PRC) list of books is Monday 3 September.

Please enter the books eligible for the PRC, which you have read, onto your login page at the PRC website.

Then, print a list of books with your name on it and ask a parent/guardian to sign it. Give this signed printout to your Home Group Teacher. Enjoy the Challenge!