7 April 2023

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Families,

Every time we approach the end of a term, I can’t believe how quickly time passes and how much we manage to fit into our schedules. A sincere thank you for the many ways in which you have worked with us and supported your child’s learning this term.

It was wonderful to see so many families at our recent ENE athletics carnivals and at our K-2 ‘Easter Athletics Carnival’ yesterday. Parent help at events is always welcomed. I have also seen parents reading with children at drop off. Your assistance is greatly valued.

Another way in which you can have input into your school is through our School Association. Congratulations to the following new and returning School Association members for their successful nomination to the 2023 School Association Committee:

• Nic Martin (Chair)
• Kaelene Crossingham (Vice Chair)
• Kristy Scott (Secretary)
• Sam Terry (Treasurer)
• Sharon McKellar (Community Representative)
• Crystal McKellar (Parent Representative)
• Katrina Laycock (Parent Representative)
• Randle Attard (Staff)
• Kawajit Kaur (Staff)
• Anita Haley (Principal)

Our next meeting is at school on Tuesday May 9th at 5:00pm and you are welcome to join us. For further information please speak to any of our committee members.

We have some staffing changes as we head into Term 2. Ms Kaleigh Brown will be working full time in our grade 3/4 team, Mr Simon Holmes and Ms Natasha Lowe join our 9-12 team, Mrs Allison Hyland will be leading our year 7/8 team and Mrs Sharyn Harriss returns from leave and will be working across our school.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish students and families a safe and relaxing holiday. I look forward to seeing our students back at school for Term 2 which begins on Wednesday 26 April.

Kind regards,
Anita Haley

K-2 EASTER ATHLETIC CARNIVAL

Our K- 2 Students enjoyed an eggs-cellent day in the sun on Tuesday the 4th of April at our Easter Athletics Carnival. The students participated in a Late for Easter race, Easter relays, egg and spoon race and many more events with a running race to end the carnival. It was lovely to see so many parents come and enjoy these events with our staff and students. A huge thankyou to Mr French for organising our music and running events and our staff for making this event come to life. We hope you all have a happy and safe Easter.

MORE EASTER FUN

PREP CHISHOLM

1-2 PAYNE

3-4 GEALE – EASTER DISPLAY

What better way to celebrate Easter than to enjoy a visit from two very cute Dwarf Lop bunnies?

Observing the bunnies has been a delightful experience for young and old.

A big thanks to Eve Geale for setting up the venue and lending her pets. It has put a smile on a lot of faces!

Cinnabun and Bun Bun

Cinnabun is the really fuffy one and Bun Bun is the less fluffy one. The bunnies are Dwarf Lops and they are really cute. The bunnies are both girls and they are really friendly and like to eat a lot! Cinnabun and Bun Bun are best friends. They are very playful and they are white. They are also 15 weeks old. Lenka

Cinnabun and Bun Bun

Cinnabun is fluffy and Bun Bun is the other one. They are both girls. They are so nice and friendly. You can hold your hand down and they might sniff you and lick you. They eat a lot of food but most of all they are cute and kind. They are both white. They are only 15 weeks old. Kelcee

Bun-Bun

Bun-Bun is a very cute white Dwarf Lop. She is really good at jumping and she is calm. She is a great bunny. Oliver

Cinnabun

Cinnabun is very cute and also very fluffy. Cinnabun is a Dwarf Lop. Dwarf Lops have floppy ears and that’s also why their breed is called Dwarf Lop. Bunnies are actually called rabbits. People call bunnies rabbits. I think it’s because it sounds cuter. Arabella

The Bunnies

Cinnabun is a beautiful bunny with lots of fur. Bun Bun is not so fluffy. The bunnies breed is Dwarf Lop. The bunnies are very calm, playful and loveable. They are both girls. Anakah

PREP-2 – MEALWORM INVESTIGATION

In science we are learning about living things and their habitats. Grade P-2s have mealworms transforming into darkling beetles in the classrooms. Below are some photos of Grade 1-2 Szycman’s class with their creepy-crawly friends.

PREP MCGRATH – SPECIAL PLACES

In Prep McGrath we have been talking about our Special places in the community. We all love the great playgrounds near us and decided to create our own little playground in the classroom. It was a challenge with lots of problem solving and we are really proud of it.

GRADE 7-10 MERIT CERTIFICATES – TERM 1

Well done to the following students who received merit certificates at the 7-10 assembly held in the last week of term.

HANDS ON LEARNING

The Hands on Learning Program is up and running for 2023. This year the focus is on ‘Community Connections’ and for the first time offering the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The students have been learning the skills of overnight hiking, planting in the school greenhouse and discussing possible community projects with Break O’Day Council. If anyone has any hiking clothing or gear (sleeping bags, thermals, hiking boots, backpacks) to donate to the school we would be very grateful.

GRADE 3-4 READING GROUPS

During our Year 3-4 Reading groups with Ms Neubecker, we have been looking at the relationship between nouns and adjectives. Students discovered that adjectives describe a noun. They used images from the ‘Comedy Animal Funny Photo awards’ to come up with adjectives that described what they could see/name in their picture.

From this, they wrote a sentence that demonstrated their ability to use nouns and adjectives to paint a picture of what they saw in their chosen image.

Learning Question: What is the relationship between nouns and adjectives?

Success Criteria:

I can:

• Locate nouns and adjectives in the text that I am reading
• Label my chosen image using a noun.
• I can describe each noun, using an adjective.
• I can write a descriptive sentence using my chosen image.

Note: The noun is in bold text and the adjective is underlined.

The owl is rushing to grab a worm out of the ground with its sharp beak. (Flora)
The sharp, small talons could kill a fat mouse with ease. (Dash)

The big penguin has little eyes. (Macy)
There are two penguins at the beach, next to the cold, deep ocean. The penguins have yellow flippered feet. (Floyd)
The penguin has big, floppy feet. (Lenka)

There are two kangaroos with pointy ears, furry tummies and fat tails. (Layla)
The flexible kangaroos are balancing on each other. (Chloe)

The ferocious bear has an enormous nose. (Eddie)
The brown bear is hiding behind a lumpy old tree. (Anakah)
The ferocious bear has the cutest black panda ears. (Sashini)

The fearless bear had a headless fish stuck in his hairy, soggy ears. (Archie)
The bear is wet and smells fishy. (Shane)

The smart fox likes sniffing rose scented flowers and eating bright green lush grass. (Annie)
A furry fox is sitting while winking. (Archie B)
A fluffy fox has pointy ears. (Lily)

The fish is very fat and funny looking. (Lottie)

The small furry bear likes smelling fluffy flowers. (Ash)

The squirrel has a light brown tail with very small claws. (Emmett)
A big, hairy squirrel with a white, fluffy belly. (Jaylah)
That squirrel tail is so bushy. (Sarina)

The waving raccoon didn’t brush his hair and didn’t get a hair-cut. He has poofy hair, stinky armpits, big ears (good for hearing), no thumb and a bushy tail. (Baxter)

The little monkey has cute, furry ears. (James)

The big, colourful wings help the birds fly. (Mahla)
The creature has mythical wings. (Braydon)
The majestic owl has huge wings. (Jack)

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND INFORMATION

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

AUTUMN HARVEST FESTIVAL – ST HELENS

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY LUNCHEON – ANZAC DAY

RESILIENT KIDS CONFERENCE - LAUNCESTON

The Resilient Kids Conference is coming to Launceston on Saturday 6th May for a one-day event for parents and professionals who live and work with young people.

FORKLIFT COURSE AT TRADE TRAINING CENTRE

ST HELENS BASKETBALL 2023 SEASON

EAST COAST MOTOCROSS CLUB DAY

ST HELENS LIBRARY BE CONNECTED WEBINARS

JUNIOR KEEPER COURSE – NATUREWORLD