Newsletter Week 10 Term 2 2020 Principal’s message Semester 1 2020 is about to end, with school holidays just around the corner. While we usually look forward to the end of term I appreciate that some of our students might have a different view, due to the period of remote learning and Covid-19 restrictions. Please talk to your child/ren and provide time for them to talk about how they are feeling moving into the holidays. I’m sure they have a lot to look forward to now that restrictions have eased and play dates can be arranged, and parks and other attractions are open. I know many of you will be making the most of being able to travel. Have fun! On Tuesday 16 June I attended our school’s first P&C meeting held via Zoom. The P&C executive ran a well organised meeting – I would like to acknowledge them for the time they gave to ensure a successful meeting. I would also like to thank the P&C for their generous donation of $12.00 for every student - to pay for individual Sound Waves subscriptions. If you have already paid for your child/rens subscription you will receive a credit that you can apply to your Semester 2 Statement of Accounts. Earlier this term I received a letter from Jo Haylen MP State Member for Summer Hill, thanking our staff for our amazing efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. The letter is attached to this newsletter in celebration of our school during this time. Another exciting event for our school was a visit from our Director Educational Leadership Megan Kelly. I was pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our school. The highlight for Ms Kelly was visiting classrooms, our students were very proud. Of course our school grounds and classrooms are looking amazing…the works funded by the Department, the school and our P&C are really making a difference! Hopefully, if the rain stays away, students will be able to play on the multicourt by the end of the week. Our Summer Hill Blues assemblies will be taking place in Week 1 Term 3, of course in a different way than previously to ensure Covid-19 restrictions and Departmental expectations remain in place. The assemblies are to acknowledge those students who have been outstanding role models, demonstrating Respect, Resilience and Responsibility (the 3R’s) at Summer Hill Public School. If your child/ren will be receiving an award you will be invited to join us on their special day. During the cold weather it is important that the clothing students wear to school meet our schools’ uniform requirements, in particular hats and jumpers. We ask students to wear clothing outlined in our uniform policy - clothing items are available to purchase at Pickles uniform shop, second hand items are available at the office. Through the generosity of office staff, parent volunteers and past students we are currently able to provide second hand items at no cost to families. You can find more information at this link: https://summerhill- p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/what-we-offer/uniform-shop.html or by calling our office. Thank you for taking the time to read about what’s happening at Summer Hill Public School, we are very excited to report what our students have been doing. If you enjoy reading our newsletter and would like to see what’s happening around the school more regularly visit the website at https://summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/. For day to day updates and reminders download our Skoolbag App for your phone or tablet device. Click here to go to the school website for further information to upload to your device. Natalie Armstrong Principal July Thu 2 Performance day in hall - students only. Orchestras 11:15am. Bands 1:15pm Thu 2 K-2 and Y3-6 Assemblies. Students only. Fri 3 Last day of Term 2 Sun 5 NAIDOC Week 5 - 12 July Mon 20 School development day Tue 21 First day of Term 3 for students Tue 21 P&C meeting 7:15pm online via Zoom Wed 22 NAIDOC week per- former Thu 23 Summer Hill Blue Assemblies August Mon 3 Education Week 3 - 7 August Mon 10 Science Week 10 - 14 August Tue 18 P&C meeting 7:15pm. Venue TBC Mon 24 Book week: Curi- ous creatures, wild minds. 22 - 28 Au- gust E [email protected]W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160 Find more on EVENTS on the school webpage
Transcript
Newsletter Week 10 Term 2 2020
Principal’s message Semester 1 2020 is about to end, with school holidays just around the corner. While we usually look forward to the end of term I appreciate that some of our students might have a different view, due to the period of remote learning and Covid-19 restrictions. Please talk to your child/ren and provide time for them to talk about how they are feeling moving into the holidays. I’m sure they have a lot to look forward to now that restrictions have eased and play dates can be arranged, and parks and other attractions are open. I know many of you will be making the most of being able to travel. Have fun!
On Tuesday 16 June I attended our school’s first P&C meeting held via Zoom. The P&C executive ran a well organised meeting – I would like to acknowledge them for the time they gave to ensure a successful meeting. I would also like to thank the P&C for their generous donation of $12.00 for every student - to pay for individual Sound Waves subscriptions. If you have already paid for your child/rens subscription you will receive a credit that you can apply to your Semester 2 Statement of Accounts.
Earlier this term I received a letter from Jo Haylen MP State Member for Summer Hill, thanking our staff for our amazing efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. The letter is attached to this newsletter in celebration of our school during this time. Another exciting event for our school was a visit from our Director Educational Leadership Megan Kelly. I was pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our school. The highlight for Ms Kelly was visiting classrooms, our students were very proud.
Of course our school grounds and classrooms are looking amazing…the works funded by the Department, the school and our P&C are really making a difference! Hopefully, if the rain stays away, students will be able to play on the multicourt by the end of the week.
Our Summer Hill Blues assemblies will be taking place in Week 1 Term 3, of course in a different way than previously to ensure Covid-19 restrictions and Departmental expectations remain in place. The assemblies are to acknowledge those students who have been outstanding role models, demonstrating Respect, Resilience and Responsibility (the 3R’s) at Summer Hill Public School. If your child/ren will be receiving an award you will be invited to join us on their special day.
During the cold weather it is important that the clothing students wear to school meet our schools’ uniform requirements, in particular hats and jumpers. We ask students to wear clothing outlined in our uniform policy - clothing items are available to purchase at Pickles uniform shop, second hand items are available at the office. Through the generosity of office staff, parent volunteers and past students we are currently able to provide second hand items at no cost to families. You can find more information at this link: https://summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/what-we-offer/uniform-shop.html or by calling our office.
Thank you for taking the time to read about what’s happening at Summer Hill Public School, we are very excited to report what our students have been doing. If you enjoy reading our newsletter and would like to see what’s happening around the school more regularly visit the website at https://summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/. For day to day updates and reminders download our Skoolbag App for your phone or tablet device. Click here to go to the school website for further information to upload to your device.
Natalie Armstrong Principal
July
Thu 2 Performance day in hall - students only. Orchestras 11:15am. Bands 1:15pm
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
We are now taking Expressions of Interest from families with a child due to start Kindergarten in 2021. Families that reside within the catchment can complete an Expression of Interest form on the school website enrolment page. For additional information about the enrolment policy and Out of Area applications view our enrolment policy on the school website.
Expression of Interest Kindergarten 2021
NAIDOC Week performer Walangari Karntawarra
Our School Acknowledgment of Country
On behalf of the students, teachers and parents of Summer Hill, we would like to pay respect to Australia’s First Nations, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, as they share with us their Dreaming stories, songs, dances and works of art. We honour their spiritual connection to the sea, the sky and the land on which we live and learn. We acknowledge that the children of the Wangal clan used to play right here. They watched the Black Cockatoo fly, the Flying Fox soar, the Bottle-Nosed Dolphin swim and the Lyrebird dance. As the traditional custodians, Aboriginal people took responsibility for this land and we carry that spirit as we continue to care for this special place. May all people be welcomed here and feel safe. The Aboriginal people of the Eora Nation share this ancient land with us. We are thankful for and recognise this resilient continuing culture, and we give special acknowledgement to the elders, both past and present, and all Aboriginal people of the future.
The multi-talented Walangari Karntawarra is an Arrernte Abotiginal elder form Alice Springs who lives and
works in Sydney. He is an international award winning contemporary “Western Desert” painter as well as an
accomplished musician and performer. Students will join Walangari for an entertaining and educational
program showcasing traditional dance, music and storytelling.
Performance times:
Walangari will visit our school on Wednesday in the first week back after the holidays. Students will attend
performances at the following times: Year 5-6 9:25 - 10:15am Year 3-4 10:25 - 11:15am Year 1-2 11:45 - 12:35pm Kindergarten 1:45 - 2:35pm
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
P&C News
Thanks to everyone who attended our virtual P&C meeting on June 16th via Zoom, our next meeting is scheduled for 21July at 7:15 pm and will also be on Zoom until further notice. The P&C President highlighted the hard work the teachers and staff put in during this difficult time and expressed the thanks of the entire school community. The P&C advised that $11,121.61 from funds allocated to literacy resources was used to pay for new books and for students’ Sound Waves accounts. We hope all of the students enjoy the break over the school holidays and we look forward to seeing you all in person (appropriately social distanced, of course) or virtually, in the near future. The P&C Executive
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
Across the stages
Art
Kindergarten students have been learning about self-portraits during visual art. Students have been exploring artworks created by different artists, such
as Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani. We have taken inspiration from these artists to create our own self-portraits using a variety of media. We are
very proud of the artworks on display in our classrooms!
Kindergarten
Stage 1
Fitness
During Term 2, Stage 1 students have been keeping healthy by participating in fitness. It has been exciting to see Stage 1 students back at school this
term and enjoying each other’s company. Year 1 students have been creative in using the newly painted playground activities, whilst Year 2 have been
learning dances such as the Nutbush, the Macarena and the Cha Cha Slide dance with steps such as the Criss Cross, the Reverse and the Charlie
Brown.
Stay safe and healthy over the break and we look forward to seeing Stage 1 students in Term 3.
Students should be able to learn at home two days of the school week
Socialising with your friends five days a week! Sounds like fun to me and without your parents having to worry about you why you're doing it! It just
keeps on getting better and of course, I nearly forgot you can learn everything at school with no trouble if you don’t understand something. It’s a win-win,
you can have fun with your friends and your parents don’t have to worry about you. It will even be easier for your teacher. You have to agree it’s so
much better to go to school five days a week and if you don’t right now then you will at the end of this writing piece.
Socialising with your friends five days a week instead of three days, there are lots of reasons why this is good for you. Having a friend keeps you fit
because you might be in a team with them or just play tips at recess and lunch. You have fun with friends and all children need fun to stay healthy. Of
course “having a friend is really good for mental health when you communicate with someone your age” says Dr Macenzie from the Children’s hospital.
Every morning when you're getting ready for school (brushing your teeth, getting dressed) your parents are doing the same to go to their job or office so
if you have to stay two times a school week then your parents have a problem. They either have to stay home and not go to work or have to get a
babysitter which is extra costs. Two-thirds of Summer Hill Public school’s parents have to go to work five days a week which is a lot of problems for all
those families.
You must agree that at school the number one priority is to learn new things every day, if you're at home two days a week and you might not understand
something, you won’t have the advantage of being able to ask your teacher and get help one on one. Four-fifths of teachers from Summer Hill Public
school say that it has been hard to school over the internet because of COVID 19 and that it is better for the students to learn in school.
I know you already agreed with me before I even finished my piece of writing but just imagine how happier and worry-free you would be if you and all the
other students went to school five days a week instead of two. Not just you but teachers, parents and the other students will benefit from this. You will
get to socialise with your friends, parents won’t have to worry about you being at home and you'll get to learn everything you need to know. Wouldn’t you
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
Across the stages
Stage 2
Stage 3
Elements of Design Stage 2 have been investigating the Elements of Design in Art this term. Edvard Munch's print, The Scream, provides a great learning opportunity to see how line can direct our gaze around the picture plain. They used a complimentary colour palette with the image as complimentary colours are vibrant and tend to "clash", thus heightening the strange, disturbing quality of the print.
Whilst still studying the 'Elements of Design, 4SP were looking at Tone. We typed "How to draw a sphere" into Youtube and found 'How to draw a crystal ball." After watching the artist draw the crystal ball students started drawing, stopping and starting the clip, following the artist. The results were beautiful.
Venn Diagrams
4TK have been investigating
how to use Venn diagrams
this week. The students
were presented with the
delicious task of sorting
lollies using a Venn diagram.
Unfortunately, Mr Kay
insisted that the students eat
the lollies afterwards.
Abandoned house The house had become aware of itself, of the history that echoed within the walls. Somewhere within, mixed with the pain, were images of soft flowers. Yet, if inside felt stagnant, just as a river, it simply needed to flow. And so one day, after time unmeasured, the house opened each door and window. It shivered at first, for the wind felt cold and it was used to the dust and the odour of nothing. It was about to close, to find a way to love the isolation, to become one with the rats who crawled and the sticky spider webs, when in came the fragrance of soft flowers. The house shivered again, but in a differ-ent way, this time there was a small fragment of warmth, a tiny brave smile in the walls. There were days that old house did shut every door and win-dow, times darkly shrunken from the world, hoping to be invisible. Yet, as the seasons changed, as Earth circled the sun, the doors and windows opened all the more. They say that the pain blew right out of that house a little at a time and the nature that house craved entered a little at a time - the birdsong, blossom, and sunshine. It stood in a composed way as if it had chosen solitude for itself as if residents were a luxury it could forgo. The floors had been a highly polished par-quet, individual blocks lovingly placed and sanded to a smooth finish before the varnish was brushed on with fine bristles. The walls stood firm, the win-dow frames strong, glass triple glazed, and whole. All in all, it looked like a movie set, a place waiting for life to come. The only give-away was the odour, well, that and the dust. It was musty and dry, but nothing opening the doors and windows couldn't solve. A spring clean, some fresh flowers, perhaps the house would enjoy the luxury of the company. Jason L 6CM
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
Across the stages
Stage 3
Science Expo On Wednesday the 10th of June, we held a science exhibition where everyone in 5SH and 6SO presented their electronic circuit games that they had been making over the past term. On the day, our Year 2 buddy classes were invited to our classroom to play the games and learn more about electric circuits. We all had a fun time experimenting with the many varieties of activities including wire games, board games and other original creations. On top of making the games, everyone also created and designed their own pamphlet and video to demonstrate how to play the game, to go with the whole project. Then we went to other people’s works of art and gave positive feedback on what they have made. We saw many interesting inventions ranging from small to big and complex to simple. Everyone enjoyed the entertaining time where we showed off our masterpieces! by Quinne, Alison, Jessica and Keira
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
Drama
Learning online and at school We had many new experiences this term including a taste of brand new resources.
Returning face-to-face Once again we are using props
and staging in the drama
room...focusing on spatial
awareness and collaborative
group work.
Creating characters Online learning was inspiring and we brought ideas back to school with us and used hats for costumes
World Environment Day Year 1 and 2 spent time on their voice and movement skills, presenting creative puppet plays which discussed human and animal interaction. There
were lots of koalas in the drama room.
Silent movies Stage 3 creating films in their digital drama unit with Ms Biffin and Ms Anton.
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
Library
Many thanks to the wonderful reading community of Summer Hill Public School for taking such great care of our shared library books while learning from home and returning them to us once library lessons recommenced this term.
Winter is such a wonderful time to curl up with a book, we hope that you take the opportunity to borrow a bunch of fabulous books and spend some quality time reading during the holidays. Click on the image below to find out how to access our school library online to borrow ebooks, Story Box Library online and audio books.
We are glad to announce that the Summer Hill Public School community will
be able to join the national celebrations for Australian Children’s Book Week
this year. The date has been officially changed to October, we will hold our
annual character parade in some form on Friday 23rd October. We will
investigate the short-listed Australian Children’s Book Week titles during
Library lessons in Term 3.
Australian Children’s Book Week
The closing date for entries into the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge is Friday 28th August 2020!
Students are encouraged to take part in The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2020. The SHPS class teachers and teacher librarians recommend the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) as a great way to extend students’ reading skills as they enjoy a wide variety of classic and contemporary children’s literature.
Titles in the K-2* section of the PRC are marked with a pink star and located separately in the school library for ease of selection. At Summer Hill PS, PRC books in the Year 3 and 4 section of the challenge are marked with a yellow star and a selection is available on display. Books in the Year 5 to 6 section are marked with a green star. Year 5 and 6 students participating in the PRC are able to self-select items of interest to them from the library catalogue.
Once read, each PRC title should be recorded into the student’s reading record online, click the image below to find out how:
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2020
Rule changes to the NSW PRC make it easier to complete the 2020 challenge during these topsy-turvy times.
Key changes include:
All students will be able to include 10 choice books on their 2020 Student reading records.
All students will be able to include books read as part of collaborative reading with teachers or parents/ carers, either in person or online. (This includes ebooks, Story Box Library viewing and Audible audio books available through our school library).
Students who do not complete the Challenge in 2020 will not be disadvantaged from achieving cumulative PRC awards in the future. More detailed information about rule changes to the NSW PRC 2020 can be found on the following link: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/logon.html *Please note that ten titles read aloud to Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two students during library lessons in Term 1 have been added to the students’ PRC records online. Regards Carmel Grimmett and Kate Phillips, teacher librarians
W summerhill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au T @SummerHill_PS P 02 9797 8160
Music
Chess
Advanced Recorder group and Advanced Ukulele
Thank you to all the students for returning to these classes after isolation. It has been wonderful to see that we are still on track and playing together beautifully. Your commitment is much appreciated. Now assemblies are slowly re-emerging, we will schedule some performances early next term. Hoping you all have a relaxing and well earned break .
Year 2 - Recorder for the Music Classes
I would like more students to be bringing recorders to music class. All students in Year 2 should bring their recorders to school on the day they have music.
Monday 2VW Tuesday 2JM, 2AD Thursday 2VK
For personal hygiene it is best to have their own and please make sure the mouth piece is regularly washed and rinsed in a glass of warm dishwashing liquid. We use recorders as an accessible and equitable way to teach music literacy.
Musica Viva – March of the Fire Ants.
This term, we have been learning about musical concepts through the music of the group March of the Fire Ants, perfoming the ‘Australian Backyard Suite’. The performance is scheduled for Monday 17 August . We will be accessing the performance remotely which new for us and definitely new for Musica Viva. Reports from other schools have been very positive. There is a classroom site available https://www.musicavivainschools.com.au/auth/login. Click on ‘classroom code’ – code word is ‘ants’ to view some of the material and associated activities.
All the best for the holidays ! Donna Ross Music Teacher
Performance Day for all ensembles - Thursday 2 July
To finish off our term, we are going to have a performance day at school for all our ensembles. Details are below. Sadly, parents cannot come to this performance. Thank you all for your support of the music program through this term. It is so great to be back making music together again!
Gig: Term 2 Performance Day Date: Thursday 2 July Time: Lunch (11.15am) and recess (1.15pm) Wear: School uniform
Bring: Instrument and music
Notes from the music room
Bands and Orchestras
NSW Junior Chess League Competition
Expressions of interest are now being taken for chess playing students wanting to participate in the NSW Junior Chess League. The competition will take place during Term 3 after school on Friday’s. Competition details are on the consent form which is due back at school by Friday 3 July. If you have any further queries, please contact Kathy Timmins on 9797 8160
