Alawa Primary School Newsletter

Welcome to our Week 3 News!

It is terrific being back at school this week and seeing all those smiley faces. Sincere thanks to all those who reached out, checked in during my leave - looking forward to re-connecting over the next few days. Special thanks to Gen Donohue and the team at Alawa for looking after everyone so well during my absence.

This time of year is always busy with in class assessments, NAPLAN for Years 3 and 5 students as well as our regular BootCamp and preparations for the annual Track and Field Carnival. We also have School Photos coming up in June and a Pupil Free Day. Don't forget to check out our calendar of events to be sure you have all the key dates noted.

I am aware we continue to face some minor challenges with the COVID situation and have been pleased to note the relatively low stats for our school community. Please continue to work with us as the situation continues to unfold and change. We will continue to keep you informed directly via email.

Today our Senior Learning Commission connect with our partners and other schools via the web - we are also staying late after school tomorrow [Thursday] to finalize our focus for the year. Students are pitching lines of inquiry around Spelling, Writing and Reading - stay tuned for the final outcome.

Have a great week

Cheers

Sandy Cartwright [Principal]

To all families,

We are now in Week 3 and have enjoyed another long weekend. Welcome back to Ms Cartwright. It is terrific to have you back at school.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY: Our SRC leaders have been very busy preparing for our Mother’s Day stall this week. We have purchased some wonderful gifts and our students have made many little items. A huge thankyou, once again to Ms Yenni for your fantastic ideas and talents in making this happen. Our gifts will range in price from $1- $6. We will have on sale a range of things from candles, soaps, seeds, plants, cards, necklaces, loofahs and much more. Start dropping hints of what you may like Mum!! Our stall will be open on Thursday and Friday, before and after school this week.

NAPLAN: Our Year 3 and 5 students will be completing their NAPLAN assessments in the next two weeks. The conditions will be exactly the same as the practice tests so the students are all familiar with the process. The students will be assessed on Writing, Reading, Numeracy and Language Conventions. The tests will be spread out over 2 weeks. Just a reminder to encourage your children to eat and sleep well as well as drink plenty of water and do the best they can. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. See the timetable below.

Instrumental Lessons: These will continue this week as they will not be impacted by our NAPLAN assessment

Have a wonderful week and enjoy your Mothers day weekend with your family.

Gen Donohue [Assistant Principal]

I will sneak a little quiz question into the newsletter each week. If you are a student and know the answer send me an email to have the opportunity to earn 20 bonus house points.

Week 3 question: What event is planned for Saturday 14th May from 8:30am - 10:30am?

Sandy Cartwright [Principal]

Our annual whole school sports day will take place on Friday 10th June. 

We are now seeking volunteers to help on the day with a variety of activities. If you have a spare 1/2hr or so and would like to help out please contact Miss Tamra - tamra.caruana@education.nt.gov.au or call the front office to leave your details 8997 7666. 

 The following are some of the activities you may like to help out with: 

·         Running races – place keeping 9 - 9.30

·         Upper years field rotations – 9.30 - 12.50 [any time in between these hours] 

·         Early years rotations – 9.30 – 12.30 [approx]

·         Café  - helping with lunch preparation

*Please note that NT Government requirements are that all volunteers in schools must be fully vaccinated.

This Thursday 5th and Friday 6th May the SRC will be hosting our annual Mother's day stall. 

Students will set up under the tree near the deck before and after school both days for students to purchase a small gift for their mother/carer. 

Items will be available from as little as $1. Please ensure students are sent with cash on those days if they would like to purchase. 

Special thanks to Miss Yenni for your support of this event. 

So many of our students at Alawa shine in so many arenas outside the school - this week we are celebrating the efforts of Mr Orlando P from Year 1.

Orlando has taken up BMX riding only a short time ago and was super proud of his efforts in the recent NT Series Hutsix. He was awarded 2 medals in recognition of his efforts!

Well done Orlando!

Sandy Cartwright [Principal]

This term we have once again been successful in securing a Sporting Schools grant provided by the Australian Government. 

Sporting Schools is a $400 million Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children's participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities. 

Sporting Schools programs are provided free to children and their families to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life.

For Week 2-5 this term we have:

• AFL lunchtime coaching and games with support from Miss Ros on Tuesdays
• Gymnastics coaching and skills with support from Miss Gina on Thursdays
• Soccer coaching and games with support from Miss Gina after school on Thursdays. 

More programs will be made available for Weeks 6-10 and advertised to students. 

Muster is held at Alawa after each recess and lunch break - this gives us an opportunity for everyone to settle from playtime, share any celebrations and work on consistency of messages and expectation.

Each week we allocate class points during Muster time recognising those students who were ready and waiting to go back to class calmly and quietly after break times. The winning class from each 3 weeks will receive ice-blocks from Ms Cartwright and get to choose 5 songs that will play before our bells for the following 3 weeks.

The class with the most points in Week 2 of Term 2 was....Year 1 Bullock with 98 points!!!

Students at Alawa receive raffle tickets [house points] for their attitude and behaviour in the playground and out the front of the school at the end of the day. These are then counted on a Friday along with the points for students in full uniform, wearing house shirts etc.  At the end of each term we also include the points earnt through the recycling project and water bottle checks.

In Week 2 of Term 2 Goyder was ahead of Manton and Finnis with 3841 points!!! 

In the lead for the year...Finnis with 33613 points!!!

After a small delay to starting kitchen lessons this term, we had an exciting week 'going to' Italy and making our own pasta. We mixed 200g of flour with 2 farm eggs and one and a half teaspoons of salt to make a dough, we rested it for half an hour then used the pasta machines to roll it out then cut it up into spaghetti or fettucine.

The groups also made yummy sauces to put with the pasta. We saw some lovely creamy pastas and some fresh tomato based ones and made use of the basil we have growing in our herb garden.

We really enjoyed making our own pasta and experiencing how easy it is to make things ourselves instead of relying on packet food. We did have some difficulty with the pasta machines as some of them have become a bit damaged over time, if anyone has one lurking in the back of a cupboard that they no longer need, we would love some donations. 

We will be continuing our food tour, heading to Morocco, Spain and France in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for our Food Tour of the World cookbook coming out later this term.

Tina Sullivan [Kitchen Teacher] 

Hello fabulous families,

We have been reading the story ‘The Little Red Hen’ and learned the importance helping others and sharing the workload. We set up a dramatic play area where children could retell and act out their favourite parts of the story.

We also made bread! The children helped to measure ingredients, mix, knead the dough and most importantly eat the delicious bread!

Reading and retelling familiar stories develops early literacy skills and its lovely to see the children’s confidence grow as they begin to see themselves as readers.

Emma, Emma and Kelly and Flor [Preschool Team] 

CBCA Shortlist 2022 Book Spotlight – Iceberg by Claire Saxby Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft. 

In the final freeze of an Antarctic winter, green tails wave across a star-full sky, as if to farewell endless nights. If this world looks empty, look closer ... Penguins trek across the ice to their winter homes. As the temperature warms, birds fly above on their long migrations. And with the advent of summer, beneath an iceberg, the sea is teeming with life. Ocean, sky, snow and ice - minute greens and giant blues - dance a delicate dance in this evocative portrayal of the life cycle of an iceberg.

Shortlisted in the Picture Book of the Year category Iceberg provides a window into life in the Antarctic. Beautifully illustrated, showcasing the environment, seasons, climate and living things – Iceberg tells the story of the ecosystem sustained by and around an iceberg.

Don’t forget - Book Club Issue 3 is due back this week. If you have missed getting one you can head online and view and order from the catalogue on the Book Club LOOP site scholastic.com.au/LOOP

Orders are due back by Thursday the 5th of May. You can view the catalogue and order online through the Scholastic Bookclub website at scholastic.com.au/LOOP, download the LOOP app From Google Play or from the App Store or return your order form and payment to the office. Spare catalogues will be available at the office if you miss out.

Miss Sacha [Library and ICT Manager]

Our Mission - is to provide the Alawa School community with delicious healthy meals and snacks and to create meaningful links to our kitchen garden program. We will do our best to ensure we order the same products as advertised but occasionally have to change due to stock availability.

Cafe Specials Weeks 1-5

LUNCHTIME SPECIALS:

Available every day lunch only:

- mini beef burgers  $3.50

- spaghetti bolognaise small serve $3.50 or large serve $5.50 /Gluten Free Spaghetti $6.50

Wednesday - Chicken Caesar wrap -  $5.50

Thursday – Beef Nachos - Large size $5.50, Small $3.50

 Friday – Chicken and vegetable hokkien noodles- Large size $5.50, Small $3.50

A reminder that our school Cafe is open Wednesday to Friday ONLY. Closed on Monday and Tuesdays. 

Order online at www.quickcliq.com.au

Start a conversation with your child and invite them to share what they have heard about COVID-19 vaccines. It’s important to listen to their responses and acknowledge any fears they have about being vaccinated. For example:

• Tell me what you know so far about the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Have you ever had a vaccine before?

• What did that feel like?

The chances are your child has had a vaccine before and it may not have been so bad. Be open about the vaccine and the vaccination process Explain honestly and in an age-appropriate way what you know about the COVID-19 vaccine.  

Remember children take emotional cues from adults, so oversharing fears may not be constructive and may make your child feel uncomfortable. It may help to explain to your child what they can expect on the day of the appointment. Explain that the doctor or medical professional will ask your child some questions, that your child will receive a needle in their arm, that they’ll feel a small prick and their arm might be a little bit sore afterwards. Reassure your child by telling them it’s normal for their arm to be a little bit sore, and it means the medicine is working. If your child seems anxious about getting vaccinated, try exploring their feelings further or seek further advice from your GP if necessary

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