The Launceston Preparatory School - Newsletter 22nd August 2024

The Power of Play

The power of play cannot be underestimated. As teachers and parents, we often wonder how we can build more complex, higher-order skills such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. An approach that can be overlooked because of our busy curriculum and home life is often PLAY!

Play can be hard to define, and there are different forms of it. However, a definition the Early Childhood Educators at The Launceston Preparatory School agree with is that “play is an activity that is intrinsically motivated, entails active engagement, and results in joyful experience and discovery.”

When children are asked, “What is the best thing about school?” playing is often at the top of the list, whether they are in Early Learning or Group Six.

The most rewarding play for the children is play that is initiated and led by the children themselves. It is important for the children to have their interests listened to and for them to make choices and decisions that influence their play.

Not surprisingly, 85% of parents say kids today spend less time playing than they did when they were their children’s age, and 80% of parents believe that their children are under pressure to grow up too quickly (Gonski Institute, 2019).

Scientists and medical experts have found increasing evidence that infants and children are constantly learning, connecting, and engaging with their surroundings through positive, playful experiences. The children’s natural-born skills are the same capabilities that enable them to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Our goal is for the children to reach their full potential through wonderful play experiences where they are nurtured and supported along the way. 

Mrs Alice Batten

You heard it right from the mouths of some of our children - The LPS is just a wonderful place to come and share each day with friends. 

End of Winter Fest!

We are super-excited to announce that The Launceston Preparatory School 'The End of Winter Fest' event is just over one week away! This fun family evening will be held on Friday 30th August 2024. Save this date! 5-7pm at our beautiful school. 

PAYMENT: $10 will be added to your monthly account once you have had your family ticked off on entry. Returning families or friends can donate their $10 at the gate.

Dinner: BBQ sausages and hamburgers will be provided, as well as vegan option. 

Whilst we will not be serving beverages, feel free to BYO drinks

Entertainment: 'Billy Tea Bush Band', a Victorian-based duo will be rocking it with the students, teaching songs and dances throughout the day, before bringing it together on the Croquet Lawn at the event. There are special parent dances too, so bring your dancing shoes.

Cody Gunton, a local and soon to be Aussie legend in the music world, will entertain us from the Chess Board stage for one set prior to Billy Tea Bush Band. Not sure who he is? Let's just say he is 'The VOICE' to be reckoned with!

Cultural Connections: Aunty Lola and Uncle Rex will be joining us on the evening to celebration our aboriginal culture and share with our community the work they have been doing with our students in 2024, as well as demonstrating their gifts to the world, live from the magnolia tree-house area! 

Between sparklers, toasted marshmallows and all of the above, this is sure to be a wonderful get-together for all. We cannot wait for End of Winter Fest, 2024!

Science News - 2/3

Last week was Science week! In addition to their usual Science lessons, the Group 2s and Leavers went on an expedition to the Inveresk QVMAG. The main theme of the week was ‘species survival’, which lead to a myriad of learning experiences involving the way that many different living things grow, live, and survive. The day consisted of three workshop experiences including Plants in Space, Adaptations, and Species Survival in the City, and a free play session on some fun and engaging Questacon activities. All students who attended had an excellent day and represented the ‘thoughtfulness’ ethos of our school wonderfully. Thank you for your work in organising such a wonderful excursion, Mr Barnes!

Back at school, the Group 2s and 3s have spent their term discovering the work of famous and important scientists from history, including Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin so far. We look forward to continuing our work this term, exploring how we are the ‘World of Science’.

Book Week fun with P-1

Wow! What a week in Prep/One. We have celebrated our love of books this week under the banner of Reading is Magic. The children have created their own book in the style of Herve Tullet’s Press Here, been on a walking excursion to post their postcards and had special guest readers from around the school. Each day one of our beloved staff have brought one of their favourite books to share. First Mrs Wilkinson with Mr McGee and the Blackberry Jam, then Mr Green with The Trouble With on Wednesday Mr Bristow read one of his favourite books Wolfred and today Mrs Picket read us one of the many adventures of Milly, Molly, Mandy. Wednesday morning was extra special with parents bringing in their favourite children’s book to share. Our students were delighted to travel from parent to parent listening to each book with awe and wonder. Thank you to every family for sharing your love of books.

Mrs Kellie Cook

Books are amazing!

Group 2/3 - English

Over the last few weeks, the Group 2/3 students have been learning about using speech marks when working with dialogue in their stories.

The children have learnt about the use of punctuation when using speech marks and coming up with as many words as they can to use instead of "said".

One of their tasks was to choose two characters from our novel "Paper Planes" by Steve Worland and write a conversation between them. The children did an amazing job and some of them shared their work in Assembly last week.

Mrs Harriet Thyne

Routines in Early Learning

Routines play a crucial role in providing stability, structure, and predictability for our children. Routines help children feel safe and secure by providing a familiar and predictable environment. This sense of security is essential for children’s emotional well-being and helps them build trust within our Early Learning environment. Our morning routine is very important in setting up a smooth day at school. We begin with free play and some organised activities before the “tidy up” song comes on, followed by one of our favorite songs and our Acknowledgement of Country. 

Meeting on the mat allows the children time to settle, have a chat, and gives us the opportunity to introduce a topic for learning. We complete the daily calendar and weather chart. The children listen for the beginning sound in their name and then find their name/crown on the board and attach it to their picture on the wall. We choose our daily helpers and have a story or song before lining up and going outside for a “healthy snack” and some outdoor play.

To assist with our morning routine, we would like you and your child to place their named “healthy snack” in the basket and ask them to put their water bottle in the bottle container. Sunscreen is not required this term; however, next term, we would appreciate it if you could assist your child in getting their hat out of their bag and applying sunscreen before school.

Mrs Alice Batten

Early Learning at Play

Prep / 1 - Digital Technology

The Preps and 1s have been working hard at their keyboard awareness and typing skills this term. We are working through the Jungle Junior Typing Club program wonderfully and the students are engaging so well with their work. Keep up the good work!

Seniors - Rock On!

Rock On!

Last week, the Senior children participated in a Battle of the Bands - the Andrews' Allstars versus the Barnes' Beat Squad versus the McNair Mavericks - on Times Tables Rockstars, an online platform we use to learn and develop our ability to recall multiplication facts quickly. 

With a big reward on offer, the children practiced and practiced. Throughout the course of the week, they collectively answered over 90 000 multiplication questions. And, with all that practice, there was so much progress made. The children have loved seeing their Heat Maps — a feature that color-codes each multiplication fact based on their current recall speed. If you like data as much as I do, you might appreciate some of their heat maps below that show their progress from the start of the battle to the end - the less red, the better.

I was blown away by their dedication to this battle, but also the team approach, support and encouragement the children showed each other!

Data Fun

Philosophy - Group 2/3

The character of Grandpa in Paper Planes is a delightful one! He is ninety years old and does not fit the stereotype of a man his age. We considered the four laws that Grandpa broke in leaving the nursing home, stealing an ambulance, speeding, and breaking into the aircraft museum, discussing whether Grandpa’s age mitigated his “crimes”.

We then discussed what people of Grandpa’s age “should” be doing, and at what age people become “old”. We shared our knowledge of cultures where the elderly are at the top of the social hierarchy, meaning they are looked up to and respected, and discussed how this compares to treatment of older people in Australia. Finally, we discussed whether our society would be better off if “old” people lived with their families instead of in nursing homes. Many of the students’ responses were wise; several made me smile on the inside!

Please let the school office know if you would like to attend next week’s Philosophy sessions for the Group 2 and 3 students as follows:

Monday, 26^th August

1.30pm – 2.15pm                    Mrs Thyne’s home group

2.15pm – 3.00pm                    Mrs Freeland’s home group

 Mrs Leonie McNair

Philosophy - Groups 4-6

Thank you to those parents who joined the senior groups this week to see our Philosophy sessions in action! It was lovely to have you with us.

Our novel this term revolves around the game of cricket as an integral part of Australian culture. We considered the lessons for life that this game can teach us after watching the episode of Bluey on the subject. We then discussed other sports that can teach us similar lessons, how people can learn these lessons if they don’t play sport, and whether the Olympic Games promote good sporting and personal values.

Mrs Leonie McNair

PMP - we're onto a winner!

This year, we have introduced the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) for Kinder through to group 3 students. The program is designed to enhance physical co-ordination, balance, and spatial awareness—essential skills for their overall development. Through fun and engaging activities, PMP supports cognitive growth, improves concentration, and builds confidence. By participating in PMP, students are laying a strong foundation for learning success, in and out of the classroom. We’re excited to see the positive impact it will have on our school community!

Mr Alex Payne

in action...

Sing It Loud!

Sing it again! Our voices are really shining so far this term. The Annual LPS Home Group Singing Competition has been launched and the preparations are underway. Each home group is rehearsing a song to perform and go head-to-head to see if anyone can topple Miss England’s home group off their throne! Brace those ears as you listen to your children practicing at home - or sing along with them. This is a fantastic way to help them develop their skills and confidence, and also usually makes it much more enjoyable for parents and children alike. Bonus points for a whole family singalong every once in a while.

Parents of The LPS - Notice of AGM

Parents of The LPS - Notice of AGM

Date: Tuesday 10 September 2024

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Online, via Teams. Link below and posted in the Parents of The LPS messenger group.

At the meeting, members of the school community will have the opportunity to:

• Discuss events and fundraisers held over the previous year.
• Discuss future event and fundraising opportunities.
• Raise suggestions of resources that could be helpful to the school.
• Ask any questions of the operations and finances of the Parents of The LPS group.
• Raise any other matters that should be considered during the AGM.
• Vote on any resolutions proposed.

AGM Teams link:

STEM CLUB

Please note that any notices we include in this newsletter for providers of activities that occur outside of the school, are provided only for the interest of families and do not carry any endorsement by the school.