Melinda Norman

It is a pleasure to officially join the New Farm SS family this week!

The welcome I have received has been incredibly warm and I am feeling right at home already. The dedication shown by hardworking teachers and school staff has been impressive and I am looking forward to working with teachers regarding our curriculum.

A little more about me…

Having worked as a Curriculum Leader, Principal Education Advisor and Classroom Teacher, in a face-to-face and online environment, has provided me with a diverse scope of skills and knowledge. It is my hope that I will complement and promote the high quality programs of education already in place at New Farm SS, which support the development of knowledgeable and inquiring students.

I have worked in and across schools for almost two decades.  Last year I had the pleasure of leading the Prep – Year 6 faculty at Brisbane School of Distance Education as Head of Department. It was within this role that I saw first-hand the benefits of learning at home can bring to families. The precious time parents spend with their child as they learn new things offers the opportunity to form bonds that will stay with your child for life.  Teaching classes online was new to me and also being a parent of three young children myself I was fortunate to see education from three different angles – Teacher, Parent and Home-based Supervisor.

It is important to remember that when learning with your child at home you are not expected to be their teacher. Our dedicated NFSS teachers are here to support you. As a parent supporting your child’s learning however, you have the unique opportunity in these current circumstances, to enjoy “the learning journey” together with your child. I hope you can make the most of this time.

Learning from Home

In these challenging times as you help your children to learn from home our teachers and school staff have been working hard to plan for this approach and have developed learning programs that best suit our students at New Farm SS. Further to these plans, you may like to explore the Department of Education’s range of learning@home parent resources online https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning-at-home.

In addition The Department is working with television networks to develop new televised educational programs that will be broadcast on TV a number of days a week. Further information about these programs will be made available in the near future.

This situation presents an opportunity for students to find out more about themselves as learners and to become more confident in self-directing their learning. Encourage your child to take responsibility for their learning and if your child is finding a task difficult, make suggestions and answer questions, but try to let them figure things out for themselves as much as possible. Give them opportunities, where appropriate, to take control of their own learning.

Please know that we are here to support you and your children. With our preparation and guidance and your support, I am confident that students will continue to learn and grow in Term 2. At home up to three hours of learning each day will usually be plenty. Try using a range of other activities to keep children engaged and stimulated without becoming overwhelmed.

Remember this is new for many of us. You can help by letting your child’s teacher know if you are unsure about something. Further information on supporting your child, maintaining healthy learning routines and setting up a learning space at home can be found at https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning-at-home/wellbeing-of-students

While there will be some adjustments along the way as we learn together, our teachers are here to support your child’s learning.

Warm regards

Melinda Norman