Dear parents and carers,

Welcome to the school's first newsletter for 2021. Whilst it was a couple of weeks ago now, it was great to see the students' smiling faces as they joined us from buses and cars on the first day. Their enthusiasm to be back at school is always great to see.

Since then, staff have been busy settling students into school routines, completing assessments and preparing for individualised parent meetings. These meetings are designed to be two-way; for our teachers to gain valuable insight to plan appropriate learning activities for your child, and for you to ask any questions you may have. Invitations will soon be sent home in your child's communication book.

This year we have seen a significant increase in parents dropping off and picking up children from our parent pick-up point. The school is trialling a new strategy to keep everyone safe. Pedestrians are asked to enter/exit the school through the middle gate between the two driveways and use the crossing. Please follow directions from staff so that everyone enters and leaves the school safely.

As always, we welcome any feedback from our school community. We are committed to resolving issues and, if something is brought to our attention, we will work with you to seek a resolution.

This year, the school continues to follow Covid-19 protocols. Community-based excursions are limited and some shared spaces of the school are temporarily closed. It is great to see how students have readily adapted to changes. Our school assemblies continue to be held via Zoom video conferencing, with students staying in their classrooms. Students have developed confidence in communicating with their peers through Zoom and quite enjoy being 'stars' on the television screen.

I would like to thank parents for their support in keeping children at home when they are unwell. Please ensure that an absence note is provided to the school upon a student's return. Those students who are unwell due to flu-like symptoms must present a negative Covid-19 test result or doctor's clearance upon returning to school.

We all look forward to the day when we can once again open the school gates and celebrate special events as a wider school community.

Until next time,

Noel Gover

Principal (relieving)

Dear parents and carers,

Welcome back to all students, staff, teachers, parents and carers. I hope everyone had a relaxing, safe and enjoyable break.

The P&C Committee extends a warm welcome to all new families experiencing Holroyd School for the first time. We really hope your time with us is rewarding and enjoyable.

All new families are invited to attend our Tea and Tissues morning tea at 9.30am, Tuesday 2 March, at Central Gardens, Merrylands Rd, Merrylands. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow parents.

Following an extremely challenging 2020, we are looking forward to returning on-site sometime this year and resuming our much-loved school and community events.

In the meantime, we are still holding our monthly P&C meetings via Zoom. All parents and carers are welcome to join us. These meetings are an invaluable opportunity to discover what is happening at school and connect with other parents and school staff.

Our next Zoom meeting is at 9.30am, Wednesday 3 March. If you are interested in attending, or have any questions or suggestions, please email me at liz.brannon@yahoo.com.au

Until next time,

Liz Brannon

President

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

This is my fifth year at Holroyd.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Kicking a soccer ball around at the park with my brother.

What was your favourite subject at school?

I loved ancient history and still do!

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

My wedding ring, laptop, photo album with photos of family and friends, pillow and phone.

What is your favourite book?

My favourite children's book is Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, because my parents read it to me as a child.

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

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth and American actor Dwayne Johnson.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

Can't Stop This Feeling by Justin Timberlake.

What pets did you have growing up?

Three dogs, four birds, a cat, rabbit, guinea pig, turtle, frog and many fish!

What is your favourite day of the year?

My son's birthday.

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Dresses from the 1940s and 1950s.

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

Just over 12 years.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

I grew up with my grandparents. Every Christmas we would go camping at our marae near the water with all our family.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Maths - I love working with numbers.

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

My photos, books, guitar, phone and purple dressing gown.

What is your favourite book?

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus.

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

The late British Royal, Princess Diana; New Zealand rugby union player, Richie McCaw; and Former US President, Barack Obama.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

I love all music but my favourite to sing and dance to is Rhythm of the Night by D'Barge.

What pets did you have growing up?

Dog and bird.

What is your favourite day of the year?

Mother's Day. I get to hear from my two boys in Perth.

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Leg warmers!

It has been a fun few weeks welcoming our youngest learners and their families to Holroyd School.

They have been busy settling into their new environment, establishing routines and making friends.

We wish you all a long and happy association with our school.

A highlight this term for many of our students has been the four-week skills clinic with Athletics Australia coach Joel. 

Students have enjoyed developing their running, jumping and throwing skills in a team-based environment.

Having fun while learning important life skills ... the staff and students in class S22 are enjoying the sunshine - and getting very wet! - washing cars this term. What a fantastic effort!

Your child's statement of account was sent home earlier this term.

Fees can be paid online via the Holroyd School website or in cash.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, or would like to discuss this account further, please contact the school office on 9637 1219.

What an exciting and busy start to the year J1 has had so far! We started our learning program and experiences as early as possible. Our favourite weekly activities are Hydrotherapy, art and craft activities (especially painting!), switch play, sports and sensory play.

During Creative Arts, we particularly enjoy experimenting with mixing different colours and using a variety of techniques when painting. Sometimes, we even squish our hands and fingers into the paint because we love the texture and sensation of cool paint against our skin! We're also transforming our classroom into an undersea wonderland, with seaweed, sea creatures and marine-like lighting.

On Thursdays, we enjoy outdoor sports and play ten-pin bowling and slalom races.

Each Friday during Hydrotherapy, we spend one-on-one time with a staff member splashing, playing or just relaxing in the heated pool. We really enjoy this time and it's a great way to end the week.

This semester's Science unit of work Let's Experiment will provide opportunities for us to observe and experience the properties and behaviour of gases, liquids and solids. We will examine how matter can change states (eg from liquid to gas) and how natural changes in the environment demonstrate these changes (such as water evaporation).

We're all looking forward to a fun year of learning with all our friends. 

Mina, Eymen, Ibrahim, Karam, Ritta, Mary, Debbie W, Suzanne and Alain.

J14 is enjoying a hands-on start to the year with activities such as balloon painting, construction play and threading. We are also engaged in daily calendar work; spelling practice; and maths skills such as counting and matching different shapes and objects.

Outdoors, we are working on developing our gross motor skills by dancing, swimming and trampoline jumping. We are also participating in a four-week Athletics Australia program aimed at developing important movement skills. We have had a ball jumping like kangaroos in hula-hoops, throwing bean bags and zig-zagging through cones.

We are excited to share and celebrate your child's learning journey with you this year.

Until next time,

Sarramnra'a, Edison, Mariam, Aya, Saasha, Amjad, Marcella, Mandeep and Cindy.

Class S26 comprises six very social students who love a good laugh!

So far this year we have welcomed our friend Adam to year seven and therefore the high school. Sometimes the transition from the junior school can be overwhelming, but Adam has settled in really well. We also hope our classmates Montathar and Rose, who are both in year twelve, have a happy and memorable final year at Holroyd School.

The highlights of our week include fun on the liberty swing and merry-go-round, hydrotherapy sessions in the school's indoor pool, art, and combined music lessons with our friends in S24. We also love time spent outdoors with our high school peers during recess and lunch.

We are all very excited for the year ahead. Thank you parents and carers for your continued support for the work we do here at Holroyd School.

Holroyd School is seeking people living in the local area who are interested in working as a casual Assisted School Travel Officer, known as an ATSO (bus escort), before and after school.

ATSOs are required to undertake mandatory training and have a current Working with Children clearance.

ATSOs must be over 18 years of age, physically able, have good communication skills, be respectful and understanding of students with disabilities and able to work collaboratively with others.

If you are interested, please contact the school office on 9637 1219 for an application package.

The overall management of a child's health care needs rests with the parents or legal guardians. It is important to note that no medication will be given without written parental permission.

Whenever possible, medication prescribed by a medical practitioner should be administered at home. When, in the opinion of your child's doctor, your child must take prescribed medication during school hours, the following procedures MUST be followed:

- For long-term medication, please send medication to school in the original packaging received from the pharmacist. This packaging must detail the prescribed dosage, time to be administered, as well as instructions on how to administer it.

- Short-term medication (such as antibiotics etc) must be sent to school in the original packaging. Please write a note detailing the prescribed dosage, how and when to administer.

- A medical information form, to allow for the medication of students during school hours, must be completed and signed. This is updated yearly. Please remember it is the parents' responsibility to notify the school and update the medical form whenever a medication change occurs.

- All medications must be handed from one adult to another adult. Medications are not to be sent in school bags.