Why bilinguals are smarter

Sunday Review March 2012 published an article by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee. The article is called Why bilinguals are smarter and the first paragraph of the article is below.

Speaking two languages rather than just one has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. But in recent years, scientists have begun to show that the advantages of bilingualism are even more fundamental than being able to converse with a wider range of people. Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter. It can have a profound effect on your brain, improving cognitive skills not related to language and even shielding against dementia in old age.       

School history

The school was recently contacted by Peter Short, who's wife's grandfather Alex Fitzgerald attended Lithgow St School around the beginning of the 20th century.

Alex's father was a felt-hatter and the family lived in Charles St Abbotsford. Alex was born in 1890 and left the school after 1903. He missed a year of schooling (1902/03 ) due to rheumatic fever, but at the end of 1903 he was offered an open scholarship which he took up at Box Hill Grammar (now Kingswood) - the country air was to be good for his health. He was dux of that school in 1905 and out working in 1906. He continued to study at night, and eventually became the first Professor of Accounting at the University of Melbourne, which was also the first for any Australian university.

Alex was knighted for his work on the Grants Commissions in the 50's and 60's and was Sir Alexander Fitzgerald. Alex had a brother who was 4 years younger and an older sister, both of whom may also have attended Lithgow St, but finished his primary schooling at Fairfields. Alex died in 1969.

Abbotsford Primary School bilingual program

Our long standing Mandarin bilingual program was featured in the 'Why we are losing it in translaton' article published in The Age 30 May 2011. We have more information about our Mandarin bilingual program here or click on the Curriculum tab to the left, then Mandarin Bilingual Program.

The advantages of being bilingual are also fleshed out in The Bilingual Advantage published in The New York Times 30 May 2011. This is a transcript of a conversation with cognitive neuroscientist, Ellen Bialystok who has spent almost 40 years learning about how bilingualism sharpens the mind.

Also go to The Conversation to find out Why every child under the age of fifteen should learn to speak Chinese published April 2011.

SunSmart

Our SunSmart policy comes into play this term.  All students are required to wear a hat when outdoors.  Please ensure your child comes to school with a hat each day regardless of the weather.  Hats can be purchased at cost from the office.

Yard supervision 

Please remember that teacher supervision in thepolayground commences at 8.45 in the mornings. Breakfast club is available on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings commencing at 8.30am.

Take away lunch day

Wednesday is take away lunch order day. If you want to order lunch for the take away lunch day on a Wednesday, please write your order on a paper bag or envelope, put the money in the bag/envelope and return the order prior to 9.30am on Wednesday mornings - ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 9.30am 

School banking & school banking tips

Thank you to the students who have started saving through the APS school banking.  There is no minumum amount for school deposits; you can put in 50c each week if you want.  You get a token each week when you put something in the bank and when you have 10 tokens you get a reward of a lunchbox, wallet, drink bottle, watch etc.  The bank account is for the student to keep, even if they change school or go to high school. Bank deposit days are on a Monday.