Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you all for your ongoing cooperation in keeping sick children at home. I have been advised that any child appearing sick at school is to be sent home. Any child with even the mildest flu-like symptoms cannot return to school without showing the school a COVID-19 negative test result. This is a new requirement that applies to students and staff.

I would like to thank the P&C for their ongoing support through this pandemic. Although we cannot meet in person, we have had P&C zoom meetings. This may appeal to some of you. Please contact the P&C if you would like to join the once a month meetings.

Please complete this national survey of parents. It is an important national survey of parent voice – Parent Satisfaction in Specialist Schools Australia. Over the last few years there has been a push for more inclusive practices in Australian education systems. Some inclusive advocacy groups see special schools in a very negative light. The current Disability Royal Commission is hearing from groups and individuals who wish to see all students within mainstream classrooms. I believe that our students, your child, deserve the highest level of support and that the personalised education that we provide, along with smaller classes, directly benefit to meet students with complex need. This survey is designed to have your voice heard, along with parents of students from across Australia who have chosen our specialist schools. More information has been sent home. https://acu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pGAoekNmVR7VB3  

A second survey, Tell Them From Me provides our school with valuable information from parents and staff. A survey tool for our students is currently being trialled. The information we receive is confidential and helps us to plan for school improvement. This year, with Covid-19 and learning from home, you know more than ever how important our home-school partnership is. Your voice does matter...we need to hear form you!

Keep washing hands and stay safe!

Anne Flint

Dear parents and carers,

It was lovely to celebrate our fabulous Principal Anne this month on Principal's Day. The P&C Committee presented Anne with a beautiful crystal desk clock and a gorgeous pot plant to thank her for the wonderful work she does for our children and school.

As you may all be aware, the Tell Them From Me parent survey is now open and can be found here http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/holroydschool. It only takes a few minutes to complete.

Please stay safe and look after one another; and remember to keep washing your hands and social distancing!

Until next time,

Liz Brannon

President

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

11 years

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Going to the beach, playing in rock pools and collecting shells.

What was your favourite subjects at school?

Music, English and Art.

If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

My family and fur baby Levi, phone, photos and Harribo lollies.

What are your favourite books?

Assertiveness for Earth Angels by Doreen Virtue and The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama.

If you could invite any three guests to a dinner party, who would they be?

English chef Nigella Lawson, Australian singer and songwriter Sia and American actor and comedian Will Ferrell.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

I love singing along to all of Sia's songs, especially in the car, but if I had to pick one it would be Titanium (especially in the car).

What pets did you have growing up?

Dogs and cats, and many strays.

What is your favourite day of the year?

The day Daylight Savings begins.

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Empathy for others.

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

Six years.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Spending time with my Nunnu (grandfather) and dipping my biscuits in his tea while we watched his favourite movies.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Drama.

If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

My phone, car, wallet, jewellery (mine and my mother's engagement and wedding rings) and my sense of gratitude.

What is your favourite book?

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

If you could invite any three guests to a dinner party, who would they be?

If we can invite from Heaven - my mum, grandfather and dad.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

Something's Got a Hold of Me by Christina Aguilera and Burlesque.

What pets did you have growing up?

Mice, cats and dogs.

What is your favourite day of the year?

Christmas Day - I love spending time with all our family, eating lots of yummy food and I love it when i get to GIVE presents. It makes me so happy!

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Roller skates and roller skating rinks!

NSW Health has this week announced updated and specific protocols for all NSW schools to follow for the remainder of Term 3.

- You must stay home from work and school - and get a Covid-19 test - if you or your child is unwell, even with mild symptoms. Don't wait.

- We will make arrangements for students at school with flu-like symptoms to be sent home.

- Students who have been unwell with flu-like symptoms must now provide a copy of a negative Covid-19 test result before being allowed to return to school.

Common symptoms

Common Covid-19 symptoms are fever (37.5* or higher), dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste and/or smell. Other reported symptoms are fatigue, runny nose, muscle and/or joint pain, headache, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite.

If you or your child has even one of the above symptoms, even if it is mild, please don't delay, get tested and self-isolate until you receive your result.

Find a Covid-19 testing clinic in our area here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics#find-a-covid-19-testing-centre-in-NSW

To date, we have had no confirmed cases of Covid-19 at Holroyd School.

We continue to remain vigilant when implementing infection control, physical distancing and personal hygiene protocols to protect the health and safety of students and staff.

If you have any questions please call the school office. 

Let's do our best to keep everyone safe!

It has been a fun start to the term welcoming six new junior students and their families to the Holroyd School community.

It is wonderful to see Zainab, Mahsa, Myles, Zaid, Tamara and Yasin settling into their new environment, making friends and having fun.

In this incredible year of bushfires, floods and a pandemic, it was only fitting that this year's Education Week theme was learning together.

Education Week, held this year from 3-7 August, is an annual state-wide celebration of NSW public education.

This year we reflected on the following key messages:

- Schools and families benefit from strong, respectful relationships where responsibility for student learning is shared.

- Learning together makes us strong and creates resilient communities.

- School staff are dedicated professionals who know, value and care for all students. Technology enables learning together anywhere, anytime.

Our students engaged in a range of collaborative activities during the week, including working in class groups to create an Education Week poster.

Anne was honoured by staff and P&C members at a 'socially-distanced' morning tea in the hall on Friday 7 August, to celebrate Australian Primary Principals' Day.

Deputy Principal Noel acknowledged Anne's leadership and many years service to Holroyd School. He also praised her high standing in the industry and community as a passionate special educator and advocate for students with disabilities and their families.

Anne, we are all deeply appreciative of your ongoing commitment to our school and the education of our wonderful students.

Our class is working on staying fit and active during the school day in our unit of work titled Keeping healthy and safe.

We enjoy spending time outdoors on the swings, at the senior bike track and trampoline; as well as participating in Special Olympics activities.

We have recently grown carrots and peas in our kitchen garden. We enjoy nurturing our new plants, tasting a variety of different fruit and vegetables each week, and using healthy food items in our artworks.

Tuesday afternoons are spent engaging in sensory play. Pranay and Yahya enjoy playing with rice, Aya and Krishiv with kinetic sand and Saasha and Mariam with bubbles.

Our class recently celebrated Education Week by reading books, making a class poster and other collaborative activities.

We are also enjoying the company of Mahsa, our new friend, who joined us in J9 at the beginning of term three.

The S13 teachers and support staff were very happy to see many of our students return to school and to see those continuing to learn from home enthusiastically engaging in lessons.

Our favourite weekly activities are cooking and art.

This week we made chicken and broccoli stir-fry, with everyone having a turn stirring and cooking the ingredients.

We also learnt about the feeling of 'joy' this week and created artworks that expressed this emotion.

Students in S22 enjoy many highlights during the school week, such as STEM with J10, shopping and work skills, but our favourite activity is cooking. Our junior masterchefs love cooking up a storm for lunch and then purchasing their meal from our class store.

Another highlight has been our term one outing to Riverside Theatre in Parramatta to see our favourite story, The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, live on stage. We all enjoyed the wonderful singing, dancing and bright costumes.

This year our unit of work is mental health and wellbeing. This has involved maximising student independence during daily routines and work skills such as setting the table, folding laundry, unpacking groceries and washing dishes. We have also focussed on personal hygiene such as brushing our teeth and applying deoderant; identifying emergencies and who to call for help; and understanding our different emotions. Students have enjoyed expressing themselves and their feelings through art.

Each week we also enjoy time outdoors. On Friday mornings we complete laps of the senior quad with our friends in J17. We also participate enthusiastically in our weekly sport program where we are learning fundamental skills in a variety of sports. Our favourite so far has been teeball and improving our batting, throwing and base running skills!

Thank you parents and carers for your continuous support during these difficult and unprecedented times. We appreciate all your efforts in supporting your child during remote learning. We look forward to a busy and fun semester two.

With current restrictions on community access, we have had to improvise a number of planned class excursions and activities in S23 this term, including bowling.

It has been wonderful to see everyone have fun, show great skill and adjust so quickly to our new in-class bowling matches. There is always fierce competition among class mates, with everyone eager to see who has the most points at the end of the game. The boys - Stanley and Germaine - are currently in the lead, but the S23 girls are certainly improving every week.

Our cooking classes are dedicated to preparing healthy recipes. The highlight so far has definitely been making pasta from scratch, an activity we hope to repeat soon. Not only was it fun, the pasta tasted delicious too.

Every Monday we walk around the school, say hello to our friends, and collect cans and plastic bottles for recycling. Thank you to all the classes who have contributed to our recycling efforts.

Some of you may be aware of the current Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

While the NSW Government's present position is for Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) to remain as an important educational option for students with disability, the Royal Commission has raised the matter of how children's needs could be better met by abolishing SSPs.

The voice of families, students and staff is a quiet one, compared to the voice of some groups who oppose the existence of SSPs as an educational option.

You may be interested in the petition below. You are under absolutely no obligation to sign, comment or share. However, you are most welcome to contribute to this conversation.

The petition can be found here https://www.change.org/p/disability-royal-commission-a-continuum-of-educational-options-for-children-with-disabilities-to-reach-full-potential?recruiter=40665888&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition&use_react=false

Parents and carers, we value your voice!

The 2020 Partners in Learning Parent Feedback Survey will help us to better understand how you see your child's school experience.

We ask all parents and carers to complete this quick survey as soon as possible.

The survey can be found here http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/HolroydSchool