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- Principal's Report
- P&C Report
- Staff Spotlight, Kylie Reid, Relieving Deputy Principal, Senior School
- Staff Spotlight, Bruce Grant, Trails Bus Driver
- High Achiever : Ken, J12
- Earth's Wild Ride
- Shine Shed
- Adopt a Farmer
- Amahle
- J7's guiding light
- Five minutes with Jessica Noun, class teacher, J8
- Raising the sail with S18
- Park play with S23
- Woolworths Earn & Learn is back!
- Variety : Free Information Event
- Reminder!
- Parents Returning to Work Program
Dear Parents and Carers,
I would like to thank the P&C parent helpers for organising the Mother’s Day Stall. The weather was a big improvement on last year’s event. Our mums greeted each child and helped them select the perfect gift! I hope you loved the gift and appreciated the effort of our P&C. The P&C are busy organising more events for families and students so please do your best to support them. Well done, everyone!
Last week Cosmodome came to Holroyd School, providing an immersive experience for many students. The movies totally surrounded the students who watched in the ventilated, inflatable dome. Thanks to the staff who helped get students in and out, including some of our students who use wheelchairs. Some students needed considerable encouragement to try this new experience and our staff, as always, gently encouraged and supported students to try the new experience. There were of course some students who were not able to participate this time and we respect each student’s need to feel secure in new situations. We appreciate the financial contribution from the P&C which helped make this unique experience available to our students.
We had some chicken eggs delivered to school today, most ready to hatch. Soon we will have chickens. I’m sure students will enjoy watching these little birds hatch and grow! Classes will be visiting the host classroom, J11, watching the chicks and saying hello to their friends in J11.
We are half-way through the term. Can you believe it? The weather is starting to turn colder at last. With this in mind, can I ask you to please help contain the spread of illness by keeping your child at home if they are sick. We have had classes down to two students, because one child had come in and shared their germs with the rest of the class. Our staff are coming down with sickness too, and they are very hard to replace. I know it is inconvenient to have a sick child at home, particularly if you are a working parent. I’ve been a working parent too. The bottom line is sick children don’t learn, and that is the purpose for being at school. Unfortunately, we may call you to collect your child if they are sick.
Just a reminder that our local streets are patrolled most mornings and afternoons by the local highway patrol. If you are abiding by the road rules and parking restrictions everyone will be safe and there should be no problems. You will see some additional road safety signs in our school fences, provided by the council.
Our Community Hub is well-used by parents and carers, with the Thursday morning yoga class being a popular event each week. Remember that Anisha from the Community Migrant Resource Centre is at the Hub each Thursday and she can help connect you with services your child or family may need. You can visit the Hub or call school to make an appointment to see Anisha. Upcoming events include free NDIS Workshops on June 6 and July 7; and presentations by the Energy and Water Ombudsman (20 June) and The Smith Family (27 June). More information to follow soon.
Until next time,
Anne Flint
How long have you worked at Holroyd School?
Ten years this year - time flies when you're having fun!
What is your favourite childhood memory?
Spending the summer holidays down the south coast and going horse riding as often as I could.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Maths, up until we started calculus, then I hated it! I also really liked Home Science but, sadly, I can't cook.
If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?
My phone (otherwise I wouldn't know anyone's phone number); my car (for freedom, mobility and always having an option to leave); my cat (she loves me no matter what); my books (one day I'll have time to read again) and my ugg boots (I hate having cold feet!).
What is your favourite book?
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins.
If you could invite any three guests to a dinner party, who would they be?
Legendary musicians Jim Morrison and Johnny Cash; and American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson.
What is your favourite song to sing along to?
This question is too hard! This week it is Johnny Run Away by Tones and I.
What pets did you have growing up?
We had a few - my favourite was our Doberman named Dobroyd, he was my best friend.
What is your favourite day of the year?
The last day of Term 4, knowing I can sleep in everyday for five weeks.
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
Another hard one! Fashion trends always come back eventually so I'll have to say the game 'jacks' - I loved playing this at primary school.
How long have you worked at Holroyd School?What is your favourite childhood memory?
Sitting on lounge chairs in the back of my dad's Greenacre Carrying Company truck as he drove around.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Woodwork - I am now a carpenter by trade.
If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?
Our dog Gizmo, my car, drop saw, TV and barbecue.
What is your favourite book?
I hate reading, but I love watching TV - especially cartoon shows like Bugs Bunny.
If you could invite any three guests to a dinner party, who would they be?
Me, myself and I [three lovely people!]
What is your favourite song to sing along to?
I sing along to any song but I make up my own words. I love singing along to TV ads like Aeroplane Jelly and Vegemite.
What pets did you have growing up?
I didn't have pets growing up but we have a beautiful dog Gizmo now, she has just turned 13 years.
What is your favourite day of the year?
Any day with the word holiday in it.
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
Stubbies and thongs!
A love of gardening and the outdoors has blossomed into a labour of love and fruitful business venture for current year 4 student Ken in J12.
Ken's burgeoning backyard business now sells worms, worm casting manure, strawberries and sunflowers - and the young entrepreneur cannot keep up with demand!
His proud mum Kim explains: "I thought gardening would be a fun activity for him because he really enjoyed being outside in the backyard. We started with sensory activities such as touching soil, smelling flowers, listening to leaves rustle in the wind and tasting a variety of home-grown fruits. As time went on Ken came to understand and look forward to this weekly garden routine.
"To maintain a sustainable garden we made our own compost. We started with just two small compost bins with some 1000 earthworms, which we fed with kitchen scraps. The worms quickly multiplied and we found ourselves unable to produce enough food for them. We were lucky to receive a free truck load of mushroom compost - and that's when the adventure really begun!
"It took about six months for the worms to complete the composting process and create outstanding organic fertiliser.
"We were quickly creating way too much fertiliser for our own garden, so we started to sell it to keen local gardeners," Kim said.
In a generous gesture, Ken intends to donate all his profits to charity, including the Holroyd School P&C.
It is wonderful to see how this gardening venture has provided so many learning opportunities and given Ken so much joy. Well done, Ken!
Last week all students experienced an IMAX-style 3D movie in the CosmoDome - a large portable movie theatre that brought Hollywood to Holroyd!
Students watched a 40 minute film entitled Earth's Wild Ride, which visually represented a timeline of Earth's history including the Ice Age, dinosaurs, volcanoes, a solar eclipse and the water cycle.
Many thanks to the Holroyd School P&C for subsidising this fantastic learning opportunity, which is aligned with the NSW curriculum K-12, for all Holroyd students.
Students from high support classes S13 and S14, along with their friends in J8 and S24, enjoyed an excursion to the Shine Shed in Campbelltown on Friday 24 May.
The Shine Shed is a huge indoor, all-inclusive playground with a flying fox, foam pit, trampolines, swings and sensory room.
All the students followed Positive Behaviour for Learning rules and had a wonderful time.
A big thank you to the Holroyd School community for so generously supporting the 'Adopt A Farmer' initiative on Wednesday 8 May.
In excess of $320 was raised, which will go to farmers in hardship via the Rural Aid registered charity.
One of our supremely talented mums gifted this incredible mixed media artwork to our school community today.
Titled 'Amahle', its name derives from the African (Zulu) word which means "the beautiful ones, the prettiest, the finest".
The artist said the work was "in honour of all the families, staff and students, both past and present, whose courage, strength, determination and resilience is inspiring."
This is another reminder of how incredibly strong, supportive and talented our wonderful community is here at Holroyd.
For a colour copy of this artwork please contact the ladies in the office on 9637 1219.
Viewing different sources of light - from moon lights to torches to fairy and twinkle lights - in a darkened classroom has been an interesting experience for J7 this semester in their study of the five senses.
This topic of study has also seen the class explore their school environment - the pool, library, hall, playground and various classrooms. What activities take place in each location? What Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) rules must we follow here?
The positive interaction between students in J7 has been wonderful to observe. During leisure time and after meals, the classmates sit and play together while learning important skills such as waiting, sharing and taking turns.
The students in J7 have continued to amaze us with their happiness, enthusiasm to learn and hard work. They have settled in well to our busy class routine while welcoming SLSO Donna to our happy classroom.
J7 looks forward to an enjoyable, fun-filled year with many new and exciting things to see and learn.
Until next time,
Edison, Emad, Ethan, Krishiv, Saasha, Yahya, Donna, Michelle and Kusum.
What unit of work is the class studying this term?
Our topic is Paddock to Plate which involves exploring different foods, farm animals, food packaging and seasons.
What is your students' favourite weekly activity?
Swimming is the highlight of our week. J8 students are all confident in the water and enjoy interacting with staff and playing with pool toys. In the classroom, students enjoy reading time, particularly the story telling and bright illustrations.
How does the class spend time outdoors each week?
We participate in junior sports every Thursday morning. We are growing in confidence with some sports and have begun to try them on our own with our teachers and classmates cheering on.
Is there a message you would like to give your students' parents and carers?
We value and appreciate your hard work and support as we work together to help students in J8 excel and continue to love their days at school.
Hello from S18!
How time flies when you’re having fun!
The students in S18 have been enjoying their weekly community access program. In term 1 we participated in the Sailability program at Dobroyd Point. We all had such an enjoyable time feeling the breeze in our hair and the sun on our faces. Some of us were hesitant at first but we soon realised how relaxing sailing could be once we were out on the water.
This term we are enjoying trips to ten pin bowling each week. It’s a very different experience to sailing, and we have each shown our competitive side as we have learnt how to send the ball down the lane. We all enjoy cheering on our peers as they take their turn and celebrating each pin as it gets knocked down.
We have also been working hard on our art projects. Each week we complete different types of process art to showcase on our classroom wall. They look pretty cool, if we do say so ourselves.
Until next time!
Besmellah, Khadija, Montather, Selena, Sohum, Vanessa, Emma and Louise.
All five students in S23 love spending time at Holroyd Gardens each week, playing in the park, going for a walk as a group, and sharing hot chips for lunch. It has been wonderful to see all the students demonstrate their maturity by following Positive Behaviour for Learning rules and displaying appropriate behaviour while out in the community.
In our weekly cooking lessons, students have been working hard to follow recipes to produce a range of delicious dishes, including pizza muffins, vegetarian omelette, stir fry with fried rice and toasted turkish bread. Our Friday swimming lessons are also a class highlight as they provide a fun and calm environment where students can relax and reflect.
This term we warmly welcomed Stanley into our class. Stanley has settled into S23 very well with his hard work and willingness to adjust to his new environment. Welcome Stanley!
Until next time,
Dilara, Jenny, Lachlan, Mohamed, Stanley, Boris, Marina and Carol.
We are collecting Earn & Learn stickers from Wednesday 1 May to Tuesday 25 June. You will receive one sticker for every $10 you spend at Woolworths.
Please send your stickers to school via your child's communication book.
Please ensure that your child's belongings - clothing, hats and lunch boxes - are clearly labelled with their name and class so that they can be returned correctly.
