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Dear families and carers,
It was great to meet with so many of you last Wednesday when we held our Education Week ‘Open Morning’. We had the most families attend on-site during school hours since I came to the school in 2016, and it was terrific to enjoy such a positive atmosphere – with 25 family members staying for the talk given by the Speech and Language pathologist in the Technology Room, and parents mingling over coffee in our new canteen.
We would love you to join us again at the upcoming Founders Day special event between 12-2pm on Wednesday September 14th (week 9). The school has been working closely with the P&C to put together a fun program on that day and we welcome you to join us.
What is Founder’s Day?
The original Karonga (House) School was opened on September 14th 1964 by a group of parents in Epping who had no schools for their youngsters to attend. Karonga (House) School was mentioned in Parliament as a great example of quality care and educational provision and finally the Education Department fully embraced ALL students, irrelevant of ability or disability in 1972 (when the current buildings were opened). In recognition of these early families who helped to shape special education provision, we offer some enjoyable and fun activities planned for you to share with your child on September 14th each year.
What will be available:
- A petting zoo has been booked (courtesy of the P&C) and will be sharing small animals with us on the SEACH playground (In the hall if the weather is poor)
- Music Therapy with Jack (funded through the P&C), where he is offering drop-in sessions for students and family members to use a variety of instruments and make music together
- Art experience with Lissette (funded through the P&C) where she is helping us make small and simple craft items during drop-in sessions
- Live music from students attending the Kings School- where Karonga students can look down into the Technology courtyard to see and hear individual instruments (violins/ cello’s/ clarinets etc) and duets performing throughout the session
- Immersive Classroom will offer a range of experiences, immersing you in another country, another time, another season or within a story
- Sensory Room will be open to kick back and chill, whilst exploring the infinity tunnel, fibre optics, bubble tubes, sound effects, and cause/ effect toys etc
- Show bags courtesy of the P&C may be collected from the office at the conclusion, or sent home with students
In addition, we will have the bubble machine going, and weather permitting sand trays, balls and water trays in the GIBSON multi-sport court.
You will have opportunity to meet with other families and go around the school at your own pace- enjoying a coffee/ hot chocolate, and at the conclusion -2pm- enjoy a lunch outside the school canteen with sushi and wraps.
The whole theme of the Founders Day event is to have fun- no pressure to do all things, or join in with all activities- we will even give you a map to navigate our (confusing) school.
Calmsley Hill City Farm 29th July
This was offered over 2 weeks, as we had so many younger students wanting to attend (and so few car seats!). Check out the photos in the hall bus bay. They returned exhausted – which is always a good sign.
P&C meeting 10th August
Out meeting (6.45- 7.30pm) was a great time to talk about the upcoming Founder’s Day as well as a Q & A to ask me questions about the school and what we are currently doing. I do encourage you to come along- they are all mums and dads like you, and they even offer a zoom attendance if babysitting is a problem. It is only by becoming an active member of the P&C that you can impact what happens at school currently, and into the future.
PEX Hub Conference 11th August
Kelly, one of our teachers, led a conference at the Epping Club about supporting Pre-service teachers. It was offered state-wide (at the Department of Education’s expense) and for those that stayed over, we have today offered a tour of our school so they can check out our great facilities.
For the last two weeks Room 7 has gone on Community Access to Carlingford Court to support life skills, communication, and math's. We travelled to the shops by bus and we had a wonderful time.
The students walked as a group, purchased lunch, and sat together eating as a group. They enjoyed the bus trip, and we are looking forward to continued adventures for the remainder of the year.
Literacy continues to be the major focus in Rm 14 with students engaging with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream'.
We have been identifying characters and the relationships between them, as well as sequencing events using ‘first, next and then’ charts. We have been making choices of characters and using these to construct sentences for Predictable Chart Writing.
We have been integrating numeracy and science content with Alphabet & Phonological Awareness by discovering 3D Objects or Living Things that begin with the letter of the day.
Introducing....
Dianne Hasler is a physiotherapist with 30+ years of experience in the field of paediatrics and disability. She has worked in a variety of settings including The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Early intervention and community based therapy and special school settings in both Melbourne and Sydney.
Her passion is for aquatic physiotherapy as it is amazing to give children and adults with significant disabilities the pleasure of movement in the water when their mobility on land is severely limited.
Dianne also likes to problem solve, with the use of equipment, to assist students to have a range of alternative positions to stand, sit, lie, walk or ride during the day . This enables a break from sitting and assists participation in a range of classroom and other activities with their classmates.
Although Dianne has spent most of her time with groups 3&4, she is available on Fridays to consult with any students or staff across the school with regards to helping access the curriculum and any activities whilst at school.
When she’s not at Karonga, Dianne works 3 days at another service provider (Northcott) and enjoys Pilates and spending time with family and friends when not at work.
Dianne is happy to chat if you have any questions or suggestions for your children regarding their physical needs or management at school. Please contact your child’s teacher with a request and Dianne can call or email you on a Friday if possible.
Founders Day
As you are now aware, a fun-filled day is planned for Karonga students on Wednesday 14th September. The P&C are pleased to support this day and hope parents, carers and students access the various P&C funded activities - the petting zoo, music therapy with Jack, as well as Art sessions with Lissette.
All gift bag items have arrived and we have a number of parents/caregivers volunteering their time to put them together. There will be something for all abilities, so don’t forget to collect them from the office on the day if you are attending.
I will be around on the day and at the light lunch afterwards. I’d love to meet more Karonga families, so come and say Hello and ask me any questions about the P&C.
Yee-Foong Stone
Karonga P&C President