FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK Here we are at the end of Term 2! What a very crazy term we’ve had and one that we will never forget.

Friday- TOMORROW

Don’t forget tomorrow is Mufti Day for students to celebrate the end of a huge term! Students voted and the decision was made that students can wear either their pyjamas or usual mufti clothes to school. Covered in shoes are still required (students normal school shoes) and their school hats will be worn for sport and in the playground.

In the past, students have been asked to bring in a plate of food to share, however, this does not comply with current guidelines in place. This time, students are asked to bring some snacks for themselves only.

Thank you again to our wonderful community for your support during the term as we navigated school life with the changes in place. It has presented a variety of challenges, but we have all grown from it.

Whilst some restrictions have eased, social distancing between adults is still occurring and adults are restricted to be on school site, unless approved by the principal.

Student pickups in the afternoon will still take place from the green chair near the office to allow a quick transition for students to the car. Parents are encouraged to ‘drop and go’ in the mornings.

It has been very hard not having everyone on site, particularly the non-existence of our sharing assemblies. As a small school, we value every opportunity to bring our community together, so this has been very challenging. Thank you to parents for complying with this.

Last newsletter I provided a document from the Department of Education outlining the arrangements for Term 3. Below is a summary of information that is relevant to our school context as we move towards next term.

Term 2 Week 10 2 July 2020

411 Carool Road, Carool NSW 2486 t: 07 5590 9876 e: carool-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

www.carool.schools.nsw.gov.au

UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY

Friday 3

• Last day of Term 2 -

Pyjama/Mufti day &

bring a snack for

yourself

Monday 20 - Term 3

• Staff Development Day

Tuesday 21

• Term 3 starts for students

Education Week

3rd to 7th August

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Activities allowed from beginning of Term 3

• All school sport and activities including competitions aligned with current health advice (including those activities run by external organisations)

• Inter-school student events and competitions (choirs, sport, debating, public speaking etc)

• Incursions not already permitted involving external adult providers maintaining distancing and hygiene (eg school banking talks, sport promotions, Healthy Harold etc – not directly curriculum related)

• P&C meetings – strong preference for on-line where possible • Parent/teacher meetings – where these need to take place • Parent/carer school pick up and drop off – arrangements should continue at the school’s

discretion taking into consideration adult physical distancing requirements. Parents/ carers should not be on school grounds or at school events without principal’s permission.

The following events will be reconsidered in Term 3. For now, these events must remain on hold.

• School camps • Excursions (other than field trips explained above) • Parent attendance at assemblies and other school events • Group photos for staff Education Week

Education Week is an annual state-wide event that celebrates the NSW public education community. This year, Education Week will run from Monday 3 August to Friday 7 August 2020 and the theme is Learning together. It's a theme that reflects an incredible year for NSW public school students, staff and parents, and the partnerships that have been strengthened in response.

Education Week launch

Education Week will be launched with a live streamed video at 10am on Monday 3 August. Students at school will join in the celebration by streaming the video at our school. At this stage, unless guidelines change early next term, selected students in years 3-5 will be heading to Stokers Siding to participate in the S6 Acknowledgment of Country workshop. This was scheduled in Term 1, but was put on hold.

Students will also participate in an online link-up with the elderly at a local aged care facility. This activity will definitely support the theme of ‘learning together’. A specific date for this activity will be announced early next term.

Unfortunately there will be no sharing assembly or visits inside the classrooms this year.

School Reports

As mentioned in previous newsletters reporting requirements for this semester have changed. Reports were significantly altered to reflect the learning environments students were faced with.

There will be no A-E grading scale for any key learning area for semester 1 reports, however, teacher comments will be provided based on observations undertaken. This is why parent/teacher interviews that were held a few weeks ago were particularly important. If you would like a meeting with your child’s teacher to discuss the report once it is handed out please contact the school next term.

Reports are still on track to be sent home with students on Friday 31 July (Term 3, Week 2).

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Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services policy

The new Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services policy was released in Term 1 and I mentioned this at the Term 1 P&C meeting. I have been working on a draft version applicable to our school context, adhering to the Department’s requirements. The draft version will be presented at the next P&C meeting, to allow for community consultation. The P&C meeting may be held via an online platform or in person. Further information regarding the meeting will be provided early next term after discussions with the P&C members.

Student Behaviour

NSW public schools are committed to providing safe, supportive and responsive learning environments for everyone. We teach and model the behaviours we value in our students.

We implement teaching and learning approaches to support the development of skills needed by students to meet our high standards for respectful, safe and engaged behaviour. I am very proud of the behaviour standards we have here at Carool, although at times, for various reasons, we need to address certain behaviours.

One behaviour expectation that has been discussed multiple times this term has been the school rule of show courtesy and consideration towards staff and students, mainly on the K-5 days. This links to the NSW public school’s behaviour code for student’s expectation that students respect other students, their teachers and school staff.

It is important students show respect to all staff members, which includes our very valued and important casual staff members who release Mr Hartmann and I off class to undertake various administration tasks, and school planning. I wanted to inform our community of this information so that you may also have discussions with your children about the importance of this. Thank you for your support.

Small Schools Athletics Carnival

We usually have our combined athletic carnival during Term 3, to allow selected students to participate in the zone and/or state and national carnivals. Current NSW Government guidelines do not allow for large scale events to be held where crowds will be in attendance, therefore, the carnivals won’t be going ahead this year. Subsequently, the school sport unit had decided that the zone, state and national carnivals would be postponed for 2020.

School Uniform

Just a reminder to families that all NSW schools have a school uniform and it is expected that students wear the uniform to school each and every day. The department supports the wearing of school uniform, which promotes a sense of belonging for students and creates a positive identity for the school community.

As we are nearing the holidays, if I could kindly ask parents to check the uniform supplies of their child/ren and purchase new/second-hand clothing if required. The school has a variety of second-hand options if needed. If families require financial support with this, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be more than happy to assist.

∙Top - maroon polo with school name ∙Jumper - maroon school jumper/jacket

∙Bottoms - black shorts/black pants/trackpants/slacks/skort ∙Socks - white ∙Shoes - black

We take great pride in our school and it is important we demonstrate this by wearing the school uniform correctly.

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AW ARD RECIPIENTS

Congratulations to the

following students who are

our award recipients for this

fortnight.

• Alice for making

responsible choices.

• Nik for engaging in

independent research.

• Ryke for improvement

in independent writing

tasks.

• Frankie for excellent

results in spelling test.

This term we have been extremely lucky to have Ms Williams here two days a week. I would like to thank Ms Williams for all her hard work this term. Having her here has provided consistency for our students, providing learning and support opportunities and given our staff extra planning time. She has been a huge help to us all!

I hope all families have a wonderful and safe holiday break. If you’re travelling, please be careful on the roads. We look forward to seeing all of the students bright and smiley faces next term and hearing about their wonderful holiday adventures. We will continue to work together with families to support our students educational journey during Semester 2.

Mrs McMahon Principal

FROM THE COMMUNITY

Walkin’ on Water Surf School is back open, running

lessons and programs again at Greenmount Beach

in Coolangatta.

Please contact us on 0418 780 311 or via email on

surf@walkinonwater.com.au to book in for more

information.

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STEM CHALLENGES

Ziplines and slime STEM activities

Zip line: Student’s had to design and create a zip line that would carry three dice from a high point to a low point. Many strategic changes were made along the way and all groups had great success!!

Slime: K-2 students continued learning about how mixing materials together can make changes. Our first attempt at making slime did not go to plan but did we give up? No!!! We learned from our mistakes and the very next day we successfully made our very own slime!

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STEM - O IL & WATER

After learning about the damage oil can cause to our marine environment, student’s engaged in a STEM project which required them to separate the oil from the water and the oil from the feather.

ART

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BUDDY RE ADING

Students enjoying reading with their buddies.