Katoomba North Public School Community News

Dear Parents/Carers,

My fantastic staff have remained calm and have kept classrooms fun and engaging for the past few

weeks. However, after the announcement from our NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian encouraging

parents to keep their child/ren from school I’m sure you are wondering what provisions we are

organising at Katoomba North Public School.

Firstly the school is open especially for parents who work in essential services. Schools continue to be

classed as an essential service.

How the school will deliver learning though is still being organised. The Department of Education has

suggested that teachers prepare units of work for students who are both at school and at home. We do

not want students at home missing vital learning and parents are not expected to “teach” children.

Barton Street, Katoomba 2780 Website: www.katoomban-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Office Hours: 8.30am – 3.00pm Email: katoomban.school@det.nsw.edu.au Principal: Cathy Clark Phone: 4782 2743 Fax: 4782 3871 Facebook: KatoombaNorthPS

Principal’s Log

24th March 2020, Term 1 Week 9

999999

April

9th Students’ last day for Term 1

28th Student’s first day for Term 2

This essentially means that until the holidays if your child is at school they will be supported with their

learning however regular learning timetables will not be followed eg reading groups in classes will not

be operating.

So I ask you to give us a few days for teachers to plan comprehensive work units. They will be

available through avenues the Department has established. Students may be able to access work

through their student portal. Some classes such as 5/6 use google classroom and work will be dropped

there for students to complete. For younger students, teachers may have a work package that you can

pick up or we can send home. There may be “work grids” that children need to complete. Once we

have established the learning routines I will send more detailed information to you.

I need to know though if your child will be at home and you are not able to access the internet for your

child. If this is your situation please let me know by calling the office. There are many ways we can

support your child’s learning. If you would prefer work units in hard copy again please let me know.

If you keep your child from school and your child is completing work units, your child’s attendance

will be marked as flexible and their attendance rate will not be disadvantaged.

The Department has indicated this level of learning delivery will continue after the holidays.

I prompt you to upload “School Stream” a free app that will give you updates etc for our school to

your phone. I admit whilst not being a lover of Facebook I will use this also to relay any messages to

our school community. I must put in the disclaimer though I am not on fb a lot so if you have any

concerns the best way to contact me is through the front office.

The school uses a program called Sentral which has a parent portal. During the next two weeks I will

call SENTRAL and see how I set this up for parents. This will provide us with another information

platform.

Please know too that any staff member who feels unwell with a cold etc will not be at school. If your

child appears unwell at school we will give you a call and ask you to collect them. If they are well after

spending time at home then they can return to school.

We are becoming good at remembering “social practising”. We have discontinued the morning

assembly and students have specific areas to meet their teacher after each break. Each teacher is

supervising hand washing before classes resume. I ask you to remind your child/ren of following

appropriate hygiene that is required especially at this time.

Wow that’s a lot to take in isn’t it? If you need advice, The Department of Health have comprehensive

information on COVID-19.

In the midst of all this 5/6 have returned to their room. They are currently in their year group as the last

few weeks have been very disjointed though the next few weeks will be too! After the holidays though

the doors will be open and 5/6 will once again be the open classroom that students have looked

forward being part of.

NAPLAN has been cancelled for 2020. It is usually held in weeks 3 and 4 of term 2. It would be

difficult to conduct a standardised test when all students may not be at school in May.

Our Opera House project at this stage will continue with years 3 and 4 in terms 2 and 3.

Principal’s Log cont.

Our recorder group and choirs will continue to practice and I know Catriona is charging ahead with

this year’s musical. Big community events we have such as Grandparent’s day will be moved on the

calendar.

Once again I thank all our community in this difficult and changing period of time.

Oh and of course happy holidays. Luckily chocolate is not limited at supermarkets.

Cathy Clark

Principal of the best school in the Mountains.

Music News

Principal’s Log cont.

TERM 1 CALENDAR

2020

Term 1

1

January 27

Australia Day

Holiday

28

Staff

Development

Day

29

Years 1-6

Start School

30 31

2

February 3

Kindergarten

2020

Start School

4 5

KNPS

Swimming

Carnival

6 7

3

10

11 12 13 14

4

17 18

Meet the

Parents

19

Assembly

20

21 Zone

Swimming

Carnival

AFL

5

24

25 26 27 28

AFL

6

March 2

3 4

Assembly

5 6

AFL

7

9 10 11 12 13

Oz Opera

8

16 17 18

19 20

9

23 24 25

26

27

10

30 31

April 1

2

3

11

6 7 8

9

Students Last

Day

10

Good Friday

The Barber of Seville!

Katoomba North Public School students from kindergarten to year six

were fortunate enough to be part of the audience and enjoy a rare

learning experience delivered by Oz Opera through a wonderful

performance of The Barber of Seville.

Students were captivated from the beginning to the end and

appreciated the amazing set, wonderful music and engaging

characters brought to life by the talented Oz Opera cast. Thank you to

Ms. Catriona for organising the event.

3 / 4 Grevilleas

3/4 Grevillea's learning about caring for our bush with Lyndal and Cathy from the Conservation Society.

Sensational Shapes!

In Mathematics, Year Two children identified features of two

dimensional shapes and labelled them. Students investigated and

discussed where two dimensional shapes could be seen in everyday

life. Many students seized the opportunity to carefully explain the

similarities and differences between two dimensional shapes.

The students then had the opportunity to create their own artwork

using two dimensional shapes.

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

The Breakfast Program has been suspended for the rest of the term. Donations of jam, vegemite, honey, marmalade, long-life milk, fruit and milo are always welcome. Contact Caroline (mobile: 0426 399 355) if you are interested in helping to run our breakfast program or drop off donations to the school office or the community room.

SCHOOL BANKING

School Banking has been suspended for Term 1. The Commonwealth Bank has advised it will recommence at the beginning of Term 2.

SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION

The school contribution is a small yearly contribution that is used towards the

cost of classroom resources, arts and crafts, materials, books and sporting

equipment. If you can pay your contribution, could you please do so through the

school office?

Fees are as follows:

$42.00 per year for 1 child

$75.00 per year for 2 children or

$90.00 per year for 3 children or more.

P & C News