Welcome back to Term 2 for all our Karonga families. We had 5 new students join us this term- Kaspar, Ryan, Sunday, Timmie and Paige and look forward to getting to know their families and seeing their profiles in up-coming issues of the Karonga Courier.

Staff benefitted from a demanding School Development Day where they started a refresher course on a Behaviour Program that the Department of Education promotes, they reviewed the handling of medication and consolidated learning around the new communication protocol of PECs.

The taking of photographs, both individual and room-based went very well at the end of the first week, where we erred to caution and held them indoors as the forecast was for downpours. We anticipate receiving the photograph packs back by the end of the term (based on previous experience).

Work on the revised multi-sport court is progressing as anticipated, along with work on the pathway leading to the oval and court. We remain hopeful that both projects, independent of each other, will be available for use by this time next term. In the meantime the students have been very understanding of changes we have had to make in the interim.

Swim School is in progress as I write this newsletter item and observations from staff have been about how beneficial to the students it continues to be. We understand that Class group swimming for all is suspended while the 2 week swim school is offered for the junior age students, but we look forward to having Special Olympic support and hydrotherapy/ aquatic physiotherapy reinstated in week 4 for the rest of the year.

The Anzac Service held yesterday went very well, where students practiced listening to a bag-piper before the event so that it was not too confronting.

If you are the parent of a senior age student do not forget to circle Wednesday May 15^th in your diaries, as we are running a Senior Parent Evening between 5.30-6.30pm where ex-Karonga parents will share their experiences on leaving school, and post-school providers and the NDIS service will be represented.

Warm Regards

Ruth Rogers, Relieving Principal

All students from Room 1 have returned well rested from the holidays and ready to learn.

Room 1 have completed several interesting art projects so far this year. For Easter we created Easter Egg trays. This included putting a base coat, painting the tray in pastel colours and a varnish was put on by the classroom staff. Jackson and Gianni were very focused on their Easter projects.

Room 1 has also been experimenting with air-drying clay. We have started making jewellery dishes as part of our Mother’s Day project. Louisa and Titan enjoyed learning how to roll the clay out evenly while Massa put a lot of effort into stamping a circle pattern onto the clay jewellery dish. We have all been watching the clay dry slowly over the last few days and are looking forward to painting them with their finishing touches.

Room 1 has also continued to progress in our learning programs. Emaan has been creating interesting who, where and what sentences that she has been recording in her writing book.

From Linda and Banu

Room 6 have been busy developing their water confidence and swimming skills during Swim School.

Sadev, Sarah, Meena and Julian have all made fantastic strides in their water confidence which is clearly evident by their smiles of joy.

Sadev, Meena and Julian are gaining more certainty swimming in the deep end. Sarah is able to use the noodle to swim across the width of the pool and is developing self- confidence to float on her back.

In Science Room 6 have been looking at life cycles with a focus on the metamorphic life cycle of the darkling beetle. There was great anticipation and a few nerves as we set up the new home for our mealworms (larvae stage of the darkling beetle). We all watched as Debbie carefully placed the mealworms in the container with some oats and carrots to help them grow before entering in to the pupa stage.

Sadev and Hannah were a little unsure when the mealworms began to move. Meena and Sarah bravely held one each as they trickled their hands. Julian was very intrigued, although he didn’t want to touch one and was happy to observe it as it crawled along the table.

Room 6 cannot wait to see how the mealworms metamorphosis into a pupa, adult darkling beetle and then back to an egg where the cycle begins all over again.

From Debbie and Liesa

In the last week of Term 1, 2019, Ria, Mustafa, Jordan, Chris, Oscar, Shresh and Jake attended a fabulous experience provided by the not-for-profit organisation ‘Sailors With DisAbility’ (SWD) in the last week of Term 1, 2019.

For each of the students it was the first time on a large sailing vessel. Leading up to the experience, the students read a social story about sailing and what it might involve. Perhaps for this reasons, they seemed undaunted at the prospect of boarding what appeared to be a wobbly (the sail boat) surface and were willing to put on their life-jackets with no fuss at all.

It was wonderful to witness the sense of wonder and curiosity on the students’ faces as they sailed quietly in the water; made their way to the bow of the boat; took the helm and were shown the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Chris and Oscar were able to name these Australians icons as we sailed past them.

All in all it was an excellent day, with warm temperatures on the water and plenty of enthusiasm!

Special thanks to Ria and Mustafa’s mums, who volunteered to come with us.

Well done Karonga and thank you, once again, Sailors With DisAbility!

 Sabrina, Kamal, Anna and Rupak

Room 14 have thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of their work experience at Hornsby Shire Community Nursery for 2019. The weekly plant propagation lessons with Jennifer have enabled the students to gain confidence in their horticulture skills and learn the value of our interdependence with the environment. This has assisted in encouraging students toward sustainable citizenship while practicing the core value of perseverance. During our first visit, the students re-potted over 200 plants - a commendable achievement. On our second visit, some students helped to label plants such as the Midyim Berry, a bush food. We also helped to re-pot native orchids called Greenhoods.

We are looking forward to our upcoming Hornsby Nursery visits!

From Sherie and Craig

Sunday is a new student in Room 7 who has just started at Karonga in Term 2. While he is a very active boy and loves to run around, in class he has displayed great focus and enthusiasm for learning. Within only two weeks he has learned to thread beads, sort colours and listen to stories, while remaining seated.

We are looking forward to discovering more of Sunday’s talents and learning strengths.

Welcome to Karonga, Sunday!

Students and staff have returned to Karonga School and two major construction projects are underway.

We have the multi-sport court refurbishment and the start of the access ramp from room14 to the oval.

Trucks, bobcats, graders, rollers, big trucks little trucks and many ‘fluro’ vest workers will be accessing the work sites during the term working on the two projects.

We will see disruption to the bike track playground and the oval is out of bounds while the construction takes place.

We will keep you updated on the progress of the projects.

Murray Graves

Last weekend Eastwood Patchwork Quilters (EPQ) held their biennial quilt exhibition at Brush Farm House, Eastwood. Allowah Children’s Hospital was this year’s chosen charity for funds raised from two quilts being raffled. A few Allowah residents came and visited the exhibition on both Saturday and Sunday. A resident and also Karonga Student is shown here with Louise Smith, Karonga staff and EPQ member with one of her quilts.

Since 1999, The Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp Program has given Year 11 students the opportunity to care for children aged between seven and 14 years with special needs over a four-day period. Sony Camp is a unique experience for all involved and will be held from Sunday 8 December to Wednesday 11 December 2019.

The children are treated to a camp full of thrilling and exciting adventures and are cared for in either Pymble or Shore’s (Sydney Church of England Grammar School) Boarding Houses, 24 hours a day, by Pymble and Shore students. These Year 11 students, supported by a team of dedicated teaching and medical staff, will quickly learn about the challenges and demands involved in caring for a child with special needs in a life-changing experience.

Sony Camp will again be co-hosted at Pymble Ladies’ College by Pymble and Shore in 2019. For more information, please view the Sony Camp Handbook.

To have your child join Sony Camp, please select the Apply Now button and complete the application form. Applications close on Friday 31 May 2019.

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