Dear Families,

Karonga has had 2 large wheelie bins delivered to school to collect recyclable plastic bottles and cans. Students are depositing donated recyclable plastics and cans into the bins, and they are collected from school. Karonga directly benefits from this scheme with any money generated going directly into the gardening program. We are asking families to send in recyclable items (which must say on the label that they can be recycled) to support this initiative.

It was a joy to host Orientation this week. We hold 2 Orientations for new students and while parents and carers meet with me to have a tour of the school and an information session, some staff are released to join the 2025 starters to get to know them so we can best place them into classes and set them up for their time at Karonga.

The Epping Music Festival is a great annual event, and one where we benefit from being included in a really practical way. The neighbouring 12 schools include Karonga at this creative festival where we hire Chatswood Concourse to showcase skills and enthusiasm. This year we showcased our Dance Group to a Huey Lewis song- ‘Power of Love’, and in Signing Choir we performed Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’ as a school solo, and Men at Work ‘Land Down Under’ alongside the Combined Signing Choir. To see our group of 7 students being backed by the 400+ Combined Signing Choir is a sight to behold, and we received an ovation for our passion and commitment. Thank you to all the parents who supported us at the event and bought tickets to see the choir perform. It was a great night.

Backstage at the Epping Music Festival

See Facebook for more photos!

For those making plans for 2025, the Department of Education has just this past week outlined its plans for 8 school development days for state schools in 2025. This is a significant change to our School Development Day model. Next years are:

• Term 1: Friday 31^st January to Wednesday 5^th February (4 days)
• Term 2: Monday 28^th and Tuesday 29^th April (2 days)
• Term 3: Monday 21^st July (1 day)
• Term 4: Monday 13^th October (1 day)

We are trying to amend our communication books and calendars (as they have already been printed), so do make a note of them.

Warm regards,

Ruth Rogers
Principal

The traffic lights at Karonga puts our school in the unique position of being able to offer other schools the opportunity for an authentic practical lesson on correctly crossing a road in a safe learning environment.  Over the last two weeks, Sir Eric Woodwood School has taken up the opportunity to visit Karonga and teach students from their school this valuable lesson.

Room 7 has had an incredible term, filled with music, dance, and joyful play. During music sessions, students explore rhythms and sounds, signing and experimenting with instruments. Our dance activities have been a big hit, with everyone enjoying movement, rhythm, and self-expression.

Playtime has been filled with laughter and fun as students enjoy games together, build friendships, and learn teamwork. Watching them support each other and work as a team has genuinely highlighted the kindness within Room 7.

We’re proud of Room 7's wonderful sense of community and look forward to more fun and learning as they continue to grow together.

Kelly and Kerrie

This term, Room 11 have been very busy learners and have had a wonderful term full of many exciting learning experiences. Brian, Farjaad, Gabriel, Harvey, Hasnain, Maddie and Pranay have all enjoyed going to Integration at Epping West Public School. Room 11 have attended Integration on Tuesdays by Karonga bus or by walking together. They were a bit nervous the first time but have settled in and have made some new friends who they cannot wait to meet and take part in many activities with.  Going for a walk to look at the stingless bees and play with the bubble machine have been their favourite.

Room11 enjoy walking around the oval where they listen to instructions and practice to walk together on the path. Hasnain independently walks around the oval and stops at the silver seat to wait for all his friends before the class moves on to our next fun activity. In the gym all of Room 11 love to try out all the equipment and the treadmill seems to be a class favourite.

Swimming, music and art therapy are always highlights of the week and we always look forward to them with excitement.  In swimming Pranay and Maddie have both made great personal gains especially in confidence to swim with more independence and give new things in the water a try.

Harvey is one of our budding musicians in music therapy and loves to sing whilst playing instruments and when we walk around the oval. Gabriel loves to hear Bec play the guitar and feel the vibrations when she strums.

Brian loves art therapy and has made many masterpieces using clay which he loves to manipulate and roll into shape.

Farjaad has made amazing strides walking along the office corridor and will happily deliver messages to Cheryl in the office, with less assistance.

Room 11 have enjoyed learning facts about each of their families and loved constructing their family trees, using a map to mark where family members were born, presenting news about family heirlooms and favourite toys and making artworks that were related to different celebrations that Room 11 families celebrate.

Warm regards,

Deb W, Janina and Cassie

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, students can attend Art Club. Each week they are able to use different media to create their own artwork. Some students prefer to draw or paint while some prefer to glue objects onto paper.

The students listen to relaxing music which helps their creativity. Shaving Cream and paint was a favourite this week, with all students looking interested as they were moving the shaving cream around the table to make their artwork.

Paige, Timothy and Harvey glued different objects to paper.

Ruby and Julie decided to do some painting.

Sadie, George and Brendan drew using paint, pens and textas.

Lowenna, Sandiya, Deb W & Shiraz