From the APL&T
Dear Families
Reading at Nativity
Last week, we celebrated Book Week with students dressing up as their favourite book characters. It was a joyful occasion that highlighted the power of stories to spark imagination and connection.
Throughout the week, students listened to the short-listed books and engaged in various learning opportunities relating to the books. Some classes even had their own voting system to see which book they thought was the best. Books allow us to explore situations, personalities, and moral dilemmas we may not have encountered ourselves. By stepping into a character’s shoes, we uncover hidden preferences, reactions, and values.
Final Reminder: The Premier’s Reading Challenge is wrapping up—please return all forms by next week.
Staff Professional Learning
During our recent pupil-free day, staff continued their professional learning with Dr Paul Swan, focusing on Mathematics. We explored engaging and open-ended approaches to learning that invite all students to participate at their own level.
We also discussed how mathematics is more than numbers—it’s a language that helps students make sense of the world. Mathematical language includes the words, symbols, and structures used to describe patterns, relationships, and problem-solving strategies.
When students confidently use terms like more than, equal to, partition, or estimate, they are better equipped to: Explain their thinking, Justify their reasoning and Engage in meaningful mathematical discussions.
This language is essential for:
Deepening understanding – Students who can talk about math are more likely to understand it.
Building confidence – Using precise language helps students feel capable and in control.
Connecting learning – Mathematical language supports learning across subjects and in real-life situations.
If you’d like to support your child’s learning at home, Dr Paul Swan’s website offers a range of activities, please click here: Dr Paul Swan Activities. Hopefully you can find some activities that help your child to continue to develop their Mathematical understanding.
“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations or algorithms: it is about understanding.” William Paul Thurston
Kind regards
Melinda James
