NEWSLETTER

What’s On? April:

*9th – Easter Hat Parade students only *9th - Last day of Term 1 *10th - Good Friday public holiday Autumn HOLIDAYS – Mon April 13th to Friday April 24th

TERM 2 April: 28th – First day of Term 2 for students

School will continue to remain open for business as usual for the time being. Please do not hesitate to call the school if you would like further information.

Additional Activities Cancelled: • Parent interviews • Pie Drive • Scripture

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK Welcome! Welcome to the Week 8 Newsletter! It has been a strange week this week. Many of our students are learning from home. While the children who are currently attending school have been working online doing the same work as students at home. Children in 3-6 have been given their learning packs, and are using Google Classroom with great success. We encourage all students in Mrs Knight’s class to log on to Google Classroom at 9:30 each school day where you will receive the day’s work and be able to get instructions and feedback from Mrs Knight. Children in K-2 have been given their learning packs and have access to Mrs Graham through Class Dojo. Please go on to Class Dojo and check out the films and messages that Mrs Graham has left for you. ZOOM is an online learning tool which the school has been trialling. This app allows a group of people to talk together in a virtual meeting. This week we had a couple of test runs with the students and teachers which was very successful. Mrs Knight is arranging meetings with 3-6 via ZOOM. Students in Mrs Knight’s class will find all the information they need about this app in their school emails.

W E E K E N D I N G F R I D A Y M A R C H 2 7

Term 1 2020 Week 9

Latest Advice on Attending School The NSW Government has updated its advice on school attendance. Parents are encouraged to keep their child at home, however if a parent would like to send their child to school then they are definitely allowed to do so. This is for all parents, even if there is supervision at home. Please see the latest government information on the home page of the school’s website. Student Wellbeing This is a very tricky time for children. They hear and see distressing things on the news and from friends and family about the pandemic. Above all during this time it is important that student wellbeing is supported. Therefore we would like to emphasise these points while students are doing Learning at Home: • Provide a structured day for your child – the

teachers have sent home daily timetables, try to stick to these.

• Provide a quiet space for working • Don’t worry if your child needs help with

work and you aren’t sure how to instruct them – just get them to go on to something else, and they can email their teacher instead

• Have plenty of breaks where children can move around, do something different and eat healthy food.

• If it all goes pear shaped – give them some time off and do something fun together instead. They won’t learn if they are distressed or upset.

• Stay calm, listen to their concerns and encourage them to remain positive.

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Weekly Timetable

Mon K-2 Visual Arts

3-4 Science

5-6 Geography

Tues K-2 Geography

3-4 Visual Arts

5-6 Science

Wed Library

Assembly 2:30pm (even weeks)

Sports uniform today

Thur K-2 Science

3-4 Geography

5-6 Visual Arts

Fri Scripture

Sports uniform today

2020 Whole School Excursion At this stage, the whole school excursion is still going ahead. However, sadly we have had to cancel our pie drive. Therefore the school will assist families with the cost of camp. More on this closer to the time.

Easter Hat Parade Students will be participating in an Easter Hat Parade on Thursday April 9th. Unfortunately we are keeping this ‘in house’ and so parents will not be able to attend. However the teachers will take a video and lots of photos and put these up on our website and on Facebook (in line with parent permissions). We may even be visited by a particular guest bringing small egg shaped surprises sometime during the day Students are very welcome to create their own masterpieces at home, however there will also be lots of opportunity to work on them at school also.

Practicing Good Hygiene Students have been discussing the importance of good hygiene and learning how to wash hands effectively. Hand sanitiser is also being used by students and staff multiple times throughout the day to ward off any germs. School, staff and community are encouraged to follow these guidelines: o Wash hands regularly and thoroughly

with soap for at least 20 seconds. Rinse and dry hands well.

o Use hand sanitiser at regular times throughout the day.

o Cough into your elbow or a tissue and then dispose of the tissue carefully

o If you have just returned from overseas please self-isolate for a period of 14 days.

o If you have been in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with the virus, please self-isolate for 14 days.

o If your child has flu like symptoms please keep them at home until they are feeling better (as per usual DoE guidelines)

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Harmony Day Activities What a day we had zooming all around the world finding out about other cultures! Passports: Students had their photo taken and made their passports ready to travel.

Boarding Passes: At lines, students received their boarding pass and had to find their gate to board their plane. Different students visited France, Peru and Japan and learned about the culture, language and customs of that country.

France Peru Japan

New Zealand At the end of the day our weary travelers returned to New Zealand for some afternoon tea. We then competed in the inaugural gumboot throwing competition (but we didn’t have a gumboot so we threw our own shoes….)

Congratulations to our champion gumboot thrower… Makayla for her distance of 23m!

School Website Be sure to check out our school website! http://www.holmwood-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Our Newsletters are uploaded each week and all coming events are also on this site. School Fees The voluntary school contributions will remain the same again this year. This is a small cost of $35.00 per child. Families can make payments at the school office. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Kind Regards, Melissa Tracy Principal

Student Representative Council News SRC are offering Sausage Sandwiches on a Mondays at lunch time AND Cheese Toasties on Wednesdays at lunch time AND meat pies on Fridays at lunch time!

The price continues to be a low $2.00. Orders need to be sent in on a paper bag or a piece of paper with payment ASAP.

Student Book Packs Once again this year the school is providing book packs for their students. The book packs include all works required throughout the year as well as pencils, pens, glue, eraser and sharpener. There is a small fee of $20.00 for the purchase of the book packs. Thank you to families that have already paid for these book packs. Payments are to be made at the school office for families that have not already done so. Newsletter Folders It would be appreciated if families could please return the clear plastic folders that are sent home each Friday with their student’s newsletters and any notes the following week.

School Gate – Please ensure the school gate is left closed at all times Dave has installed a slide bolt on the outside of the gate into the playground. This is to ensure students cannot open it from the inside. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe by always closing the gate.