DANDENONG WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL​

Prep to Year 3 are dismissed and can be picked up at 3.15pm Year 4 to 6 are dismissed and can be picked up at 3.30pm. Families with children both in junior and senior year levels, the Year 4 to 6 students will be released at 3.15pm to collect their younger siblings.

It is encouraged that all students that have access to a device should complete the home activities set by the teacher by the due date.

Are they sleeping longer or going to bed later? You and your child/ren will be happier and healthier if you have good bedtime routines and morning routines. It is recommended that children between the age of 7 and 12 require 10 to 11 hours of sleep. Children between the age of 3 and 6 require 10 to 12 hours of sleep.

At school, we talk about ‘building stamina’. We measure how long or how much students can do and then we set a goal to a do a little more the next day. You child is building their stamina to work independently. Many parents have noticed that their child has made great improvements compared to last week. If you think the child is not interested in the school writing topic, then they could write about something that interests them. Any writing helps – letters, emails, labelled diagrams, posters, book reviews, diary entries, shopping lists.

Keep the learning times short – they will get longer as your child’s learning stamina increases. Include lots of brain breaks – have some water or food, exercise, play a game, watch a short video. Send work to teachers for feedback. Remember to praise their effort, not the results. ‘I can see you are really trying today.’ ‘I notice you have written five more words than yesterday.’

The Victorian Department of Education and Training has these guidelines: For students in Prep to Grade 2 - literacy activities that total about 45-60 minutes numeracy activities of about 30-45 minutes play-based learning (colouring, cooking, science, free drawing and painting, colouring, folding, collecting, grouping and making and listening to sounds, including, music) and physical activity of about 30-45 minutes. For students in Grades 3 to 6: Literacy: 45-60 minutes Numeracy: 30-45 minutes Physical activities: 30 minutes Additional curriculum areas (Science, Performing Arts, Visual Arts): 90 minutes