Hello Karonga families,

We are delighted that swimming sessions have restarted for the 2020 school year. The P & C have been instrumental in supporting this provision, as by using funds generated through renting buses to ASTP, they are funding Austswim teachers for 4 mornings, and a physiotherapist one morning a week. This is a unique opportunity Karonga is able to offer, and the school has dedicated a PDHPE teacher to this program, to write goals and report on achievements. Although there have been a few teething problems, we are really pleased to provide this program. If there is an issue with using the pool (contamination, chemical imbalance or heating issue) the teacher plans to offer another PDHPE program so that students are not disadvantaged.

 The Coronavirus continues to be an international concern. On a local level I must stress points raised in the last newsletter, that:

• Attendance at a NSW Public School is compulsory and failure to send your child to school without evidence of extenuating circumstances (sickness etc) is not sanctioned.
• When students attend school they should be well enough to be included in all activities, as it is very hard for us to accommodate students elsewhere (eg if the student is well enough for school they should still be included in swimming activities and excursions). Although we make individual adjustments as necessary, we need to have consistency and continuity for our student’s education and learning.

Current advice from the NSW Government for parents and affected staff is:

• Any student or staff member who has been in, departed from, or transited through the following countries is excluded from child care services, school or work for 14 days from the date they left the country:
  
  • mainland China - since 1 February
  • Iran - since 1 March
  • The Republic of Korea (South Korea) - since 5 March.
  • Italy - since 11 March
• Any confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return.
• Close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.
• Students and staff who have returned to Australia and have shown no symptoms during the 14-day home-isolation period are able to return to school or work.

The Department of Education continues to work closely with NSW Health to monitor and respond to developments and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.

Consistent with current guidelines, children, students and staff who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. In accordance with our current practice if any student becomes unwell we will implement our infection control guidelines and follow the advice provided by NSW Health as appropriate.

I am looking forward to meeting parents at the  P & C meeting on Monday evening at 7.30pm in the Therapy Suite here at school.

Warm Regards, Ruth Rogers, Relieving Principal

Hello from Room 3

It has been a very busy term and all the students in Room 3 have settled really well into their new classroom routines.

Room 3 have been very creative and have investigated celebrations including Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and Dr Seuss Day.

We celebrated Chinese New Year “Year of the Rat’ by making paper rats and investigating what Chinese Zodiac animal we were. Jayden was born in the year of the Tiger, Matilda in the year of the Rabbit, Brendan in the year of the Dragon, Amy in the year of the Ox and Zena was born in the year of the Dog.

For Valentine’s Day we explored the texture of air-drying clay and made ornamental hearts. Matilda really enjoyed helping roll out the clay and Brendan was very decisive when selecting what colour glitter he would like to decorate his heart with.

On Dr Seuss Day we listened to the story ‘Horton hears a Who’ and created the Truffula Tree using paint, forks and crayons. Amy selected what colours she wanted her trees to be and was very keen to put her fork into the paint.

All the students in Room 3 have also been learning about the Olympics which hopefully will be on later this year. Zena and Lachlan enjoyed exploring different painting techniques including painting with a brush, dabbing and rolling to create the Olympic rings. We are also learning about Japan (the country that will host the 2020 Olympics) by looking at Japan on a map and listening to Japanese music.

From

Zena, Amy, Jayden, Matilda, Brendan, Lachlan, Linda and Rupak

It has been a very busy term and all the students in Room 5 have settled really well into their classroom routines.

Room 5 students are enjoying our fitness sessions at our school gym. They have been learning to use the walking machine, exercise bike, cross trainer and rowing machine, which is one of Aiden, Ethan and Jackson’s favourite activities. Not only are Room 5 developing their core strength but they have also been developing their skills by doing yoga for kids every day.

We have also been exploring art with Okra (vegetable) for their book covering painting.

Titan is working hard to achieve his goals by matching letters of his first name and coloured pegs. During break times, he can be seen expending his energy bouncing on the trampoline or having a go on the bike.

Massa is happy listening to the books, doing tracing of letters and singing with Jann in our music therapy sessions.  Gianni and William are exploring their strengths in doing classroom activities.

Swimming has started, Yay!! Room 5 students are happy to be back in pool with Debra, Phyllis and Karen. Aiden, Massa, Jackson had their best time in the water learning their water safety skills.

The students rose to the challenge and remained focussed to produce works of art related to; the Australian flag, Harmony day and Chinese New Year.

Kamaldeep and Emma

There is much news from Room 8. Firstly we said farewell to Arthur and Elijah, and welcome to Vikhyat (Viki).

Students have been working on Harmony Day poster and place mats for the table. We are looking forward to parents joining us on the day. Steven and Paige particularly enjoy painting and gluing for the poster.

Cognitive play is a favourite activity in the classroom. Students are learning to share and build towers from plastic stacking bricks. Ma’afu particularly enjoys building.

Ensuring a smooth transition to school, Viki has joined us on two occasions so far. He has demonstrated some impressive handwriting skills, which we look forward to developing over the year.

Genesis responds especially well to stories which have a musical component. He is always the first student at the learning table when it’s story time.

All students are learning to use task boxes and file folders, we hope to report progress in the next newsletter article.

Megan & Jennifer

Room 11 has started the year very busy. We have been cooking for six weeks and have made pikelets, cupcakes, french toast and lots of other yummy stuff. We are learning to wash and wipe up the cooking equipment as well as our own plates and cups.

We are very excited that swimming has started as well. We have also been enjoying going to technology with Kerrie and have learnt how to use lots of different types of fun equipment.

Michell & Wendy

The teens in Room 14 can do a canteen

Room 14 are running the Karonga Canteen this year. We weren’t selling toilet paper but we did have a lot of customers on our first day!

Every Wednesday, between 10-10.45am, we will be selling a variety of healthy treats for the students and staff. Last week the office ladies were our best customers when they kept returning to buy more and more of our goodies.

As we are learning about the exchange of money in shops, we ask that our customers please bring in a $2 coin. All the Canteen items cost $1, so the customers will receive $1 in return change from our Room 14 shopkeepers.

We are selling freshly baked items each week made by some of the students. The names of the bakers will be displayed at the Canteen each week.

Our regular items for sale include: Le Snack tasty cheese and crackers, bags of popcorn, rice cakes in a variety of flavours, juice boxes and sultanas.

Terrific Tatra

In preparation for Harmony Day, Room 14 visited the Tatra Deli, a Polish food shop in the Entrada Centre on 5/20 Victoria Rd, Parramatta. The lovely ladies or damski behind the counter were very generous and keen to share their garlic sausage, cabanossi, bread and cheese with us. There were many colourful shiny packets and jars of exciting products that the young men of Room 14 were very interested in examining. It was delicious or “zachwycający” in Polish. After the Tatra Deli visit, we had a picnic at Lake Parramatta and enjoyed a short bushwalk. We thoroughly recommend a visit to both places!

Shani & Anna

James started at Karonga at the beginning of this school year.  He has settled very well into Room 1.  James transferred to Karonga from the Support Unit at North Rocks Public School. James is a very social young man who interacts well with his class peers. He willingly shares class activities and resources with his class friends, James’ favourite activities are music, school gym and, especially, reading in our school Library.

Ethan is a new student in Room 5 who has started at Karonga at the start of Term 1. He is in year 7. He loves to play music instruments in our music therapy sessions. He enjoys listening to the stories and music. He is gentle and happy student who enjoys being with his peers. Ethan is settling well into new routines and is making great progress not only in class but across a variety of settings throughout the school.

Aiden is a new student in Room 5 who has started at Karonga at the start of Term 1. He is in year 7.  He is a very active boy and loves our school gym, in class he has displayed great focus and enthusiasm for learning. He has made great improvements in extending his desk work time. He is learning Key Word Signs during our morning circle and has shown his interest in our school signing choir and dance team.

On Wednesday mornings at 10am Room 14 open the shutter to our school Canteen where they learn about serving food, sales and handling money.  Attached is a copy of the menu.  You may not know, but they also do a class delivery service - so if your child's class has commitments during 10-11am on a Wednesday morning you can still send in money with a note and their order will be delivered to the classroom.