Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4

Pastoral update

Everyone Belongs and Building Connections

We’re hardwired for connection – it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. 

The absence of love, belonging and connection always leads to suffering. 

– Brene Brown

Students were warmly welcomed back to school with opportunities to reconnect with old friends and build new friendships, facilitated by our fortnightly pastoral theme ‘Everyone Belongs and Building Connections’. Children enjoyed spending time connecting with their friends through conversations and common interests such as building lego, solving puzzles and engaging in developmental play. Research shows that close friendships and a sense of belonging ‘are what keep people happy throughout their lives’ (Harvard, 2017). Allowing children to build these connections therefore, cannot be underestimated – it is an important driver of their wellbeing.

URStrong parent membership

To ensure you can support your children with the same language and strategies they are taught at school, we invite all parents to take advantage of the free Parent Membership for the URStrong schools platform. URStrong underpins the Friendology program which is integrated into PDHPE lessons and morning pastoral time from 8:30am and 8:45am. Membership includes access to hundreds of resources – including an eight-session video series. Further information about the URStrong program can be found in the URStrong Parent Information Flyer.

Curriculum update

Learning programs and initiatives

It was wonderful to see so many parents in attendance at our Parent Information Evening last week and share with you an overview of curriculum initiatives for the year ahead.

Last week, Del Monte teachers engaged in the first of eight modules of the Numeracy Project facilitated by Henrietta Miller from The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AIS). Learning continued this week with Year 3 and Year 4 teachers meeting with our Scholastic Territory Manager, upskilling them on the Literacy Pro program that students will use at school and home to build reading stamina, fluency and comprehension, whilst also promoting a love of reading.

We look forward to sharing updates as we implement these and other initiatives throughout the year.

Lauren Petroni
Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4