Welcome to Week 7! What an exciting past two weeks we’ve had at Holbrook Public School! In addition to remaining focused on learning in the classrooms, students have also enjoyed: the K-2 and 3-6 Athletics Carnivals, Year 3/4 Rugby League and League Tag Gala Day, the transition program for our new Kindergarten students and Year 6 students going to Billabong and other local high schools in 2021, the public speaking finals, NAIDOC Week, Joffa visit and an exciting excursion to Holbrook Paddock Eggs for our Kindergarten class. Thank you to our marvellous teachers for offering such a diverse learning experience at Holbrook Public School! Looking ahead, we have plenty more to come as well, so avail yourself to the newsletter and strap yourself in for a big finish to 2020.
Student Leadership
Good luck to our wonderful Year 5 students who will be making their captain speeches tomorrow in an effort to be voted in as Captain, Vice-Captain or a Prefect in 2021. All students and staff will have the opportunity to vote. On Thursday, voting will take place for House Leaders as well. With only ten of these leadership positions available and a cohort of 23, it is important to note that ‘you don’t need a badge to be a leader’.
Extended Professional Learning
On Wednesday evening, our teachers will complete their final extended staff meeting in lieu of the final two Staff Development Days in Term 4. We have been undertaking an in depth evidence-based review of the research on reading, including Effective Reading Instruction in the Early Years, Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and Deslea Konza’s Big Six: Oral Language, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension. This Wednesday, staff will also be formally introduced to the Smiling Mind program by our Smiling Mind Champion facilitators, Miss Hemphill and Mrs Pargeter. As a result of this additional professional learning, there will be no staff at the school on Thursday, 17 and Friday, 18 December.
Kindergarten Transition
Our final Kindergarten orientation activity for 2020 will be our ‘Meet Your Buddy’ transition activity on Thursday, 26 November. Once pre-school children have met their buddy, they will have the opportunity to enjoy morning tea together, with the company of their favourite furry friend! Students will then participate in daily PE activities. Please bring a healthy snack and your favourite teddy bear or soft toy!
An email with details for our Parent Information Session for new parents will be sent in the coming days. It is scheduled as a Zoom from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. on Monday, 30 November.
Work Experience
After farewelling Katie Ridley, a CSU student on her final placement last week, this week we welcome Jaide Hughes, a Year 10 student from Billabong High School, who is completing work experience with us. Jaide is a former student and is working primarily with Miss Lavis.
NAPLAN Readiness Test
A big thank you to Miss Lavis who ran practice NAPLAN readiness tests last week with students from her English class and Mrs Pargeter’s maths class. We are well on our way to being ready for NAPLAN online in 2021!
Opportunity Class Placement Test
Last week, a small group of Year 4 students participated in two tests in order to gain entry to a selective class in 2021. Our nearest Opportunity Class is in Wagga Wagga, however, from 2021, students in Years 5 will be able to access Aurora College, a virtual opportunity class for regional, rural and remote students.
Sporting Schools – Golf
As we won’t be able to run our swimming for sport program due to restrictions on numbers, we have engaged some golf coaches for Years 3-6 with our Sporting Schools funding for Term 4.
Week 7 – 3/4
Week 8 – 4/5
Week 9 – 5/6
Presentation Day
We are planning to hold our Presentation Day events at school on Thursday, 10 December from 10:00 a.m. We will broadcast a webinar of the events to parents and carers via Zoom. More details to come.
Year 6 Taster Day at Billabong High School
Thursday, 12 November saw eight Year 6 students venture to Billabong High School, for their first taste of ‘big school’. Billabong treated them to a great day, full of new experiences. In school groups, they spent the day in a number of different classes, being led by some older leaders of Billabong. Everyone reported that it was a really wonderful experience, and they’re all looking forward to the next visit, on December 1. Thank you to Billabong for hosting us.
Nathan Fisher
Principal