Your Child's School Library: What you should know.

 Your Child’s School Library: 

What you should know  by Georgia Phillips, co-founder of The Hub:

Campaign for Quality School Libraries in Australia

A quality school library is kid friendly and student focused.
The school library is not just a storehouse run by a loans assistant, but a vital learning centre,
operating under the guidance of a dual-trained teacher-librarian*, in partnership with classroom
teachers.
Learning today means more than memorising facts. It means learning to learn for a lifetime. Savvy parents and educators know that the school library is key to teaching students not just to read but to practice the skills they need to seek, evaluate and use information throughout their lives. In fact, research shows those students from schools with professionally staffed, fully equipped libraries score higher on literacy and achievement tests.
Does your child's school library measure up?
• Is there a qualified teacher librarian? Is there adequate support staff?
• Does your child have access to the school library anytime during the day that he/she needs to use its resources? Does the library offer remote access from home via computer?
• Is the school library budget adequate to provide a full range of both print and electronic resources?
• Is the library central to the school’s literacy program?
• Are school administrators knowledgeable and supportive of the school library?
• Does the school provide ongoing training to support teachers and staff in learning about new technologies and integration of information skills?
• Are teachers encouraged to work with the teacher librarian to extend learning opportunities?
• Is there a process for ongoing evaluation of the school library?
Children cannot be educated to live and work in the 21st century using resources from the 1970s. Let your principal and school parent group and/or school board know of your
concerns. Work with your principal to ensure support for the school library program.
Get to know your teacher librarian. Ask what the needs are and how you can help. Offer to volunteer your time.
Foster the love of reading by promoting reading at home and by regularly visiting your local public library. Read together with your child.  
Research shows that children who are read to in the home do better in school.

 
KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS
Key Finding #1:
“A school library program that is adequately staffed, resourced, and funded can lead to higher student achievement regardless of the socioeconomic or educational levels of the community.” School Libraries Work! Scholastic, 2008.
Key Finding #2:
"Children who attend schools with school libraries with better collections and superior staffing do better on tests of reading." S. Krashen. “What do we know about libraries and reading achievement?” Book Report, 2002
Key Finding #3:
"Students learn more and produce better research products following planned, integrated information skills instruction by the teacher and teacher librarian together."
K. Haycock. “What works: Integrated information skills instruction: Teacher Librarian 25, no.2:39, 1997
Key Finding #4:
“Free voluntary reading is the best predictor of comprehension, vocabulary growth, spelling and grammatical ability and writing style.” M.Lonsdale, Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement. ACER, 2003.

Key Finding #5:
"Australian research has shown that the school library plays a critical ole in supporting student learning." L. Hay. Student learning through Australian school libraries Synergy, 2005, 2006.

Support legislators who support libraries and education. Let them know you think the two go together and should be a high priority.

Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in Australian Schools
Unfortunately, in Australia, over the past 15 years, principal autonomy in staffing along with
inadequate budgets have led to the decline of qualified teacher librarians (TLs) in Victoria,
Tasmania, and the ACT. 50% of Tasmanian schools and ACT primary schools now have no TLs.
In Victoria this could now be as high as 87% of metropolitan primary schools. TLs are not
required in WA primary schools. In Queensland TLs may not be placed in the library. Seven
state high school libraries on the Gold Coast now do not have TLs. In South Australia 28% of
primary libraries have no TLs. In the NT only 5% of schools have qualified teacher librarians.
NSW is the only state still staffing trained teacher librarians in every school, but in primary
schools they are generally used for teacher relief time, diminishing their leadership and teaching
potential.
In March, Julia Gillard initiated a House Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians.
Publication of the committee’s report has been interrupted by the election. After 382 submissions and hearings in every state and territory, the cross party House Committee on Education and Training chaired by Sharon Bird, MP, has come to grips with the complex issue of declining numbers of qualified teacher librarians in our state schools.
The loss of tertiary training programs, inadequate staffing budgets, lack of national standards,
ignorance of international research linking well-staffed and well-supported school libraries with
student literacy and learning and the loss of state school advisory services and their corporate
knowledge are just some of the causes identified in the hearings.
The report must be published. Recommendations must be acted upon. In this election, ask what
your candidates will do to facilitate this. After the election, ask your local federal and state member.
Every Australian student deserves a quality school library with a qualified teacher librarian.

Help spread the word by signing the petition "A Qualified Teacher Librarian in Every School." 

Further information for Parents at The Hub: Campaign for Quality School Libraries in Australia.
Sources: AASL Advocacy Toolkit , K. C.
Lance & D. V. Loertscher (2003) Powering achievement:School library media programs make a difference: The evidence 2nd ed. Hi Willow, Ontario School Library Association (n.d.)“How school library programs equal success for your child” and Wisconsin Department of Education (2006) Your child’s school library media center.
*A teacher-librarian holds a recognised teaching qualification AND qualifications in librarianship, with curriculum and pedagogy knowledge combined with library and information management knowledge.Kids' who read, succeed!!! Cheers :-)

Starting school

NSW DET has support for parents of children starting school soon.
Kids' who read, succeed!!!

Could the addition of Omega Fatty Acids into the diet of a child with ADHD make a difference?

"Children need essential fatty acids and should have healthy intestinal flora. These two factors will impact on children's behaviour at school and everywhere else in their lives."

  *  All children with ADHD are not deficient in omega-3 fatty acids
  *  The addition of omega-3 fatty acids to the diet may be important for some ADHD children.

Read the article for research findings. 

Further reading:
The Doctor's Prescription for Healthy Living, Vol. 4, Number 9 pgs. 12-13

	Restoring Intestinal Flora by Konstantin Monastyrsky

Welcome to our new Kinder kids for 2011.

KINDER 2011 ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING TAKEN. 

If you have or know of a child who is eligible to commence Kindergarten next year please call into the office to collect an enrolment form.

    
  I am really excited to be meeting many of the    


kids tomorrow when they come to visit SBPS library.

What a great opportunity to get together for a storytime!

Build a Bridge for Bookweek

Coffs Harbour City Library
Free children’s activity for primary aged students.

Build a Bridge for Book Week

LEGO Fun Day
Join us to build a bridge to display in the library to celebrate Children’s Book Week 2010
“Across the Story Bridge”.

Build your own bridge, or join with other kids to create a Monster Bridge!

This will be held on Saturday 28th August from 10am to 1pm 

at Coffs Harbour City Library

Cnr Coff & Duke Sts, Coffs Harbour.

Younger children welcome but only under strict parental supervision.

Help needed for Father's Day staff.

Our Father’s Day stall will be held on Tuesday 31st August. 

Gifts will cost $5.00 plus if you would like it gift wrapped 

there will be an additional charge of 50 cents per present.

 We are also having a Raffle with the prize being a 

“Dad’s Hamper” the cost of a ticket is $1.00.

Please show your support in this fundraiser.

We are asking for donations for our Dad’s Hamper, if you have anything you would like to donate please send it in to the canteen.

We are still seeking volunteers, if you can assist even if only for ½ hour 

 it would be appreciated. 

Our canteen can only continue to operate with the  

support of parents and other family members.

Thank you,
Jody Phillis
Canteen Supervisor

iHelp for Autism -IPad a game changer for children with autism.

"For autistic children,

the new iPad is an effective,

portable device

for teaching communication

and social skills.

It’s also way cool!!"

 

The article states that "developers have begun pumping out applications specifically designed for users with special needs, and initial studies are already measuring the effectiveness of the iPod Touch and the iPad as learning tools for children with autism."
 
 Ashley Harrell indicates that "through the devices, some of these children have been able to communicate their thoughts to adults for the first time. Others have learned life skills that had eluded them for years."  

To read more about how autistic and other special needs kids are learning with ease using the iPad and many of the wonderful apps available:iHelp for Autism

ADHD and diet links yet again....

A study out of Australia (ADHD Is Associated With a ‘Western’ Dietary Pattern in Adolescents Journal of Attention Disorders first published on July 14, 2010)

suggests that a western diet ("Western diet" is shorthand for one that's heavy in processed sugars, fats, and starches; high in salt and meats; and low in fresh fruits and vegetables. The diseases long associated with it are diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer.)

may not just put kids' bodies at risk, but their brains.

Scientists from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, believe that eating a Western diet heightens the risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in kids.
For more information: Study links ‘Western diet’ with ADHD in kids

Ideas for Parents and their children-Staying Safe Online

 NSWDET provides information on Cyber Safety as part of their technology guide for parents. 

This video: Click- A Parents Guide to Technology, may help you engage with your kids about the use of technology.

Sandy Beach Public School Easter Hat Parade and Raffle.

Don’t forget that our Easter Hat Parade and the 

drawing of the prizes for the Easter Raffle 

will be held on Thursday 1st April.

The parade will commence at 11.50am –

all students from Kindergarten to Year 6

will be involved.

Parents of students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 

are welcome to come and help “dress up” the hats from 10.30am on this day.

We invite all parents, grandparents and family friends 

to come along to this great event.

We will have lots of prizes 

thanks to our wonderful parents for sending in so many eggs.

All books sold or unsold and money should already be returned

Leonie Smith

Assistant Principal

Our Building Education Revolution program is about to start. Exciting days ahead!!

The challenges of BER from NSW BER on Vimeo.

BER Program Director, Angus Dawson, speaks about the size of the BER program and the related challenges.

Maths Games to support learning

 Try these links for your child/ren to improve their 

maths skills.

 Math Is Fun - Maths Resources


 Math is Fun Games


Test your Multiplication - Times Tables From 2 to 15

HELP: Netballers wanted- @ WOOPI

WOOLGOOLGA DISTRICT NETBALL ASSOCIATION

invites 10-12 yr old  GIRLS and BOYS

to play SATURDAY MORNINGS 

at WOOPI! 

Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players.

Same place, same time every week! 

Meet new friends and have some fun.   

Come along this Saturday 9am to have a go and find out more!
(Cnr Nightingale & Scarborough St, Woolgoolga)

For more info call Sandra 6656 2474, Vicki 6656 1644, Tracey 6656 2771

or log on to: www.woopinetball.com

SandyBeachPS now on twitter- get your newsletter tweeted

For those parents who use twitter don’t forget to follow SandyBeachPS
for the newsletter link and news updates.

School Sores (Impetigo)

A number of cases of School Sores have been reported to the school.

The symptoms are as follows:
•The sores can be anywhere on the body, but are often on the face near the mouth and nose, or on the arms and legs.
•Impetigo may starts with a blister or a group of blisters.
•The blister bursts leaving a patch of red, wet skin which weeps.
•The spot usually becomes coated with a tan or yellowish crust, making it look like it has been covered with honey.
•There can be small spots around the first spots, spreading outwards.
•Impetigo is usually itchy.
•The sore takes about 1 to 3 days to develop after contact with fluid or crusts from a sore.
•There is often superficial peeling on the edge.

Please note:

Impetigo is extremely contagious (infectious) and can be easily spread to other children and adults. Please ensure personal hygiene is maintained e.g. own towels, face cloths etc.

Try to prevent your child scratching the sores as much as possible, eg cover sores with a watertight dressing and cut your child’s fingernails.

Your child can go back to school, after 24 hours of treatment and when the sores are completely covered with dressings.
Continue medical treatment until all sores are healed.
For further information and help with identifying and treating school sores go to:
Better Health Channel
Kids' Health- a good site to help kids understand



Cheers
:-)

Easter Raffle

Image via Wikipedia

Yes, it’s that time of year again -

our annual Easter Raffle and Hat Parade.

I am asking for donations of Easter Eggs to make up as many prizes as possible. 

These can be left at the front office.

Books of 5 tickets to sell will be sent home with all children shortly.

Thank you for your anticipated help.

Leonie Smith
Assistant Principal K-2

ACARA Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority present the first draft.

"In 2008 all Australian governments agreed that a national curriculum would play a key role in delivering quality education and committed to the development of a K–12 national curriculum, initially in the areas of English, mathematics, science and history.



It is widely accepted that Australia should have one curriculum for school students, rather than the eight different arrangements that exist at the moment.

Whilst the Australian Curriculum will outline the scope of what is to be learned, it will be teachers in classrooms who will make decisions about how best to organise learning, the contexts for learning and the depth of learning that will be pursued for each child in their class." from: Why have an Australian curriculum.

On the ACARA home page you are advised to watch the video guide before you explore the site.  It explains that you need to register before you can log on and explore.

NITBUSTERS!! to the rescue

Dear Parents- 

 HEAD LICE have unfortunately reared their ugly head again and are on the move.
"Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire life on human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood."  Wikipedia
 The detection and the removal of head lice is an on-going problem. Click the following link  for further information. 
 Head Lice have been detected lurking in a number of classes.



Bites of head lice.   Image via Wikipedia

"Unfortunately, the management and treatment of head lice is surrounded by a large amount of misinformation and myth, particularly about their habits and what is and isn't an effective treatment." NSW Government Department of Health

To assist you to combat these annoying creatures:
NSWPublic Schools and NSWHealth present:



NSW DET video on head lice show you how to get rid of head lice.

Please check your child’s hair

and if necessary apply a suitable product

to remove the lice.
"Sometimes you may need to reapply the lotion two or even three times.


All eggs must be removed to successfully eradicate the lice.


We understand that it is a difficult and tiresome job to do
but unless all the eggs are removed  they can re-hatch over night."
 NSW Government Department of Health

For further support and information go to
 http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/headlice

Many thanks for your co-operation.

My School website.

"THE My School website  profiles almost 10,000 Australian schools - government, independent and catholic - which can be found by location, sector or name.
The site, compiled by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, gives basic information such as enrolments, teacher numbers and Year 12 completion rates. Visitors can compare numeracy and literacy results for each school with up to 60 schools nationwide with similar socioeconomic profiles." from:    My School site an eyeful.



Teacher unions and some parents are worried myschool.edu.au will be used to create simplistic league tables that could stigmatise poor-performing schools.


In this video  Michael Coutts-Trotter, the Director- General of the NSW Department of Education, explains how the My School website gives parents a snapshot of each school's performance, in comparison to similar schools.

 For further information and interviews about this website:

 VIDEO: My School website interviews

Julia Gillard answers questions about the new My School website. - Herald Sun

My School Website: Will it portray accurate information about schools? 18/01/2010

NSW

  Media Release my school website will it portray accurate information about schools 

Advanced Glossary

This glossary provides an advanced explanation of some of the terms used on this website.

Click on the link for info about: My School website 

"Government schools urgently need not just more teachers, but more support staff.
Given the comparisons above, even if we doubled the number of support staff in most public schools tomorrow, they still would not come within cooee of many of their large private school neighbours."

"The MySchool website provides a clear and transparent direction about what needs to be done to maintain, support and improve Australia's education performance, particularly for the 70 per cent of students who attend public schools." fromThe great divide in school staff numbers  JANE CARO AND CHRIS BONNOR 1 Feb 2010

  2010 school year

Information about the return to school for N.S.W. students is now available 

@ back to school NSW DET . 

Kids' who read, succeed!!!

Cheers

:-)

Feed your kid's brain-increase their learning speed

Image by cloois via Flickr

 








The brain is a part of the body that requires plenty of fuel and oxygen in order to work efficiently.
In the task of learning,everyone needs to be feeding and treating their body well to maximise this process.

Your children should:

• Eat every few hours to keep their blood sugar levels up.
• Exercise  daily
• Try to relax a few minutes each day.
• Sleep at least nine hours each night.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a light lunch.

adapted from How to boost your brain power.

Parents need not fear the new technologies in the classroom

"It's not just high-school kids who are making good use of the fast-moving technology; Australia's primary school students are now being equipped with the skills needed for the digital age."  says KEELI CAMBOURNE  
Learn the language
"Parents need not fear the new technologies", NSW Parents and Citizen Association president Dianne Giblin says.
“These technologies also offer greater opportunities for families to learn together. I urge parents to learn the technology as well so they can teach their kids the appropriate use of them including mobile phone and social networking sites," she says.

“The new technologies offer a more engaging way to learn and it's important to remember that it doesn't take away from learning. Kids are still going to learn the basics, but textbooks stagnate.”

To read the rest of the article click here

We would love you to post a message on our wishwall.

 Our first wishwall is up and running. 
Wishwall is a new way to communicate.
It is an online Notice Board Maker.
View a demo wall @ Wallwisher demo

Please check it out and post a message. You could post your own message or work with your kids to post a family message @ Latest Happenings at Sandy Beach

WordTalk

What is WordTalk?

WordTalk is a free utility developed by Rod Macaulay from TASSCC in Aberdeen to add speech output to text in Microsoft Word documents. It can also be used to listen to different suggestions offered by the spellchecker.

WordTalk is a free text-to-speech plugin developed for use with all versions of Microsoft Word (from Word 97 upwards). It will speak the text of the document and will highlight it as it goes.

Children with Reading and writing difficulties often benefit from having text read aloud to them.
This could be a valuable resource for kids at home or at school.

Take care with your cables

"Here's a sad reminder that USB cables belong plugged into peripherals, not children. Toddler Trinity Anderson was playing with a USB cable plugged into a laptop and put it in her mouth, which shocked her and knocked her out."

Image via Wikipedia

 

"This was clearly a freak accident, but it's a good reminder
that while these cables and gadgets we use are now commonplace, everyday items, they still carry a current and should be treated with care." [Colorado Daily] Adam Frucci