In our classrooms

The Power of Productive Struggle: Growing Through the Learning Pit and Beyond the Classroom

At school, we talk often about the importance of productive struggle, that valuable space where learning isn’t easy, where students grapple with new ideas, make mistakes, and build the persistence that leads to real growth. It’s in this space that the magic of learning happens.

We call this space the learning pit. It’s the moment when something feels challenging, uncertain, or even frustrating; yet, with encouragement, support, and perseverance, students climb their way out with new understanding and confidence. Productive struggle teaches that effort and mistakes aren’t signs of failure, but vital steps toward mastery.

This is where resilience begins. When children learn to persist through challenge (whether it’s solving a tricky maths problem, learning a new skill, or navigating a friendship issue) they build a mindset that says, “I can do hard things.” That mindset carries far beyond the classroom walls.

School camps are a perfect example of this learning in action. Away from familiar routines, students encounter new challenges: climbing a rock wall, coming to school really early, trying something they’ve never done before. These moments often place students squarely in their own learning pit. But with encouragement from peers and teachers, they discover the joy of pushing past comfort zones, supporting one another, and achieving something they didn’t think they could.

The confidence gained on camp, in trying an activity they've never done before, doing something outside their familiar bedtime routine, or even simply managing washing their own dishes, transfers back into the classroom. Students return not only with wonderful memories, but also with strengthened resilience, independence, and teamwork skills.

At its heart, both the classroom and camp are about growth: learning to embrace challenge, bounce back from setbacks, and believe in one’s capacity to improve. Productive struggle reminds us that success isn’t about always getting it right the first time, it’s about the courage to keep trying, together. Well done to our Prep and Grade One campers this past fortnight, and all the best to our Grade Two campers next month.

Maddie Witter

In prep

Purple and gold uniforms were swapped for pyjamas and slippers last Friday morning as the Preps took part in the Prep Breakfast, the first stage of the GIPS camping program.

The Prep children arrived at 8 am in their pyjamas, had a morning stretch and then headed into the ‘Prep Café’ for a delicious breakfast. In true camping style, the Preps even washed their own dishes! After that, the children developed their independence by getting changed into their school uniforms, brushing their teeth and doing their hair.

The morning was a great success and helped set the children up for future school camp success. A huge thank you to the many parent volunteers. How can you apply this learning at home? Try encouraging your little one to wash a plate at dinner next week.

In grade one

This week in Grade One, students explored duration and the sequencing of events using years, months, weeks, days, hours and minutes. To investigate how long a minute feels, they made estimates and then tested their ideas by seeing how many times they could write their name, thread beads, build towers of ten using Unifix cubes and complete star jumps! How can you help at home? Find other fun activities your child can do to see if they can estimate how long a minute feels. For instance, how many blocks can you stack in one minute?

In grade two

Grade 2 - Time to the Quarter Hour

Grade 2 has been focusing on telling time to the quarter hour this week on analogue and digital clocks. Learning to read time on an analogue clock is becoming a more difficult skill to learn as digital time has taken over much of our world and time reading. The Grade 2's have been working very hard and doing an amazing job. How can you help at home? Consider switching your clock on your phone to analogue to help support this learning.

In grade three

Grade Three students are currently reading newspaper reports to explore their structure and learn how to write them. On Tuesday, we read a report about bogong moths that told us how and why they are endangered. The very next day, 3H found a moth in their classroom! After looking at the moth closely, we took a photo of the moth and uploaded it to the Moth Tracker website that Zoos Victoria runs. Zoos Victoria has confirmed our bogong moth sighting and we have been added to the map! We are all on the lookout for any further bogong moths around Glen Iris! How can you help at home? See if you can spot a bogong moth!

In grade four

Last week, students explored the 24 character strengths presented through the Berry Street Model. They identified and celebrated their own unique strengths while also working collaboratively in teams to discuss when and how these strengths can be used to overcome “speedbumps” or challenges. It was wonderful to see students supporting one another and recognising the positive qualities that help them thrive both in and out of the classroom. How can you help at home? Take the free 24 character strength quiz online at www.viacharacter.org and share your character strengths with your children.

In grade five/six

Grade 5/6 have been working with the dance education group My Best Self on a dance and wellbeing program as part of our multi-tiered systems of support for wellbeing. There have been lots of giggles and groans, but the students are finding their feet! We look forward to the end of term performance. How can you help at home? We would love to see you at the performance later this term. Stay tuned for the date and time.

In our art room

Year 4 students have immersed themselves in the Australian landscape for their current painting unit. We have been inspired by the iconic Ned Kelly series of paintings made by Sidney Nolan in 1946. The students used watercolour paints to create a background landscape and then added foliage and the figure of Ned Kelly using acrylic paints. We spent time looking at the way Nolan captured the Ned Kelly myth without painting the man. Some wonderful works have been captured by the students. Well done!

In our Spanish class

Our Year 3 students have begun reading Las Aventuras de Coco . This is a four-chapter story I wrote especially for them! Through Coco’s adventures, students are developing their Spanish vocabulary and practising reading comprehension strategies in a fun and engaging way. ¡Qué emoción!

In performing arts

In Performing Arts, students have been exercising their expressive skills in Drama! The grade 5/6’s have been doing this by performing tableaux’s and open scenes; the former are dramatic freeze frames, while the latter are short scripts that only provide character dialogue. This week, we also had a terrific turnout for our Prep-Grade 2 choir (during the first half of lunch on Wednesdays)! They’re currently learning, singing and rocking-out to The Pretender by the Foo Fighters.

Student leadership

Front Garden Transformation
A huge thank you to the SALT Environment Team for their wonderful work helping Christie plant new greenery in our front garden bed. It was fantastic to see students engaging in authentic, hands-on learning while contributing to the beauty of our school grounds. Thank you, Christie, for leading this project and inspiring our students to care for their environment! If you are stopping by our school on the weekend, please feel free to sprinkle some water bottle water on our plants.

In our staffroom

How can you support our wellbeing curriculum at home?

Understanding the “Size of the Problem”

One important skill we help children develop at school is learning to recognise the size of a problem and how to respond in a way that matches it. This helps students feel more confident, independent, and calm when things don’t go to plan.

We talk about problems as being small, medium, or big:

• Small problems are things we can usually handle ourselves like dropping a pencil, not being first in line, or a friend choosing to play with someone else that day. These might feel frustrating, but with a deep breath, kind words, or a quick fix, they can often be solved independently.
• Medium problems might need a bit of help from an adult or a friend; for example, if there’s a disagreement that’s hard to resolve or if something feels unfair.
• Big problems are those that make us feel unsafe, scared, or deeply upset. These always need adult help straight away.

By learning to match our reaction to the size of the problem, children start to build emotional awareness and resilience. A small problem doesn’t need a big reaction and knowing that there’s always help available for bigger issues helps children feel secure.

Families can support this at home by talking about everyday challenges and asking questions like:

“Is this a small, medium, or big problem?”
“What could you do to solve it?”
“Who can help if it feels too big?”

Together, we can empower children to manage their emotions, seek help when they need it, and feel confident in solving the small things on their own. - Shaye Bradbury

In our community

Halloween Disco 31 October

We would like to inform you of the upcoming annual Halloween Disco on the 31st of October. Students will have the opportunity to wear and show their Halloween costumes. The costumes need to be school appropriate. We are encouraging students to have fun and dress up in their costumes to get in the Halloween spirit. Please do not wear costumes that cover up your eyes or face because then it will be hard to learn and play. Please do not wear costumes with fake weapons.

Not sure what is school appropriate? Our best advice is not to be too scary as that might upset our preppies. If you prefer not to wear a costume, you can come in your school uniform, dress up as yourself, or wear a fun accessory in your hair. We will be presenting examples of what you can wear or not wear at assembly on Friday. Have questions? Please reach out to your classroom teacher.

GIPS Fun Fair

🎪 FUN FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 🎪

The countdown is on to our Fun Fair on Saturday, 22 November, and we need your help to make the magic happen! 🌟

We’re looking for parent volunteers to help supervise our many exciting stalls. Each stall is easy to run — with simple directions provided — and every helping hand makes a huge difference. 🙌 All that is required is a valid volunteer working with children card and evidence that you have completed our induction found here.

Volunteer spots are in 1-hour shifts, but if you can stay for back-to-back sessions, even better! You’ll find all the stalls, time slots, and descriptions at the link here https://signup.com/go/aCgpAfu — just scroll down to see where you can jump in. We know that some families have sport on that day. You can edit your entry once you know the time of your game closer to the event. That is all done at the link above.

We also need a few helpers for set up on Friday, so if you’re free earlier in the day, we’d love your support. Sign up in the same place here: https://signup.com/go/aCgpAfu

We also have a few things we need help with:

• Putting together a Jaffa Smash like the one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw_TOfmTHIw Can you make one for us? If you can help, please email Karen at glen.iris.ps@education.vic.gov.au
• Sewing bunting for each stall. If you can help, please email Karen at glen.iris.ps@education.vic.gov.au
• Finding two used toilets 😊 If you can help, please email Karen at glen.iris.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Let’s work together to make this year’s Fun Fair a day to remember! 🎉

👉 Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/aCgpAfu

💛 Thank you for bringing the fun to life!

Maddie, Debbie, Sam & Karen

We need your help

To help make this event run smoothly, we are requesting donations from now up until the event.

We are seeking:

1. Soft drinks
2. Blocks of chocolate
   
3. Used books- all ages (for used book stall)
4. Used toys
5. Wine valued at $15 or higher (for wine lucky dip
6. We no longer need soft toys. Thank you!

Donations (except for wine) can be made either in the classroom in the designated tub or in the closet near the front office. Please feel free to go straight into the closet to drop off. Please drop off wine at the front office. Thank you!

Students will earn 10 house points per donation. We are opening up donations early in case you see something on sale. Every donation helps.

GIPS Tea Towels

Thank you to Caroline for all of her help organising the tea towels this and last year!

Ashburton Netball

Play netball with Ashburton Netball Club in 2026 - Come and Try Session

Ashburton Netball Club play netball on a Saturday at the Ashwood courts.

If your child is currently in Grade 2 or above and would be interested in playing netball next year, come along and give it a try!

Tuesday 28th Oct, 3.45 - 4.45pm at the Ashburton Primary School outdoor courts (Carool Rd)

Please register your expression of interest and attendance:-

https://ashburtonnetballclub.com/player-enquiry/

Any enquiries to Wendy Fleming 0402 125 505or ashburtonnetball.juniordev@gmail.com

Playground update at Watson Park

How you can have your say

• Visit our consultation website - Take a short survey or upload a photo or drawing. Let us know what you enjoy about the current playground and what new play equipment you’d like to see.
• Colouring in activity - Attached is the ‘Draw Your Dream Playground’ activity sheet for children. Instructions on how to send their drawings to us are included on Your Say Boroondara (our consultation website).
• Attend the drop-in consultation session - Chat with Council Officers at the playground on Thursday 30 October, 3.30 - 4.30 pm.
• Poster for display - Also attached is a poster that promotes the consultation. We’d be grateful if you could share this with families or display at school. If you need a printed version, please let me know and I will organise for one to be delivered.

The consultation is now open and closes at 5 pm on Wednesday 12 November 2025

2025 09 24 Watson Park Playground Consultation Signs A1 FA

Playground activity sheet

Team Kids Halloweeen

It’s time for a spook-tacular celebration!
TeamKids is brewing up some fang-tastic fun next week for Halloween! 🕸️
There’ll be costumes, games, and treats so good it’s un-BOO-lievable!
Don’t miss out on all the frightful fun! 🦇