Dear parents and carers,

Father’s Day – Happy Father’s Day to all our Dad’s this weekend – we hope that you have a fabulous day!

This week has seen each class working busily on various units of study for this term.

5/6 have continued looking at various issues relating to sustainable use of water resources.  They have been working with staff and students from The Henry Lawson High School.  Mrs Kuhn and Mrs Troth and some of her geography students have been looking at water use through various activities.  They have also participated in webinars run by John Holloway from the education branch of Murray Darling Basin Authority.

Children in K/1 have been busy with this round of publishing.  They have been exploring different ways to convince you to do or try something.  We are looking forward to seeing how they choose to present their publications this time round.

Our Yr. 2/3/4 class have continued looking at reactions in their science unit.  They’ve been mixing and heating/cooling various elements to test their theories about possible changes (or reactions) that occur when different elements are mixed.

PLANT-A-DIFFERENCE – our school SRC group has been looking into different options for activities or fundraisers in these challenging times.  The team have found an online fundraiser that can be run between now and Term 4.  Information about this is included with this newsletter.  I encourage you to support this terrific initiative introduced by our school SRC.

Additional paperwork relating to this will be sent home next week.

This effort to preserve Australia’s biodiversity links well with the work that our Yr. 5/6  children are curretly undertaking as part of their Geography/ Science units for this term.

Thank you to Aize and Jack R who have been helping in the garden in recent days!

The warmer weather this week has encouraged our vegie gardens and our carrots, celery, strawberries snow peas and lettuce are looking great, while the beetroot is almost ready for harvest.

Please be aware that the raised dust and windy weather may lead to extra sniffles or asthma like symptoms this week – please take precautions as appropriate most especially in relation to those who suffer from asthma.  Now is a good time to review your child’s asthma plan and provide an updated copy to us at school.

Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding regarding the updated health guidelines as provided by Health NSW.  These protocols will remain in place at least until the end of this term.  Reminder all families: 

• If your child is unwell, they should not attend school.
• Please ensure that children who present with cold and flu like symptoms/covid-19 symptoms is tested. The results of tests are to be forwarded to school.

P & F – thank you to Mrs Baker for ensuring that our Canteen lunch orders were filled smoothly yesterday.  An order form is attached, all orders must be returned to school by Tuesday.  We ask that you include correct money amounts where possible.

Book Club – flyers were sent home recently, please finalise your orders by tomorrow (04/09).

Uniform orders – an order form is attached to this newsletter.  Please order now for term 4, summer will be here sooner then we expect.  Return all orders by tomorrow (04/09).

Changes to routine - Thank you to those families who are keeping us informed when children are absent from school, or there are changes to the regular routine. 

 Please make it your custom to check in at the office if your children are running late to school – we appreciate your efforts to do this.

Take care and stay safe,

It is very difficult to think of those we love suffering in any way. Many of us are concerned about elderly relatives or people with health conditions that make them vulnerable to coronavirus. Some people in our communities do not have a family and may be feeling particularly alone at this time. For some, being in extended lockdown increases their anxiety and other mental wellbeing issues. Many people in Australia and around the world are now suffering due to financial concerns and loss of income. For many families in poorer countries, being in lockdown means no longer being able to earn enough that day to feed your children. In places where malnutrition is already a problem, even more people are going hungry and face the risk of starvation.

Bring to mind your family and those you love, and thank God for them. Pray for their protection from coronavirus, especially those who may be particularly vulnerable.

Pray for God to comfort those around the world who are grieving the loss of loved ones, and for those who may be feeling isolated or lonely by being in lockdown.

Pray that those who are suffering from mental health issues may receive the family and medical support they need to endure lockdown.

Pray that government bodies and aid organisations will be able get food, financial aid and emotional support to people whose already fragile circumstances have become desperate because of the pandemic.

Lord, hear all these prayers and the ones we hold in our hearts.

Amen

Prayer and reflection retrieved and adapted from https://www.tearfund.org/~/media/files/main_site/about_you/pray/coronavirus-prayer-guide.pdf

The Year Five and Six students had the privilege of working with Weddin Landcare Coordinator, Melanie Cooper, as part of their Kreative Koalas program unit studies based on water use and management.

Here is what the students had to say…

Most Enjoyable Moment

We tested which soil coverage (bare dirt or grass and mulch) used water more efficiently and which one let water run-off, also causing soil erosion.

Most Engaging Aspect

We explored how much water we have on Earth, which surprised us in terms of how much drinking water our population has access to. It is below 1%!

Most Challenging Moment

We completed a quiz based on what things save more water. For example, we should wash our cars on the grass, and not the concrete/ pavement.