From the Senior Executive Team

Welcome to Week 7 of Term 2 and of course the beginning of winter. Typically, at this time of year we see an increase in absences and late arrivals. Illness can’t be avoided and your child should stay home if they are unwell with an explanation for the absence supplied to the teacher or office. However, whilst the mornings can be cold and a bit dark we need our students at school on time and ready to learn, each day.

First Semester Reports and Parent Interviews

Our teachers are currently reviewing your child’s progress and preparing a summary report to be issued in Week 9. In the following week of this term (23rd June) we will be holding  parent/teacher interviews.

The online booking option will be sent to parents however here is some information in advance.

The code for Parent Teacher Interviews will be re3rq

The booking link is https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=re3rq​

Bookings will be open from 15th June 2021 at 12pm

Please remember that our teachers can discuss your child’s progress at any point in the year. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s learning, please contact the class teacher to make an appointment at point of need during the school year.

Roofing Upgrades

As per the advice on our Facebook page, there will be construction work to upgrade the roofing on some of our classrooms. This will impact our Kindergarten classrooms and two of our Stage 2 rooms. It may also impact access to from the YMCA building. If you are on our school grounds please avoid the fenced off areas and note any changes to your child’s classroom as teachers send it out on SeeSaw.

Kindergarten 2022- Special Needs Students

If you have a child coming to Kindergarten in the 2022 school year and you believe they have special needs the school needs to be accommodating or aware of, please call our school office to make an appointment so that we can gain an early understanding of your child’s needs. You may also like to book an appointment with Mrs Wells once the school interview bookings are open. 

Additionally, we are accepting enrolments for Kindergarten at anytime from now so please contact the office to obtain more information.

Spotlight on our Staff

Staff name: Kris Westcott

Position at our school: Assistant Principal – Kindergarten team leader

How long have you been at Sackville Street Public School? 2 and a bit years

Why did you decide to become a teacher? I loved helping at my sons’ school

What makes Sackville Street such a great place to work? The amazing feeling of family

What is your favourite book?  Serious?? One book? To Kill a Mockingbird

What was your favourite subject at school and why? I don’t think I had one, but maybe maths because I enjoy puzzles.

Do you have any pets? No

Favourite holiday destination My lounge with a a cup of tea and a pile of books 

Something most people would not know about you? I love to paint

Robotics and Maths

Stage 3 students spend time in the library each week learning about robotics. Currently, classes are using Dash robots and LEGO spikes to enhance their technology skills. 

In maths, students have been learning about 2D and 3D shape, lines, angles, fractions, decimals and mass. Our programs ensure that students see the real life application of their learning through engaging experiences such as creating an artwork using a variety of angles, working with money and researching the weight of everyday objects to see how many students could balance a scale. For example, we discovered that 25 Stage 3 students would weigh approximately the same as an adult saltwater crocodile!

Public Speaking

All students wrote and presented speeches in class. Two representatives from each class presented to the whole stage and then only two were selected to represent the school at the Multicultural Speaking Competition. Congratulations to Kaya from 4/5L and Anisha from 5/6M who will represent Stage 3 at Minto Public School next Tuesday. 

Belonging

Our theme on 'belonging' has been very engaging for our students. Students have participated in interviews with MP for Macquarie Fileds Anoulack Chantivong and local Senior Fire Fighter Irene Lowe. Both of our guests were able to shine some light on what belonging means to them and their views on how we can all help others feel a sense of connection. We are very appreciaive that they were able to support the learning of our students. We are looking forward to our next round of interviews and working alongside 'Kids Giving Back' - an organisation which provides volunteering opportunities for young people. If you are part of a charity organisation and would like to share your story and experiences with us, we'd love to hear from you!

Mrs Kerrie Bryant - Stage 3 Assistant Principal

Stage 2 were lucky enough to have a visit from Mrs Fagan this week to speak about what it is like working with students who have a hearing disability. We learnt of the challenges and obstacles that this can present, but also of how rewarding it is to work alongside these children. Students were able to use this presentation, as well as their own research to write an informational text on deafness and belonging. They were even able to modify a game of Simon Says to suit people with a loss of hearing.

Students have been using their creative thinking skills in order to design, build and operate their own arcade machines. They are working towards their culminating task in week 10, where community members will be invited in to test them out. Keep an eye out for more information in the upcoming weeks.

It was great to see so many students presenting their homework speeches to their class last week. It was evident that they really understood what belonging meant, as well as which groups they are a part of outside of school. The next homework task has been sent home as well as posted on Seesaw and we hope to see all the amazing work in week 10.

English Week 1 – 6

On Friday, at the hall we enjoyed hearing representatives from Stage One recite their poems they had composed themselves. They demonstrated that a great recital is fluent, expressive whilst using appropriate volume. Thank you to all the young poets that shared their poems.

English Week 6 - 10

Over the next few weeks, we are going back in time and classes are creating their own class museum! We would love it if families could bring in any historical items from home, labelled, to add to our special museum. These could include books, toys, technology, photographs etc.

We would also love to hear from any volunteer parents, caregivers, and grandparents who would be willing to come in to talk to the students about how different life was when they were young. Please let your child’s class teacher know if you are willing to help us.

Cold Weather

We are in winter and it is starting to get chilly, especially in the mornings. Please make sure your child has a school jacket or jumper that is clearly marked with their name on it.

Our focus classes this week are KR and KM.

KR we have been learning about families and belonging. This fortnight, the students have enjoyed space themed imaginative activities based around our text ‘The Terrible Suitcase’ by Emma Allen. We also explored the concept of emotions and how to recognise and manage them. This week, for Reconciliation Week, KR will be participating in a variety of activities that recognise and promote appreciation for Aboriginal culture. Our text for this week is ‘Family’ by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson. Students have addressed what family means to them and we have had discussions about what they like to do with their families. In Maths this week, we have begun to learn about capacity, and using different containers to explore the concepts of full, half full and empty.
KR are enjoying their time learning in the hall while our classroom roof is repaired. The students are demonstrating their understanding of our learning disposition ‘be flexible’, by adapting to new routines.
We are looking forward to our athletics carnival this Friday! Your child is encouraged to wear their house colours and clothes appropriate for physical activity. Bring a hat, a water bottle and some lunch and have a great time! KR are excited about the opportunity to show their parents, carers and guests how well they have practiced their athletics skills.

This fortnight KM students had the pleasure of reading to their buddies and being read to by our buddies. Students really enjoyed this experience and are looking forward to these visits. We cannot wait for our buddies to visit again!
We are extremely lucky to have Miss Dania, a speech pathologist come in every Wednesday and support KM in their phonemic awareness. Students are becoming increasingly competent at segmenting and blending sounds (phonemes) in words. Miss Dania was very impressed with our ability to stretch out the phonemes in words and challenged KM with words that had four phonemes. Of course, KM rose to the challenge and even blew Miss Dania away with their ability to manipulate phonemes to make new words.
In Maths, we have been working with mass. We talked about how heavy objects need more than one person to lift and cannot be moved easily, whereas light objects are quite easy to move. Students have engaged in number talks based on the ten frame and discussed what we know about them. Students drew their own ten frames to support their reasoning.
Congratulations to our merit award winners this week Ekjot Kaur and Klein Ioane-Crichton. Keep up the great work everyone!

Stage 3 Camp Payments

Thank you to parents and carers for getting the deposit for camp in so quick and ensuring this years camp goes ahead with all spots filled in record time. Don't forget final payment for the Canberra Camp is due by Monday 21 June 2021. 

Individual statements will be sent home with outstanding balances next week.

This fortnight we have been continuing our Antibullying message by introducing strategies to solve problems in the playground. Students have been role-playing to practise these important skills in preparation for utilising them in social situations.

Our mindset focus is to 'be inquisitive'. Students are encourged to be inquisitive by asking questions, giving insightful comments in class discussions, furthering other students ideas and investigations.

Our staff are committed to the wellbeing of our community. As we move through these challenging times together, If you or your child require emotional support please don't hesitate to make contact with us. Often a conversation can set minds at ease. Organisations such as Beyond Blue, Headspace and Kids Helpline are also available to provide additional specialised support.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ 1300 224 636

https://headspace.org.au/   Headspace Campbelltown 4627 9089  Headspace Liverpool 8785 3200         

https://kidshelpline.com.au 1800 551 800