Dear Parents and carers,

Our second week of this term has seen everyone working well on their respective classroom based learning.

On Monday, we hosted Professor Kaye Lowe for her visit this term. Prof. Lowe worked in all of our classrooms and it was very exciting to hear her feedback about the work that she saw and heard about from our children.  We know that our children a capable readers and writers and hearing this from an independent source is always fantastic feedback for both the children and our staff.

Well done to all!

Special thanks – to our K/1/2 children who have been moving a sand pile during this week.  The sand was left over from the recent tank working b and the children have been spreading it during their playtime.  This has taken the form of a game where deliveries have been made to different parts of the yard.  We have had truck drivers, graders, rollers and cleaners in operation.  Deliveries have included “mine stuff”, grain, hay, wool and “just dirt”.  It has been fantastic to watch this imaginative play unfold across the week – well done!

Sandpit – our sandpit is now back in action.  It was reshaped after the working b and is now a much larger space.  It is quite amazing how a seemingly small addition of 45cm in width and 30cm in length has made this space seem so much larger.  It has proved a popular place to be this week.

School photos –This year, our school photos will be taken on Monday (August 6).  We are looking forward to seeing everyone looking very smart in their winter school uniform on this day!  The personalised envelopes for photo orders were sent home on last week – all envelopes should have been returned to school by tomorrow (August 3), even if you DO NOT wish to purchase photos.

Family photos are only available for children attending school (no younger siblings, parents etc.) Please ask at the office for a family photo order form.

Yetu’s Award – on Friday August 10, Yetu will receive her award from the Hon Mr Michael McCormack (deputy prime minister) here at school.  At midday, we will hold an assembly and the award will be presented at this time.  You are welcome to join us at this assembly.

Website – please be aware that our new website is now up and operational.

 www.stjosephsgrenfell.nsw.edu.au   

This new site allows us to streamline several of the different programs that we have been using to date.  Over the coming months we will migrate from Skoolbag and school interviews etc. to the Schoolzine platform, which incorporates these processes.  Attached to this newsletter is a set of instructions for downloading the new Schoolzine app that will replace our current skoolbag app by the end of this year.

Please let us know your thoughts on the new website – are there things missing that you would like to see included?

NAIDOC celebrations –our Yr. 5/6 class has been invited to participate in tomorrow’s NAIDOC ceremonies and activities at THLHS.  Given that we do not have a lot of experience in this area, it will be an excellent opportunity for us to visit the high school and learn some more about Australia’s history.

K/1/2 Science – K/1/2 are asking for your help – if you have any empty soft drink bottles that are clean, please send these it to K/1/2.  The bottles will be put to good use in their science unit.

Book Week – Book week is coming…

The theme for 2018 is Find your treasure…

Now is the time to start thinking about the Book Character parade and what characters we might be seeing on the day.  Remember to bring a copy of the book that your character appears in to the parade.

Changes to routines – thank you to those families who are keeping us informed when there is a change to the routine at the end of the day.  This helps to make departures flow smoothly.

If there has been a change to the regular routine, please let us know.

Sincerely,