Principal's Report

Hello everyone,

This week is Book Week! Please don’t forget that we are finishing off the week with a dress up day tomorrow (Friday 26th). Dress up as a book character (or come casually dressed) with a gold coin donation. Money raised will be going towards our sustainability projects and Yarranmullawit.

Today for Book Week, students chose a different classroom to visit during lunch eating time to listen to a teacher read a favourite story. 

Our professional learning/curriculum day on ADHD was well worth the time spent exploring suitable tools and strategies for students to use. Staff also examined the complexities for ADHD students who present with multiple diagnoses such as ASD, dyslexia etc. Some of the things learnt on the day are now already in place. 

Kitchen Garden

The 456s have had their Kitchen Garden sessions over the past 2 weeks. Thank you to Jo and staff who have successfully assisted students to efficiently cook and clean. Jo ensured that these sessions had a French flavour in support of our French Day. Students made French onion soup, Croque Monsieur (Ham & Cheese toasties with a Roux) and a Yoghurt jar cake. Please see the photos later in the newsletter. A Roux can be difficult at the best of times but the group I witnessed managed it with aplomb.

The Triceratops at Melbourne Museum

Last Wednesday  was the big trip altogether to the Triceratops at Melbourne Museum. We were split into 2 groups P-2 and 3-6. There were 2 booked sessions including seeing the Triceratops and a special presentation on dinosaurs in the museum theatre. Our groups also did the Dinosaur walk, Forest walk and Bugs alive! In these Covid times, navigating from one section of the museum to the next was very much coordinated by the museum staff so that school groups rarely crossed paths. Considering the number of schools there, this was exceptional.  We may have had our whole school there, but I did get a quick chat with a group from the western suburbs as they were whizzed past by museum staff. They had 70 very excited!!! year 2 students in their charge. 

The Triceratops was captivating. Interestingly some of our students were surprised and thought it would have been bigger. Even though it was obviously bigger than an elephant. 

Athletics Day in Bendigo.

The Athletics day in Bendigo was extremely successful. The weather was mild and once again our students did an excellent  job of participating respectfully and representing Newham Primary School responsibly. Sometimes I don’t think the larger schools quite expect the smaller schools such as Newham to be any threat, however on this day our students’ demonstrated calmness and certainly had their eyes strategically on the prize. From the 4 relays, Newham won 3 and came second in the fourth. The long-distance races had Newham students in second and third placings. There were a flurry of firsts and placings in Long Jump and the other field events.

Enrol for 2023

Could parents who are yet to enrol their Prep and other year level students for 2023 please do so now. 

Student Wellbeing

In the last newsletter I mentioned that recently we were able to obtain funds for extra student wellbeing resources. We purchased some wobble stools and cushions for sensory support, and some beautiful large, weighted animals which are proving just the right thing for students looking to  maintain their focus or calmness.

Swimming

Swimming assessment forms were due back this week. Please ensure we have your child’s form. Next week is the pre-swimming information session early in the week, for our students followed by the first swimming session on Thursday. There have been so many schools attempting to get back into pools that the Kyneton Aquatic centre was only able to fit us in with an out-of-kilter program. Please remember that the first swimming lesson is a stand-alone day next Thursday with the rest of the sessions the following week from Tuesday to Friday. The centre has allocated us 2 sessions and our students will be divided between these groups. Our bus will shuttle back and forth between the pool and school, with all groups back at school before home time.

September 2nd No School

DET have determined that to enable schools to fulfill their obligations to staff regarding professional practices, schools are to provide staff with a second student free day this term. Newham Primary School will hold this student free day on Friday 2nd September. On this day staff will be preparing student work and assessments for term four as well as beginning the preliminary requirements for 2023. 

Working Bee

It is wonderful to see that working bees can finally make a comeback to schools. Our last working bee was for the sand pit in 2019. It is somewhat fitting therefore that the upcoming working bee will continue with work on the sandpit. Please see if you are available on the day, we would love to see you. Details are further along in the newsletter.

Family Picnic

On the same day as the working bee, there is going to be a family picnic up at the hall organised by the Parents and Friends group. I hear that pizza is available for an early dinner! Details are on the flyer in the newsletter.

Mango Drive

Before the end of term , we will be promoting a Mango Drive. If you are a fan of Mangoes, please consider supporting Newham Primary school by purchasing a tray. Perhaps friends and family may also be interested. Details to follow as we get closer to the end of term.

SWWAAGers (Student Work, Wellbeing, And Action Group - student led initiatives)

The SWWAAGers have decided to support the Gisborne Food bank and would like as many students as possible toBring a can or another non-perishable item of food. There is an outline of the project further along in the newsletter.

Contact has been made with the scientists researching the decline of the Southern Bent-wing Bat. We know him as Yarranmullawit. He is a part of our school values. Over the rest of the year the SWWAAGers will be fundraising to support this vital research. There is  more information further into this newsletter.

Have a lovely weekend!