FROM OUR PRINCIPAL MRS LEANNE SMITH

Another very busy 2 weeks, both inside classrooms and around the school.  The entrance pathways from the hall are currently being finalised and the soil for the garden beds should be in by the end of the week.  The railings are being finished today so we are almost ready to have all trades complete and off site.  Next we start the development of the turning circle area of the school.

This week our grade 3 and grade 5 students have been doing a brilliant job with their NAPLAN tests.  The have completed 2 and 2 more to go. 

As the weather is starting to get colder in the mornings but we are still seeing sunny warmer days students have been taking their jumpers off and our lost property is getting fuller.  If you are missing a jumper please have a look through lost property which is in the foyer of the staff room. 

Term Dates 2021:

Term 3: Tuesday 20 July 2021 to Friday 24 September 2021

Term 4: Monday 11 October 2021 to Thursday 16 December 2021

Student Free Days 2021:

Student Free Day 3: Friday 22 October 2021

There is always a great deal of action in the 4-5 classroom. This term, our Unit of Inquiry is How the World Works and the students have written some inspirational questions which are guiding our scientific investigations. We have explored Earth’s timeline and everyone was surprised at just how recently our human ancestors appeared (several millimetres out of 4.56 metres).

We also enjoyed our MEC excursion, which focused on First Nation peoples and how they interact with the environment in a sustainable way. An opportunity to play in the Autumn leaves was not overlooked!

Frankie the Therapy Dog is also now becoming a regular visitor to the 4-5 classroom and she is thoroughly enjoying listening to students read as well as the accompanying belly rubs.

Lastly, we are continuing with our mission to undertake Random Acts of Kindness and are tracking our progress by adding counters to a beaker. As you can see, Year 4-5 are a kind and thoughtful group of people who are making their world a better place each and every day.

This year the Prep/1J students have a weekly IT (Information Technology) session working with Mrs Smith.

Last term the students used the apps Pic Collage, Chatter Kids and Doodle Buddy. This term they have been exploring with Osmo kits to learn about critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork.

This term all students in Prep-Year 6 are participating in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. The challenge encourages children to make reading a fun part of their day and read at least 10 books in 10 weeks. All students participating in the challenge receive a bookmark and go into a weekly state wide draw to win a school visit from Hawka, the Hawthorne Football Club mascot.  Students who complete the challenge receive a certificate from the Premier and have a chance to win prize for themselves and our school.

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Give me some space! written and illustrated by Philip Bunting has been selected as this year’s story. NSS takes place on Wednesday 19^th May 2021 at 11:00am (AEST). This year NSS is a little different from previous years as Give me some space! is being read from space.