Term 1 Week 2 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Calwell Families,
Thank you for your support in starting the year with the COVID safe arrangements we have in place. Our students from preschool to year 6 have shown flexibility and resilience, readily adjusting to coming into the school independently. We have certainly noticed that many students are ready to take on being more self -reliant, perhaps a silver lining under the circumstances! The school is settled with students and teachers working productively.
Calwell Community Chat
In the COVID environment we now find ourselves with less opportunity for us to catch up informally with family members of our students to hear how things are going generally and to receive feedback. To ensure that we continue to hear from the community we will be holding an online chat from time to time. This week the chat will be held on Thursday 10th February at 4.30pm. Please join us to hear about how the year has started and what we will be focussing on in 2022. Follow this link to join: https://bit.ly/3GhVx41
You are welcome to submit questions prior to the meeting. Questions can be submitted here: https://forms.gle/cejEosMXzXje9Jxp7 This will assist us to provide the information you are seeking. Please be mindful that we will not be answering specific questions about individual students during the chat.
Book Packs
Book packs are the most important resource for students to support their learning. Payment for book packs has been significantly less and slower than in previous years. To ensure that teaching and learning can go ahead we have distributed book packs, however, ask that families please make payment as soon as possible. We understand that some members of the community may be experiencing financial strain and encourage you to contact the Business Manager, Jennifer Hartcher, if you would like to make a payment plan or require financial support from the school Jennifer’s direct line number is 6142 1904.
The One Box - Food Hampers
We have been approached by a local charity organisation ‘One Box’ who works with schools to provide support to families in hardship (eg. not enough food for school snacks/lunch or at home). The program consists of food boxes containing fresh milk, bread, seasonal fruit and vegetables (~10kg total) being delivered to the school each week to be collected by participating families. There is no required income/means test. The school can nominate 10 families. To maintain strict confidentiality please email directly this week if this support would assist your family. Linda.neeson@ed.act.au
Meet the Teacher / 2022 Kinder Classes
Each member of the teaching team has written a short ‘Meet the Teacher’ message to their students and family. These will be posted on Seesaw. The QR Code to access your child’s class Seesaw page has been sent home with your child today. We have now settled the kindergarten students into two classes for the remainder of the year. Your child may have already referred to their class teach as Mrs Player of Miss Hardy, please check Seesaw for your child’s teacher introduction.
Birthday Celebrations / Food
Sadly, one of the impacts of COVID is that we can no longer accept cake and food being sent to school to share with classmates to celebrate birthdays. Thank you for your understanding and help in explaining to your child why this is no longer possible.
2022 School Board Nominations
A friendly reminder that we are seeking nominations for two School Board Parent Representatives. Please contact the Front Office if you would like a nomination form. Nominations must be received before the closing date of 11am 21st February 2022 by either:
- Hand delivery to the front office, or
- Email to contact@calwellps.act.edu.au with “CPS Board” in the subject space
The new Board commences on 1st April 2022.
The names of all nominees will be announced on 22nd February 2022.
If an election is required, the voting period will be from 11am 28th February 2022 to
11am 7th March 2022. Further information: contact the Assistant Returning Officer, Jennifer Hartcher, on 6142 1900 or by email: Jennifer.hartcher@ed.act.edu.au
We are looking forward to a great year and a productive term one.
Linda Neeson
Principal
Calwell CARES
Notes Home/Due & Dates to Remember
A reminder for parent's to please download the SZapp to view our Newsletters and upcoming events. If you access the calendar and click on the date on an excursion/incursion permission notes are attached to re-print if needed.
- Book Club due back 21st February
- Canteen orders starting back Wednesday 9th February, via flexischools
Preschool
Welcome to preschool! The children are settling in well and having fun exploring our preschool environment. They are getting to know all the staff, beginning to learn routines and making new friends. This term our focus will be on Belonging: knowing where and with whom you belong – is integral to human existence. Children belong first to a family, a cultural group, a neighbourhood and a wider community. Belonging acknowledges children’s interdependence with others and the basis of relationships in defining identities. In early childhood, and throughout life, relationships are crucial to a sense of belonging. Belonging is central to being and becoming in that it shapes who children are and who they can become (Early Years Learning Framework).
Scrivener
Kindergarten have really enjoyed their first week at school. We have been focusing on our new routines learning how to unpack our belongings, move safely around the classroom and even enjoyed a tour around our new school. Here are some pictures of us participating in fine motor which is part of our new morning routine.
Corin
Years One and Two have had a fabulous start to the year! We have been looking at the different Learning Assets of Researcher, Communicator, Collaborator, Thinker and Self-Manager. The students have loved taking part in lots of hands-on, creative activities in pairs or small groups. We are excited about seeing them use these Learning Assets as the year progresses!
Googong
Welcome back! What an exciting year we are going to have! This week we have been getting to know each other and looking over the Learning Assets we have learnt about last year. We have created posters about ourselves and our class and learnt what makes you a good 'Collaborator'.
Bendora
Welcome back to Year 5/6 students! This week we have been busy getting to know our new classmates, unpacking the Learning Assets and revisiting how to be a PBL Safe, Respectful Learner. 5/6J students have been studying the different parts of the brain as they learnt about neuroplasticity and the 'power of yet'. Students in 5/6U have been working as 'Collaborators' and 'Communicators' to build the tallest Lego tower. 5/6G have been developing their connections with each other by sharing important memories and facts about themselves.
