Jose + Maths = Awesome
Maths Club presents this week's Principal Report
Buenos días a todos, ¡ha sido otra gran semana en Newlands! Sabemos que esperas toda la semana por esta información, así que vamos directamente a ella.
Before I discuss all things regarding this weekend’s working bee (which I know people have been busy training for) it might be better to discuss what has been going on in the classroom!
National Sorry Day
All classrooms this week have been involved in learning experiences leading up to our National ‘Sorry Day’. This day is to remember the unforgivable treatment our First Australians received and the actions that followed creating what we know as the ‘Stolen Generation’. I am proud to work at a school and in a community that prioritises the importance of deepening knowledge and understanding of issues that matter. It is through education that we can ensure we do not make the same atrocities in the future. This day is just one way that we can acknowledge and demonstrate our support to Indigenous Australians.
Camp Quality Incursion
The F/3s had the incredible organisation Camp Quality visit our school. This was an opportunity to provide our students with a greater understanding of one of our students at Newlands. Through an engaging puppet show, students laughed their way through an entertaining show that gave our students a stronger perspective of the experiences of one of our students.
F/1 Inquiry Fun
The Ethics fun continues as I had the opportunity to engage with some of the F/1s and discuss their thinking on whether it was okay to ‘Kill Insects’. While 100% of the class have admitted to killing an insect in their lifetime, they also understood the importance of insects to the world. While they admitted that mosquitos were the most annoying insect and were the most likely insect to be hit by an impulsive young hand, 90% agreed that moving forward they would be more mindful in their decisions to remove different insects from their house. The Short and Curly Podcast has been so fun in the classroom as we navigate through big ideas and problems.
4/6 Spanish Information Reports – Roaringly Good Time
The Grade 4/6s have been writing their Spanish Information Reports on different animals. The students have been really excited to share their work. The quality of Spanish writing taking place in the area has been exciting. Not only are the students in 4/6 starring in Interschool Sports and Cross Country, the results are continuing in the classroom. Congratulations!
Tu Hablas Espanol?
It was in the newsletter last week, but this is a reminder to families who have forgotten about the upcoming Spanish Sub Committee’s “A Little Spanish Conversation.” Here is a link to the form that needs to be filled in by the end of the day!
CLICK ON ME TO TAKE ME TO THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM
A Little Spanish Conversation
Dinner and Drinks in español (Student-Free Event)
Thursday 1st of June
7:00pm Neruda Cafe
66 Breese Street BRUNWICK
The Spanish Sub Committee are inviting all of our Newlands families out for dinner on Thursday the 1st of June at 7:00pm at Neruda Cafe.
The 3 Course Spanish meal will cost $50 dollars per person and will be an opportunity for our families not only to celebrate a meal together but to practice their Spanish skills. There will be Vegetarian and Vegan options and drinks available for purchase. Below is a link to say that you will be in attendance and happy to be billed through SENTRAL on the 26th of May. Please note - once the form has been filled out, the school will be unable to reimburse families. If you have any questions, please email: newlands.ps@education.vic.gov.au Att: Luisa.
Dependant on the success, the school may continue to offer these opportunities in the future.
Not the right fully sick!
As discussed through SENTRAL this week, we are reminding families to keep their children home if they are sick. Not only are there a high amount of students going down with an illness, but it has taken down a few of our incredible staff as well! As people are aware, there is a large shortage of teachers at the moment so your help on this matter would be appreciated! Once again, we have lots of COVID testing kits still at the office which can be collected by families at any time.
Florence the Inspirer!
The Florence Op Shop has come to a close. She delivered on her promise of giving every student in the school an icy pole and every teacher too! She has inspired many other students in the school to be proactive. Four students in the 2/3 area will be following a similar Local Newlands Op Shop, this time donating all money to the Cancer Council. If you have any spare clothes you would like to donate to the school, please bring it up to the office on Fridays before and after school. There will be more details next week.
OFF-Site
The staff have finally had the opportunity to go onto the building site this week. It was incredibly exciting for the staff to think about how our Learning Worlds will look in 2023. The teachers are already thinking about the furniture, how the space will be utilised and how we will finally have spaces that match our pedagogical design.
Changes to OSHC in Term 3
We will be extending our Before School Program, which will begin at 7:00am instead of the current time of 7:30am. This change will begin at the start of Term 3. The reason for this change has been due to families unable to claim their full rebate during the morning session. We hope that this change will be another way our school can continue to support all of our families.
In what could be even more exciting news, the school is looking at providing a Holiday Program to our families and local community ready for the Term 3 holidays. While we understand it is still a while a way, we are hoping to gain an insight from our families on whether they would be likely to use the service. If you are a family that currently uses another service or would be likely to use a holiday program service, we would love you to fill out the following survey which can be found below.
Come into the Classroom!
Friday the 2nd of June, 2.30pm is Open Learning. This is an opportunity for families to come into the learning space and join in on their child’s learning. Teams will create learning experiences that will allow students and their families to engage with each other. In the 4/6 area this term, the team will be providing an information session for the upcoming Snow Camp instead of the usual Open Learning session.
The Working Bee
The Buildings and Grounds Sub Committee are focused and dedicated to run the Working Bee this Sunday regardless of weather conditions. We hope to get started at 9:00am, after a quick OHS Induction, we will get stuck into the work for the day with the following priorities:
- Weed & mulch all the garden beds
- Weed the front of the school and prune the trees
- Weed and mulch around the vegetable garden beds
- Painting the seats and benches
- Eat Working Bee feast at 12:00pm
While we allow you one last opportunity to see the fantastic poster design work by the B&G Team,
It isn’t until Term 4, but the whispers of our Art Show are starting to bubble. The planning by Margaret and the rest of the staff will ensure that this event continues to showcase the Arts program at Newlands.
Staffing
Moira has been a welcome addition to the F/1 team this term. When we hired her she had shared with us that she had organised an overseas trip, which would impact on her availability in Term 2. While we understood that this was not ideal, we knew right then and there Moira would be an integral part of Newlands in 2023. Next Tuesday will be her last day of the term, but will be back again in Term 3. Sergio and Moira will be running their Parent Teacher Interviews early in Term 3 instead of the allocated date later in this term. Information about her replacement will be communicated via SENTRAL next week.
Jacqui will continue to be on leave until further notice. Rebecca whom has been in the class throughout the term will continue to be the replacement. If you have any questions, please hesitate to contact me at newlands.ps@education.vic.gov.au.
As always, we always appreciate your support! I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!
Thanks,
Luke