Head of Primary Message Week 9

Michael Everett
Oct 24, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Oct 29, 2024

Student Voices 🎙️

Take a break from reading and tune in. This week, we're handing the mic over to Alannah to bring you the latest news straight from the Head of Primary. Sit back, listen in, and catch all the latest updates from the past week, delivered in style.

Alannah from Yr6

0:00

Maths: No Problem 🧮

Primary school Maths forms the foundation for a student's future academic and career opportunities. A strong understanding of Maths at this early stage not only builds essential skills such as problem solving, logical thinking, and critical reasoning but also instills confidence in tackling complex challenges. These skills are applicable in many fields, including science, engineering, technology, economics, and even the arts.

Early exposure to mathematical concepts helps students develop a positive attitude toward learning, which can be crucial for long-term success. It prepares them for more advanced Maths in Secondary, which can unlock opportunities in a wide range of careers, from data science to architecture, and even roles that don’t directly involve Maths but benefit from analytical skills.

Moreover, Maths proficiency can improve students' decision-making abilities, helping them manage personal finances and understand the world around them in a data-driven society. By ensuring a solid foundation in Primary, we can provide students with the tools they need to succeed in life, both academically and professionally.

We understand that many parents feel like Maths has changed (since they were at school) and that it’s sometimes difficult to keep up to date with modern teaching methods. We have teamed up with White Rose Maths to create a mini series to help parents with the methods we use in school when teaching Maths concepts. We hope that these will be helpful, alongside the printable resources to accompany each video (below).

Access Parent Info Videos 📺

Throughout November, we will be sharing a series of problems in the 'Barvember' folder on Seesaw for all students from Year 1 to Year 6. The warm-up questions for Barvember 2024, along with video solutions, are already available through the link below. Question 5 will be of particular interest to our most gifted mathematicians. Can you solve it? Are there any parents who can complete the daily challenge too? 🙋 🙋🏽‍♂️

Barvember Questions & Answers

A new set of questions and answers will be posted every school day throughout November. Be sure to visit the Barvember folder in your child's Seesaw account to submit your responses.

But what exactly is Bar Modelling and why do we teach it at ISB? In this short video series Dr. Yeap Ban Har explains the importance of Bar Modelling in two parts.

Part 1

Part 2 Explore even more 🔎

We are excited to share that we have created a comprehensive page of information about Maths to support you in understanding how we teach this subject at ISB. By sharing this resource, we aim to strengthen the partnership between home and school, ensuring you feel equipped to help your child with their learning journey. We believe that when parents and teachers work together, students gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed in Maths and beyond.

Explore More Maths 🧮 🔎

Weekly Spotlight 🔦

This week, I would like to highlight the work of Mrs Amy, Mrs Davidson, Mrs Monet, Ms Emily, Ms Kirsten, Mr David, Mr Rossow and Mr Bridges. The Heads of Year in Primary play a vital role in shaping our school. They not only lead the curriculum and oversee key strategic developments, but they also manage day-to-day operations with dedication and care. Their focus on the pastoral wellbeing of every student ensures a supportive and nurturing environment where all children can thrive. Their leadership is essential in driving both academic and personal growth across the school. 👏

It's been a busy week 🤩

This week Pre Kindy have had fun exploring the traditional musical instrument Gulingtangan, Kindy have been climbing really high, Reception have had a tactile experience with letter formation practice and writing CVC words on the sand tray, Year 1 have been learning how to code using BeeBot robots, Year 2 have been writing postcards, Year 3 have been doing column subtraction with exchanging, Year 4 have been exploring their digital footprint, Year 5 have been creating the entire solar system and Year 6 have been building electronic circuits.

If you have any questions about any aspect of school life, please do not hesitate to message in Seesaw.

Mr Michael Everett | Head of Primary

(and Alannah in Yr6)

👥 If you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning, please feel free to book a meeting with me at your convenience, either in person or online. A scheduling link can be found in the Useful Links section pinned to the top of your Seesaw account.