Newsletter 10 - 18 June
Dear Parents & Carers
It is wonderful that the Government and Chief Medical Officer are relaxing more and more COVID-19 restrictions due to the combined efforts of the WA community to stay safe.
Each school is responding in a cautious and gradual way to reflect these ongoing changes as students returning to school has already reached pre-COVID rates – well done parents. However, it is also the cold and flu season, so thank you for keeping children who are not 100% well at home in order to help everyone to stay healthier.
We are also reflecting on some positive lessons learned from COVID-19:
-We have noted, along with many other schools that drop-off & pick-up at the gate has increased student independence and resilience.
- Personal hygiene, especially, frequent hand washing, is a new habit.
- Most students are keen to be back at school with their friends and teachers.
- Our Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning and hygiene routines have been reviewed.
- Our digital skills have improved.
- We can still celebrate the great things that happen at South Ballajura, albeit in different ways. Virtual awards are okay, but subject to technical difficulties. (Thank you to Mr Donegan and Mrs Marshall for co-ordinating and problem solving).
This is a close competition, so do your best to earn more YCDI faction tokens this term!
*Parents now have restricted access to the school grounds, within the total 100 inside and 300 outside quota. You can certainly make an appointment to meet with a teacher/ admin/ school psychologists/chaplain on site.
* This means, in addition only 100 visitors may be on the ground at any one time.
* Therefore we encourage all parents to drop off and pick up from the gates to ensure we meet this requirement and continue to develop the children's independence.
*Integration, we are hopeful that campus inclusive activities, such as lunchtime clubs, Playskills, specialist and class Integration as well as full assemblies will recommence from the beginning of term 3.
SBESC & SBPS are registered BE YOU schools. This article extract from BE YOU provides wellbeing tips and strategies as our school communities undergo multiple changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It can be difficult to know what to prioritise when trying to adapt to multiple changes. Mental health underpins a learning community’s ability to be resilient and continue to learn during change.
Some practical tips:
- simplify things within your control
- focus on social and emotional learning
- try to be positive
- talk through challenges (talk- our Word of the Week)
- notice when your child is struggling
- acknowledge your boundaries.
On Monday 15 June, across Australia, school cleaners were recognised and celebrated for the incredible work they have done to keep our schools safe and clean throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We thanked our wonderful South Ballajura Campus cleaner team - Abby, Montanna, Juan, Maria, Raga, Jean 1, Jean 2 and Rebecca and gave them each a small gift of appreciation & acknowledgement of their essential contributions throughout term 2, helping everyone onsite feel & keep safe.
Front Office Display Wall
Thank you to Ms Sherrard and the students and staff in EI1 for the wonderful wall display. It has really brightened up our Front Office display wall and makes a great first impression for visitors to our campus.
Primary School and ESC Kindy Enrolments
The enrolments for 2021 are underway and all families within our Primary School local catchment area and students with Special Needs are encouraged to apply to enrol their children in either school by 24 July 2020.
Please find a Primary Kindy Application or an Application to Enrol in Education Support Form attached below. Alternatively please come to the front office Monday to Friday, between 8am and 3:30pm and we can give you a hard copy.
When returning the application ,you will be asked to present:
- Your child’s Birth Certificate (original or certified copy) or birth extract or equivalent identity documents;
- A copy of your child’s Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement printed in the last two months(no Older than two months)
- Proof of your child’s usual place of residence: for example, utilities account, lease agreement, ownership of the property, driver’s licence, statutory declaration;
- Copies of any Family Court or other court orders (If applicable);
- and Visa details (If applicable).
We are looking forward to meet all new students in 2021!
Upcomming Campus Events
Wacky Wednesday - The P&C will be running Wacky Wednesday on 24 June. Please encourage your child to come in their wacky dress up, wacky hair or wacky hat. Also encourage the students to order their lunch, every order will go in the box to win a prize.
Pizza With The Principals - The last Pizza With The Principals for Term 2 will be held on Tuesday 30 June.
PAPERBARK
Students from TA9 and TA7 were taught the significance of paperbark and how Aboriginal people utilized the soft material.
Paperbark is used for the smoking or welcoming ceremony for infants. Research paperbark and you will notice how the appearance of its bark relates directly to women. This practice of associating any physical appearances of a plant in common with parts of the human body is used in homoeopathy and the making of essences; it is known as the ‘doctrine of signatures.’
Paperbark has long been used by Aboriginal people and is a much loved, respected and important resource. From carrying and warming, cooking, wrapping babies, to cups and domestic uses, to art and spiritual practices… paperbark is versatile.
Campus Collection Competition
In order for our schools to promote active citizenship, by giving back to the community, we are collecting plastic bread tags and plastic bottle caps. In this way we can help provide wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs to those in need. For more information please visit: https://theovershoot.com/environmental-initiatives/aussies-recycle-bread-tags-to-fund-wheelchairs-for-people-in-need/ and https://7news.com.au/the-daily-edition/envision-hands-turns-bottle-caps-into-prosthetic-limbs-for-kids-in-need-c-200981
Stefan and Troy will assist Mr Avram with this worthwhile project. The class with the largest amount of bread tags and bottle caps per student will be rewarded at the end of each term. Happy recycling and Good Luck!
It was a pleasure to be able to have our first full face to face meeting with our new School Board last Wednesday to discuss our next steps forward. The Board acknowledges that the main purpose of schools is to provide for student learning in relation to the WA Curriculum. Therefore, we want students attending and engaging in their educational programs as much as possible, whilst taking into consideration therapy needs and individual family circumstances and carpark safety. Consequently, the Board endorsed the following SBESC strategies:
*Drop off and Pick up at designated school gates will continue indefinitely to maintain/promote and scaffold students’ new found independence. ESC staff will ensure safe handover for Duty of Care. Primary Year 1-6 school day is 8:50 – 3:00 and K/PP is 8:45 – 2:45. We are fitting in close to these times, but avoiding peak times where possible.
ARRIVAL time at the gate for non-bus students is now between 8:40 and 9:00.
Parents arriving when ESC staff have stopped manning the gate will need to report to the front office.
HOME time is 2:50-3:00, except for the usual Early Close AT 2:35 on Tuesdays.
*Parents are required to complete the attached form to seek Principal approval for alternative arrangements. This will also apply to approved off-site therapy. Please contact Mr Simon Hume, Learning Support Co-ordinator (M,T,Th,F) for any enquiries.
*Off-site therapy arrangements should be continued indefinitely, preferably outside school hours. However, we understand that this is not always possible, so please check with your Service Provider and class teacher. Late Arrivals and Leaving Early can be approved for Educational purposes.
*Modified MID-YEAR reports, due to COVID-19 impacts, are nearing completion and class teachers are looking forward to meeting with you over the next few weeks to discuss your child’s progress, as well as reviewing Semester 2 IEP objectives.
*Please SAVE THE DATE! – We missed our Community Access picnics, so, weather permitting, we are planning a Parent BBQ in the Bike Track Area on the last day of Term 3, FRIDAY 2 JULY.
TA17 ROBOTICS
In TA17 this semester we have been investigating and reviewing the different robotics used at South Ballajura ESC. These include Bee-Bots, Dash and Dot, Code-a-pillar, Sphero, and Osmo Coding
We have been looking at how each of the robots move and how to input the code (instructions) to make them move the way we want them to. We are using the Thinking Hats to helps us organise our thoughts.
Yellow Hat - Positives - what we like about this robot
White Hat - Facts - What’s an interesting fact about this robot
Red Hat - Feeings - rate how this robot makes you feel on a scale.
Green Hat - Creative - invent a new game to play with the robot.
Our class is practicing our speaking and listening skills by interviewing each other and recording our responses on the iPads. We are also practicing our photo taking skills and taking lots of photos of our class coding the robots. We are making an interactive brochure to collate all our reviews, videos and photos and we are very excited to show it off when we are finished.
Last Friday during Jump Jam groups we got to go on a ride! We had so much fun pretending to be scared and excited on Mrs Locke's roller coaster.
Pastoral Care catch ups for parents are now available face to face at school. Also I will be happy to assist with NDIS plans, parenting skills, emergency food or simlar.
A three-month access family pass to Foodbank is available now to eligible families through school chaplaincy. Please feel free to contact me. My contact number is 0401 319 792.
MEET THE BOARD
Hi my name is Sharni Crawford and this is my 4th year of serving on the ESC Board. I have one son who is in Year 5 at South Ballajura. I have a Diploma of Ministry & Theology and work in aged care. In my free time I enjoy reading, watching TV and spending time with family and friends.
For the next two weeks the students will be working on the following:
Year 3 students will revise the days of the week and continue with learning the months of the year through song, interactive activities on Languages on-line and activities in their work portfolio.
Year 4 students will continue to learn about wild/zoo animals through shared reading of a big book entitled “In The Jungle” and complete written activities in their work portfolio.
Year 5 students will be viewing and answering questions on “An Indonesian Pizza Hut” advertisement and practise using the conjunction ‘karena’ (because) to join sentences. They will also be reviewing some Indonesian restaurants.
Year 6s are reading a book entitled “Mereka bermain apa?” (What are they playing?) and will be creating a placemat by sequencing the games played in the story. This placemat, they will keep as a souvenir of their study of Indonesian in this school. They will also be learning to play an Indonesian board game called “Congklak”.
Salam hangat
Ibu Francis
ASTHMA INFORMATION
Asthma and what is it
As we are now in the colder months when childhood asthma is easily triggered. Below are a few pointers on what to lookout for and how to treat your child.
What are the triggers of asthma?
Asthma sufferers have sensitive airways that can become narrow due to swelling, tight airway muscles and blockages from excess mucus. Common triggers for an attack include viral infections ie colds allergens, air pollution and exercise.
How is asthma diagnosed?
If you think your child may have asthma they will need to see your doctor to discuss symptoms such as wheezing, constant coughing and breathlessness. A physical examination as well as a spirometry test to measure lung function if the child is at least six years old may be carried out to determine if your child actually does have asthma.
How is asthma managed?
The goal of asthma management is to prevent attacks from occurring, or if they do, to minimise the severity and duration of an attack. The main types of asthma medicines are relievers (ie an inhaler or puffer which is used when symptoms occur) often know as Ventolin. Preventers such as inhaled corticosteroids can also be used. Knowing what triggers your child’s symptoms and reducing their exposure to these will also help.
If your child does have asthma, please come into the front office to fill out an Asthma Action Plan so staff are aware of your child’s needs and make sure they have their Ventolin with them at school in case of an attack
*Seek immediate medical attention if your child has trouble breathing
JOHN FORREST SECONDARY COLLEGE - SPECIALIST PROGRAM