Glengarry Primary School
Newsletter

Dear Parents & Community Members,

The School Board met last week for our first of two meetings this term.  Discussions included a review of 2022 student data across literacy, numeracy and the social-emotional domain.  Given teachers had spent considerable time analysing he data, the Board was also privy to the initial planning thoughts discussed.  These ideas will be drafted into Operational Plans for the new school year and shared at the next meeting.

Last week I was privileged to spend the majority of my time with the Year 6 students at the Woodman Point camp.  All individuals in the group pushed themselves to obtain goals over and above expectations – a credit to them all.  Overall the attitude and levels of maturity demonstrated made attending staff extremely proud.  Special thanks to Mr Lillico, Miss Powley and Mrs Barrett for supervision during the camp.

Finally, tomorrow (Friday, October 28) is World Teachers’ Day.  We take this opportunity to thank ALL staff who work at Glengarry Primary School.  This year’s theme is “Hats off to teachers”; please consider wishing staff a “Happy World Teachers’ Day” or lifting your hat when you greet them.

Peter Meston

Principal

As you would be aware, National Cabinet agreed on 30 September 2022 to implement a nationally consistent approach to easing Australia’s COVID-19 response measures.

As of October 14,  (2022) the COVID Transition (Testing and Isolation) Directions are revoked. This removes mandatory requirements for isolation and testing for cases and close contacts.

We know that COVID-19 remains a risk to our health and wellbeing, particularly those vulnerable to respiratory illness, so it is very important for all of us to take personal responsibility to keep ourselves, our families and our colleagues safe.

Taking personal responsibility

First and foremost, stay home if you are unwell and get tested if you have cold or flu symptoms.

WA.gov.au has detailed information on how to access tests.

If you test positive to COVID-19, you are strongly encouraged to continue to:

• not attend work until the symptoms have resolved (unless advised otherwise by your employer)
• register your RAT result
• tell your household members and intimate partners that you have tested positive for COVID-19
• advise work that you have tested positive for COVID-19.

Please also continue to practise healthy hygiene habits and stay up to date with vaccinations.

On Thursday the 20th of October, the Room 1 and 2 students travelled to Cockman House for a History Excursion.  It was a very hands-on excursion where the students were able to explore the artefacts preserved in the home for over 160 years!  

We were warmly greeted by our tour operator at Cockman House.  The first activity was to create a historical timeline of significant people or events that were pivotal to the building, establishment and preservation of Cockman House.  Some of the students were chosen to dress up in costumes representing a significant person and stand along a large rope holding a sign illustrating the date and event that occurred.  There were three ‘pretend’ weddings and we learned that 23 kids were born and lived in the home from when it was built until it became a museum. 

After the introduction to the house, we spilt into small groups to explore the homestead and the surrounding grounds, looking for clues to answer inquiry questions.  We carried out some of the chores that children were expected to do – like washing clothes, finding chicken eggs and watering the vegetables.  We all learned a lot about the artefacts in the house, such as the potty that children were to clean each morning, the bedrooms that six or more children would occupy to sleep toe-to-toe and the outside dunny were the occupant's used newspaper in place of toilet paper. 

We concluded the excursion making a toy.  The students compared their current childhood with that of the children at Cockman House.  The children certainly did not have iPads or the commercial toys they have now!  They used things that they would find around the home to create their own games and toys.  The room 1 and 2 students used a wooden clothes peg, pipeline, cloth and wool to make peg dolls to play with. 

Thank you to all the parents and family members who volunteered their time to enable our students to have this amazing experience.  We all had lots of fun at Cockman house and are keen to visit again!  

Room 1 & 2 students, Mrs Macaulay & Mrs Rollings 

After a successful competition season with many apparatus and all round placings, 8 year old Sunny competed in the State Championships at the beginning of October.  She gave a gold medal winning beam routine, and came away with the title of State Champion on beam in National Level 5. 

All the kids, juniors & seniors, were amazing!!!  The costumes were awesome, everyone was so well behaved, the atmosphere was so much fun and the dance floor was pumping.  DJ Morgan did a superb job and he commented that this was the best school disco he's been to and was loving all the song requests from the students. 

All the students and parents should be super proud!

Also, a massive thank you to all the parent helpers and volunteers that helped make it such a successful evening.