Holroyd School eNewsletter

Dear parents and carers,

I fully appreciate how challenging the past few weeks have been for families, I am extremely proud of how students, parents and staff have embraced these challenges. It has been wonderful to hear good news stories from our teachers and to see so many photos of our students engaging in learning.

We now know that the NSW Health stay-at-home order has been extended until Saturday 28 August. I urge you to continue to follow the NSW Health Public Order - if you are working from home, your child is able to learn from home, and should therefore stay at home.

My leadership, teaching and support staff continue to work incredibly hard to ensure that every single student at Holroyd is accessing a personalised learning program. What an outstanding team! Please know that you will continue to be supported over the coming weeks.

Parents and carers, thank you for your continued support, understanding and co-operation as we continue with this new mode of teaching and learning. Please keep in regular contact with your child's teacher as we get through these tough times together.

The following website lists some 125 family activity ideas. Extended lockdown is incredibly challenging, but hopefully these ideas may inspire you and help to make your time at home more bearable over the next few weeks. Take a look at https://newywithkids.com.au/family-fun-social-distancing-coronavirus/

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the school office via phone or email.

Take care,

Kylee Thorson

Principal (rel)

Dear parents and carers,

Firstly, I understand how challenging the current situation is for families, especially those who are trying to juggle work commitments with children learning from home. You are doing a great job. Please know that your efforts are playing a big part in keeping our community safe.

We must also thank our teachers and school support staff for their dedication and commitment. They have worked hard to deliver personalised learning programs for our children and are always available online or over the phone to provide much-needed guidance.

The NSW Health stay-at-home order is in place for another few weeks - until Saturday 28 August. I will be keeping my daughter home during this time and engaging in remote learning. I encourage you to do the same. We have risen to the Covid challenge before and I am confident we can get through the next few weeks safely.

So stay at home, keep in regular contact with your child's teacher, and be kind to yourselves. If you require additional resources to support learning from home, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.

We are here for you as well, and if we can help, please reach out. I can be contacted via email at liz.brannon@yahoo.com.au

Until next time,

Liz Brannon

President

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

Fourteen years in total! I started at Holroyd School in 2008. After some time away on maternity leave, I returned part-time and then full-time in 2020.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Summer holidays at Nelson Bay.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Visual Arts.

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

My bath tub, bed, pen, framed family photo and toothbrush.

What is your favourite book?

My favourite picture book is Boris and Bella by Carolyn Crimi.

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

American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin; Egyptian ruler Cleopatra; and artist Frida Kahlo.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

Part of your World from The Little Mermaid.

What pets did you have growing up?

A beautiful dog named Peewee.

What is your favourite day of the year?

Christmas - who doesn't love it?!

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Flares - and they're making a comeback!

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

Three years.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Having sleepovers with my cousins nearly every weekend.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Art - art history was my favourite.

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

Car keys, car, wallet, childhood photos and favourite bag.

What is your favourite book?

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.

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

1. Fashion icon Gabrielle Chanel, to talk everything fashion.

2. Film and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn - everything about her was amazing! One of my all-time favourite Audrey quotes is Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!

3. My eldest sister's company is a must - she would also cook for us all!

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

We Belong Together by Mariah Carey.

What pets did you have growing up?

None.

What is your favourite day of the year?

My birthday! Always a special day.

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Scoobie doos (plastic strings) used to make bracelets.

Please keep your learning-from-home photos coming! Send directly to your child's class teacher or email Melissa at holroyd-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Vaccinations for students in years 7 and 10, scheduled for Wednesday 18 August, have been postponed.

We will advise the re-scheduled date as soon as possible.

Thank you to Club Merrylands for its generous $10,000 Community Grant donation to Holroyd School. This grant will enable us to purchase important equipment for our communication programs.

Thank you to the many families who purchased a pair of crazy socks or two last term.

Your generosity has raised $916 for the Cancer Council.

All sock orders will be sent home when on-site face-to-face learning resumes.

Have you downloaded sZapp to your smartphone yet?

The sZapp app allows us immediate communication with parents. It sends free notifications straight to your phone to inform you of upcoming events and other important school information.

The app also offers users links to Holroyd School's website, Facebook page, newsletter archive and school calendar.

SZapp is free to download and use. Full installation instructions are below. Please contact the school office if you require further assistance.

The kindergarten students in J9 enjoyed exploring Holroyd School, discovering the sensory rooms, and having fun in the outdoor playgrounds during semester one.

Spending time in the sunshine at the senior bike track and liberty swing are weekly highlights, where we are learning the importance of taking turns when playing with our friends.

Every week we visit the music room to enjoy the sounds and vibrations, and to listen to popular songs of recent decades. Amir, Abbas and Hassan are drawn to the keyboard; Sophia and Gabriel like the xylophone; and Luke loves playing the drums!

Until next time,

Abbas, Amir, Gabriel, Hassan, Luke, Sophia, April, Margaret and Andy.

Semester two has certainly brought some challenges but J13 students and their families are committed to learning from home and producing some excellent work.

Whilst at home, students have been working on letters and numbers recognition, as well as tracing activities. In our history unit of work, students have created online artworks inspired by Dreamtime Stories.

Students have also enjoyed spending time outdoors with their families. They have been encouraged to play in their backyards, at the local park, and to participate in a weekly Seesaw scavenger hunt activity.

Time has also been spent engaging in various sensory activities on Seesaw, as well as water play and bubble blowing.

Well done J13 students and their families!

The senior students in S22 are extremely active. With our friends in S27, we have learnt new skills in a range of sports, including hockey, T-Ball, basketball and soccer. We were able to develop these sporting skills further at two action-packed Inclusive Sports Days, hosted by Variety, during semester one. Students had lots of fun with their class mates learning modified sports skills from expert coaches.

We also recently enjoyed an excursion to Sydney Zoo and face painting at an interactive Aboriginal Dreamtime workshop.

A weekly highlight is using a trolley to collect bottles and cans from around the school, which we then take to the bottle recycling centre at nearby Holroyd Gardens.

In the classroom, students have been learning about famous artists and their use of different art elements and themes. We admired artworks at galleries and museums around the world via the internet, and then used this as inspiration to create our very own masterpiece.

Every week we have a class discussion about a different topic. During 'Talking Circle' we discuss questions such as 'What is your favourite animal?' and 'What is your favourite celebration?' with students using both picture communication symbols and the interactive whiteboard to express their opinions.

Thank you parents and carers for your considerable efforts during remote learning. We appreciate your continued understanding and support.

Both sportsmanship and healthy competition have been features of S23 in term two. We have enjoyed our weekly indoor bowling competition where we are learning to encourage one another, take turns, and count pins and overall points.

Students in S23 also really enjoyed the recent four-week golf program. Every student enjoyed practising their golf swing under Alan's guidance and made significant improvements with each lesson.

Every Monday our year 12 students walk around our junior and middle schools and collect bottles, cans and poppers for recycling. Whilst doing so we practise PBL rules such as staying with the group and following instructions.

We have also produced some wonderful artwork in our 'Relationships and Community Safety' unit of work and discovered some great tunes in the music room.

The S23 staff acknowledge the significant contribution and dedication of our families during this period of remote learning. Throughout these tough times it is important to support the community and one another. We are all in this together.

Here is a list of emergency relief, counselling services and other support available to those experiencing hardship.

EMERGENCY RELIEF

The Parks Community Network	9609 7400	Food & Energy Accounts Payment Assistance, vouchers & food parcels for singles & families in financial distress who live in Fairfield LGA.
Core Community Services	8707 0600	Emergency food vouchers (Mon-Fri). Need to show income statements.
Community First Step	9727 4333	Food & Energy Accounts Payment Assistance vouchers & food parcels for singles & families in financial distress who live in Fairfield LGA.
Mobile Community Pantry Fresh Food Site, Fairfield	9724 1628	Low-income earners fill a bag with fresh fruit & vegetables of their choice from stock available for $2. This service is a partnership between Anglicare and Fairfield Anglican Church.
Salvation Army	1300 371 288	Food parcels & financial assistance cards for singles & families experiencing disadvantage.
Anglicare	8624 8600	Food parcels & financial assistance cards for singles & families experiencing disadvantage.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Arab Council Australia	9709 4333	Advice on debt management, negotiating with creditors & budgeting for members of the Arabic ethnic community experiencing debt concerns.
Wesley Counselling Services	9727 4333	Assistance for people experiencing financial distress or who would like to manage their money more effectively by creating a budget or learning to live within their means. Advocacy on a client's behalf with creditors, insolvency information & counselling on bankruptcy issues also available.
Moneycare Financial Counselling Services	9633 5011 or 0428 259 563	Assists families & individuals in financial difficulty or crisis including those with credit card or other debts, including overdue gas & electricity bills; those facing legal action regarding debts, motor vehicle repossession, eviction; and/or other budgeting concerns.

COUNSELLING SERVICES

South Western Sydney LHD, Fairfield Liverpool Youth Health Team	8717 1717	Stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, postnatal depression, loss & grief, relationship, sexuality & domestic violence counselling service for 12-24-year-olds.
Mental Health Central Intake, South Western Sydney Local Health District	1800 011 511	Telephone assessment, referral & central intake services 24hrs/7 days for NSW residents concerned about their own or another's mental health or at risk of self-harm or suicide.
PsychCentral	1300 856 779	Psychiatrist, physiotherapist & paediatrician. Multilingual counsellors available.
Carer Assist	9708 2670	Mental health carer respite & support groups. Family & Carer MH Program. No NDIS - Only with carer.
One Door Mental Health	1800 843 539	An inclusive community, innovative services & advocacy support for people living with mental illness & their families.
Headspace	9393 9669	Counselling, support & other mental health support for 12-25-year-olds.
Fairfield Community Health Centre	9794 1700	Nursing; child protection counselling; psychology; sexual assault; women's, community, drug, mental and Aboriginal health.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Woodville Alliance	9722 5200	Assistance with anxiety, depression, behaviour problems & advice on how to maintain good mental health during the Covid-19 crisis for children under 18 & their families.
The Parks Community Network	9609 7400	Wholistic family support & casework for children 0-18 years old.
Catholic Care Cab West Family Support	8784 6222	Support to families experiencing parenting difficulties due to stress & other issues.
Uniting Burnside Multicultural Family Centre Cabramatta	1800 864 846	Offers playgroups, school readiness, parenting programs & groups, fathers' support services & casework to families living in south west Sydney.

SBS delivers the most up-to-date Covid-19 news and updates translated in either ARABIC or VIETNAMESE via Facebook.

This includes live streams of the NSW Premier's daily press conference at 11am.

ARABIC : https://www.facebook.com/sbsarabic24/

VIETNAMESE : https://www.facebook.com/SBSVietnamese/