Palmerston Post

Well, It is here, holiday time. Time to be at home to rest up, reset and get ready for all the fun that Term 4 brings.

Despite all the changes we have had to ‘roll with’, students across all year levels have participated in so many wonderful learning opportunities. Writing has been a year-long focus for us, and I can hand on heart, say I am very proud of the  progress made. Students excitedly tell me about their writing lessons, or proudly come and show me of their finished products. One of my biggest joys is to listen to why a student feels successful. It is quite magical.

 Thank you to all of our staff who have put in 100% effort, care, dedication and energy to their classes this term. I could not be more proud of the way this staff has come together in this wobbly old year – we are effective collaborators and communicators. It is here, I need to bid a sad farewell to Ms Lorelie Choy, who has joined us this term from Canberra High School. Lorelie has added such value to the wellbeing of our students, for the connections made with families and the wonderful value she has added to our school. We are all very sorry to see her leave, but wish her well as she returns back to CHS.

Congratulations to our graduating students from the IEC who sadly leave us, but excitedly they will join their home school to continue their learning. Ms Faulkner, Eleni and Ms Singh do an incredible job for these students, learning English in English… we wish them well and hope they remember their time at Palmerston Primary fondly.

 Next term, Mrs Cox is taking a few weeks leave, and Ms Felicity McNeice  will be acting up as Deputy for the first few weeks. Additionally, Ms Donaldson will step up and act as Executive teacher during this same time period of weeks 1 and 2. Ms Campbell heads off on some fabulous leave from Weeks 2-9…and we hope she has a wonderful time. To fill in for her, we welcome Mrs Veronica Rapp, who will join us for term 4, and take over Kindergarten and Yr 1 Environmental Science program.

Term 4 will provide a time for parents to fill out an important form, as input for the formation of classes in 2021. We hope all families will take up this opportunity, so that we are best informed to create productive classes for next year. We take this process very seriously, the current classroom teachers form the classes, and with several pieces of data, we aim to create the best possible classes. Once classes are formed, we cannot change them, as the domino effect can get very complicated. So please, when this note comes home, fill it in and return it by the due date – we will give you plenty of time.

 I’d like to shout out a very big thank you to Helen Ritchie and Lina Haines from the P&C, for their dedication to our morning drop off time so safe and smooth – giving us this time every day is truly amazing --- I have heard such positive feedback – keeping our students safe is such important work! Thank you ladies for being awesome Vested Vollies.

 A big thank you to Sharley who creates all of our newsletters! You do such a great job.

 Have a happy holiday everyone, I intend to have a good break, reading, walking ,exploring, zen tangling, and making jewellery will be high on my agenda.

See you next term.

 Regards,

 Kate Smith

Principal

I love movies made in the 1980s. Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and the Lost Boys are some of my all time favourites.  In my top three best films ever made is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).  I mention this movie because;

 The words of Ferris are; “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.”  I mention this because time does go so quickly and so it is important to maintain your self-care; to stop and smell the roses, chase butterflies and study clouds.  To dance like no one is watching and sing like no one is listening  It is important to enjoy your time with loved ones, pursue activities you love and do something for you.  I am pretty good at giving other people advice to take care of themselves.  “Rest”, “ask for help if you need it”, “put yourself first” and “don’t sweat the small stuff” are words I utter daily. However, it is rare that I take my own advice.  That is why I am grateful that September is Self-Care Awareness Month (https://evolvetolive.org ).  It is an actual reminder for me to stop, breathe and to ensure I am looking after myself physically, emotionally and psychologically.  I read something recently that really resonated with me.  The website in question said; What I have found is that when I pause long enough to ask myself ‘how am I really feeling’ I might realise (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/self-care-awareness-month-september );

I may be struggling with anxiety and stress, overwhelmed by all the demands on my time – family, work, students, bills, the dog

Compassion fatigue is draining me, with the huge emotional toll on your body and spirit of caring for others

I feel exhausted...physically and emotionally sick, even though I can’t put my finger on what’s wrong

Self–Care Awareness Month in September is a time to remind us that taking care of ourselves, first and foremost, is essential. It’s like being  a passenger on a plane – you can’t help others with their oxygen mask, until you put on your own.  Self-care is often neglected in our everyday lives. Walking the dog, listening to music, binge watching a television show or colouring in are beautiful examples of managing our well-being.  However, it knows no boundaries and can truly benefit us all. The great Ferris Bueller was right, time does go fast so every now and then remember to keep yourself the focus of your own life. Be kind to yourself, take time in the morning to stretch, sit down and drink that cup of coffee/tea – guilt free.

Enjoy your break.  Spend quality time together.  Rest and relax.  You deserve it.

See you next term.

 Marijana Pasalic

This year, our school has had a curriculum focus on English, specifically, writing. In Year 5, for example, students use language features to show how ideas can be extended. They develop and explain a point of view about a text. They create imaginative, informative and persuasive texts for different purposes and audiences. When writing, they demonstrate understanding of grammar and sentence types, and they select specific vocabulary and use accurate spelling and punctuation. They edit their work for cohesive structure and meaning.  

This Year 5 student’s writing is an excellent example of an Explanation – a text type used to account for why things are as they are or how/why something occurs mechanically, biologically and/or technically. A feature/focus of this text type is to create five formal paragraphs, including introduction and conclusion.

In the classroom, the teacher facilitates the learning process in writing by providing time for explicit instruction (incorporating modelled writing, shared writing, interactive writing and guided writing), time for independent writing, and time for feedback. In this way, students hone their writing skills using the various organisational frameworks and language features of different text types.

Displays throughout the classroom provide prompts, supports, cues to assist students with the language features of a particular text type when writing explanations e.g. nouns and pronouns that refer to generalised participants (erosion, the water cycle, it); linking words to indicate time (first, then, following, finally); signal words to indicate cause and effect (if, then, because, consequently, as a result); action verbs (evaporates, increases, changes); adjectives that are precise and factual (sedimentary, cellular, atmospheric); formal objective style (i.e. first-person pronouns and the writer’s opinions are not generally appropriate); technical terms ( condensation, evaporation); some passive verbs (are saturated, are changed); timeless present tense (are, happens, turns).

Finally, a student is engaged in assessment and feedback – by the teacher, by their peers or by self-assessment – using examples and a rubric provided on a ‘Bump It Up’ Wall. This enables a student to know ‘exactly where they’re at’ with their writing and what they need to focus on next to ‘bump it up’.

What results is outstanding writing as provided by Grace (5AD), on the following pages.

 Helen Cox

Mass coral bleaching is hazardous to every species of marine life. It is when an ‘iota’ of living coral turns white. Bleaching coral impacts the survival of marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. Mass coral bleaching mainly impacts coastal communities. It has had major impacts on the sea-green ocean before. 2002, 2016 and 2020 coral bleaching events were the most recent bleachings to occur. Mass coral bleaching is not good for the environment.

 Mass coral bleaching is mainly caused by a white liquid used to protect us from the sun… you got it, it’s sunscreen. Sunscreen forms a ‘shield’ on us to stop too much  Vitamin D from reaching our body because an overdose of Vitamin D can trigger skin cancer. Sunscreen is frequently used at the beach, therefore it is no surprise that sunscreen will slip into the ocean and bleach coral. Sunscreen is composed of chemicals, some dangerous, some not. Two dangerous substances are oxybenzone and octinoxate. These can contaminate the coral by accumulating coral tissues or damaging DNA.  Mass coral bleaching is serious, especially when it involves humans. 

As coral reefs are home to more than a quarter of the oceans population, mass coral bleaching can seriously affect the environment. The elements that pose the biggest threat to marine ecosystems with coral reefs are mercury, lead, and organic chemicals, such as polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), oxybenzone and dioxin. They are suspected of impacting coral reproduction, growth rate, feeding, and defensive responses. The shade of coral changes because when corals are stressed by certain changes, they expel the symbiotic algae living in them. 

 This is a form of habitat degradation. Little peek-a-boo fish will have nowhere to hide, eat and live. This is shown in Finding Nemo where Marlin and Nemo go to sleep in an anemone. Furthermore, algae will have nowhere else to plant themselves. Without algae, many types of fish will perish. These fish include damselfish, parrotfish, pilotfish and many others that live in coral reefs. Because there will be a shortage of fish, we will have no more fish to eat.

 Mass coral bleaching has a massive impact on the marine environment. It causes habitat loss and provides very unhappy tourists. It also makes a headline in newspapers and is a subject of concern in marine biology. We can stop mass coral bleaching by using umbrellas, hats and UV protection coats instead of sunscreen. This is because it pollutes coral. Without our beautiful coral reefs to marvel, life seems dimmer without their amazing bioluminescence and housing. We can put a stop to mass coral bleaching by stopping climate change.

 Glossary:

Algae: A marine plant used as a food

Bioluminescence: A source of light produced by a living organism, e.g dragonfish

Bleaching: When something turns a lighter colour/white

Climate change: A phenomenon caused by global warming

Coral: A marine plant used as a shelter

Dioxin: A powerful chemical, located in sunscreen

Degradation: Destroyed

Great Barrier Reef: Largest reef in the world, situated in northern Queensland

Habitat loss: When a specific habitat disappears

Octinoxate: A poisonous chemical, located in sunscreen

Oxybenzone: A dangerous chemical, located in sunscreen

UV: A form of radiation energy

Dear parents, what a wonderful two weeks it has been with the warmer weather.  The students have been so excited to be out playing in the sunshine and enjoying each other’s company.  It’s always so lovely to see their happy faces on the playground.  Please don’t forget to clearly label your child’s hat with their name and class so we can return it them should they become separated from each other!

The rich learning that is taking place in every class across the school is so inspirational.  Each and every class I visit I am constantly amazed by the talented teachers.  Coming from a high school background, I am super impressed with the high-quality teaching that is being taught every class in the school.  The displays in the classes are truly motivating, it’s so wonderful to see the authentic learning that students have engaged with in their literacy and numeracy learning journeys.

Thank you to those parents who are making an extra effort to get their children to school on time.  It has been making such a difference to their learning and engagement in class.  Being on time means that your child doesn’t miss out on important learning. 

Though I have only been at Palmerston District Primary School for a short while, I will be heading back to high school next term.  It has been an absolute pleasure and honour working here this past term.  I’ve come to really love the students.  They have definitely left a huge heart print on my heart.  I will never forget the fabulous experiences and the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with at Palmerston.  What a truly amazing, dynamic, inspirationally talented team of people!  The students have impressed me with the friendly way that they welcomed me into the school and this is something that I will fondly remember forever.

One parting message that I will share with the students as I depart from this beautiful school is that Palmerston District Primary School is a special place to learn and grow, make the most of this precious experience.

Remember to take good care of each other, keep washing those hands and above all, be kind. 

I bid all a fond farewell and adieu. 

Lorelie Choy

Thank you to each and every one of you who supported the School Colour Explosion™ Run – we couldn’t have done it without you!!

We are excited to announce that we doubled our fundraising  goal! This will go towards purchasing Digital Technology. What an outstanding job!

Prizes are on the way so watch out for these shortly.  Thanks again for your support.

Top fundraisers

Carter Fitzpatrick - $2,010

Sopiato Mchao - $2,001

Nicholas Mckinon - $810

@austalianfundraising #colourexplosion #schoolrun4run #colourblast #schoolcolourexplosion #schoolfunrun #australianfundraising

The P & C will be commencing the ‘Vested Vollies’ program from Monday 14th September.

There will be between 2 & 3 volunteers wearing a teal vest from 8:35am-9:05am for school drop offs and then from 2:40pm-3:15pm for pick-ups. We believe this will be an effective way to help the flow of traffic and help to reduce the bank up of cars onto Kosciusko Avenue. It also gives an option to families with younger children who normally park up and walk their children to the gates, to drop them off knowing that an adult is there to help and the make child feel safe and confident.

To keep everyone safe; students, drivers, staff and our volunteers; the P & C will ensure all the ‘Vested Vollies’ are properly trained.

The ‘ Vested Vollies’ will;

• Make eye contact with the driver as they stop in the PICK UP Zone.
• Request the driver wind the passenger window down.
• Ask if your children are comfortable with the help.
• Ask if you are OK for them to open the passenger doors of your car.

They WILL NOT be directing traffic or going to the drivers side of the car .

Please be patient and kind.

We would love for lots parents and carers to be involved, you  can choose do it once, or once a week/fortnight/month. Any help is greatly appreciated. It’s a great way for Dad’s and Mum’s to be involved.

 You can sign up here https://volunteersignup.org/LQ3JE or email the P & C President at palmpandc@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Helen Ritchie

P & C President

Purchase your Entertainment Book now and 20% of your membership purchase goes directly to our school!

- Memberships also last for 12 months from the date of purchase

- no more book versions, just downloadable to your phone (5 devices per membership)

Congratulations to the following students who received a PRIDE Award at assembly.

PARTICIPATION – becoming involved, “having a go” and cooperating with others

Lex - KBR   Miyuki - KFD   Damien - KNE  Chris - 1AS   Alina - 1FS  Thomas - 1FT   Viraj - 1LL  Matilda - 2DH  Murray - 2DH  Ryan - 2MO

Jerzy - 2SH  Zaide - LSU  Omar - LSU   Elliot - 3MB  Pilise - 3JL 

Madison - 4MC  Sopiato - 4MG  Grace - 5AD  Ash - 5CW  Oliver - 6CT

Emily - 6CT  Mackenzie - 3DT

RESPECT -  having respect for self, others and their property

Safa - KGM  Maisie - KBR  Louise - 1FT  Vilai - 2MO  Sophia - 3DT 

Iman - 4MG  Linda - 4RE

INTEGRITY – being honest, fair, responsible and loyal

Aram - KNE  Gordon - 1BD  Cooper - 1FS  Savleen - 3MB  Max - 3MB

Stella - 3NS  Chloee - 5CW  Amara - 6DE

DETERMINATION - being persistent and resilient

Christian - KGM  April - KGS   Isla - KGS   Aedan - KFD  Kafka - KMC

Amirali - 1AS  Lauren - 1BD  Lylah - 1LL  Isha - 1MP  Stan - 1MP  

Chase - 2RM  Garv - 2SH  Dayaan - 2SZ  George - 2SZ  Jarvis - LSU

Thomas - 3DT  Kimora - 3JL    Manahil - 3MB  Kate - 3NS  Aaron - 4MC

Huda - 5AD  Yaak - 5VS  Hamish - 3DT  Sophie - LSU

EMPATHY - understanding and supporting others regardless of our differences

Evie - KMC  Hazel - 3MB  Anna - 4RE  Lacey - 5VS  Violet - 6DE

12th October                                      Beginning of term 4

20th October                                      Year 2 excursion 

23th October                                      Book parade 

30th October                                      Athletics carnivals

Week 4,5,9                                          Preschool visits to Kindergarten