As we approach the end of Term 3, we are excited to see many of our projects unfolding or coming to completion. Even though we have a number of restrictions in place, we have tried really hard to keep our students engaged and motivated and to keep as many of our special events as possible. At times we have needed to be creative and we have certainly called on Captain Disposition a number of times to help us solve problems and think in other ways!
Instead of excursions, we have had special visitors to teach us. Earlier in the term, Kelly from Urban Hum brought in her bees and explained the important role of bees in food production to Stage 1 students. This week, Dallas and Ken from the Cardiff Men's Shed, showed Kindergarten how to make a possum box for our playground. All students have enjoyed weekly dance with Sam from Dance2BFit. Students are happy and enjoying their learning as I am sure you have seen on SeeSaw.
We were not able to share Education Week with any visitors, but loved making our special video to share with our families. Our Year 2 students did a fantastic job organising our Beanie for Brain cancer Bonanza.
In order to get the Premiers' Reading Challenge completed, we started lunch time story time. The teacher on Lunch 1 duty has been reading a PRC book to students during eating time for the past 4 weeks. It has been a hit! The students voted last week that they want this to continue.
This week Miss Eveleigh and the teachers are organising a sports carnival for Tuesday 15th September (next week). We will still be wearing our sports colours, but will sit with our class groups. We will complete our activities in classes and still have our age races. All we need now is a fine, sunny day! Year 1 are busy organising a Book Week event for Wednesday October 21st. This will include a dress up parade, book fair, picnic lunch and special book readings by Year 1 students. We are so looking forward to it! Keep your eye out for more information in the coming weeks.
Our P&C have been working quietly in the background and have approved funding for some amazing new signage that will be installed in the school very soon. They are also purchasing us a bubbler trough with a bottle filler and hand washing taps, to be installed on the back of the toilets. A concrete slab was laid there this week to provide a dry area for students to stand. That is going to be a great change from one single bubbler for the whole school and a bottle filler will be very handy! We have also chosen new guided readers for Kindergarten and new home readers for Stage 1. Thank you to our P&C and for your fundraising support to make this possible. Don't forget the P&C latest fundraiser for our 70th anniversary in 2021. Today, all students received a paper temple for a very special recipe book, so don't forget to check bags. We would love to have a collection of our favourite recipes from our current families and staff. The P&C have a very special book planned ... we just need some recipes .. please!
So as we get close to the end of a busy term, I thank all the staff for their efforts to keep our school and great place to learn and play. Thank you to our families for your ongoing support and encouragement.
Don't forget that tomorrow is R U OK? Day. The 2020 theme, 'There's more to say after R U OK?' focuses on meaningful discussion and what to do if someone says they’re not ok. The NSW Department of Education has links to some great resources to support conversations with students.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/check-in-and-ask-r-u-ok
If it has been a while, reach out to someone and check in.
Lisa Hughes
Principal
