Newsletter 14 - 27 August
What an exciting, eventful couple of weeks we have experienced mid-term 3. Even though WA has delayed moving to COVID-19 Phase 5 we are delighted to be able to have some more events happening with a few adult safe-distancing restrictions in place. Learning is such fun! We started with Science Week investigating, researching and experimenting activities across campus classes and some special "Deep Blue" theme commentaries at assembly. TA8 and TA5 and the audience were so patient and resilient as technical difficulties were mostly overcome with persistence and a concerted team effort.
Friendship Friday is tomorrow and our Campus Faction Carnival next Friday. COVID-19 restrictions are easier for outdoor events! Also put the Campus Open Night on your calendar. We will have posters outlining social distancing proceedures displayed at classroom doorways.
COVID-19 Restrictions
Phase 4 of the WA COVID-19 roadmap continues
Based on the latest health advice, Phase 4 of the WA COVID-19 roadmap has been extended until Friday, 23 October. The new tentative start date for Phase 5 will now be Saturday, 24 October. A final decision on whether Phase 5 can proceed on this date, or if it can be brought forward, will be made in October.
Schools are to continue to follow the Phase 4 Operating Guidelines until further notice:
• Parents/carers and visitors may access school sites to attend meetings and for drop off and pick up purposes. Physical distancing of one adult per two square metres and good hygiene practices should apply.
• Canteens can operate ensuring they maintain physical distancing requirements of one person per two square metres.
• Interschool activities can occur. Encourage good hygiene practices including handwashing before and after activities. Supervisors/staff should maintain physical distancing of one person per two square metres where practicable.
• Choir, clubs incursions and excursions can occur can occur. Good hygiene practices including handwashing before and after should apply. Supervisors/staff should maintain physical distancing of one person per two square metres.
• Assemblies and other school community events can occur. Adult visitors and staff should maintain physical distancing of one person per two square metres
• Students who are unwell should stay home
• Visitors and third-party providers on school sites should sign in. Regular cleaning of used areas and minimising contact with the broader school population/ maintain physical distancing of one person per two square metres.
Congratulations
Well done to students who were recognised at assembly with Merit Awards, as well specialist class awards. The You Can Do It Faction reward draw winners enjoyed spending their canteen voucher and Pizza with the Principal was a yummy event!
Friendship Friday
Friendship Friday is tomorrow It is a day to encourage all students to develop and strengthen friendships.
“We’re each unique and beautiful but together we make a masterpiece.” “Odd socks can work together!”
-Please encourage your child to wear odd socks tomorrow for the photo booth
-Remind them that there will be a 50c Friendship Mix on sale for recess
-Ask them to share with you their acrostic poem about friendship (Juniors - friend, Seniors - Friendship)
-After school on Friday, ask them about any special activities they participated in.
TA8 and TA5 Assembly
Congratulations to TA8 and TA5 on such an appropriate “Hakuna Matata” combined class item – it was certainly worth the wait as technical issues were sorted. They had everything to entertain us – drumming accompaniment, great dance moves, lion costumes and enthusiastic singing. The display and spoken reminders about the 5 You Can Do It Keys was also excellent and timely, especially ‘resilience’. Even Ricky Resilience appeared to remind us to take a breath and bounce back when things go wrong.
Deep Blue Sea
Mrs Lennox showed us how to sign ‘Deep Blue Sea” and also shared a poem from her primary school days (a long time ago!) You might also like it.
Guest marine scientist Professor Marcelli (alias Mrs Marshall) enlightened us about sharks research and facts, she even had a shark (alias Mr Donegan) with her.
White Hat Fat
Mrs Lennox has also discovered that marine scientists have renamed the ‘Starfish’, which is now called a 'Seastar'.
Due to technical difficulties, we are looking forward to signing our school song, ‘Paint the Ocean’ at our next assembly.
CAMPers Morning Tea
Thank you for all the campus staff who accepted the invitation to the Silent Morning Tea. This supports primary and ESC students learning to be Communication partners using key word signs, POSS books (low-tech AAC) and communication devices (high tech AAC).
The students did well to get their messages across non verbally, so everyone had something delicious to eat. Special Thank you to Mrs Jen Quigley and Mrs Nat Harney for organising this event and running the CAMPers recess sessions.
Open Night
Our Campus Open Night will be on Thursday 10 September. Classes will be open in the evening between 5.30 and 6.30.
In order for our Open Night to continue under COVID restrictions, we will be restricting visitors to the school to parents and guardians/carers only. Each classroom will have a sign displaying how many visitors may be in the room at any one time and we ask that everyone respects these signs so we can adhere to the rules for physical distancing. If the classroom you wish to visit already ahs the recommended number of visitors, we ask that you:
· Visit the classroom of another child (if you have more than one child at either school)
· Visit one of the Specialist rooms (Music, Art, Languages)
· Go to the undercovered area and buy some food
· Visit the Book fair in the Library
· Wait outside until someone else leaves.
. Go to Block 2 to complete a School Parent Survey.
-Primary school electronic survey in the computer lab, one survey per family.
-ESC hardcopy survey next door in TA4, one survey per student.
-You will be entered into a draw for several gift voucher prizes.
In all cases there will be visitor number limits displayed in rooms. Please assist us by following these restrictions.
We apologies for an inconvenience these restrictions may cause, however it is important that we all work together to keep each other safe.
You will be entered for a draw for several vouchers when you complete the survey.
PP1 and PP2 Front Office Art
Thank you to PP1 and PP2 for their wonderful Gustav Klimt and Vincent Van Gough inspired artwork which is now brighting up the front office display wall. Please pop in and check it out!
Families Who Are Leaving in 2020
Planning is well underway for the 2021 school year. If you are leaving the Primary or ESC school (NOT Year 6 students), please complete the slip below or phone the Primary School office on 9207 0100 or the ESC on 9207 0150 and let us know. This will assist us in organising staff and classes for 2021. Please note that the Department of Education requires a nominated date in term one of return for students returning after 1 February 2021 in order for the school to be able to access funding.
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.
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!
SCIENCE WEEK
ESC specialist Science teacher, Mrs Fen Tan involved ESC classes in Week activities on this year`s DEEP BLUE theme. Students worked in groups on the STEM activities:
- making a tin foil boat and counting the number of sea animals that can be on it without sinking the boat
- colouring pages with sea animals and using the Quiver app for augmented reality effect
-using play dough to make sea animals.
Photos & videos were taken and QR codes created for an upcoming Science display.
TA 17 had creative green hat ideas to keep our water clean to swim in and to save our deep blue sea life.
We have a few days of athletics coming up next week. The students and staff of South Ballajura Campus have been busy training and preparing for the Athletics Carnival. Long distance running finals are being held on Monday 31 August, Jumps and Throws finals Wednesday 2 September and the Athletics Carnival is scheduled for Friday 4 September.
Parents are invited to come and support their children on this day. An official program will be made available in week 7 and will also be distributed on the day. We will be starting at 9am with Pre Primary races and games kicking off the day, followed by Year 1-6 division sprints and team events going into recess and continuing after lunch.
The canteen is taking pre-orders for student lunches. These order are due by Thursday 3 September. Our wonderful P&C will be also be putting on beverages, snacks, bacon egg rolls, toasted sandwiches, burgers and a sausage sizzle throughout the day. A raffle for a $300 Bike voucher donated by Rita Saffioti will be held.
Parents and families are reminded that we are still under phase 4 of COVID restrictions. This requires that all family groups remain separated from other groups by at least 1.5 m. At this year’s carnival, all visitors to the school will need to remain on the pavilion side of the track and will not be able to cross the track to visit students or talk to staff. We ask that everyone adheres to these rules so that we can safely run our carnival.
ESC Chaplain, Mr. Avram is very encouraged to hear that a number of classes have collected a high number of bread tags and bottle caps already. If we go at the same rate he believes that there is a high chance that we can break the record of last term (45,000 items).
To make it easier at the end of the term please count the items every week and make sure the caps are clean. Caps larger than 5 cm are no longer accepted.
Thank you for the work everyone has put into this competition. Keep up the good work and Good Luck to all classes.
Let's keep the plastic out of our drains, rivers and oceans'.
National Education Assistant Appreciation Week
Next week, 31 August to 4 September is a great opportunity to acknowledge the important role of our extraordinary Special EAs, whose hard work and dedication make a difference to students, teachers and our school community. They are vital members of our school team. Their skills and roles are many and varied and their impact on students learning is amazing. During the week parents might like to say ‘Thank you’ to an EA who goes the extra mile assisting their child to grow and shine.
BooK Fair
Book Fair is coming to South Ballajura Campus from the 8-10 September 2020. Yes, we are open during Open Night. We will be open for purchasing on the Tues, Wed and Thursday lunch times for students (12.30pm – 1.00pm) and after school for students and families (3.00pm – 3.30pm) and Wednesday and Thursday before school for students and families (8.30am – 8.50am). Please note that some number restrictions may apply due to covid-19.
Your child’s book fair is like having an exciting bookstore come into their school. Each student is given a time to visit and explore the books on offer prior to the Fair’s opening. They will create a ‘Student Wish List’ on which they have written their book selections from those on offer.
To purchase from the Book Fair, you or your child can visit the school library during the above opening hours with cash,
OR
You can go online to www.scholastic.com.au/payment (be sure to choose the BOOK FAIRS payment, not Book Club).
You will need to provide the following details:
First Name: __________________
Surname: ____________________
Phone Number: _______________
School: ______________________
Suburb/State: ________________
Please return to the school a list of your child’s selected book titles, your 8-digit receipt number and the total amount paid. Your child can then pick up their books (stocks may be limited so, if stock is not available, the titles will be ordered to be collected at a later date) and bring them home to enjoy. Your child will bring home a brochure with a payment slip on the reverse side.
Bookweek this year is 17-23 October. The theme is Curious Creatures, Wild Minds
Amazing new 'You Can Do It' panels
When you come to assembly or Open Night, keep your eyes out for our 5 bright new Keys to Success panels. A huge thank you to Mrs Bev Field for co-ordinating the original flags and then the revamped panels, especially the many hours of toing-&-froing with design tweaks. Thank you also to Mrs Jen Quigley and Mrs Nat Harney for ensuring we selected the correct visuals. Impressive!
Ricky Resilience dropped in to TA8
Ricky had a great time working with all the year 1 and 2 students in Ms Keppel's class last week. We learnt all about being resilient and how to bounce back. The students spent time chatting to Mr Donegan and Ricky on the mat and then spent time drawing a portrait of Ricky, finishing off with a dance to the “You Can Do It’ sound track. Thank you for having us in your classroom TA 8 , hope we can visit again soon and Ricky will bring all his other friends.
Term 3 Playskills with TA8 and EI2.
Making friends at South Ballajura Campus is the best!!
“Being a good Friend” and loads of parachute fun was the name of the game.
This group of students show their “circle of Friends”. A great deal fun was had by staff and students alike.
We are very happy to have Boonderu back in the primary school for term three. Every Thursday Qynn works with small groups of students from years 4 to 6. They get the opportunity to learn from a selections of instruments from guitar, Keyboard and the electric drums. In the next few weeks we hope to show case some of their great work.
If you would like to know more, checkout the Boonderu Facebook page.
Congratulations
ESC officially has a 0.4 Deputy. Congratulations to Simon on winning this position. He has certainly been fulfilling a deputy role for some time in his Learning Support C o-ordinator position and acting principal during Mrs Lennox's Long Service Leave.
ART
Art students in South Ballajura Education Support Centre, were asked to look at samples of Aboriginal artworks exhibiting the Aboriginal flag and make connections between the colours and the meaning. The students were then given the opportunity to plan their own artwork, based on the three colours. The choices were made independently, and as a result, the unique art that has been produced is truly amazing. The planning, choice and production has been encouraged independently from step one, and the students also contributed to how their work would be displayed. Well done everyone! - Mrs Clayden (Art teacher SBESC)
TA5 Make Wombat Stew
Volunteers
SBESC has had a few volunteers working in the classrooms in the last few weeks. Angela Bui has volunteered on Thursdays, and Sarah Salerno has come in on Fridays as part of her workplace learning program at Ballajura Community College. Thank you to both Angela and Sarah for their contributions to the centre.
All Abilities Art
Students from EI2 and selected students from TA11 were able to participate in and express themselves through various artistic mediums, utilising modified and adaptive equipment with Ability Solution's customised instruction. The engagement and excitment from students were visible and each student was able to produce their own piece of artwork.
We look forward to seeing the finished artworks on display at Open Night.
Mrs Williams & Ms Fen
Hi my name is Lee-anne Green and I am Manager Corporate Services for the Education Support Centre. I have been working at South Ballajura ESC for 14 Years.
I have 3 children and 7 grandchildren who keep me busy. In my free time I enjoy playing Lawn Bowls and I also enjoy coaching and umpiring.
Whiteman Park
Welcome back school excursions! Whiteman Park on Friday was the Centre’s second excursion for 2020. Students from the Education Support Centre were really excited to be going off-campus again. Oliver, in Ta17, was very excited from Monday, “Guess what, Mrs Harney, we’re going to WHITEMAN PARK on Friday.” The students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in Viewing (sign recognition), Nature Number creation and Fruit Shop (money skills). Last Friday, the students explored the new sensory all-abilities playground area called Pia’s Place at Whiteman Park. We are fortunate to have this awesome playground so close!
LOTE
By learning a new language children become aware of new cultures and develop a greater understanding and appreciation of other people and customs that are different to their own. – Dept. of Education
Students of Year 3 are learning to name the parts of their face and body through song, games and written activities.
Year 4 students will be learning about school. They will be viewing our school plan and naming the various areas, subjects learnt at school and things they do at school.
Year 5s are continuing with their daily routine and creating a comic strip of the things they do on a chosen day.
Year 6s are discussing ‘Hobbies’ and working on various activities to develop their Indonesian vocabulary on things they enjoy doing.
Happy learning! Selamat belajar!
Salam
Ibu Francis
Fathers Day Stall
Its time to celebrate our special Dads, Grandads, Uncles or that special friend in our lives. On Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September we will be holding a Fathers Day Stall for children to purchase a special gift. Gifts range from $2.00-$9.00
The P&C will be selling hot food from the pavilion. Delicious bacon and egg rolls, sausage sizzles, cheeseburgers and toasted sandwiches. We will also have a range of snack food, lollies, soft drinks, juices, icypoles and slushies.
You will also have the opportunity to win our fabulous raffle. Up for grabs is a $300 bike voucher kindly donated by Rita Saffioti MLA. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Wanted- Indoor Exercise Bike - This would provide physical exercise and sensory breaks for students. If you no longer have the need for yours which is in good working order and want to donate, please phone the ESC office on 9207 0150.
Ballajura Community College Community Lunch
Although a smaller gathering due to COVID restrictions, the annual Ballajura Community College Lunch on Monday was another great opportunity to visit BCC and meet with staff, board members and student leaders. As well, we enjoyed the instrumental performance and excellent lunch prepared and served by hospitality students. The green chicken curry tasted as great as it looks!
Mrs. Cheryl Lennox
Five ways to stay SunSmart during winter
Slip on protective clothing
Sunscreen is great on face and hands but long clothing is cheaper and more reliable for the rest of your body.
Slop on SPF30
For most of Australia, daily winter UV levels will reach 3 or higher, in the middle of the day. That's why we now recommend that you use sunscreen every day UV index is forecast to be 3 or higher - regardless of whether you plan to be outside or not.
Slap on a broad-brimmed hat
Baseball hats are a no-no! The best way to protect your ears, face and neck from UV radiation is to wear a brimmed, bucket or legionnaire-style hat.
Seek shade where you can
Shade can significantly reduce UV exposure. However, UV rays reflect off surfaces such as sand, water and paving, so don't just rely on shade to protect you from the sun.
Slide on sunglasses to protect your eyes
Wrap around styles are best for minimising UV exposure to your eyes. Sunnies don't need to be expensive to be effective; just look for the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 1067:2016) on the swing tag when choosing a new pair.
For more information
Visit SunSmart's MyUV website.
Mobile Food Bank
