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Foundation / 1 SD Hunt for Living Things!
During Term 2, the Foundation / 1 students have been learning about sustainability, food production and living things, specifically chickens. We have had many fabulous experiences and conversations, with the highlights being our farm visit to Springdale Dairy Farm in Westbury and playing host to real life chicks as they hatched from their eggs.
Part way through the term we had a week of remote learning. While on remote learning, the children went on a Living Things Treasure Hunt! They found so many living things in and around their homes!
- Declan found a humongous, feathery chicken.
- Ava found her happy dogs, Hank and George.
- Georgia found a spotty ladybird in the garden.
- Huddy found a cute little chicken and some tropical fish.
- Hugh found a spiky cactus.
- Quinn found her cuddly dog, Mak.
- Jake found an enormous plant.
- Lola found her gorgeous horse, Tilly.
- Lila found a plant and her cute little sister Amelia.
- Huxley found his adorable kitten, Sonic.
- Lily found her two playful dogs.
- Manny found his 15 year old dog, Fluffy.
- Hudson J found some cheeky chickens!
- Kaliese found her pretty little pony.
- Sofia found her blue eyed pet husky.
- William found his energetic dog Lucy.
- Alex found some beautiful yellow flowers.
- Hunter found his humongous dog, Boss.
- Tommy found a big brown chicken.
- Koachloach found three fluffy chickens.
While learning about chickens the children designed chicken coops that included everything that chickens need to survive. We had extravagant designs in all shapes and sizes, some even included slides and wheels! All of them had the essentials; food and water holders, wire mesh, shelter, nesting boxes, perches and room to roam around. They learnt about the life cycle of a chicken and were surprised to find out that dogs and chickens have many things alike when comparing them using a VENN diagram.
Congratulations Foundation / 1, you have really excelled in our inquiry unit this term.
Dear Parents
May I take this opportunity to commend you all on the way you engaged with the recent lockdown and remote learning. There was a calmness throughout the school as families once again prepared themselves for yet another lockdown. I know this was a challenging time, as it was for our staff, however the way families prepared their children and created an environment that worked for each individual family, enabled us to return to school and back to everyday life and learning quite seamlessly. While we hope and pray that we will not need to go through another lockdown, we are ever prepared to provide whatever support we can to meet the needs of our families. We are truly blessed to have such a dedicated, supportive, compassionate staff to walk with on this journey and, for me, I am thankful each day that I have such a professional, collaborative and passionate staff who always put the needs of our students and families ahead of their own. We hold true to the saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and we are committed to being part of that village for you and your child. If you have any concerns or questions, please know that my door is always open and our staff are also available to support you in any way we can.
While this recent lockdown and the learning at home was brief, it is a timely reminder of the importance of well-being for our children and ourselves.
Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators and has some words of wisdom that I would like to share with you.
Going back to school after the enforced COVID-19 break is a source of mixed emotions for many children and young people. Some students, who revel in face-to-face interactions, just can’t wait to reconnect with friends and teachers. Others who have appreciated the break from constantly being emotionally switched on when at school may be reticent to return.
School undoubtedly will be a different experience for students post COVID-19. It may require you to adjust your expectations, particularly academically, so patience is definitely required. Education is a long game, so if you are worried about your child missing the educational beat, recognise that this experience has been a blip on the educational curve. It’s worth remembering that anxiety loves company. Park your expectations for a time, so your child won’t pick up your anxieties.
An anxious child desperately wants a parent to understand that they feel anxious and apprehensive. Even if, you can’t comprehend the impact that a return to school has on their state of mind and physiology, recognise that their anxiety is real. “Ah, I see you’re worried that you won’t know what to do when you go to school” is the type of response that an anxious child wants from a parent. Validating your child’s feelings will help them feel safe and secure, putting them in a good position to make a return to school. “Mum/dad know that I’m feeling nervous” is very reassuring for a child.
I take this opportunity to share with you the prayer that has become known as Pope Francis’ 5 Finger Prayer. This is a simple way to pray as a family and reminds us that there are many people in our lives and in the world who need our prayers. It also helps us to remember that praying for ourselves is important too.
Keep well and warm.
Kind regards
Lisa Broeren
Our school came together on Monday morning to Celebrate National Reconciliation Week with a Traditional Smoking Ceremony, which was organised by our Indigenous Teacher, Margaret Cooper.
A smoking ceremony is an ancient custom among Aboriginal Australians that involves smouldering various native plants to produce smoke. This herbal smoke is believed to have cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits. The Smoking Ceremony is also used to unite Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people.
All of the children (and staff) came forward to experience the cleansing and uniting property of the smoke.
Thank you to our special guests Michelle and Andrew for performing this special ceremony for us. It was a wonderful experience, enjoyed by our children and staff.
Get Active Victoria
The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and recreation activities by reimbursing the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms and equipment. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.
https://www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers/
Enrolments
If you have a child due to start school next year, please contact the office for an Enrolment Application, so we can reserve a place for your child in Foundation 2022. Enrolments close 25th June.
Application_for_Enrolment_Form.pdf
Kinder Enrolments - close 30th June
Uniform Shop
To place orders online please click the link below. Our shop will be open Friday 3.00pm to 3.30pm
Parish Newsletter
Latrobe city - Early Years Newsletter
Parent Zone - Anglicare (Newsletter)
Kids Help Line Ph; 1800 55 1800
June
- Friday 11th - School Closure (Assessment Writing)
- Monday 14th - Queens Birthday Public Holiday
- 21st to 23rd - Year 5/6 Camp to Mill Valley Ranch (to be confirmed)
- Wednesday 23rd - Regional Cross Country
- Wednesday 23rd - School Advisory Board meeting & AGM, 7.00om. All welcome to attend.
- Friday 25th - Last Day Term 2, 1.00pm finish
July
- Monday 12th - First Day Term 3
- Monday 19th - School Closure, Staff Professional Development
August
- 5th to 6th - Year 3/4 Camp to Mill Valley Ranch
- Monday 9th - Mary Mackillop Mass 9.00am
- Thursday 12th - School Advisory Board Meeting 7.00pm
- Monday 16th - School Closure, Staff Professional Development
- Tuesday 17th - District Athletics
- Tuesday 31st - Division Athletics
September
- Friday 3rd - Father's Day Prayer Gathering 9.00am
- Thursday 9th - School Advisory Board Meeting 7.00pm
- Friday 10th - Multicultural Day
- Wednesday 15th - Pilgrimage Mass
- Friday 17th - Last day Term 3
October
- Monday 4th - First Day Term 4
- Tuesday 12th - Regional Athletics
- Thursday 14th - School Advisory Board Meeting
- Friday 15th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Friday 22nd - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Friday 29th - Swimming Program, F to 2
November
- Monday 1st - School Closure, Staff First Aid Training
- Tuesday 2nd - School Closure, Melbourne Cup Day
- Friday 5th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Friday 12th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Thursday 18th - School Concert (to be confirmed)
- Friday 19th - Swimming Program, F to 2
- Wednesday 24th - School Advisory Board Meeting
- Friday 26th Swimming Program, F to 2
- Tuesday 30th - OWELS (Open Water Experience) Inverloch, year 5/6
December
- Friday 10th - Whole School Swimming Carnival
- Monday 13th - End of Year Mass 9.00am
- Tuesday 14th - Year 6 Graduation
- Wednesday 15th - Student's last day