Welcome to Term 4 everyone, and what an exciting term we have in front of us. Staff came back to school very relaxed and recharged for the fun that term 4 brings, and we are delighted to have everyone join back in such a happy and positive way --- maybe the sunshine and warmer temperatures also help.
We welcome two new staff members: Ms Veronica Rapp, who is replacing Ms Karon Campbell, and leading the way with Environmental Science for K-2 and preschool relief. We also welcome Mr Samir Ezzat – a Youth Support Worker for the term. Both new staff members have already commented on our positive environment and fabulous students!
I’d like to thank Ms Felicity McNiece for acting as Deputy Principal while Mrs Helen Cox has taken some leave in weeks 1 and 2. Additionally, thanks to Ms Anita Donaldson who acted as executive teacher for Felicity. These experiences give our leaders and aspiring leaders the opportunity to experience other components of the leadership roles, and both have done an exceptional job.
We are so excited to open our School Canteen this week. Massive thanks to Helen Ritchie, Sonya Campbell, Kirsty Brown and Anita Donaldson for the work they have put in to making this initiative come to life. We have been impressed by the delicious and healthy treats on offer, the fabulous smells that ooze out onto the blacktop. For preschool orders, please note, as an issue of equity, only Lunch Orders on Wednesdays are implemented at this stage. We warmly welcome Debbie, Mel and Susie to our school community and thank them for joining us and already making our school even better.
This term, we have several very important things happening. Let me step you through a few of them.
Please don’t forget to vote for Mr CJ Shaw in the upcoming Telstra Aria Awards – Australian Music teacher Award. Please ask your family to vote daily, spread the word, like Mr Shaw spreads the joy of music and singing!! We have until November 18th to vote.
Lastly, thank you to all families for the incredible costumes and celebrations for Book Week Parade today. It is such a fun day, and I know photos are kept for years and years. Reading is something to get excited by. Imagination and a love for reading was certainly showcased today! Thanks to Ms Kristina Collins for organising such a fun celebration.
Regards,
Kate Smith
Principal
Our school sure is one beautiful place. It really, truly is and I always tell everyone I can, every chance I get. At school our students are always guided by the professionalism, passion, empathy, and care of our staff and they are also guided by, and learn from, each other. Every one of our students is a role model and every day as I walk around our lovely school, I can see evidence of student voice, student care and student leadership. Across our school student leadership, with the underlying expectations of being safe, respectful learners, is evident from Kindergarten all the way through to Year 6, and across every environment in our community. I witness it in the library where monitors help to keep the space organised, in the sharing of playground resources, in the way students take care of the environment and in the help they provide each other. Our students are amazing people.
Mrs Edwards told me this week with great pride, that in Kindergarten Penny, Amelie, Faith and Maddie have been visiting the LSU to read levelled texts to their friends each morning for ten to fifteen minutes. They sit together and show such patience, kindness, and encouragement.
At the other end of the school, Year Six continue to demonstrate a high level of leadership with the successful rollout of a boys football club at lunchtimes and a small group of Year Six girls working during their free time to support teachers across the school. Year Six are also;
Mr Joy also tells me about senior students who are sports leaders every day and whose responsibilities include;
Next week, during NAIDOC Week, we also take time to recognise and acknowledge the relentless commitment and tireless work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in our community. The theme for NAIDOC Week in 2020 is always was, and always will be. Indeed, our Indigenous peoples have, for more than 60, 000 years, occupied, cared for and been leaders of this land. We are truly lucky to have opportunities to learn from first nations leaders and people.
Welcome back everyone to what looks to be a fast-paced and super busy term! I am looking forward to seeing more leaders emerge here at Palmerston District Primary School.
Marijana Pasalic
Recently my son turned 20. It is hard to believe that he is a young adult now. He still lives with me but to be honest I hardly see him. While I am at work he is at home and while I am at home he is at work. We have always had a strong relationship. This is partly because from an early age we had a lot of fun experiences together but with firm expectations.
From the age of 2 we began swimming lessons every Saturday morning and then afterwards would go to the library to borrow 5 books for the bedtime routine story. He is an avid reader now. Being an only child Hamish was often left to his own devices while I was busy preparing lessons or doing housework. These times were important times for him to learn to have independent play. Lego was a firm favourite and being away from devices was important too as it meant that he had to be creative.
From the same age we began a chore routine with him to demonstrate that helping around the house was important. Simple at first as he grew older the chores became more complex. Things such as taking his dirty clothes to the laundry. When he went to high school a friend suggested for her boys, all older than Hamish, that she taught them how to wash their own clothes. This was a brilliant suggestion as it meant that I didn’t have to wash teenage boy socks! It also meant that it taught him planning and responsibility for himself. These regular chores in the house teach children responsibility, teamwork and independence. Skills that are all so important in life.
It also meant that we instilled in him the importance of work before play. Play came as a family after the work was done in the form of many adventures. One of my fondest memories is as a family we would each have a nerf gun and run around shooting each other - laughing when someone was usually ganged up on - this was usually me! Other adventures included riding bikes or hiking and geocaching. Even now when our schedules align Hamish and I will often go for a walk together.
These experiences have helped to build our strong relationship which was so important when my husband, and his dad died 5 years ago. We were there to lean on each other, to discuss with each other our feelings of loss and recall the memories of the adventures we created together as a family.
I am so thankful now of the way we parented Hamish in those early days as it wasn’t always easy. He was difficult at the age of 2 and year 6 was a particularly challenging year including being called into the school to discuss his behaviour but due to our firm expectations, teamwork and guidance we got through the difficult times together. Talking to him about the cause and effect on each and every person involved in the conflict was important too.
I firmly believe that children will achieve their best when they are given experiences to build their confidence and resilience. They are given opportunities to learn and explore through play and experimentation with safe boundaries and guidance.
I encourage you to have an adventure with your child and make it become a habit. It could be something as small as cooking together to going for a walk or the regular reading of a book. It is through these experiences that children will learn valuable life long lessons and I believe that these family bonds are strong building blocks when life can be tough.
Felicity McNeice
Palmerston Music Teacher Mr Shaw has been nominated for an ARIA award and he needs Palmerston's help.
The award, Telstra Music Teacher of the Year celebrates music teachers across the country who work hard and inspire our students.
Determined by popular vote, Mr Shaw and Palmy would love you to head online to https://www.aria.com.au/vote and vote.
If you have already voted thank you and please head back, as you can vote every day!
Let's bring the award to Palmy!
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Welcome to this fortnight’s Family Reading Corner!
This week’s topic: Good books for emergent readers.
As you know this week is Book Week, one of my favourite weeks in the school year. Australian children’s books are chosen by a panel against strict criteria and awarded very prestigious prizes.
I thought this fortnight might be a good opportunity to explore what makes a good picture book, with particular focus on emergent readers, that is readers who are beginning their journey to becoming independent readers.
Before I begin, it’s important to reinforce once again that the best book, is the one your child wants and chooses to read. Book choice is important and the strategies I have discussed previously help your child access any book they choose. However, if you are looking for a good picture book the following points are well worth considering as you are browsing the shelves of Dymocks.
General Information
· Familiar content and themes that children can relate to. Children need to be able to make connections to what they are reading and their own worlds.
· Rhythm and rhyme. Children love being able to join in on repeated phrases such as ‘do you know who sank the boat?’ or ’Brown bear, brown bear what do you see?’ This builds confidence and allows children to feel like they are real readers as well as promoting speech and language. A rhyming text such as those by Julia Donaldson create listening and prediction skills as well as developing phonological awareness.
· Great illustrations that not only develop children’s enjoyment of art but provide context into the story and its themes. Good illustrations help develop analytical skills in children.
· Humour is important. It engages children and makes reading fun. Humorous texts can create critical thinking and exploration of word play.
In Australia we are very lucky to have a plethora of quality Australian children’s authors. These include Bruce Whatley, Jackie French, Pamela Allen, Graeme Base, Aaron Blabey, Nick Bland, Anh Do, Alison Lester, Jeannie Baker and of course Mem Fox. I’m also a big fan of Julia Donaldson who is a British author and I absolutely love Mo Willems an American author who writes the Elephant and Piggie series.
Don’t forget, if the book is a little difficult use the reading strategies below.
Echo Reading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxFLeIZQzV0
Shared Reading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUuwWzckKrs
Paired Reading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j80MHkyIIFs
Please share your feedback, stories and even pictures!
Happy reading!
Nicole Taylor
Primary Concert Choir - 2021
The ACT Instrumental Music Program is seeking students who will be in Year 4 to Year 6 in ACT public schools in 2021 to audition for IMP Primary Concert Choir.
Auditions will be held at the ACT Instrumental Music Program Rehearsal Room (adjacent to UC High School Kaleen), Baldwin Drive, Kaleen.
Choir auditions will be in Term 4, Week 8 (30 November-4 December), with audition times to be allocated in mid-Term 4.
All audition requirements will be available on the IMP website by mid-Term 4.
The IMP Primary Concert Choir is an excellent opportunity for talented, skilled and committed young musicians to work together in an enriching environment. The group is an active performance ensemble, and the families of students auditioning will need to be prepared to make a strong commitment to rehearsal and performance attendance for the year.
Further details and information about how to apply for an audition are available from the Instrumental Music Program website at www.imp.act.edu.au. The application form can be accessed through this site or by clicking on the links below.
Information cards and posters are available at your child’s school.
Complete your online application at:
https://forms.gle/qS26k7zkpRBxFKEZ9
Applications are now open and close Friday 13 November.
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
Abigail - 4MC Lacey - 4RE Ojas - 4RE Krystelle - 5AD Anh - 5VS Chanakya - 3DT Stephanie - 3DT
RESPECT - having respect for self, others and their property
Amelia - 3MB Andrew - 6CT
INTEGRITY – being honest, fair, responsible and loyal
Violet - 3NS Joanne - 4MG Aayan - 5CW Ma'afu - 5CW Reuben - 5VS Emily - 6CT Mia - 6DE Jessica - 6DE
DETERMINATION - being persistent and resilient
Violet - 3JL Miley - 3JL Amina - 4MC Owen - 4MG Safa - 5AD Ela-Rose - 4RE Alex - 4MG
EMPATHY - understanding and supporting others regardless of our differences
Savleen - 3MB
30th October Athletics carnivals
Week 4,5,9 Preschool visits to Kindergarten
Term 4 Ends Friday 18 December
Covid restrictions getting you down? Desperate to get out of the house? Missing live music and theatre? Well, we have the perfect event for you!
Take a toe-tapping trip back to the 90’s in the hilarious new musical POPSTARS and witness the epic battle between Boyband vs Girlband on the Gungahlin College Theatre stage. Presented by the Musical & Stage performance students and crewed by the Live Production Services students, this show is sure to delight! Packed with smash hits from the hyper-coloured 1990's by artists such as THE SPICE GIRLS, BACKSTREET BOYS, N*SYNC, BRITNEY SPEARS, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, MC HAMMER and many more.
POPSTARS is set in a school in the 1990's where Mark is head over heels in love with his girlfriend, ‘Queen Bee’, Shannon Van de Witt. However, when Shannon learns that pop-band impresario Simon Austin is the surprise judge at the State Talent Show she dumps him for her chance at showbiz stardom and Mark rapidly goes from High School Hero to High School Zero. However, his garage band buddies rally around him and soon a plan for revenge is hatched to change their grunge band to a boyband and snatch the Talent Show title from Shannon’s ‘Candy Girls.’ There’s just one small problem... the boys can’t dance. To address this ‘minor’ problem Mark enlists the help of the ultra-talented, new girl, Ella to help with their boyband makeover and sparks soon fly. Can Mark get the girl, get the Grand Prize and get even with the scheming Shannon closing in? It’s anyone’s guess as the countdown to the Grand Finale begins. It’s sure to be one to remember…
DATES:
Tuesday, October 27 7:30PM
Wednesday, October 28 7:30PM (Cast 2)
Thursday, October 29 7:30PM (Dinner Show) **
Friday, October 30 7:30PM
Saturday, October 31 12:30AM - MATINEE (Cast 2)
Saturday, October 31 7:30PM
Location: Gungahlin College Theatre
Running time: Approximately 140 mins
Advisory Information: PG Rating
Warning: Smoke haze and flashing lights
Bookings for the evening performances: Stagecenta.com
Cost: Adults - $25, Concession - $15, Family - (2 Adults/ 2 Concession) $70
**Special Thursday evening DINNER SHOW: Available on Thursday, October 29, including a 3-course meal for only $30/person plus your ticket price. Please book your tickets on stagecenta.com, then call the Gungahlin College Front Office on 61421000 to pre-book and pay for your dining experience. Places are limited, so get in quick!
Further Information: Call Gungahlin Arts on 61421013 or email crystal.mahon@ed.act.edu.au
