Emma Clemens – Deputy Head of Primary

Paws b Mindfulness

Earlier in the term I wrote about the Paws b Mindfulness course that is currently being taught to Year 2 students. Mindfulness has significant benefits for emotional wellbeing, mental health, ability to learn and physical health. “Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment” (John Kabat-Zinn). It also enables children and adults to think more clearly, perform at a higher capacity and feel less anxious or depressed. The title ‘Paws b’ comes from the idea that our mind can often act like a puppy. Therefore, training our attention is like training a puppy.

During the Paws b Mindfulness course, students are taught about ‘Team Brain’ made up of the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and insula. Learning about the anatomy and functions of the brain is foundational to the course. The philosophy is that by understanding the roles and functions of different parts of the brain, students are better equipped to deregulate in times of stress and to make good decisions. Students learn that their brain is an organ which is inside their head, but their mind is where they focus their attention. This can be anywhere outside of of the body. They have the power to change and train their brain to be more effective and efficient – this is called neuroplasticity. 

Firstly students learn that the ‘Team Leader’ of the brain is the prefrontal cortex. This helps us to concentrate, make good choices and therefore be our best. Next students learn that the hippocampus helps us to make memories by connecting old and new experiences. Students learn about the insula, which helps us recognise our body state as well as interpret the emotions and thoughts of others. The insula is the part of the brain that helps us recognise when we are feeling wobbly. The insula works with the prefrontal cortex to notice the wobbly feeling and then make decisions about how to manage these emotions. Finally students learn that the amygdala is the oldest part of the brain and was designed to help us to survive and react to situations that are a matter of life and death. The amygdala responds with fight, flight or freeze. It doesn’t think, it just reacts. This is an important protective mechanism in a dangerous situation or time of crisis. However, sometimes the amygdala begins to fire a fight, flight or freeze response but you are not necessarily experiencing imminent danger. Mindfulness helps us to take a minute to pause and choose a good response.

I often use this scientific language when working with children, particularly when navigating difficult social and emotional scenarios. If a child comes to me distressed I might say to them: “I think your amygdala is firing, are you in fight, flight or freeze?”. Then I will say: “It’s going to be difficult to have a conversation or make a good decision whilst your prefrontal cortex isn’t able to think. Why don’t you take ten minutes of time out to calm down so that your amygdala stops responding and your prefrontal cortex is ready to concentrate”.

In future Ma Nishma articles I will summarise the concepts of our storytelling mind and learning to grow happiness. I will also outline some of the breathing meditations that we teach the students that they can use to manage their emotions, deregulate and make mindful choices.

Congratulations

Recently Timmy Simon in Year 5 entered the Write for Fun competition. This short story and poetry competition was held throughout Australia and had over 10 000 entries. Timmy submitted a poem entitled All About Me. He was selected as a finalist and will have his poem published in the Spread The Word edition of Write For Fun. Congratulations to Timmy for such a wonderful result.

Tennis champions

Over the long weekend, Aaron Khedoori and Jesse Gothelf entered the Queen’s Birthday Junior Gold Tennis Tournament in Wollongong. Both boys competed in the Under 12 Boys Singles competition and played extremely well. Jesse was the winner of the Consolation Main Draw competition and Aaron was the winner of the Consolation Qualifying Competition. Well done boys on such a wonderful outcome in such a competitive tournament!

HICES debating

On Wednesday the Emanuel A debating team competed against the Emanuel B debating team at the HICES competition. The topic was ‘That greyhound racing should be banned’. The Emanuel A team was affirmative and Emanuel B team was negative. The debate was extremely close and the adjudicator said she struggled to find any flaws in their presentation skills, rebuttals and content. The debate came down to one argument – that a sudden ban doesn’t make an issue disappear. A sudden ban would result in a ‘black market’ type competition where it becomes even more inhumane and unregulated. Therefore, the Emanuel B team came away with the win and remain undefeated. Congratulations Ethan Zines, Maayan Granot, Eden Levit, Jasper Selinger, Miriam Stubbs-Goulston, Alix Cane, Jake Newfield and Oren Levin-Kahn who took part in the debate. Thank you to Sienna Poswell for being the chairperson and Connor Mezei for being the timekeeper. Thank you to Lauren Wigan for coaching the teams and for her ongoing enthusiasm and support throughout the debating season. 

Chess success

Last Friday afternoon three of the Primary School chess teams competed in the JNSW Chess Competition. The Emanuel A team competed against Coogee Boys Prep A team and won 4-0. The Emanuel A team also competed against Coogee Boys Prep B team and won 4-0. The Emanuel B team competed against Coogee Boys Prep B team and tied 2-2. The Emanuel C Team competed against Claremont College and tied 2-2. Congratulations to the students who competed and thank you to Michael Todd for his coaching expertise and to Colleen Elkins for supporting the team.

Emanuel Archie’s competition

Emanuel’s Archie’s Portrait competition is an opportunity for all students to both get involved in art within the school and showcase their creative talents. This year’s exhibition was the first to include both High School and Primary works, giving us a wide variety of artistic styles ranging throughout all age groups.

To choose winners Ron Ramsey, the Executive Director, Art Gallery Society of NSW, helped us judge. There will also be a prize given for the People’s Choice, voted by the students of the School, which will be similarly awarded.

Being able to organise and set up this exhibition has been an enjoyable experience and one which I hope Emanuel School continues to hold each year. It has always been great to see both High School and Primary works showcased together.

The Primary winners are:

First place: Ella Hart (her painting is featured above)

Runner up: Toni Sher

Acknowledgeable Mention: Jake Joffe

Ronan Collins – Year 12

CIS Cross Country

On Thursday nine students competed in the CIS Cross Country Competition at Eastern Creek. Congratulations to Devan Bloch, Shai Farhy, Ashleigh Gold, Leah Grunseit, Aaron Harpaz, Aiden Kanevsky, Eden Levit, Amelie Mueller and Sienna Poswell for qualifying to compete in such a high level of sporting competition. Thank you to Stuart Taylor for supporting the students on the day.

Upcoming Dates

• 19 June: Y7 2018 Showcase, 7:00-8:30pm Lehrer Family Multi Purpose Hall
• 21 June: Netball Cup, Heffron Park
• 21 June: Chess Competition, Bellevue Hill Public School
• 22 June: Y4-6 Before School Sport Training
• 22 June: Y4 Pathways Ceremony, 8:30-10:10am Lehrer Family Multi Purpose Hall
• 23 June: JNSW Interschool Chess Competition
• 23 June: Year 5 Science Day
• 26 June: Y6 Interrelate Evening, 6:00-8:15pm Millie Phillips Theatre
• 27 June: Project Heritage Briefing for Historians 12:00-1:00pm, Primary Library
• 30 June: K-2 Music Assembly
• 30 June: Last Day Term 2
• 18 July: First Day Term 3, Primary lice check
• 19 July: SRC Pancake Fundraising Event
• 25 July: Y6 Project Heritage Interview 1
• 25 -27 July: YK, Y1, Y3 and Y5 Protective Behaviours Session 1
• 27 July: Y5-6 Australian Maths Competition
• 1 August: Y3-6 Tisha B’Av Ceremony
• 1 August: ICAS English Competition
• 1 August: Y6 Project Heritage Interview 2
• 1-3 August: YK, Y1, Y3 and Y5 Protective Behaviours Session 2
• 2 August: State Futsal Championship
• 4 August: Primary Athletics Carnival, Hensley Athletic Field

Term 3 K-2 Assembly Items

• 28 July (Week 2): Puppet Club
• 11 August (Week 4): 1B Miss Hynek’s Class
• 25 August (Week 6): YK Hebrew
• 8 September (Week 8): KH Ms Yunis’ Class
• 22 September (Week 10): School closed for Rosh Hashanah