It is incredible that Term 1 2021 is already drawing to a close. Teachers are in the process of meeting with parents and finalising students' Individual Learning Plans. It is pleasing to see so many parents on school grounds taking the opportunity to attend these meetings.

With Covid-19 restrictions easing, we are excited to finally hold a community event and invite our primary and middle school parents to join us in the 2021 Easter Hat Parade. If your child is participating in the parade, please follow directions from staff to ensure we comply with Covid safe guidelines.

This year marks the beginning of our new, four-year Strategic Improvement Plan. Whilst the plan is still being finalised, our three strategic directions have been identified. They are:

1. Student Growth and Attainment through Student Engagement. To maximise the time students spend on learning tasks by increasing their optimum state of learning.

2. Use of data to inform practice. To significantly enhance our collection and analysis of existing assessment data to better inform our practice.

3. Collaboration. To effectively collaborate with all school stakeholders to improve teaching practice and student learning outcomes.

This plan will be regularly evaluated and modified to ensure that we reach our planned improvement measures. Your input, via school meetings and Tell Them From Me surveys, has been invaluable in the plan's development.

Thank you parents for your patience and understanding during afternoon pick-up. Some safety concerns were raised as an increasing number of children were being picked-up from the primary bus driveway. It is great to see pedestrians now entering via the pedestrian gate and using the crossing. The afternoon transport procedure is now running more efficiently, with most students picked-up by 3.10pm.

Finally, a reminder to keep your child home if he/she is unwell with flu-like symptoms. A doctor's clearance or a negative Covid-19 test is required before their return to school. If your child suffers from hayfever or a similar condition, a medical clearance is also required if flu-like symptoms are present.

I hope everyone has a restful break. School resumes for students on Tuesday 20 April.

Thank you.

Noel Gover

Dear parents and carers,

It was wonderful to recently learn that Covid restrictions have eased slightly and we can now return to onsite parent meetings.

Our next P&C meeting (and morning tea) will be held at 9.30am on Wednesday, 5 May in the Community Hub. All parents and carers are welcome and encouraged to attend. These meetings are an invaluable opportunity to learn what is happening within the school and to connect with fellow parents.

We are now busy planning a number of exciting activities for students and parents, including stalls for Mother's and Father's days and the end-of-year school concert.

We hope everyone has a lovely holiday break and we look forward to seeing you next term.

Until next time,

Liz Brannon

President

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

Ten years.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Summer holidays in my parent's caravan at the beach.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Wilderness Education.

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

My photo albums, phone, car, wallet and laptop.

What is your favourite book?

As a child I loved The Little Red Caboose by Marian Potter. Another favourite is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

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

My favourite British comedians - Michael McIntyre, Bill Bailey and Ross Noble.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

The song I have sung along to for many years is I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.

What pets did you have growing up?

Multiple guinea pigs and fish, plus two dogs.

What is your favourite day of the year?

Christmas Day.

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Perms! I love curly hair!

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

10 years.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Visiting my grandmother who lived 'out the back of Bourke'. She was such an inspiration to me. She raised eight children whom could only bathe once a week out the back in a big tub, with the cleanest going first. She cooked on her wood stove until she went to a nursing home at the age of 96. Her name was Amy - that's my middle name and the name of my youngest daughter too.

What was your favourite subject at school?

I excelled at TAFE when I left school. I loved maths and topped every subject (sorry, just bragging!)

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

Photos, wedding rings and my air-fryer oven.

What is your favourite book?

I don't have a favourite book but I love true stories and thrillers. The first 'big' book I read was Heidi by Johanna Spyri.

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

My hubby Steve, cultural icon Elvis Presley, and the late American actor and comedian Robin Williams.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

I don't sing. I would scare the living daylights out of anyone in earshot of me! But I do like music from the 1960s and 70s.

What pets did you have growing up?

Dogs, cats and birds.

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

I can't think of anything I would like to return. I am all for progress!

We are looking forward to finally welcoming parents on-site tomorrow for our Junior and Middle School Easter Hat Parades.

Junior School : 9am - 10.30am

Middle School : 11.30am - 12.30pm

Siblings under the age of 12 are also welcome to attend.

We ask that you use the Service NSW Covid safe check-in when entering our school. Please look for the QR code posters located on our school gate.

Senior students in classes S22, S24, S27, S28 and S30 had fun on Friday 12 March at the Activate Inclusion Sports Day, held at Stanhope Gardens Leisure Centre.

They all enjoyed learning new skills from expert coaches in a range of sports, including basketball, cricket, football, netball, NRL and tenpin bowling.

The program is run by Sport NSW and Variety, the Children's Charity NSW/ACT, in partnership with Disability Sports Australia.

Students in S24 enjoyed a delicious lunch from their very own Jack's Cafe recently. They were involved in every step of the process - from chef to wait staff to customer. Great work, S24!

Students in J4 have started the new school year by exploring their environment in a quest to learn more about the five senses.

We have used our sense of touch when playing with different sensory toys such as bubbles, coloured rice and playdough. We have learnt that the library is a quiet place, the playground is loud and the classroom can be both quiet and loud at different times. We have enjoyed eating a range of fruits; playing with multi-coloured, edible pasta; and competing in a game of animal bingo by listening to animal sounds.

We are slowly building our strength, as well as our standing and walking skills, during our weekly swimming and M.O.V.E lessons. Another weekly highlight is learning to ride bikes and scooter boards at the school's bike track. We also enjoy regular walks around the playground to participate in sports activities or to take turns on the basket swing.

Celebrating Harmony Day was another recent class highlight. We enjoyed painting our hands to make handprints on our bright and colourful 'everyone belongs' class poster; dressing up in orange for the day; and the wonderful song on the Harmony Day slideshow.

We are working hard in class to complete four activities in deskwork lessons before being rewarded with group play time; to wait our turn; to complete work one-on-one with teachers; and to sensibly enjoy sensory time.

S28 students (Regina, Asmaa, Kareem, Zhiming, Reyaz, Murtaza and Thomas) have been developing their communication and maths skills this term with hands-on activities and programs on the interactive whiteboard. This includes matching, categorising, following patterns, money activities, counting objects, identifying Picture Communication System visuals, sounds or words, and making requests.

With the easing of Covid restrictions, our class has started to venture outside the school gates. Each week we deliver pamphlets to homes in the local area. We also recently attended a sports day at Stanhope Gardens Leisure Centre, where we learnt new skills in sports such as basketball, cricket, football, netball, rugby and tenpin bowling. It was a fun day for everyone.

Other class highlights have included swimming, music song choice and walking. Our weekly cooking program has also been a popular activity with good food to enjoy.

Here is a snapshot of term one learning fun.

This week we farewell a Holroyd favourite - SLSO Debbie Weate.

Debbie has dedicated a decade of exceptional service to Holroyd School and will be dearly missed. The incredible dignity and care she bestows on every student is outstanding. Debbie has also been an exceptional mentor, sharing her vast knowledge and experience with junior staff. 

We wish Debbie the very best for her well-deserved retirement.

Wishing all our staff, students and families a safe and happy holiday.

The last day for Term 1 is tomorrow - Thursday 1 April, 2021.

Term 2 begins on Tuesday 20 April, 2021.

Term One : Friday 29 January - Thursday 1 April.

Term Two : Tuesday 20 April - Friday 25 June.

Term Three : Tuesday 13 July - Friday 17 September.

Term Four : Tuesday 5 October - Thursday 16 December.