From the Primary School
Meghan Carroll- Deputy Head of Primary
Good sleep = good health
Getting enough sleep is incredibly important for everyone. According to the Sleep Health Foundation, sleep helps us restore ourselves physically and reorganise things in our brain, supporting our body and mind to function properly. Sleep is needed for attention, memory and learning and is also thought to help keep the immune system strong. But are our children getting enough sleep?
The amount of sleep we need changes with age. Everyone is different, but as a guide, children need the following amounts of sleep every night:
Ages 3-5: 10-13 hours
Ages 6-13: 9-11 hours
Ages 14-17: 8-10 hours
If you believe that you child is not getting enough sleep please consider using these helpful tips from the American National Sleep Foundation to help your child fall asleep, stay asleep and get enough good quality sleep.
Establish a sleep schedule: Make sure your child goes to bed early enough to get the sleep they need. Once you have set an appropriate bedtime, stick to it – even at the weekend.
Establish a bedtime routine: Follow the same routine every day: bath or shower, change into pyjamas, brush teeth, read or spend quiet time in their bedroom, lights out and go to sleep.
Help your child wind down: Busy children need some time to relax. Consider playing soft music or reading to them.
Make sure the bedroom is suitable for sleep: Ensure the bedroom is dark and quiet. If your child is anxious or afraid at night, use a night light.
Avoid stimulants: Make sure your child avoids tea, coffee, chocolate or sports drinks, especially in the afternoon.
Turn off technology: Turning off computers, tablets and television one hour before bedtime should help your child sleep better.
More information can be found on the following websites:
http://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
Year 6 Hertzliya World Expo
Year 6H shared their learning with us this week through their creative World Expo presentation. Thank you Year 6H students and Anna Economou for your wonderful efforts.
2019 Kindergarten information sessions and evening
Our final Kindy orientation session and Parent evening took place this week. It has been lovely to meet next year’s children and families as we prepare for 2019. Thank you to all the staff involved for their planning and efforts.
2019 Parent Conference topics
As we continue to plan for next year we would like to invite parents to complete a small survey focused on topics of interest for our 2019 Parent Conferences. Please click on the following link to share your ideas: https://goo.gl/forms/3wrTiiaI0MEhic9s2. The survey will close at 4.00 pm on 30 November.
Correspondence
Our teachers value your open communication in relation to the children’s needs. Please remember that communication between staff and parents/carers should be conducted in a professional and courteous manner. More information about Communication policies can be found on the Parent Portal.