Welcome back to Semester 2! Winter always seems so cold but we are blessed with glorious sunshine and I note that the days are already getting a little longer.

The Department of Education has given clear guidance around adults entering school premises. We are currently unable to have parents or volunteers assist us and only essential therapists will be considered for attendance. Even providers who had been approved would need to submit a further application to the LaST (Learning and Support Team). We know that you understand that we serve to provide the safest educational environment for the students.

Education week will go ahead in week 3 in a new form! As this is often an opportunity for parents to have a tour of the school and visit their child’s classroom, we have a plan to load a school tour onto the website with our student leadership team showing people around our school. This is currently a work in progress, with classes being videoed using our great resources as well as busy in classes. We will upload this video on Wednesday August 5th, when we would have held an Education Week tour, and we are pleased that this acts as a resource which can be enjoyed by other families transitioning to our school in future years. Do check it out next Wednesday. 

We have been successful in engaging a ‘Street artist’ to transform some of our school spaces to freshen up certain places. Here you can see the pool makeover with ‘whales migrating’ as a theme. Watch out for further revamps!

Planning for the Graduation is traditionally well under way at this point in Term 3, however with COVID-19 we are unclear how all this will eventuate and what form it will take. A small team of Karonga staff are considering a Plan A, a Plan B, a Plan C and any other letters of the alphabet, to reflect changes to arrangements. Be assured that we will not let the 5 school leavers exit without a celebration. Watch this space.

Clarifying: Incursions are permitted as long as social distancing is adhered to; Excursions are currently on hold (as 22.07.2020) but will be reviewed by the DoE this term.

Some lovely parents have offered to cook/ bake for the staff, and others would like to send in party food to celebrate their child’s birthday with their class friends. Whilst this is a very kind thing to do, and much appreciated, we are very mindful of COVID-19 guidelines and risk of contamination/ transference at Karonga. Consequently, should you wish to send into school any food which is to be shared, we can only sanction commercially prepared food types. Shop-bought food has been made in catering approved facilities. I am sure you all understand, and want to feel confident that Karonga is doing everything possible to manage these strange times.

Warm Regards, Ruth Rogers

Throughout semester one, students Timmie. Kugan, James, Sadev and Julian have been learning about natural and built environments.

For the built environment we looked at our school and the different spaces within the school.  We learned about how each space is special.

For the natural environment we have been learning about the different biomes around the world.  In visual arts we created the Savanna Biome, the Tundra Biome and the Marine Biome.  We made different animals that live in each of these environments.  We have had so much fun and our classroom looks amazing. 

Karen and Mandy

Room 2 has been very busy with investigating scientific experiments. Christian, Sarah, Sidney, Tomo, and William are all very sensory-based learners and they demonstrated excellent self-regulation and following of school rules during our science experiments. The students kept their hands to themselves (safe) and carefully watched and listened during the whole experiment (learn). Sarah and William were particularly focused and waiting until it was their turn to touch the scientific items.

Below (left)  Sarah measuring different items using scales.  Below (right)  William writes about solid items.

Above - The students carefully watching and waiting their turn during the experiment

Some of our senior students are also beginning to practise work experience skills. Tomochika is doing a great job of collecting the school’s recycling, particularly when knocking before entering a room. As a class, we are also involved in distributing some hygiene resources around the school. It has been lovely to see our students involved in looking after school property and recognising what a task needs to be completed.

Below - Tomochika practises hs work experience skills by collecting the school's recycling.

We look forward to another very busy term of on-site learning.

Mel and Sandiya

We have started off the term well, with all students excited and happy to be back at school. We would like to welcome our newest student, Rogue, to our amazing class of magical learners and it’s great to see her learning our class routines and making friends.

Winter has arrived and we have been making lots of art works including our sneaky polar bears and our “shape” penguins.

Yeting and Mustafa have been enjoying story time and we have been reading “Owl Babies” and “Stellaluna”. We made some wonderful “owl eyes”, practising our painting skills. Sylvia has been enjoying our morning activities, displaying lots of independent learning. Oscar and Ruby have been perfecting their jigsaw puzzle skills and get excited when they complete a puzzle all by themselves. Sophia particularly enjoys singing time, smiling and laughing to her favourite songs.

Room 12 have been learning some appropriate songs about washing our hands, and covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze, and the students practise their skills by doing the actions along with the songs.

While music is not happening at the moment, Room 12 have spent some time in the music room investigating some musical instruments. We might have some future musicians amongst us!

We have noticed that the students have come back from holidays a little bit taller and more independent in their daily routines. We like the way they all sit nicely while they are eating their lunches and they are all gradually learning to pack up and put their lunch boxes away all by themselves.

Well done Room 12, keep up the great work!

Allison and Kerrie

Sydney North Health Network has created a ‘COVID-19 testing options explained’ factsheet, which explains the differences between respiratory clinics, NSW Health testing clinics, private pathology testing (including drive-through testing), and self-collection home kits. Click here to view it.

For a list of all testing locations in the Northern Sydney region, click here or visit snhn.org.au/covid19-testing

You can find other information about COVID-19 by visiting: sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/news/coronavirusinformation/#community