Welcome

Hi, my name is Stephen Bevan and I am Principal at Madeley Primary School in Perth, Western Australia. Research shows that open and clear communication between home and school is important which is why I have created this blog. As Principal of Madeley Primary School I value your opinions and encourage your comments. Feel free to comment on any of the posts. Comments are moderated prior to going live on the blog.

I will endeavour to provide you with regular and informative posts about our school and its activities. I ask that your comments be constructive and positive with any concerns or complaints directed to me personally at school.

Madeley Primary School prides itself on the positive, open and friendly culture that has been established. Our core values of Curriculum, Community and Care are guiding principles that shape our school.

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Our School's A Star


We are currently in the process of preparing a submission for the Our School's a Star competition.  This activity will help to promote our school to a wider audience. We have gathered ideas from the community through the staff, P&C and School Board about how our school is distinct and special. We believe that our school’s focus on Social-Emotional learning is a key part of what makes us unique. We are preparing a video which is only allowed to run for 30 seconds as part of our submission. If you have any ideas or input we would love to hear from you so please email madeley.ps@education.wa.edu.au

Monday 25 May 2015

The Value of Tolerance

At this week's mini-assembly we introduced our value of the week 'Tolerance'. It is a lack of tolerance that often leads to conflict in relationships. When we are intolerant we react negatively to people who annoy us or who do not behave the way we expect.

Our students watched this video which shows an older man acting in quite an irritating way by repeating the same question over and over again. The man's son demonstrated his intolerance by responding angrily to his father's annoying behaviour. A tolerant person does not let their emotions dictate their behaviour. They stop to think about why the person may be acting in an irritating manner and respond appropriately.

Tolerance also needs to be applied to people who may come from a different cultural or religious background. It needs to be applied to our family members, our friends and strangers because no one will think, look, speak or act exactly like us.

"To be tolerant is to accept differences...Tolerance is being free or prejudice, knowing that all people have feelings, needs, hopes and dreams. To be tolerant also means to accept things you wish were different with flexibility and patience."
The Virtues Project

The Value of Persistence

The value of persistence or perseverance is very important for students to develop because without it they will not attempt anything challenging or continue working on a problem to a successful conclusion.

"It is sticking to something, staying committed, no matter how long it takes or what obstacles appear to stop you."
The Virtues Project

Students need persistence when they are feeling bored or in the middle of a hard job and they are tired. To master a skill we often need to practice it over and over again, making mistakes, being frustrated and starting over frequently. Without persistence we would give up and never master anything. 

"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak."
Thomas Carlyle

The Value of Courage

"Courage is personal bravery in the face of fear. It is doing what needs to be done even when it is really hard or scary. Courage is going ahead even when you feel like giving up. Courage is needed in trying new things. It is admitting mistakes and then doing the right thing. Courage is the strength in your heart."
The Virtues Project

Our students watched the following video at mini-assembly in Week 4 of Term 2 when our focus was on Courage. 

"Without courage, people would only do what is easy. No one would try new things." 
The Virtues Project

 "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."
 Muhammad Ali

The Value of Courtesy

 One of the values we promote at our school is COURTESY. Courtesy is being polite and having good manners.

The use of good manners does not come naturally. They need to be taught. Parents and families are the most powerful factor in the teaching and modelling of good manners.
 We encourage and remind students as often as possible that the use of manners is a socially appropriate way to behave. Manners should even be used when we are angry or upset with someone...why?....because we should always try to 'treat others the way we would like to be treated.' Just because you disagree with someone does not mean that you become rude and abusive. People who act this way end up dealing with a lot of unnecessary and avoidable conflict which rarely results in positive outcomes or a resolution of problems.

We encourage parents to constantly model the use of manners and to regularly remind their children to use good manners no matter what situation they are in.

"Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners."
Laurence Sterne

Social - Emotional Learning

At Madeley Primary School we place equal importance on the teaching of social-emotional skills and understanding as we do to traditional academic areas such as mathematics and reading. A child's capacity to manage their emotions and develop and then maintain positive relationships is essential if they are going to be a successful member of society. Their academic achievement will mean little if they do not have the social-emotional capacity to get along with others and contribute positively to society. The school has adopted the philosophy of the Play Is The Way program.
"PLAY IS THE WAY® is a practical methodology for teaching social and emotional learning using guided play, classroom activities and an empowering language.
It is a process that gives primary schools a way to develop, improve and entrench the personal and social capabilities of students."
The school promotes and teaches the '5 Concepts to live your life by' which are outlined in the Play Is The Way program. The overarching Golden Rule we promote is 'Treat Others the Way You Would Like To Be Treated'. The school also promotes 8 values/virtues. We assist students to learn and adopt the values. When the values begin being enacted regularly in a persons' life they become virtues. They include:
  • Courage
  • Respect
  • Persistence
  • Tolerance
  • Friendliness
  • Resilience
  • Manners
  • Self-Motivation

Tuesday 12 May 2015

The Fathering Project

http://thefatheringproject.org/

We are very excited to announce our involvement with the Fathering Project this year. Below is some information about the project taken from their website. Stuart Rutter, one of our Dads, has volunteered to help lead the development of the project at our school. We encourage all Dads and Father Figures to get involved in the activities we are planning. Our first activity will be on May 20. We will be meeting in the Staffroom at 7.00pm for drinks and pizza/nibbles to find our more about the project. Please come along.

"Fathering is not an issue that is talked a lot about amongst fathers, yet there are enormous benefits for both dads and kids when dads feel supported and informed to enable them to be better fathers. The benefits of effective fathers are profound. The presence of an effective father, or father figure, is an important influence on a child’s life. 

The Fathering Project’s Schools Program aims to positively promote the important role of fathers & father figures to the entire school community through the formation of a “Champion Dads” group or Fathering Project School Group (FGSG). The FPSG’s key role is to provide leadership and direction to the group of “Champion Dads”, school fathers, father figures and support people, including Mums.

A Fathering Project Schools Group is a group of dads from a school that is created to be a fun group that builds interaction, knowledge and skills of fathers and father figures.This core group of dads, “Champion Dads” or Father figures, will run activities. They are not Champion Dads because they are perfect dads but because they are committed to championing the need for being better dads for the sake of their kids.

The activities undertaken by the Fathering Project School Group include;
  • Father and father activities
  • Father and child activities
  • Father and The Fathering Project activities
  • Father and School activities
The Fathering Project’s Schools Manager will assist fathers from a school community to form the FPSG, plan and conduct exciting activities for the children and the dads.


Monday 4 May 2015

School Nurse

Our new school nurse's name is Tanya Wood. She is a Community Health Nurse with the Wanneroo South Health Region. Tanya is involved in helping to identify and assess students with specific needs. She also provides professional learning to staff. Tanya has provided information on the following event which is open to parents. If you are interested please register using the email provided.