Growth mindsets and lots of news from the Junior School

As we reached the middle of our first term, we enjoyed a very busy but productive week. I share just a glimpse of this with you today.

Many readers from last year may recall my constant remarks around Growth Mindsets. Many may also be aware that all our Junior School staff were provided with an opportunity to read Carol Dweck?s Growth Mindset over our holiday break. Today I share with you a small insight into how some classes have begun to apply the outcomes of this recent research.

Our Year 1 students? first unit of inquiry comes from the ?Who We Are? transdisciplinary theme. The Year 1 students, teachers and families are inquiring into the different ways of thinking and learning, how we develop a learning community and the benefits of a Growth Mindset.

The students have challenged themselves to engage in a Growth Mindset to learn something that they see as an area to improve. They also have teachers, PYP Coordinators and Heads of School challenging themselves. Their Radford On Line page is well worth a look. Amazing to see Year 1 boys and girls knowing so much about the brain!

Conversations evening

Last Wednesday evening we were very pleased to be able to offer our first Parent Conversations Evening of the year. We were able to target feedback from our recent Hopes and Dreams sessions to focus on parent workshops on our Spelling approach, our Co-curricular program, our Wellbeing program and a parent focus on Radford Online. We were able to split the evening into different sessions, allowing parents the opportunity to sit in on two of the four programs. A very, very pleasing evening for the families who were able to join us.

Board meeting

Thursday evening provided our two Assistant Heads of School, and me, the opportunity to join with our Senior School colleagues in sharing our Pastoral Care journey with members of the College Board. We all enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the many positives that come from our current programs, as we look forward to the completion of a P?12 Pastoral Framework this year.

Reading challenge

Late on Wednesday evening I was informed that I had managed to lose ANOTHER Reading Challenge, as our students and families passed the one million minutes of reading mark.

I truly thank you for your generous support of keeping our students on a challenge and supporting the importance of reading!

The focus this year has been around taking on a challenge, and seeing it through. I am therefore splitting the challenge into sections. You have achieved the first target of reaching the Reading Mark. The second challenge is now around how we celebrate this achievement. I'm looking forward to celebrating reading, on April Fools Day on Wednesday 1 April, as we offer our Junior School students, our families, our staff and Year 12 students the opportunity to put themselves forward, to complete a ?Who Sank The Boat race? at Radford College. More information will follow this week, but a great day looms. We are looking forward to welcoming members of the Canberra Capitals basketball team and the ACT Brumbies to talk to us about Growth Mindsets on this day.

Year 2 have also produced a Reading Challenge song, which can be accessed on our website.

Grandfriends

Tuesday of this week provided us with another day to celebrate all we do. Our 2015 Grandfriends Day provided our boys and girls with the wonderful opportunity to share a window into all they do in our Junior School. Our Assembly last Friday also enabled us to celebrate the vital roles our Grandfriends hold in our families. Staff members shared their Grandfriend stories, and Rob Elder and his grandaughter Jaida Vaughans shared their ?Who Sank The Boat? survival kit, which they had purchased together.

Parent liaison

Thank you to the parents who have offered to be Class Liaison Representatives. Next week we will send all parents email addresses to the Class Liaison so that they may have an email contact list. If you do not wish to be on this list could you please let Beth Maggs know by Friday 13 March at beth.maggs@radford.act.edu.au

I'm looking forward to catching up with K?2 parents at our shared vision, early years reading night on Thursday 12 March.

Junior School ? dates to remember

Thu 12 March	Y4 Excursion to Mugga Lane Resource Management P?2 Reading in the Early Years
Fri 13 March	National Ride to School Day

Junior School contact numbers

ELC Reception	6162 6298 (8am?4pm)
1-4 Reception	6162 5330 (8am?4pm)
5 - 6 Reception	6162 6290 (8am?4pm)
Main Reception	6162 6200 (8am?5pm)

Warm regards

PGS

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